My Sunrise Sunset Paramour (My Midnight Moonlight Valentine 2)

He shook his head and offered his hand to me, and when I took it, he kissed the back of my hand. “Do you need more time?”

Yes.

“No,” I lied because I was sure there would never be enough time for me to get used to this.

He carefully looked over my face like he knew I was lying but also knew we couldn’t avoid this any longer. “I will not allow anyone to hurt you,” he repeated.

I nodded, saving my words as he led me out of the room and into another room, a library so massive and stunning that I’d generally be stopping and begging to look at all of it. However, I was too nervous about what was beyond the library to pay any more attention to it.

You are strong, Druella.

A total badass.

No vampire can scare you.

Trust your magic.

Trust Theseus.

Trust your magic.

Trust Theseus.

You are strong, Druella.

I repeated the words repeatedly in my head while ignoring everything, breathing in and out slowly, and allowing the magic inside of me to circulate from within. Magical mediation was calming, so I no longer felt nervous or fearful by the time I reached wherever I was going. In fact, I held my head up high, high enough to see we were in what looked to be the center of a Greek-style foyer, the walls covered in mosaic tiles, with larger-than-life statues underneath that lined each side. From above, the light of the full moon poured in, but that wasn’t right—it should have been morning here.

Was the glass magic?

I couldn’t focus on it because at the opposite side, in front of iron doors, sat the most beautiful woman with long, dark hair and familiar gray eyes, like a queen. No, a real Greek goddess, dressed in fine silk. She was covered in gold from the golden laurel wreath crown on her head to bangles on her wrist. She didn’t blink. She didn’t breathe. If I could not sense her presence, I’d think she was the most realistic statute on the face of the earth.

“You’ve spared not even the crown, Mother?” Theseus asked, and it was so quiet that his low voice was amplified through the whole temple.

She still did not speak, only stared openly, directly, sternly at me.

“Mother—”

“Why is she still a witch?” she demanded, her voice as cold as ice wished to be.

“Because I want to be,” I spoke up for myself before Theseus had to.

Her eyebrow rose slightly. “You dare to speak?”

“Double dog dare, in fact,” I shot back with my head up, and I was sure I heard a snicker, but it didn’t come from the three of us.

We weren’t alone.

“How bold you are, little witch,” she taunted, a frown on her lips. “It displeases me.”

“My name is Druella Zirie Omeron. My friends and family call me Dru. You may call me Ms. Omeron like every other vampire but Theseus. I don’t really care if it displeases you.” I smiled wide only to hear a few other snickers and chuckles.

I turned to ask Theseus, but he was gone. He was here, I could still feel him, but he was gone.

Shit.

Stay calm, Druella.

“How quick your tongue is, witch. Like so many of the witches I’ve killed in my past.” Her eyes narrowed on me.