Page 90 of Sweet Venom

Chapter

Twenty-Five

A HEART TOO BIG FOR HIS CHEST

Poe

“Even the monsters in my fucked-up head are afraid of how much I love you.” — A

The next night, I woke up to silence.

I couldn’t believe I’d slept through the entire first day here, but my body hadn’t given me much choice. It was the exhaustion of travel, of old memories stirred up, of emotions I’d kept buried too long finally spilling out. It had all caught up to me. I slept like the dead. Not even Prince could wake me from the deep sleep I was in. I’m not even sure that the little demon tried.

Evening had settled in by the time I pulled myself out of bed. I quickly took a shower, brushed my hair and picked a white dress for the night. It was simple but pretty. Then I venture outside of the room only to be met with more silence.

The halls felt emptier than they did last night and much colder. Luckily, I loved the cold.

Azariel was nowhere to be found.

At first, I searched quietly—half-expecting him to appear around a corner with that sharp, unreadable stare. I checked his study, the hallway that watched the garden, the corridor filled with those strange portraits.

I found nothing. Just the soft hum of rain against glass.

The only thing I found was his cat. Allen. I know his name because I’ve heard Aunt Kadra talk about him with Mom.

The grumpy little sphynx showed up without warning and began trailing after me like some tiny, furless guardian. I expected him to hiss or ignore me—like my own spoiled cat always did when annoyed. But Allen didn’t hiss. He didn’t leave. He even let me pet him—twice—and even purred.

For reasons I couldn’t name, that made my heart soar.

Later, I found a plate waiting for me in the kitchen. My favorite meal. Still warm.

No note. No clue who made it. Just the quiet and lovely presence of something done with care.

I didn’t need a name. I knew who did it.

Azariel.

My stomach had been in knots all day, and the first bite made my mouth water. The food was delicious, familiar. It tasted like my mom’s cooking. How did he manage that? I have no idea but I knew mom had something to do with it.

I ate in silence while Allen curled up at my side, watching me like he didn’t completely hate my presence in his domain. Maybe he could teach Prince some cat manners. Prince was severely lacking.

After dinner, I washed the plates and then wandered the manor again. Not searching this time. Just… drifting. Allen stayed close, padding along beside me like he’d made up his mind—I was his now. I smiled at that. I think winning Allen’s heart was easy. Nothing at all like his owner.

I kept walking through the halls but Azariel never came.

I waited. I told myself he was probably out. Maybe in the gardens or hidden in some secret wing of this vast place tormenting a poor and unfortunate soul. But deep down, I knew something was off.

It was the way it felt like he’d vanished entirely.

Like he’d never been here to begin with.

Now, hours later, I sit alone in his magical library while another storm stirs the night. Lightning flickers across the tall stained-glass windows.

I sat nestled into one of the plush armchairs by the hearth, the soft crackle of the fire providing the only warmth on this chilly evening. Both cats were sprawled lazily around me, their purring the only other sound in the vast library. Despite the comfort of the room, my thoughts trailed back to Azariel.

I wondered where he went. What he was doing in the shadows of the night, when even the stars seemed to avoid the sky. I knew he had his secrets, his demons—everyone did—but there was a weight to it that made my curiosity itch, that made my heart race with a sense of both dread and longing.

I pulled my knees up to my chest, absentmindedly stroking Allen, trying to push the thought of his disappearance from my mind. But it wasn’t working. I needed something to distract myself, something to ease the tightness in my chest.

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