A Hybrid's Hunger

Chapter 53

Chapter 53

By the early hours of the morning, I'm finally healed. My head doesn't throb, the pain in my throat and abdomen is no longer there and it feels like I never was bitten. Even the mark on my neck is gone. All of it—just gone. I feel conflicted for a few minutes when I shower under the warm, steaming water.

It feels good to not be in pain anymore.

So good.

My fingers trail over my healed skin and I smile at my reflection. I look and feel better than I have for a very long time.

My gaze falls on the bed when I leave the bathroom wearing nothing but a robe. Zade's not in the room, he was last night, but not anymore.

A deep sigh of relief leaves my throat as I slip onto something comfortable and warm. After being locked in the bedroom for quite a bit, I find myself making my way down the quiet hallway and then down the stairs. Even though it had been so long, it still feels a little strange being here. Especially now that I know the truth.

I see it all differently now, so differently.

My footsteps are soft and silent on the hardwood floor, and the house is quiet. But it doesn't feel empty.

The door to the kitchen is wide open and from here, I can hear the clanging of pans and metal. It smells good, like freshly brewed coffee and something sweet. When I step inside, I find Estella standing near the stove with an apron wrapped around her waist and a bowl tucked under her arm. She looks at me with a smile.

"Oh, Aurora, how are you doing?" she asks, placing the bowl down and asks me with concern in her voice. Her expression becomes tense when she finds me down, but I quickly ease her up.

"I'm good, thank you. I'm feeling so much better." I wrap my one hand around hers and say. She looks up at me, her eyes softening as a smile tugs at the corner of her lips.

"Thank goodness. I was so worried about you," She tightens her hand and pulls me closer to her. "Is there something you want to eat? I can make anything up for you. Just tell me."

"No, I—I'm just looking for Zade."

She smiles a little more, "Oh, you'll find that one outside." She points towards the window with her head.

I give her a nod before stepping out of the kitchen and toward the glass door.

The sunlight hits me right away, but I know it isn't as warm as it appears to me. The moment I step outside, coldness brushes against my skin, making me shiver a little. I look around in the garden for a bit finding most of the trees bare and the flowers already withered from the harsh winters.

When my gaze finally finds Zade, he's sitting on the stone bench under a small roof made with white bricks. He's leaning back, one arm thrown over the back and his other hand holding a cup filled with something steaming.

I make my way to him, and his gaze lands on me, his eyes lighting up a little as he sees me.

"Aurora." He murmurs my name when I reach him. He sits straight and pats the space next to him, gesturing me to sit.

"Zade." I smile a little and take a seat beside him.

He glances at me and takes a sip of his drink. It's not blood, thankfully. "How are you feeling?" His other arm falls over my shoulder, pulling me close to him.

"I feel good. So much better," I say quickly. "Thank you."

"I'm glad." He looks down at me and smiles a little, a faint hint of worry still lingering in his eyes.

"And how are you?"

"I'll be fine." His hand tightens over my shoulder as he responds.

I narrow my eyes down, collecting my words, "I'm sorry that I didn't come to you when I started reading those letters and began realizing the truth. Maybe I was a little scared, or maybe not, but I shouldn't have gone to your mother instead."

"Aurora—"

"No, let me speak," I cut him off, placing my finger over his lips. "I'm sorry. I didn't think much when I did that. I should've asked you instead. It was wrong of me to do that and I'm sorry, and also for the other things I might've done. I've been so terrible to you all this time and after knowing what's happened in the past, I just don't want you to feel any of it again. You've been alone, all this time, and I was just—I was selfish. And I'm sorry."

"You have no reason to apologize," He takes my hand from his lips and brings it down. "There is nothing you need to be sorry for."

I tilt my head, "Not even for stabbing you?"

"Well, that was a little painful," he chuckles. "But I deserved it. In my own twisted way, I did force you to stay with me."

"Yeah, you did." A small laugh escapes my throat as I think about it, the past few weeks—months I had spent hating him.

Before I know it, he grabs my face and stifles my laugh by pressing his lips against mine. I kiss him back, my hands moving up to his shoulders and then wrapping around his neck. He pulls away moments later, his thumb stroking my cheek.

"I want you to be here with me, Aurora." His eyes burn with emotions, pleading for a yes.

I don't look away from him. I can't. My heart races, beating fast against my chest.

"I'm here, Zade."

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