I remembered the way the blade entered my stomach. “Thank you both,” I said.
“You focus on resting,” said Eliza, “Let me go get you something to eat. The knife didn’t hit anything vital and you need your energy.”
No reason to argue with her. I nodded and let her go. Clearly she wanted to give me time alone with Damien.
“What does she know?” I asked.
“Not a lot,” said Damien, “Enough.”
I sighed to myself, resting my head against the pillow.
“She saved your life,” he said.
“It’s not that. I didn’t want to drag her into this.”
Damien fell silent. He searched for my fingers with his.
“What about Aaron?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” said Damien, “I haven’t been back to the station.”
I took a painful gulp and nodded.
“I thought we were going to lose you,” said Damien.
“I’m still here.”
He opened his mouth as if to speak, but nothing happened for a time.
“I’m leaving Claire,” he said, “To be with you.”
“Damien,” I whispered.
“No… I can’t just pretend like I don’t have feelings for you, Amber. When I saw you lying there on the ground, when I carried you to the Deputy’s car, the thought of losing you hurt more than anything I’ve ever felt.”
“But… what about Claire? You’ve been with her for a long time. You’re going to break her heart.”
“I know you’re only fighting because you think you’re telling me to do the right thing.” He took my hand. “But being with you is the right thing.”
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t fight. Our future was still nebulous, but Damien kept my hand held in his and stayed with me during my recovery which, thanks to modern medicine and a little magick, was swift and easy on my body. The pentacle scar carved into my chest would never fully heal, but I would wear it with pride as a reminder of what I’d been through.
CHAPTER 44
I knocked on the door to Aaron’s apartment and waited, filled with a kind of warmth I hadn’t experienced since high school and a smile I hadn’t worn in days. In my hands I held a container full of warm, freshly made hazelnut cupcakes.
Aaron answered wearing a form flattering black vest, grey sweat pants and a pair of trainers. “Amber,” he said, surprised to find me at his door again.
“Going to the gym?” I asked.
“A run… come in.”
He stepped aside and I meandered into his house, placing the cupcakes on his kitchen counter.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“I’m okay. The pain doesn’t bother me so much anymore.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
I smiled. “I’ll get over it,” I said.
Aaron nodded.
I approached. “I know you came to see me,” I said.
He kept his mouth shut and stared at a spot on the wall, away from me. “Who told you?”
“Who do you think?”
Aaron nodded.
“Why’d you come?” I asked.
“Why not?”
“Aaron, look at me. Why did you come to take care of me?”
“Because that’s what I do,” he said. “I take care of you.”
I sat on the side of the kitchen counter, close to him, and stared at my knees. “For so long you tried to make me believe you didn’t care. I was just… nothing.”
“Amber—”
“And that’s what I thought I was. That’s why I always kept you at arm’s length. It was a defense mechanism. I didn’t want you to hurt me.”
“Did you always think I would hurt you?” he asked.
“I did,” I said, giving him my eyes again.
“You only kept me away to protect yourself. You can’t be blamed for that.”
“I used you, Aaron. You had feelings for me this whole time and I used you.”
“That’s behind us now.”
“You’re right,” I said, sternly. “Because I can’t use you anymore. I won’t.”
“You don’t have to. You know how I feel now. Things can be different between us.”
“Aaron,” I said, stopping him, “I don’t—”
“Amber, I’ve wanted more with you for a while. I was happy to take what you gave me but I wanted more. I was always working towards it.”
“How?” I asked, “We’re so different. How could it have worked?”
“I don’t know. But we’re great together. Aren’t we?”
My heart was breaking. All along I was scared that he’d be the one to hurt me and now I was hurting him. It frustrated me that he couldn’t even see what was happening right in front of him.
“We can’t do this anymore,” I finally said.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“This. Us. We can’t do this. It has to stop. Everything.”
“What?” His eyes darted from one side of my face to the other, “Why?”
“Because. I’m sorry, Aaron. We just can’t be together in that way.”
Silence fell upon the kitchen. I could hear the tick-tock of the clock on the wall and cars whizzing past outside, but Aaron remained motionless and completely quiet, until…
“Then we can’t be friends anymore,” he said.
I swallowed and looked away, then nodded. “Alright,” I said. “Keep the cupcakes,” I added as I headed for the door.
I didn’t fight. Things for him would be better this way. Aaron didn’t deserve to be caught up in a mess of witches and magick. Somewhere inside of Aaron, deep inside, a good guy wanted to get out. I’d experienced this goodness for a few days and can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. But I couldn’t take the responsibility of having to look after him while I figured out who was pulling the Sheriff’s strings.
Someone orchestrated all of this, a puppeteer with a smooth voice manipulating people from behind layers of secrets and mysteries. Unlucky for him, witches love unraveling mysteries.
So, what’s next?
I truly hope you enjoyed reading this book and that you’ll also enjoy The Rule of Three - click here to go and get it! I think you’re going to like it, though. It’s cleaner, faster, and more exciting than the first — and they’re only going to get better! So go and have fun with it!
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Kat
www.katerinamartinez.com
Katerina Martinez, Midnight Magick
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