Page 93 of Halfblood Deceived

She meant it with every drop of blood in her veins, even as she wondered what Zeydan—with his amazing powers and even more amazing family—could ever need her for.

Zeydan brushed his thumb back and forth over her knuckles, stunning her as he lifted her hand and pressed a soft kiss on the inside of her wrist. The contact lasted all of two seconds but sent sparks everywhere in Aella’s body.

He let her go just as gently as he’d taken her hand and stepped back. “See you later, Amazon.”

Aella found herself smiling for a second. “See you later, vampire.”

With that, Zeydan opened the door for her, giving her a parting smile before closing it and tapping the roof twice.

Aella turned to look back at him as Diana drove them out of the garage, feeling strangely empty.

I will miss him, she realized with a jolt. I already miss him.

Aella ignored Diana’s curious eyes and focused on the moonlit road, feeling as if she’d left a piece of her heart with Zeydan.

She had the bizarre sensation that he felt the same way.

But that was impossible. Right?

III

PART THREE

She might never be strong enough

She was never pure enough

She could never forgive them all

For now, she knows who they are

But will that suffice?

To know their crimson lies?

She must save her soul

The one they broke

Will she survive once more?

CHAPTER 23

Aella put on her sneakers and slipped outside Diana’s townhouse well before dawn. Diana had given her a set of keys and modified the wards to include Aella’s energy signature in them since day one. Her trust was disorienting and at times tear-inducing for Aella.

Even after a month, Aella found it surprising how well she got along with Diana. They cooked together, watched TV shows and movies that Aella had never been allowed to even glimpse at before, and spent quiet hours in each other’s company doing nothing more than reading. Diana also told Aella what she could remember of their mother and childhood without glossing over the darkest parts. Namely, the constant abuse Diana’s father put Aura through. Diana was honest, kind, and laid back. Aella trusted her with all her heart.

She hadn’t mentioned to Diana her escapades in the middle of the night, however.

Not because she thought Diana would forbid her to leave the house and walk for a couple of hours in the massive park across the street. But because maybe her sister would want to join her, and that was out of the question.

Diana came back home at around 3 AM, had some food, and went to sleep until about noon, like clockwork. She needed her rest, and Aella didn’t want to bother her. Besides, the long walks usually involved long episodes of hyperventilation that came as a result of Aella bottling up her tumultuous emotions whenever her sister was around.

As she’d done for a week, Aella crossed the mostly deserted street and plunged into the dark park. She huddled into her hoodie, relishing the softness and comfort of the garment and the smell of the natural fabric softener her sister preferred.

The nightmares stopped altogether when Aella drank her nightly potion. She could sleep 8 hours straight and wake up feeling sluggish but not in the middle of screams. Her daytime potion kept her mostly calm as well.

But Aella couldn’t shake off the feeling that she was cheating.

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