Page 83 of Halfblood Deceived

The sun was peeking over the horizon, turning the sky orange-royal blue.

Zeydan sneaked a peek at Diana. Her jaw worked as she chewed her cheeks, elegant fingers drumming on the wheel. Her blue eyes were dry now, but still glassy and dazed. Worry lined her forehead. Her features were sharper than Aella’s, but there was no denying the many similarities Diana shared with Aella. Same plump lips, delicate nose, and slightly feline eyes.

It seemed like no time at all before Diana parked the car in front of the mansion’s long entrance. The security personnel didn’t bat an eye at her as she all but ran up the cobblestones of the courtyard to go around the fountain, and entered through the double doors.

The first rays of sunlight caressed Zeydan’s skin as he followed Diana in; Kerian, and Sebastian right behind them. Most vampires are sensitive to UV light. Not to the point of turning to ash, but their corneas are too acute and they can get 1st-degree burns without sunscreen or prolonged exposure. Being a halfblood and a hybrid, Zeydan could try to get tanned if he wished.

Kerian and Sebastian avoided looking directly at the horizon despite being halfbloods as well. Kerian’s mother was a witch, and apparently, human ascendance didn’t offer a lot of protection against vampires’ common weaknesses.

Diana went straight toward Aella’s room.

The stiff composure she’d displayed while driving Zeydan, Sebastian, and Kerian back to the mansion had completely evaporated. She climbed the stairs two at a time and went down the hall at full speed until she reached the correct door. Zeydan could feel the tingling in the start of his spine that Aella evoked since he entered the mansion, so perhaps Diana could feel her, too. Perhaps Aella’s blood called to Diana, despite now having the mark of Zeydan’s essence.

The gargoyle hesitated, fingers trembling as she turned the knob. She took a bracing breath and hurried inside Aella’s room, as if fearing to change her mind.

Zeydan and the other two males stayed on the threshold as Diana entered. And gods. Even though Aella’s still slightly swollen face was expressionless due to the potion-induced sleep, the similarities were glaringly obvious.

Diana placed a hand over her mouth to stifle a whimper, shoulders shaking. “I can’t believe it.”

She slowly approached the bed, drinking in every visible detail of Aella’s form with teary eyes.

Kamilla and Aylana had changed Aella into a white nightgown again, and she was covered with the duvet up to her chest. Her red hair was spilled across the pillow, looking impossibly soft. Her plump lips were bloodless and her paleness was still abnormal.

She was still the most beautiful female Zeydan had ever laid eyes on.

Something tight and achy took residence in his chest. He had the feeling its stay would be permanent.

Sebastian and Kerian were wearing identical frowns of concern. Their desire to offer some comfort to Diana was more than obvious, but they stayed respectfully in place. The tremulous, angry, infinitely sad, and strangely guilty energy buzzing from Diana was not welcoming to physical consolation.

Diana reached out a hand as if she were going to brush Aella’s cheek with the back of her forefinger, but let her hand drop and stepped back. Blue eyes swimming with tears, Diana left the room just as quickly as she had entered it.

Sebastian closed the door gently.

Kerian sighed and rubbed his eyes before following Diana along with Zeydan.

Diana hurried downstairs, heading toward the kitchen. Zeydan almost told her Kamilla was most likely in her lab, but the gargoyle’s pace was purposeful and certain, so they all followed her lead.

Kamilla, Mari, and Aylana were sitting at the table, having herbal tea, faces showing weariness and concern.

Their attention went to Diana.

Kam immediately stood and approached the gargoyle, her topaz eyes taking quick stock, as if searching for wounds. “What’s wrong?”

Diana swallowed audibly. “I think Aella is my sister.”

Aylana’s eyes went wide, but she examined Diana, a flash of recognition crossing her face.

Mari tilted her head in her familiar, curious, analytical way. She arched a brow at Zeydan in silent questioning, but he didn’t know what to say.

Kam placed a hand between Diana’s shoulder blades and nudged her toward her vacant seat at the head of the table. “Come on, sit.”

Diana all but fell on the chair.

Feeling uncomfortable, and useless just standing there, Zeydan sat beside Mari. Kerian went to the kitchen.

Sebastian sat beside Aylana, who poured a cup of fragrant tea for Diana.

Kam kept her hand on Diana’s shoulder. “Would you mind elaborating a bit? I must confess that Aella reminded me of you, but I didn’t connect the dots.”

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