Page 79 of Nexus
“Be careful what you say when you’re in your apartment,” mom warned us.
“We will,” I said dutifully as she led us to the door. “Thanks for everything,” I said, encompassing our entire visit with her. She nodded, then gave me a quick hug before I stepped outside. I placed the basket on the back seat, then we climbed into my car and drove away.
“I like your mom,” Aurora said. “She’s a good person.” She hadn’t met enough earthlings to make that distinction yet. Then again, she came from the underworld, where everyone was supposed to be evil. I hadn’t gotten that impression from some of the soldiers we’d met. They’d just seemed like normal people trying to survive in a harsh world to me.
“She’s pretty awesome,” I agreed, keeping the rest of my thoughts to myself.
Chapter Fifty-Seven
I STOPPED AT A GROCERY store on my way home to stock up on supplies. Aurora drew stares with her beauty and her green and blue hair. So did I, since my tatts and purple hair tended to stand out. She clung to my side as I pushed a cart around, tossing food and other items into it. I needed toothpaste, a toothbrush and a hairbrush to replace the ones I’d lost. Aurora needed stuff as well, so I tossed items for her into the cart. For now, her clothes would have to be stored in my suitcases until she found her own place to stay.
“Why are they staring at us?” Aurora whispered.
We were surrounded by humans and we were the only supernatural beings in the place. “We don’t look like them and humans get nervous whenever they see something they think is strange,” I explained quietly. “They probably think we’re gay, since you’re practically plastered to my side. A lot of people aren’t comfortable seeing gay people touching each other in public.”
“Why is that a problem for them?” she asked with a frown.
“For lots of reasons. I’ll tell you about it later.” There was too much to go over to explain it in a grocery store.
It was a relief to climb into my car once the groceries were packed into the back. I was used to being stared at, but it still grated on my nerves after a while.
Aurora carried the basket of clothing and I carried the groceries when we reached my apartment building. She immediately stripped naked when we were inside and began trying on the clothes. Mom had gone above and beyond and had gone out to buy underwear for Aurora. They still had their tags on them and I tore them off for my friend.
She modeled the clothing for me while I put the groceries away. “I love them!” she exclaimed, wearing a hot pink pair of jeggings beneath a white t-shirt with a sparkly unicorn on her chest. She sat down to pull on a pair of barely worn sneakers, then skipped over to my full-length mirror to check herself out.
I found I was grinning, glad to see her happy after her ordeal in the underworld. “They look good on you,” I complimented her. She had shapely legs and a tiny butt that men would probably drool over. It was hard to believe she was a bird in the dimension where I’d found her.
Aurora was about to say something else, but the words died on her lips when we both sensed something at the same time. “Lord Gilden is here,” she whispered. “I can feel his magic.”
I’d sensed his power as he’d pulled into the parking lot. He’d probably let it leak out on purpose to warn us of his arrival. I hurried over to my window and peered outside to see a sleek black sports car in the lot. Drake climbed out, then looked directly into my eyes. “He’s here to see me,” I figured. His gaze switched to Aurora when she squirmed in beside me. “Or you,” I amended with a frown.
The dragon lord shut his door, locked the car, then headed for the entrance. He was wearing another black tux with a white shirt and a black bowtie. Either he was coming back from a function, or he intended to go to one after his visit with us.
I made fresh coffee and had three mugs ready by the time a knock sounded at the door. Aurora looked at me in dread, but I couldn’t ignore him. He wouldn’t leave until he’d gotten what he’d come here for, so I opened the door. “Lord Gilden,” I said with a big, fake smile. “What a surprise.”
“Ms. Sterling,” he said in polite greeting, eyes searching for Aurora and finding her sitting on the couch. She’d drawn her knees up and was huddled against the armrest, trying to make herself as small and inconspicuous as possible. “May I come in?” he asked.
He wasn’t a vampire and he didn’t need a formal invitation. He was just being polite. “Sure,” I said and stepped aside to let him in. “I just made coffee, if you want some.”
“That would be lovely, thank you,” he said, taking in my apartment at a glance. Unlike Ruen, he didn’t make any disparaging remarks about it. “How are you, Aurora?” he asked, making her hunch down even more.
“I’m well, thank you, my lord,” she said in a small voice.
I’d already placed three mugs of coffee on the coffee table and took the middle seat before my guest could. I’d seen how he preferred his coffee during our infrequent meetings over the past few months.
Drake sank down beside me, dominating the room with his mere presence. “I’m sure you’re both wondering why I’m here,” he said.
“I’m going to hazard a guess that it has something to do with Aurora,” I said wryly, since he could barely keep his eyes off her.
“I have questions,” he said, then lifted his hand and waved it in a circular motion.
“What did you just do?” I asked when the hair on my arms and nape of my neck stood up.
“He cast a muting spell on the apartment,” Aurora told me.
“We can now talk in private,” the dragon said. “No one will be able to overhear our conversation.”
“Is it permanent?” I asked with a frown.
