Aurora

He comes ten minutes earlier than the time we agreed. He’s wearing a black shirt and a silver tie. His hair shines like my mirror and he smells of sea and freedom.

I put my son into the pram and Cael takes him outside the clubhouse for a walk. My whole being turns into sad greyness. I wish we could go for a walk as a family would.

I perch on the bed and freeze. A second is an hour. Or hours are seconds. My son’s crying tears me out of my numbness. Cael walks into the apartment with Kyle in his arms as Uriel follows them with the pram in his hands.

My son must be hungry. I take him over from Cael and settle myself into the armchair. With my breast exposed, I feed my son. Cael is watching me with dark eyes. I’m sure he wants to know whether I can take care of his son properly, so I do my best. He lowers and sits on the floor, cross-legged. Soft suckling sounds travel through the air. My son drops off to sleep. I lay him into the cot and pull a chunky teal cardigan on. My wardrobe is filled with chunky cardigans, scarves, and gloves. With woollen socks, warm boots, and winter coats. This is my only addiction—hoarding warm clothing.

“I’m ready,” I say.

Cael

I offer her my elbow, and she loops her arm through mine. Everything pulsates within me, drums in a hot primal rhythm. I fucking want to bend her over the table and fuck her raw. Uriel grins as our glances meet.

My eyes sweep over her profile. She is so beautiful, her little nose so cute, her lips so tempting. The red dress she’s wearing matches her hair colour. Her eyes radiate sadness. Her whole being exudes sadness. What the fuck am I doing wrong? Maybe I shouldn’t touch her at all?

We exit the apartment, and I release her. She walks down the stairs as I follow her. Her tantalising smell clouds my mind.

We cross the bar and the boys from the Cold Storms rumble like a horde of ancient lions. Aurora hugs herself and picks up the pace. We exit the bar, and I gesture for her to jump onto my bike.

One of the Atlantids passes me as our glances meet for a split second. If I remember correctly, his name is Wuylir and he’s an honorary member of the Cold Storms MC. Two humans are accompanying him, two humans that shouldn’t be here. None of my business these days. Two decapitated Atlantids from three years ago are none of my business either. There must have been a good reason for Wuylir or someone else to get rid of them.

I hold a hand out for Aurora and she sits on my bike. Her eyes wander off and that pisses me off. Why is this so difficult? So ridiculous?

I settle myself in front of her and her arms wrap around my waist. Her thighs are pressed against my butt. It feels good.

I start the engine, and Aurora shudders. She clings to me like her life depends on it. I rev up the engine and my wife is plastered to me like we’re one body. A damn very good feeling.

One of Wuylir’s companions walks out of the bar, a Tadarid. He flashes me a grin.

“The grandpas from the club will die of a heart attack,” he says in Italian. A cigar is stuck in his mouth. He moves closer to me as a grey cloud scented with expensive tobacco circles around me. “Vahan,” he says and we shake hands.

“Kyle,” I say. I turn to Aurora. “My wife.”

“I’ve seen her here,” Vahan says and drops the cigar, crushing it under his boot. He lays his hand on my shoulder as his blue eyes burn like he’s a wolf. “The wife’s place is always by her husband, son.”

Fucking hell. He is a boy to me. I look into him and see Samael’s job. The world has changed indeed.

“You know Samael?” I ask.

“Samael is my son-in-law,” Vahan says. “I’ll say your hello to him.”

I’m speechless. The Tadarids don’t know about our existence and this one seems to know who I really am.

Vahan bends and picks up the cigar, disposing of it into a bin.

He nods several times and steps into the bar.

Aurora

We roar through the centre of Windam and stop in front of a building that looks like it used to accommodate stables two, three centuries ago. Vahan’s words are still lingering in my mind. I like him. I like his wife, Alyssa, even more. She’s been to the Happy Stars Bar four times.

Cael jumps off and helps me slide from his bike. We move towards a metal gate that’s guarded by two white statues. They resemble Greek sculptures. A gravel path leads us inside the restaurant. I stop in the doorway, overwhelmed by the richness of the interior. Three crystal chandeliers cast a bright light onto the parquet floor. A piano stands on the platform seated in a round niche. Golden ornamentation adorns the upper and the lower edges of the walls as canvases in heavy frames and round mirrors hang on them.

We sit at a round table dressed in burgundy and white. Cael passes the menu to me.

“Can you order?” I squeak.

“You don’t like this place?”

“It’s too—“

“Too much.”

“I prefer simple things.”

“So do I.”

Cael grabs my wrist and drags me out of the restaurant. We hide behind a wheelie bin and his wings appear from his back. A shimmery white aura envelops us. I blink and we’re on a beach between two rock formations. Shiny seaweed of a dark green colour layers them.

Cael pulls me towards metal stairs that open into a caravan site. We walk along a path, passing trees and caravans until a small chip shop rises in front of us. A low stone wall encircles it. Cael pushes me towards it, so I sit down and watch him order the food for us. He returns to me with two paper boxes in his hands and passes one of them to me. I put it on my lap and open it. The smell of chips and cod makes my mouth water.

“So,” Cael starts, “the arrangements.”

“Yes.” I almost choke. Why doesn’t he want me to be a wife to him? “I work twice a week so you could look after Kyle then.”

“Sure. What about the weekends? Maybe we could go to the playground, the three of us?”

“It’s a good idea.”

We eat in silence. It’s a suffocating silence. The food is delicious, but every bit feels like a lump in my throat.

“Would you like to go for a walk, Aurora?”

“It’s a good idea.” I close the box and dispose of it into a bin.

We walk along the path back to the beach and then along the cliff. I notice a chapel that perches on the rock shelf.

“Can we step inside?” I ask.

“Sure.”

We climb the steps chiselled in rock and enter the chapel. Candles burn inside as their flickers create a dim aura scented with incense. I drop into a bench and cross myself. Cael sits down beside me. The smell of wax and old stone settles in my nostrils.

“Where is God, Cael?”

“Everywhere. In you. In me. In animals. In plants.”

“Can we meet him like we met Ravna?”

“I don’t remember, Aurora.”