1857

¬Amolet

At first, a devious smile spreads across Astro's face, but that quickly vanishes.

"We may need more immortals to kill Stace," Astro emphasises.

My own panic only increases hearing that. More immortals? Astro doesn't sound particularly pleased at that notion, which means it has to be imperative. How powerful is Stace if he needs multiple purebloods to take him down? Not only does it terrify me, it makes me more skeptical about siding with Astro and Cian. What if Stace decides enough is enough and kills us all without a second thought?

Cian shrugs, looking indifferent. "We have siblings."

Astro narrows his eyes, folding his arms over his chest, shaking his head slowly. I know they don't mean the Virtue's. Astro is already unpredictable, and even though he saved me from Noah and Stace, there is every chance he will turn on me when he doesn't own anything to Cian.

"Not Sinful," he growls. I watch Cian, the way his eyes glitter. He doesn't seem fazed, although it doesn't appear that he is scared of anything, even Stace, as powerful as they make him out to be. I wish I had his confidence right now.

"He's strong," Cian replies simply, sweeping his hand back through his hair in a way that exposes more of his golden roots. "We need him."

"Fine. Not Hale."

"Definitely Hale."

Astro sighs through his nose, pacing back and forth a few strides, the city lights through the window behind him illuminating his tall, imposing figure. Now I'm curious to know what Cian and Astro's relationship with their brothers are. In my head I figured they all got along, having too much in common not to. Clearly I was wrong about that.

"We are not having a family reunion," Astro growls stubbornly, narrowing his eyes on his brother. Cian grins, clearly finding some aspect of this funny. Perhaps it's Astro's discomfort that amuses him so much.

"What's my part in all of this?" I question. If more Sin's are becoming involved in this, then I may want out. I can trust that Cian won't kill me on the spot, and maybe Aatro if I stay in his favour. But there may be no reason for the other immortals to keep me alive, especially when I know everything that I know. I may no longer be valuable to Cian, even.

Astro glares at me, bothered that I even had the audacity to speak. "You're mortal, you will have no part."

"Astro," Cian scolds darkly, the firmness of his tone making me shiver. Astro just rolls his eyes, unimpressed. Cian looks back at me, his expression softening. "I'm sure something will come up, as long as you're safe."

"Why not just go back to your boring mortal life?" Astro asks.

"Because Stace will come and take me right back into the hands of Noah," I sneer in response. Admittedly, I feel safer with Cian than with Stace. Stace wanted to keep me there against my will, upon the instructions of Noah. If Stace is the all powerful one, why is he so willing to work with Noah, especially if Noah killed his own mate? Thinking about it too deeply is starting to hurt my head.

"You can stay here as long as you please," Cian offers. "Neither of them will risk stepping foot in this house, let alone this realm."

"You don't have to do that," I stutter, immediately overwhelmed by that offer.

Could I really stay here with him? I wouldn't last a second if I went outside and tried mingling with immortals. I would have to live here, for however long it takes, without leaving, and perhaps without Cian even here. I'm sure he has better things to do then to entertain me all day while we wait to get all the immortals together.

Astro tips his head back, looking frustrated. "She's right, you don't."

Cian doesn't even look at his brother, holding eye contact with me. "I want to."

"Well, you can be in charge of gathering our irritating siblings, I'm going to return back to my territory, where mortals don't linger," Astro mutters, giving me a lasting look before he disappears right before me, leaving no trace that he ever stepped foot in here in the first place.

"Are they all like that?" I question, releasing a long slow breath, finally able to relax now that Astro is gone. "Immortals, I mean."

"No, Astro had his heart broken by a mortal once and now is eternally spiteful," Cian admits, collapsing onto the couch behind him. I stand still in my spot, finding it somewhat strange to see him relax in front of me, to look somewhat normal, if that's even possible.

I rub the back of my neck. "I don't think I should stay here, with you, I mean."

He tilts his head, dark eyes gliding over me. "Why not?"

"I don't belong here, in the Immortal Realm." I motion out the window, at the glittering lights and endless city. I doubt there is any place in the mortal realm that could compare. Even if I'm scared to leave this apartment and be amongst immortals, a curiosity burns inside of me to see the rest of this realm.

"You don't have to leave without my protection," he assures me, although I don't share his confidence. I doubt anyone would mess with me if I had Cian by my side, but I can't rely on him to survive. "Nothing bad will happen to you here."

"What would I possibly do here? You no longer have a use for me," I remind him.

"You don't have to do anything in particular, you can stay here as long as you like, until you feel safe," he responds gently, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his thighs, clasping his hands together.

"What about Lev? He's probably freaking out wondering where I am," I exclaim.

Cian sighs, getting to his feet. Before I can open my mouth to speak again, he suddenly disappears, leaving me for a moment in the silence of his home, a sense of stillness settling over everything. Then suddenly, he reappears, except he is now holding onto a frightened Lev's arm. Lev lurches forward, out of balance from being grabbed from his home and transported to another realm entirely.

"Here..." Cian mutters, letting go of him.

"Lev!" I gasp, my best friend standing before me being the last thing that I expected to see. I let him straighten before I throw myself into his arms again. "It's so good to see you."

"What's going on? Where are we?" he questions, looking around the room, out the window at the lights, and finally on Cian. I see him physically flinch, unnerved by the sight of a powerful immortal.

"We are in Cian's home, in the Immortal Realm," I explain. I didn't want Cian to bring Lev all the way here, to put him in harm's way, but I couldn't be more grateful to see him. And he may have been at risk in the mortal realm, with Stace and Noah having access to him if they needed to manipulate me.

"Can we skip the panicking part, I'm bored of that now," Cian sighs, falling back onto the couch again.

"I have to stay here, but he can take you back at any point if you don't want to stay with me," I assure Lev, resting my hands on his shoulders. His light hair is wild, blue eyes gaping at me as he struggles to make sense of what is happening right now. I glance at Cian, who nods mutely.

"I'll go wherever you do," Lev assures me after a moment, licking his lips anxiously. "Someone's got to protect you."

"That part is very much taken care of." Cian brushes a wrinkle out of his dark pants, eyeing Lev with a cold look in his eyes. I want to kick him in the shin and demand he be more welcoming to Lev. I can't imagine what my best friend is going through, and it seems Cian already doesn't like him.

Lev straightens, looking at the Sin. "Why can't she leave then? I'm assuming it has something to do with you."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Cian advises, tilting his head. He doesn't like Lev threatening him, but he can't blame him...He just got dragged here and has no idea what is going on.

"Hey, I don't need protecting, alright? Lev I'll explain this all to you," I snap at the both of them. If they fight, none of this is going to work. "Just please don't fight."

"Okay...Fine," Lev mutters. "Where do we sleep."

As he says that, I suddenly realise how tired I am as well. I haven't slept in many hours, and all I want to do is fall into bed and sleep away this mess of a day. Even so, my mind is a buzz, still anxious after meeting Astro and being captured by Stace.

"I'll show you to your rooms." Cian stands, motioning for us to follow him, but Lev remains planted in his spot, folding his arms over his chest.

"I'm staying with Amolet."

Cian narrows his eyes, shaking his head. "I don't think so buddy."

"Then I'm in a room right next to her," he demands, reaching out to grab my hand. He is sweating, wet against my palm. It's taking a lot of courage for him to stand up to Cian. "I'm not letting her out of my sight again."

"Her room will be across the hall from mine, where I can insure now harm comes to her, because the kind of harm that comes from here is not the kind you can deal with. Got it?" Cian growls impatiently. Lev opens his mouth to speak, but quickly closes it again, knowing Cian is right.

I throw my hands up, sick of listening to them argue. "I'm sleeping on the couch out here...If either of you have a problem with that, I don't really care."

"You don't have to..." Cian trails off.

"Cian, it's okay," I assure him calmly, glancing at Lev. "It might be better this way."

Cian waves his hand and pillows and blankets appear on the couch. I nod gratefully at him, before sitting down. Lev looks reluctant to leave me out here alone, but with another glance at Cian, he finally relents, walking down the hallway.

Cian lingers for a moment, looking over me, likely wondering what more he can say to convince me to stay in a room instead of a couch, but can't find the words. "Yell if you need anything."

I settle under the blanket. "Goodnight."

He backs away, giving me a lasting look before disappearing down the hallway.

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Sophie_Midika

Midikacrane

~Midika 💜🐼