Page 92 of Halfblood Deceived

“Thank you for everything, Kamilla,” Aella said.

“Always, my dear,” the vampiress promised.

Diana hesitated, but then hugged Kamilla. “I’ll never be able to repay you for everything you’ve given me, my princess. So if you ever need me to bury a motherfucker for you, I’m your girl.”

Kamilla laughed, her eyes too bright. “You are at the top of my potential murder accomplices list, Di.”

Diana let out a soft, sniffly chuckle.

Kamilla kissed Diana’s cheek.

Diana shivered and let go, her blue eyes lingering on Kamilla’s face for a few seconds. She then stepped back and wrapped her arm around Aella. “Ready, sis?”

Aella took a deep breath. “Ready.” She headed toward the passenger side, feeling as if she were doing something forbidden. After so many years of being taken here and there, always in the back of an SUV, mostly blindfolded, being allowed to see where she was going was almost surreal. A warm sensation running down her back and across her shoulders made her freeze.

Aella knew who it was even before he spoke.

“May I say goodbye as well?” Zeydan asked.

She turned toward the sound of his voice, finding him standing by the door that led back into the mansion, hands in the pockets of his black jeans.

“Yes,” she said at once, surprised again at her lack of fear and hesitation.

Diana gave Aella a reassuring smile before getting in the car. Kamilla squeezed Zeydan’s shoulder as she passed by him and went back inside.

Zeydan approached, stopping a couple of feet from Aella. “I’m glad you’ve found your sister.”

Aella’s lips twitched upwards. “So am I.”

They examined each other in silence for at least half a minute. It was strangely not uncomfortable.

“Will this bizarre sensation I feel when you’re near ever fade?” she dared to ask.

Zeydan blinked. “Maybe. Your system should fully process my blood in a week or so.” He tilted his head, examining her, causing a lock of ink-black hair to brush his cheek.

Aella bit her tongue to stifle the wildly inappropriate impulse to put it behind his ear again. Or worse, ruffle all of it so it looked chaotic around his beautiful face.

“Does it bother you?” Zeydan asked, mercifully getting her out of her weird musings.

“Huh?” she asked dumbly, wanting to slap herself.

“The temporary bond I created when I helped Aylana and Sebastian heal you,” he clarified without mocking her distraction. “Does it bother you?”

Aella licked her suddenly too-dry lips and shook her head. “No. I’d be dead without your help. It doesn’t bother me.”

She bit her tongue not to tell him the full truth—that she had felt his presence since before even seeing his eyes for the first time. It was decisively weird, and she had learned long ago to keep weird things to herself to not be mocked. Not that Zeydan seemed the type to mock her, not since that first night.

“Will you stay in touch?” he asked.

Aella gulped. Everything inside her wanted to scream yes for some unknown reason, but her most reasonable side was uncertain. “I think I need some time alone with my sister.”

Zeydan nodded, no anger or demand on his beautiful face or hypnotic eyes.

He stretched a hand slowly, cautiously brushing the back of her fingers with his. Before the decision was made in her mind, Aella was sliding her hand inside his. Heat traveled up her arm, pleasantly tingly.

Zeydan’s eyes widened minutely as he met her gaze. “If you ever need me, I’ll be there for you.”

Aella swallowed, delighted but confused at her delight. And even more surprised by what came out of her mouth next. “And I’ll be there for you.”

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