Three hours. That's how long I'd been holed up in my room, trying to shake off the events of the day. Training those weaklings had been a waste of time, and the statue incident with Leora had only added to my frustration. I sprawled on my bed, glaring at the ceiling, lost in thought about Aeliana and how much she had managed to get under my skin.
Then, without warning, the door to my room flew open with a deafening crash. The wood splintered, and the door fell off its hinges, slamming to the ground. I sat up abruptly, my heart pounding.
Leora stood in the doorway, her eyes blazing with fury. "Ciara! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
I barely had time to react before she stormed into the room. "What the fuck, grandma?" I snarled, but my anger quickly turned to alarm as she reached me in two swift strides.
"You're impossible!" she yelled, grabbing me by the collar and hauling me to my feet. Before I could even think to defend myself, she delivered a series of quick, punishing blows. I stumbled back, half-laughing and half-wincing.
"Okay, okay, I get it! I'll pay for the damn statue!" I shouted between laughs, trying to shield myself from her relentless onslaught.
Leora paused, her chest heaving with rage. "I don't care about the money, you idiot. The statue isn't the issue. I've already put you on the perfect match system."
I froze, my amusement vanishing instantly. "You what?"
"You heard me," she said, her voice cold. "You're scheduled to give a blood sample. Maybe finding your perfect match will knock some sense into you."
I opened my mouth to protest, but she cut me off with a wave of her hand. "And just to make sure you don't try to weasel out of this, I'm blocking your magic."
With a flick of her fingers, I felt a strange sensation wash over me, and suddenly, my powers were gone. "Hey! You can't do that!" I yelled, but it was no use.
Leora smirked, clearly enjoying my frustration. "I can and I did. Now, get Aeliana to her house."
I turned, my eyes widening as I saw Aeliana standing in the hallway, laughing so hard she could barely stand. "Oh, great," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Just what I needed."
Leora gave me one last glare before turning on her heel and leaving the room. I scowled at her retreating figure, then turned back to Aeliana, who was wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
"Having fun, are we?" I snapped, but she just laughed harder.
"That was... amazing," she managed to say between giggles. "I've never seen anyone get their ass handed to them like that."
"Yeah, well, glad I could provide some entertainment," I muttered, feeling my face heat up with a mix of embarrassment and anger. "Let's get this over with."
Aeliana continued to chuckle as we made our way through the castle. "You know, you really have a knack for pissing people off."
"It's a gift," I replied dryly. "Now, are you going to tell me where your car is, or do I have to guess?"
"It's not here she teleported us here," she said, still grinning. "But I'm kind of enjoying this whole 'you being powerless' thing. Maybe I should take my time."
I shot her a glare. "Don't push your luck."
She laughed again, but finally I led the way to my car. As we stepped outside, I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Aeliana had a way of making everything seem so... easy. She had her family, her friends, and now apparently Nathaniel. I shoved the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand.
"Alright, let's get you home," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Where's the key?"
Aeliana handed it over, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Here you go, chauffeur."
I rolled my eyes and took the key, trying not to think about how ridiculous this whole situation was. As we drove, the silence between us was almost comforting. For once, I didn't have to put on a show or pretend to be something I wasn't. I could just be... me.
"So," Aeliana said after a while, breaking the silence. "Do you really think this perfect match thing is going to work?"
I shrugged, not wanting to admit how much the idea scared me. "Who knows? Maybe it'll be a disaster. Or maybe I'll find someone who can actually put up with me."
Aeliana smiled, a genuine warmth in her eyes. "I think you might be surprised. You have a lot more to offer than you give yourself credit for."
I scoffed, but her words struck a chord. Maybe, just maybe, she was right. But I wasn't about to let her know that. "Yeah, well, we'll see."
We reached her house, and I parked the car, turning to look at her. "Here we are. Safe and sound."
Aeliana nodded, a hint of something unreadable in her expression. "Thanks, Ciara. Forthe ride."
I shrugged, feeling awkward. "Yeah, whatever. Just don't make a habit of needing my help."
She laughed, and for a moment, everything felt... right. "I'll do my best."
As she got out of the car and headed inside, I watched her go, a strange mix of emotions swirling inside me. Maybe Leora was right. Maybe this perfect match thing could be a chance for something new. Something better.
I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away. For now, I had to deal with whatever mess I had gotten myself into. But maybe, just maybe, there was hope for me yet.
The drive back to my castle was filled with a mix of annoyance and confusion. Annoyance at Leora's high-handedness and confusion at my own feelings. What the hell was I even doing, letting someone like Aeliana get under my skin? It was maddening.
When I finally reached the castle, I slammed the door of my car and made my way inside, ignoring the curious looks from the servants. I needed a drink. Or maybe five. Anything to clear my head.
As I poured myself a glass of demon wine, I couldn't help but think about Aeliana again. The way she had laughed at me, the genuine warmth in her eyes when she had thanked me. It was infuriating. And yet, it was also... kind of nice.
I downed the wine in one gulp and poured another. This was ridiculous. I was Ciara, the unflappable, the untouchable. I didn't get flustered by anyone, let alone some goody-two-shoes like Aeliana. So why did I feel like this?