“Great!” she beams. “I’ll even let you watch.” And with that, she spins around and disappears into the crowd.
“You don’t know what you’ve just agreed to,” Dorian whispers. There is pain, remorse in his voice.
“I know that it will save you and that’s all that matters.” I wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his hard chest. I look back up at him and try to plaster on a reassuring smile. “I’ve gotta go. I’ll see you later. Don’t worry, it’s gonna be ok.”
As I walk out to the parking lot, I fight to hold back the tears that threaten to unravel me. I don’t know what I’ve agreed to, but if it saves my Dorian, then I have to go through with it. He needs this, and I need him. If he can defy his father, his entire race of Warlocks, than I can surely give him this. All Aurora is going to do is help him. How bad could it be?
After a painfully awkward early dinner with my parents, I kiss them goodnight, ensuring them that I’ll be back in the morning. I’ve told them a bunch of us new graduates are going out to celebrate though I’m sure they know I’m going to be with Dorian.
As I drive to the Broadmoor, my stomach is tied in a thousand knots. I don’t know what to expect. If he is going to breathe Aurora, what does that consist of? Will he just grab her hand and take a whiff? It must be something more if he was so apprehensive. I could tell he was struggling with the idea yet he knows he needs this. I have to be supportive. He would do it for me if it meant saving my life.
“So glad you could make it, Gabriella,” Aurora leers as she opens the door to Dorian’s suite.
Why the hell is she answering his door? I see she’s changed from the modest wrap dress she wore at the graduation into a tight black pencil skirt, silk button-up blouse and platform high heels.
I step in defensively, preparing myself for the worst. Instead, I find Dorian staring out of the French doors into the dark night. He has a crystal glass of scotch in one hand while his other arm is resting against the glass. He’s weak, and it breaks my heart. He turns on my approach, his eyes glimmering faintly behind dark lashes as he smiles. Even in suffering, he is still the most stunning man I’ve ever seen. He is still wearing his dark dress slacks and shirt from earlier, the top few buttons unfastened exposing his tan chiseled chest. I don’t hesitate to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him, tasting the strong remnants of alcohol. His arms squeeze my waist desperately in turn. I don’t want to lose him; I can’t. Whatever he needs, I’m more than willing to do what it takes.
“Ok, let’s get this over with. The bedroom would be the best place. Like I said, you’re more than welcome to watch. I’m not shy,” Aurora smiles slyly.
I look to Dorian for direction, and he nods reluctantly. “Fine.”
Aurora sashays to the bedroom and I turn to follow her when Dorian grabs my arm, pulling me back to him. “If I feel you hurting, I’ll try to stop. I swear, I’ll try.”
“I know you will. But you need to get better. That’s all I care about. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even be like this.”
When we enter the dimly lit bedroom, I instantly want to scream for Aurora to get out. This is the place where Dorian has made love to me countless times; this is our sacred place. She has no business in here. But she knows what she’s doing. I don’t. Now more than ever I wish I could fast forward to my ascension. I wish I could let that magic fill me so I could channel it to Dorian. I should be the one healing him. I should be the one saving him.
I take the armchair as Dorian sits on the edge of the foot of the bed. We are facing each other, his expression full of pain, doubt and weariness. This is just as difficult for him. Aurora eclipses my view of him, standing directly in front of him nearly between his legs. I literally bite my tongue and dig my fingernails into my palms to keep from tackling her. This moment isn’t about me or my jealousy. This is about Dorian. And no matter how much I hate Aurora in this moment, I know that she loves him just as much as I do. She is his savior right now.
“Look at me,” she coos in her soft, sensual soprano. She places her hands on his shoulders, beckoning him to meet her gaze.
I hear Dorian sigh deeply before pulling his chin up to meet her eyes with his. The air in the room shifts and begins to shimmer around them. I can hear the hum of a forbidden chant in high pitched soprano, too low for me to make out. Vibrations radiate from their frames, indicating their powerful currents. This is it; Aurora is fixing Dorian. My Dorian. I hear him take in a sharp breath. I can’t tell if it is out of pleasure or surprise. She moves closer into him, nestling between his legs. I want to scream, tell her to get away from him. I want to slap that smug look right off her face. But Dorian needs her; he doesn’t need me. He needs her.