Page 80 of Lux

The blonde is too exhausted to notice. She slumps against Altaris as the vamryer gently helps her to her feet. “I’ll take you back to the house, darling. You can get some rest there, hmm? Sylvie, I will trust you to stay here. Get well acquainted with my new guests. Keep Daven away from any bottles. I shall return.”

As he nears the door, blonde in tow, the mortal doctor calls out, “I will stay and monitor her, if that’s okay?”

“Of course, darling,” Altaris replies before leading the blonde outside. “Caspian should be a bit more well-mannered than dear Ginni. Try not to attack each other while I am gone.”

“Fucking vamp,” the lunaria hisses. Crossing her arms, she paces. As she turns her attention to Niamh, she pauses. While her gaze lingers, it is not in an accusatory or fearful way, as those in the other realm would view her. She notes her eyes. That sloping mouth. Her delicate limbs swathed in orange fabric.

Her stare irritates me.

“I’m Sylvie, by the way,” she says, extending her hand. “Altaris didn’t tell me your name. He can be thoughtless like that. You certainly aren’t from around here, that much I know.”

My fae takes her hand and forces a faint smile. “I am Niamh,” she says. “This is Caspian?—”

“And I’m Aleska Fraterani,” the mortal on the floor explains with a nervous laugh. “Medical examiner. I… I’ll just try to get her stabilized. Don’t mind me!”

“I’ve heard about you.” The lunaria whelp crosses her arms and inclines her head. I noticed she was far more interested in the mortal than she was in my fae. Her eyes linger over her face, especially. “The mortal morgue-y. How in the hell did you stumble upon the mundane world in the first place?”

Shrugging, the mortal smiles widely. “I’m not sure, but I find this all very interesting. I’ll try to be as unobtrusive as possible, but I would like to stay and observe her overnight, if possible?”

Niamh nods. “Of course.”

“Poor thing.” The mortal takes the mundane’s hand and strokes the pale fingers. “Do you know her name?”

“Minchae,” Niamh says.

The one who wanted to feed her to jackdaws. I eye the creature, lying in our space, on our dusty, musty blankets. She writhes in agony. Without an antidote, she will die soon.

Everyone in this room knows it but Niamh. Hope blazes in her eyes, revealing her innocence. In this case, her hope stings rather than entices. It will be broken.

Just as she is used to her hopes always being broken.

“I’ll try to do the best I can to keep her stabilized,” the mortal explains. “When Altaris called me, I wasn’t even sure this would work. We’ve seen an increase in bites like this just over the span of the last few days. It’s been a nightmare.”

“Is this the work of you and your pack, whelp?” I ask of the lunarian.

She hisses and curls her hands into fists. “Fuck off, vampire. I’m sure your kind wouldn’t be above masquerading as a lun to get your kicks. If you were smart enough to make it convincing.”

“You are lunarian?” The mortal's eyes widen. “Oh my, I have so many questions. I’ve barely been out of boney headquarters, and I’ve met a vamryer and a grimoirer but never a?—”

“I ain’t really in the mood to star in my own personal freakshow right now,” the whelp replies, turning on her heel. “Altaris wanted me to confirm the bite in person. I have. Call me when he gets back. I have shit to do.”

She storms out, slamming the door behind her.

“Well,” the mortal swallows. “I’ll just make myself comfortable over here. Sorry to intrude.”

Intrude. She has.

There is more for Niamh and me to discuss. A deadline to our mutual goal. Kill Cassius. Find the Aurelia. We could go tonight…

I look at her. I meet her gaze with every intention of taking her there, back through the portal. We will face our demons together.

But not tonight. I see her expression, bathed in the glow of the flickering lights above. Far too innocent for pain and fear. Not tonight. I take her hand and pull her with me up the stairs, out into the night. There, under the stars, I pull her close. We settle into a corner against the wall of the doorway, and I know she will easily fall asleep here.

Right where I can protect her from the many forces drawing nearer.

CHAPTER 28

Niamh

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