"Good morning, Angel."

Keir's dazzling smile greeted her from the kitchen.

"Good morning," She mumbled.

Keir didn't notice her low spirits, he was busy tossing the vegetables in the pan like a pro.

When she came closer, he looked at her enthusiastically. She forced a happy smile and took a sniff of the cooking food.

"Mmm.. Smells heavenly."

"I'm making vegetable tacos." He grinned at her.

She plopped on the counter and got busy admiring him doing his chef work. It was her favourite next to watch him play the guitar.

"Hey! Pour some oil and make sure they don't burn. Would ya?" He asked and turned to make the tacos.

"Sure!" Selene got down and did as he said.

Selene's thought's ran back to what happened yesterday. She was here but her mind was still in Manassas.

She felt empty from within. Her ownself disgusted her that she agreed to give Keir in exchange for those two names.

She had no idea those names of her birth givers were so important that she decided to give him up.

Is blood really thicker than anything? A question rose in the back of her mind.

Her question was left unanswered when she felt Keir's warm presence behind her.

A smile creeped on her face when he snaked his arm around her waist and pressed his body closer to hers.

He swiped her hair to one side and placed a soft wet kiss on her bare shoulder and then to her nape.

Selene sighed, bathing in the feeling of his lips on her skin.

Unknown to her tears started brimming her eyes as she was reminded what she had done.

"Hey! What's wrong?" He turned her chin to face him.

"Nothing. It's just the heat." She gulped and turned off the gas.

"Now we are lying?" He asked with an amused face.

Selene exhaled through her mouth and shook her head.

Keir took her face on his palms and leaned to look into her eyes.

"What did Thindrel do?"

She looked at him surprised how he knew that he had something to do with her mood.

"Nothing. He was just being a dick as usual." She sniffed back her tears.

Keir stared at her with a smile, waiting for her to elaborate.

"He- uh didn't agree to give me names in exchange for Haden." She spoke up a moment later.

Keir nodded, "He wants both of us."

"Yeah and I said-" She cut off looking away from his gaze, "I said I'll give you too."

She shut her eyes, biting her lip, feeling the guilt pressing her down even more.

She looked back at him. His eyes gave nothing away. His face was normal like it was before.

"Are you mad at me?" She asked meekly.

Keir sighed softly and shook his head, "No. Actually that's brilliant. I told you it would work if I give myself up."

Selene took a step back from his touch.

"Not that again!" She threw her hands up in frustration.

"It's the only way. If they have me-"

Selene shoved the porcelain plate down, cutting him off.

"I didn't make that stupid deal with Brent and agreed to play with fire, just for you to give yourself up!" she shouted, shoving him away in anger.

"Okay! Okay! I'm sorry. I won't do it, not until you want me to."

Selene glanced at Keir and ran a hand through her dishevelled hair, "I don't want it, Keir. Those names mean nothing to me. I don't know what came over me to agree with Thindrel about you."

He pulled her close and asked, "What do you want?"

"I want us to get away. From this town, NIA. From everything."

"How?" He asked calmly.

"I don't know! You are always the brain for these problems. Got any ideas?"

Keir laughed, "I'm all Brain? Then what is this?" He asked, pulling his shirt up and showing off his fit torso.

Selene laughed, his joke successfully brightening her mood.

She ran a hand through his muscles and made a face, "I don't know. You are very skinny."

He scoffed, offended.

"Oh! That's not what you said last night. Or the night before. Or the night-" Selene placed her palm over his mouth, laughing with her head leaning on his forehead.

"Stop!" She chuckled.

"Plan! Keir." She pressed the words trying to bring him back to the subject.

He chuckled and nodded.

"I might have one." He paused and she gave a hopeful look.

"But you won't like it."

***

"Hello?" Haden's gruff voice answered the call.

"What are you doing?" Selene asked casually.

She heard a dry laugh from the other side.

"Nothing much. Life was less boring, when you were in my arms."

Selene rolled her eyes at his quote. "Going poetic, I see."

"A man is poetic when his heart is broken. He mends that pain into artful words." Haden quoted philosophically.

Selene paused to look at the phone making sure she called Haden and not a philosopher.

"You okay there?"

"Just a little drunk." He answered, confirming her doubts.

"Do you know how many nights I longed to see your beautiful face?" He slurred.

Selene rubbed her forehead uninterested. She was glad he wasn't here to see her face.

"Maybe you can tonight." She cut his nonsensical words and came right to the point.

She felt a scorching gaze of Keir behind her and turned to look at him.

He turned around immediately focusing back to the television. Selene somehow doubted he was even watching it.

"You are not teasing me, are you?" He asked.

"Of course not. I missed you as much as you missed me." She sweetened her words.

She heard a cough followed by continuous coughing behind her. Keir grabbed a glass of water from the table and dunked it down.

He placed the glass in a thud and glared at her annoyed.

Selene gestured around, defending herself.

"Really?! That's good to hear. When can we meet?" Haden's excited voice came from the phone.

"Tonight. Somewhere alone and romantic." She shut her eyes still feeling two dark eyes staring at her.

"You remember my lake house right?" He brought it up himself to her relief.

"How can I forget?" she cooed.

"Where something sexy." He slurred. She could see his smirk on his face even though he is not here.

"Something Red?" She asked, trying to tease him.

She saw Keir roll his eyes and glare at the TV screen.

"Great! See you tonight." He said in a smug voice.

"See you there at nine." She smiled through her teeth to control the irritation in her voice and hung up.

She glanced at Keir and made her way to the kitchen for a cool glass of water.

"You are wearing sweats tonight." He yelled from the couch and turned to her.

Selene rolled her eyes at him, irking him even more.

With eyes narrowed at her face, he gritted out.

"And nothing red."

"Oh! For fucksake!" She huffed and stomped to her room.

*****

OK! So a short chapter before we get into the drama. Thoughts about this chapter >>

Heads up! The book is coming to an end soon. Binge read to find out what happens next and don't forget to Vote on this chapter.

~Aurora 💕.