Soul bound

Master Manipulator

TW for blood

Master manipulator

God, you're so good at what you do

Come for me like a savior

And I'd put myself through hell for you

Hear all the rumors lately

That you always denied

Logical- Olivia Rodrigo

The next few days were quiet, the boys doing their part to clean up after themselves and staying out of Aron's way. She'd hardly even seen Sam, and she couldn't tell if it was because she was avoiding him or if he was also avoiding her.

It's for the best she would remind herself as she wiped the sweat off of her forehead. She was outside, practicing her magic despite the Chicago heat, wearing black knee length basketball shorts and a red baggy t-shirt. Typically, she would practice in the grand lobby, but she didn't want to risk misfiring and hitting one of the incubi. Or to risk seeing them in general.

She focused her magic in her fingertips, shooting sharp energy at it and causing the bark to chip. She sighed, having hit too far to the side for her liking. She continued practicing, the kiss with Andrew still fresh on her mind. She tried to focus purely on her magic, but her emotions with Sam stirred in her chest.

"Oh? And what makes you so sure about that?" Diana asked her with a smug smirk, her eyes challenging.

They were standing in the lobby where the succubus had come to persuade Sam to return with her. She'd gone as far as offering him the throne, to rule the abyssal plains with her. Aron had come out to confront her, to argue on Sam's behalf. But that question made Aron freeze.

She didn't know why she was so sure that Sam didn't. She knew why she was sure she didn't want him to leave, why he had argued to leave. She had fallen for him, there was no doubt about that. And as much as the three words she so badly wanted to say meant, it couldn't stop him from leaving with her unless he reciprocated, and she was so confident he didn't.

Aron looked at Sam, who's eyes were glaring daggers at Diana.

"Oh, I see. You love him" Diana chuckled, obviously amused.

"Human, it doesn't matter how much you love him, he will never love you."

Aron looked at her, her heart squeezing painfully. "I know," she said, keeping her tone dry. "But that doesn't change anything."

Diana's entire body started to shake with laughter. "Oh? It doesn't? You would fight this hard for someone who won't ever love you back?"

Aron could feel Sam's eyes on her, but she spoke before he could. "Yes. Because, even if he doesn't, I care more about his happiness. Leaving with you is not something he wants, so even if I wake up tomorrow and he's gone, I can live with that because he's happy. That's what love is, even when it isn't reciprocated. It's wanting what's best for them, even if in the end you can't have them."

The woman rolled her eyes. "You are pathetic, truly. And incredibly stupid. What is best for him would be to allow him to leave with me, someone who can fulfill his needs in a way a mere human could never. Him staying here is only hurting you and holding him back from his full potential. Stop fighting so hard for someone who doesn't, and never will love you."

Aron opened her mouth to retort but gasped in shock when suddenly Sam's arm was wrapped around her protectively. "I love her."

The memory was cut off by a sudden stabbing pain in the side of Aron's throat. She yelped, blood gushing from the gash dangerously fast.