Page 88 of Halfblood Deceived

Maybe it was because there was no disapproval or overt disdain in Zeydan’s jade eyes. Maybe it was because he wasn’t getting into her personal space. She wasn’t sure.

“Do you need me to fetch Kamilla for you?” he asked.

“No!” Aella exclaimed, then cringed. She was grateful for Kamilla’s care and company. But she needed some time alone to process everything that had happened. “I wanted to go to the garden, but I didn’t want anyone to know. And if I go downstairs, people will know. So I was considering jumping off the balcony.”

Zeydan blinked.

Aella wrinkled her nose. “I’m being ridiculous, right?”

He shook his head. “Not at all. Everyone has the right to privacy.”

Not according to the church, they don’t; Aella thought. “Females are sheep, and sheep need to be watched and led.” She’d heard that about a thousand times.

“There is an alternative way to the garden that doesn’t involve going down the main staircase,” Zeydan said, cutting through her somber thoughts. “I can show you if you want.”

Aella felt her body freeze. She wasn’t afraid of Zeydan. But part of her felt as if she should be. Part of her remembered how dangerous it was to be alone with a male.

Zeydan tilted his head. “I realize it’s not ideal, since you wanted privacy, but I can keep a secret. I promise.” He gave her a warm half-smile.

The tight knot in Aella’s chest loosened. She nodded, leaving her room and closing the door behind her. Zeydan waited until Aella approached him to lead the way down the wide, well-lit hall.

At the bottom of it, there was another hall. It had both an elevator and a set of stairs.

“The elevator is used mostly by the staff,” Zeydan explained. “Going up and down the stairs must be tiresome for them. These stairs lead to the third floor, which is mostly unoccupied, and to the back of the mansion, where you can find the gardens and the pool—”

The sound of a door opening behind them made Aella jump, and reflexively press her back against the nearest wall.

Andreas left the room on the right of the hall and scowled at Aella. “Why so jumpy, eh?”

Aella’s heart raced, and her body froze—

Zeydan came to stand next to her. “Andreas,” he said, his tone loaded with warning.

Andreas slid those too-serious, inquisitive brown eyes from Aella to Zeydan. “What are you two up to?”

Zeydan arched a brow at the grumpy vampire. “Nothing that concerns you.” He offered a hand to Aella.

She automatically took it and held on, letting him take her downstairs.

“He won’t hurt you,” Zeydan assured her. “He’s just a sour, supercilious arsehole.”

“I heard that!” Andreas called.

Aella jolted slightly, but felt her lips curling up. Andreas did seem to be a bit like what Zeydan had called him. But Aella had the feeling there was more to him, despite his everlasting scowl. The steel in his eyes melted when he looked at Luce. It was as clear as day that he loved his daughter with everything he had. Aella didn’t think truly evil people could love like that.

Zeydan didn’t let her hand go as they went down the stairs, and Aella was grateful. He felt… anchoring. His hand was slightly calloused, but gentle and warm around hers. And she could feel a line of energy linking them. Maybe it was all in her imagination. She didn’t care.

Zeydan opened a thick wooden door that led into a sunroom with massive windows. Aella felt a bit more of her tension wind down at the sight of the massive garden beyond the windows and the double French doors. The sunset turned the white room with blue furniture orange.

It was beautiful, but she wanted to be outside.

As if feeling this, Zeydan opened the French doors and urged her to go out first.

Aella took a deep, luxurious breath, inhaling the scent of flowers, apples, and clean forest into her lungs.

It was similar to the garden at the back of the gargoyles’ manor, but different, too.

This garden felt freer. Not like the prettiest side of a gilded cage, but like a promise that there was more beyond it. The grass was soft and perfectly kept. Beds of multicolored roses surrounded the apple trees. And the apples were dark purple.

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