BRAVING THE DARKNESS: One Night With The Demon King
BENEATH HER DARKNESS: The Alpha’s Little Demon Book 2
Chapter 32 – Althea at 19
ALTHEA.
I told Lucy I didn’t need to celebrate my nineteenth birthday. I was used to having nothing, and with Patrea in the underworld, there was really no sense in celebrating.
But Lucy was not one to be swayed. So here I was, surrounded by people I met at the university, in a big private hall within the campus grounds where Lucy held the surprise party for me.
Lucy and Adan were here. And so was little Aiden, with Lucy’s opal ring hanging around his neck.
Patrea and I had fixed her ring a few weeks back so that anyone wearing it would be able to suppress his or her demon fire.
This was the only way they could take little Aiden out in public, as he loved playing with fire when something fascinated him.
Patrea also made it tonight. She was here with Lucius.
If I a*s*sumed before that the demon king was interested in her, I could guarantee now that he was totally smitten with her, as every time I looked at Lucius, his eyes were always on my grandmother, even though he was having a conversation with Alpha Adan.
As for my grandmother, well, if I was expecting a sad and stressed Patrea, I would be disappointed because she looked like she was the happiest she’d ever been. I asked her how it was in the underworld, and I waited for her to say how she felt uncomfortable there and tell me about Nyneve, but the only thing that came out of her lips was everything about Lucius and how he had shown her Kalmerus from a different perspective. I could sense she was thriving there.
I was happy for her, but in secret, my heart was clenching in pain. Was this a sign that I could possibly lose her to the demon king for good?
Of course, if that would make her happy, then I had nothing against it. It’s just that I wish I could still have more time with her. But I would never get in the way of her happiness. If anyone deserved that after everything she went through, it was Patrea. And it didn’t matter to me anymore if only a demon could give her that happiness, as long as he could take care of her, which looked like what Lucius had been doing.
“Happy birthday again, baby girl!” Patrea greeted me from behind, her arms snaking around my body as she hugged me.
I rested my back against her chest and clutched the arms wrapped around me, squeezing them gently. “I’m so glad you made it here. I was worried you wouldn’t be able to come. Not that I would be upset, but with the danger you’re in… “
I knew I told her that already, but I wanted her to know how much I appreciated her presence.
Patrea’s arms around me loosened as she spun my body around before holding my arms and gazing lovingly at me. “I will never miss this for the world, and once we can figure out how to capture Nyneve, I will be back.”
“Will you be happy to be back here?” I asked, my brows hiking up.
“What do you mean?”
“You will miss Kalmerus. Or Lucius.”
“Who says that?” She chuckled softly as she brushed her palms against my skin.
“Your eyes say it all.” I teased her.
Her eyes widened at my words, and she began saying something, but my heart suddenly began pounding loudly, and I couldn’t explain why.
“I’m sorry, Mama. What did you say?” I felt my cheeks burning, as I really didn’t hear her words. “Are you okay?” she asked instead of answering.
I nodded my head, but my hands went to my chest, trying to keep my heart from going overboard because it felt like it would jump out of my chest.
I was still trying to calm my heart when a noise came from the other side of the room, where some of my cla*s*smates were gathered and drinking.
And like a slow-motion movie, the crowd parted, and my eyes widened in disbelief at the sight in front of me.
Blade.
He came.
“I swear I didn’t invite him, and Adan said he didn’t either.” Lucy’s voice came from behind me as she held my shoulders. “Do you want me to tell him to go? I’m sure we can figure a way…”
I shook my head slowly even before she could finish her words.
“Are you sure?” Patrea asked.
“Yes. Can you tell Ashton to ask me to dance if Blade talks with me so I don’t need to stay with him for a long time?” I told them.
“Okay,” Patrea replied, and then she was gone beside me, as was Lucy.
I didn’t want to see Blade. I’d been avoiding him since I moved to the Mystic Pack territory while Lucius was staying with Patrea. Lucy had been a great friend, telling me that if Blade was there, I would usually do my best not to show myself around him.
But I guess I couldn’t avoid it now. I didn’t want to make a scene and draw attention. Plus, the fact that the girls in my cla*s*s were ogling Blade irritated me. It must be the mate bond that was working and making me feel jealous at the moment that I wanted to show them what Blade came here for.
I remained in my spot, my head tilting up as I met his gaze.
In fairness to him, he did make an effort tonight. He abandoned his rugged clothing for formal black pants and a neatly ironed gray formal shirt with sleeves that he rolled up, making the tattoo on both of his arms visible. Although he still had a beard, it was shorter than he usually sported. He looked fresh and really handsome. And those biceps!
Spirits! I knew those arms could keep me safe and warm.
“Happy birthday, Althea.” His deep voice snapped me out of gloating over his feature, and my body jolted a bit back when I realized he was already standing in front of me with a bouquet of roses that he was handing out to me.
“Thank you,” I answered without smiling at him. I dropped my gaze to the flowers in his hand and took them from him.
Our fingers brushed slightly, and it was enough to create static, which I believed was the sparks they were talking about. Although the static surprised me, it felt nice, and if I remember correctly, I felt it stronger than the last time.
“How are you?” he asked.
“I’m good. Thank you.” I wanted to ask him how he ‘d been, but I held my tongue.
I already knew what happened to his pack and how his people were still giving him the cold shoulder, and some of them even requested to transfer to another pack. But I didn’t want to show him that I wanted to know what he had been up to.
“I’m sorry for your loss. About Alpha Fabian.” But this one I wanted to personally tell him.
“I guess he’s in a better place now, where no one can force him to do things he never wanted to do. More free. Maybe more alive than he ever was.” He said it in a solemn voice, and I could see the sadness in his eyes.
I wanted to hug him, but I knew I shouldn’t.
I must not forget that this man abandoned me the same way he abandoned his brother.
“If you want to eat, feel free to just grab anything you want.” I pointed to the buffet table at the far end, acting as if his pain didn’t bother me.
“Can we talk?”
I took a deep breath, not knowing how to answer that.
I missed Blade. There was no question about that. I was sure it was the mate bond he was talking about that made me miss him, and the sooner we could break this bond, the better I could move on.
I was about to answer him when an arm went around my waist and someone pulled me closer to his side.
I saw his eyes dilate as his jaw twitched. I almost had a heart attack as I waited for him to throw a punch, but I was relieved when he didn’t.
“Dance with me, Althea…” Ashton asked me, and I nodded my head, while my eyes were just looking at Blade, who didn’t take his gaze off me either.
Soon, Ashton and I were already on the dance floor, dancing to the fast beat of the music until it
mellowed down. He twirled me around before his arms caught me, and we began slow dancing, my hands holding onto his shoulders while he had his hands on my waist.
The thing about Ashton and me was that we looked like a couple, but in reality, we were just best friends.
Ashton had yet to come out of the closet to everyone and his family, but he agreed to help me out when I told him I needed a boy’s name for a boyfriend.
I even forced him to kiss me one time, just to see if Blade would come and see me, but nothing happened. He didn’t come for me. Either he didn’t feel anything or he never cared.
“I’m tired of dancing. Can we rest?” Ashton whispered in my ear.
“It’s not even a long time yet.” I giggled, but I nodded my head before thanking him.
“Good, because I’m sure this Blade guy will kill me soon just by the way he stares at me. And bless me, I hope he won’t punch me because that would mean death too. Just look at those arms. If I were you, I would seduce him, and you’ll get a boyfriend, a lover, and a bodyguard all in one.”
I chuckled softly before pushing him to the other side so he could hang out with the rest of our cla*s*smates. I didn’t want him to say more, as Blade might hear him.
I was about to turn around and look for Lucy or Patrea when Blade blocked my way.