Three months. It had been three whole months since Ciara and I had started dating, and I could hardly believe how happy I felt. Every time I thought of her, a smile managed to creep onto my face, no matter where I was or what I was doing.
And it wasn't like I hadn't known her before or hadn't heard the whispers everyone knew Ciara, the oldest daughter of the demon queen and a notorious heartbreaker. She was that aloof, enchanting type who could charm anyone with a single glance.
I'd been skeptical about her at first, assuming she'd probably just want a fling or something lighthearted, but she'd shown me a side of herself I never would have guessed existed.
It was strange, actually. For all her attitude, Ciara was surprisingly kind, sweet in little ways that she probably didn't even realize.
She'd brush a lock of my hair behind my ear when she thought no one was looking, or stay up talking with me until the stars started to fade.
She had that grumpy, reluctant way of showing affection, like she didn't want me to know just how deeply she felt, but I saw right through it. And as much as I teased her for it, I loved that about her.
I reached Leora's office, feeling a warm glow as I thought about Ciara. It hadn't been easy for her to commit, I knew that. Yet somehow, here we were, together. Just the thought of her was enough to make my day brighter.
But the moment I opened the door and stepped inside, I felt something… off. There was a strange tension in the air, and Leora who usually greeted me with her trademark teasing smile seemed a bit too preoccupied.
Her expression softened as she saw me, but there was something in her eyes, like she was hiding something.
"Good afternoon, Aeliana," she greeted, her voice smooth but just a touch too casual.
"Good afternoon, Leora," I replied, taking a seat across from her. "Is something going on?"
Leora's smile widened, a little too bright. "Oh, just the usual. Paperwork, duties… you know how it is."
"Uh-huh." I narrowed my eyes, studying her. I knew her well enough to know when something was up, and today she seemed a bit too eager to keep things 'normal.' "Just the usual, you say?"
She nodded, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Why? Do I look like I'm hiding something?"
"Yes, actually," I said with a smile. "You look exactly like someone who's hiding something."
Leora laughed, waving her hand dismissively. "Oh, Aeliana, you're imagining things. Now, why don't we get to work, hm? We have plenty of tasks to take care of."
I leaned forward, crossing my arms on her desk.
"Come on, you can tell me. I mean, is it something about Ciara? I saw her earlier, and she seemed… different. More stressed than usual.
Did something happen?" I could see Leora's lips twitch, fighting a smile. She turned away to shuffle some papers, clearly avoiding my gaze. That was a red flag right there.
"Oh, I wouldn't know," she said nonchalantly. "She and I didn't talk about anything too important." She was trying to be evasive, and it was only making me more curious. What could she possibly be hiding? If it involved Ciara, I had to know.
"Leora…" I tried to keep my tone sweet, but I was determined. "You know I'll just keep asking if you don't tell me."
Leora only chuckled, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. "Oh, I'm sure you would, but you know I'm a master of secrets, Aeliana. I could hold out for years if I needed to."
I huffed, feeling a bit annoyed, though I tried to keep my expression innocent. "What if I… bribed you?"
Leora raised an eyebrow, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Bribed me, you say?"
"Yes. I'll bake you anything you want. Chocolate cake, perhaps? Or maybe some of those strawberry tarts you love?" I gave her my best puppy-dog eyes, hoping to wear her down. Leora loved her sweets, and I knew her favorites by heart.
She laughed, shaking her head. "Tempting, but no. Besides, you don't really think I'd let a piece of cake make me give up my secrets, do you?"
I sighed dramatically, slumping back in my chair. "Come on, Leora, just a hint. I can't stand not knowing. You're killing me here!"
She leaned forward, a smirk on her face. "Patience is a virtue, my dear. Besides, wouldn't it be more exciting to wait and see what happens?"
I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. "Fine. But if you keep secrets from me, I might just have to start keeping secrets from you too."
She chuckled again, thoroughly amused. "Oh, Aeliana, you're adorable when you're trying to be intimidating."
I gave her a pointed look, trying to look as serious as possible. But her teasing smile was infectious, and eventually, I couldn't help but smile too.
There was something oddly endearing about Leora's ability to keep a secret, especially when it clearly had something to do with Ciara.
"Alright, I get it," I sighed, though I wasn't exactly satisfied. "But if this is some elaborate surprise or something, I better be the first to know when it finally happens."
Leora laughed, a sparkle in her eyes. "Of course, dear. Trust me, when the time is right, you'll know everything."
After finishing the last of my tasks in Leora's office, I took a deep breath, stretching my arms with a sense of satisfaction. It was nearly evening, and the soft glow from the setting sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm light over the room.
Tonight, I'd be staying with Ciara, and I couldn't deny the little flutter of excitement that stirred in my stomach at the thought.
Leora had finally let me leave without spilling any details about the secret she was clearly holding onto, but whatever it was, I was determined to pry it out of Ciara later.
It was only a matter of time before she came to pick me up, anyway, and I'd perfected the art of gentle prodding when it came to her. Despite her stubbornness, I usually managed to get her to open up even if it took some patience.
Not long after, I felt a familiar tug of energy just before Ciara appeared in a flicker of magic. Her short white hair, always striking, looked slightly tousled, and her crimson eyes held a bit of that nervous energy I'd sensed in her earlier.
Though she tried to keep her face unreadable, I could see the tension hidden behind her usual smirk.
"There you are," I greeted with a smile, standing up. "I was starting to wonder if you'd forgotten about me."
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "As if I'd ever forget," she muttered, though her tone was soft.
But I could still sense something… off. And I wasn't about to let it slide, no matter how good she was at playing coy.
"So," I began, looping my arm around hers as we started to walk. "You seem… tense. Something on your mind?"
She kept her gaze forward, her jaw tightening slightly. "Nothing important," she said, almost too quickly. "Just some… thoughts."
"Thoughts, huh?" I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity only growing. "Care to share?"
She shook her head, that guarded expression settling back over her face. "Nope," she replied, her lips twitching in the faintest hint of a smirk.
"Alright, but you know I'll figure it out eventually," I teased, poking her side. She stiffened, though I noticed a faint flush coloring her cheeks. Whatever was going on in that head of hers, it was clearly something big.
Without another word, she wrapped her arm more firmly around mine, and in an instant, the world around us blurred. When the surroundings came back into focus, we were standing in her castle's grand dining room.
As usual, the table was set with an elaborate spread, and the dim, ambient lighting gave the room a cozy, almost romantic feel. She must've planned this an intimate dinner for two but her nervous energy was making me feel almost as jumpy as she looked.
"Wow," I murmured, looking around. "You didn't have to go all out like this. It's beautiful."
Ciara shrugged, slipping her hands into her pockets as she tried to act casual. "Just thought you might appreciate a decent dinner," she replied, though her tone was a bit too nonchalant.
I couldn't help but smile as I watched her fidget, her eyes darting anywhere but at me. "You know, you're kind of cute when you're trying to act mysterious," I teased, walking over to take a seat. Her face twitched as if she was resisting the urge to roll her eyes, but she didn't deny it.
As we sat down, she kept stealing glances at me across the table, almost like she was building up the courage to say something. The silence stretched out, but the longer it went on, the more I felt like something significant was hanging in the air.
"So," I started, breaking the quiet with a soft smile, "anything special you've been working on?"
Ciara picked up her glass, taking a long sip as if to buy herself time. "Just… dealing with some rogue demons earlier," she muttered, as if that explained everything. "Nothing major."
"Rogue demons?" I raised an eyebrow. "You mean like what you do every other week? Come on, Ciara. I know something's up."
She grunted, averting her gaze and muttering something under her breath that I couldn't quite catch.
But I could see it the faintest glimmer of something vulnerable and sweet beneath her usual tough exterior.
"Fine," she finally said, sighing. "Maybe I have been… thinking about things lately. Important things." Her voice softened, and she glanced up at me, her crimson eyes flickering with a look I hadn't seen often. It was both intense and gentle, something that made my heart skip a beat.
"Important things, huh?" I replied softly, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
She nodded, looking almost embarrassed as she fumbled with her words. "Just… about what I want. What I care about." Her gaze met mine for a heartbeat before she looked away, the faintest hint of a blush coloring her cheeks.
My own cheeks felt warm as I held her gaze, even if just for that moment. There was something so endearing about the way she was trying to express herself, despite her usual gruff exterior.
"Well," I said, reaching across the table to place my hand over hers. "Whenever you're ready to tell me, I'll be here."
She squeezed my hand, a glimmer of gratitude in her eyes. "Thanks," she mumbled, the tension in her shoulders easing just a bit.
As we settled into our meal, I couldn't shake the feeling that tonight was a turning point for us.
Whatever she had on her mind, whatever thoughts she was wrestling with, I could tell she was working up the courage to share it with me. And though I had no idea what it might be, I found myself feeling just as eager to hear it.
For now, I was content to wait, knowing that, with Ciara, patience would lead to something truly special.