Word Count: 1933

~Aspen

I stare at the large wooden door, a dark feeling of dread curling up in my stomach.

I've stepped through this door many times in my life. I've been dragged through it, I've been pushed through it...and it was never home for me, even if Oliver swore I would never leave here again, after I married him.

I can feel Kastriv looking down at me, monitoring my expression as rain dribbles down my face.

"I really didn't think I was ever going to be back here again," I murmur.

We have come here first thing in the morning. I didn't sleep last night, plagued by new reality. I can never exist in this society again. People hate Demon's so deeply, they won't stop until they have hunted me down and killed me.

There is no going back for me. And it's all because Oliver decided he hated me enough to tell the whole city.

Kastriv's gaze softens. "I can do this alone, if you need me to."

"I know...I should be here," I say, more so to assure myself than him. If I allow him to confront Oliver alone, who knows what will happen to him...

Territory One's favourite Politician would likely end up dead.

Kastriv rests his hand on the small of my back, rubbing gently. "You're brave. I can't imagine the horrors you endured in this manor."

I summon a deep breath. All night I chanted in my head over and over that I wouldn't let this get to me...I wouldn't let Oliver win by allowing myself to get upset by what happened in the past.

I'm standing here now, with my mate, which I never thought would happen.

"Nothing as terrible as what I'm going to endure now that everyone is going to be hunting me down," I mutter, shifting uncomfortably as rain beats down upon us.

It reminds me of the first night I met Kastriv. It poured with rain and I went up to my room and dreamt about what it would be like for a Noble to sweep me away from my terrible life.

"I can keep you safe, I promise," he assures me, before he turns his attention to the door. "Starting with getting revenge."

He knocks on the door, the sound echoing loudly.

It opens moments later, a woman tenatively peeking out. It's clear she works for Oliver, eyes widening at the sight of a Noble standing in the doorway.

Immediately she goes to close it, but Kastriv's arm shoots out as he pushes it back open, strolling inside as if he owns the place, sending the poor staff member rushing off.

"Ah, so I see a Noble is no longer invited into a colleagues home then, huh?" He calls out.

I look around the foyer, my throat tightening. I hate this place.

Kastriv frowns, looking up the stairs. "Come out Oliver, you coward. Don't make me scour through this pathetic home to find you."

I glance at my mate. The moment he stepped past the threshold of the home, something in his demeanour shifted. This isn't a game to him. Oliver is going to pay for what he did.

Suddenly, Oliver appears at the top of the stairs, doing stiff at the sight of us.

"Settle down. I was resting," he grumbles, although there's a wariness in my tone.

He wasn't resting, he was hiding. He knows what he has done, and he doesn't want to face the consequences. I doubt he even thought I had the confidence to come back here.

And he would be almost right about that.

"You can do plenty more resting soon, Oliver, when I break every bone in your body," Kastriv growls, rubbing his gloved hand together as Oliver finally makes it to ground level, keeping a healthy few steps back.

He shifts his gaze to me, a distasteful look about him. "He speaks for you now?"

My hands rolls up into fists. "You know what I am, what I can do to you now that I'm not under your rule."

Oliver holds his hands up, looking panicked as Kastriv takes a step at him.

"I didn't do it."

"And why should we believe you?" My mate growls, looking over Oliver in such a way that makes it obvious he's imaging how he's going to hurt him in the most painful way.

Oliver backs away a few steps. "Because it's true. We had an agreement...I honoured it."

"You are far from honourable. I do not believe you for a second," I snap. Anger flares up within me, untamed and wild. Does he really think lying to our face's is going to work?

"I never planned to tell anyone. Not when I knew you would come kill me!" He insists, motioning between the two of us.

Kastriv rolls his eyes, pushing Oliver's shoulder with enough force that he stumbles back, slipping on the marbled floor until his back slams down against it. He winces, bracing himself up on his elbows.

"You got angry, didn't you? You got angry seeing Kastriv there with me," I mutter, shaking my head.

His face contorts into disgust. "I never loved you, Aspen. I couldn't care less who you fall into bed with."

My brows raise. He says it so hatefully, so full of malice that I believe him. He did this for another reason. Maybe he was embarrassed, but it was his idea? Nothing makes sense...

"I would suggest choosing your words carefully," Kastriv growls, circling around Oliver like a predator taking in his prey.

"How could I have gotten the word out so quickly when I was at the ball all night? That notice was prepared earlier," he tells us, eyes wide as his attention flickers between the both of us.

"No one else knows about Aspen, unless you told them." Kastriv looks at me and I nod. No one else should know. I have never uttered a word to a single person willingly about who I am.

Kastriv was the first people to ever notice...

"And ruin my reputation? I would never." His voice sound strangled as he tries to convince us.

I've never known Oliver to be a good liar. He can twist the truth with charisma, but when someone calls him out, he owns it. He's a coward, he would admit it immediately and try to escape.

And to be entirely honest, he wouldn't risk his reputation. Not when he knows he won't be able to come back from this either.

Kastriv leans down over him. "You were so lucky to have someone as beautiful as Aspen by your side who put up with your shit."

I grab his arm. "I don't think he did it, Kastriv."

"I should kill him anyway," he mutters. Oliver winces, knowing if the Noble really wants him dead, there is nothing he is going to be able to do to stop it.

"No...we need to find out who really did this." It could be anyone...If Oliver never told anyone, then this person who knows is either in a powerful position, or they took a lucky guess.

Kastriv stares down at Oliver silently for a long moment, his fingers curling into fists as he considers his next move.

For a fleeting moment, I'm convinced he is going to do it...he's going to kill him.

My mind sinks back into last night, when he used a spirit to strangle one of Oliver's friends. It felt merciless, almost deranged. And in his anger today, I could see him finally ending Oliver's life.

Instead, he sighs, sweeping up into standing position.

"You're lucky she has mercy, because I do not," he growls distastefully. "And next time I see you, you're dead."

Oliver doesn't say anything, staring my mate down with as much ire in his expression as he can manage. He can't conceal the way he trembles, aware that he was moments away from losing his life.

I tug on Kastriv's arm, not wanting to look at Oliver any longer. "Come on, let's get out of here."

Thankfully, he doesn't wait around, letting me lead him from the house and back into the pouring rain, which immediately douses us violently.

"We need to find who did this," I say over the onslaught, trying not to slip on the drenched cobblestones as we make a rush for the transport.

Kastriv shakes his head, handing me his jacket to hold over my head. "It may be Keo."

"He wouldn't out another Demon like that...right?" I want to believe Keo wouldn't do that, that it doesn't serve him, but how would I know? The words he has so convincingly spewed at me may be far from the truth, and I have no way to prove it.

Kastriv holds the door open, ushering me in before he follows, shaking water from his hair. "We don't know him. He's unpredictable."

"I know it...in my soul. He wouldn't do that."

I rest my hands over my stomach. It's an unexplainable feeling. Some innate part of me is convinced I can trust him. It's the Demon part of me, that I've shunned for so long. It's just my rational thoughts that are telling me not to trust him, fuelled by Kastriv's doubt.

"Maybe he told someone."

"Who? He only converses with those he completely trusts, and at this point, I think that only limited to one or two people," I admit.

I can't see Keo ever truly giving himself over to another person...he is too distrustful.

Kastriv nods slowly, looking out the window. All of a sudden, he tenses, turning to look at me with horror in his eyes.

"I think I may know who did this..."

My heart sinks, figuring by his reaction that this is bad. "Who?"

"You're not going to like it." He winces.

"Just tell me."

"Atari is trying to split us up. We didn't oblige her, and now she is making us regret it," he says, barely above a whisper.

My head falls into my hands. Of course it is her. She was just waiting for the perfect moment to expose my secret. Being mated to a Demon will affect Kastriv's standing, when everyone inevitably finds out.

From there...who knows what will happen to us.

"You're kidding me."

"This is going to stop," he decides, a new sense of determination fall over his face. I want to believe he can get us out of this, but Atari's hold on him is strong, and I don't even know why.

"I think we are going to have to go into hiding." It's the last thing I want, to keep hiding. But Territory One isn't safe anymore, and it may never be.

People don't just forget about Demon's.

"I think I know a place," he murmurs.

I sigh, looking down at my hands. "Hey, Kastriv?"

"Yeah?"

"If there is anyone I have to hide with for the rest of my life, it's you I would want," I breathe.

He smiles, reaching out to take my hand in his. Despite us both being uncomfortably wet, his hands are warm. There's a lot of doubt swirling around in my mind right now, but I doubt nothing about my bond with Kastriv.

He's my mate. I'm falling in love with him.

He tugs me closer, wrapping his arm around my waist, gazing down at me. "Let me take you home."

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