Haunted Romance { 𝓑𝔁𝓑 }

{ ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 XVI }

Aedion's grip finally loosened, his inked fingers slipping away from Rune's bruised neck. Rune's body went limp, his head falling to the side as his eyes fluttered shut. The pain and loss of blood had been too much, and he passed out.

Aedion watched for a moment, his gaze cold and unreadable as he stood over Rune's fainted form. He tilted his head slightly, his dark amusement flickering, but he showed no sympathy, as though watching a fragile toy finally break under his pressure.

"Take him to the nurses office and bandage his wounds," Aedion ordered. He glanced around the blood-soaked room. "And clean this place too."
He turned toward the door. "Aurora, you're coming with me," he added.

Aurora hesitated, her gaze lingering on Rune. "But... he's lost so much blood already," she murmured, almost to herself. "If he doesn't get proper care—"

Aedion's steps stopped, and he glanced over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing slightly. "He's still breathing, isn't he?" he asked. "That's all he needs right now. He'll survive. I wouldn't have let him pass out if I wanted him dead."

Aurora tensed, biting her lip before nodding. "Yes, of course."

"Good. Now leave him. We have other matters to discuss," Aedion said.

Aurora cast one more glance at Rune, the knot of worry tightening in her chest.

One of Aedion's men stepped forward. He bent down, slipping his arms carefully beneath Rune's limp body. He lifted him in a bridal style. Rune's head fell to the side, his body completely still, except for the slow rise and fall of his chest.

"Take him to the lower quarters," Aedion ordered. "I don't want him in my sight until he's patched up."

"Yes, boss," the guard replied. He turned toward the door, Rune's head resting against his chest.

Aurora watched quietly, her hands wringing together in anxious worry. Her eyes flickered between the guard and Aedion.  "I don't know why I feel so bad," she thought.

Aurora cast one more glance at Rune as she followed Aedion out of the room, the sound of the door closing behind them.

The guard finally exited the room with Rune in his arms. The door closed behind him.

Aedion adjusted his suit coat, the fabric sliding smoothly over his broad shoulders as he glanced at Aurora. "What's the schedule for today?" he asked.

Aurora hesitated for a moment, her gaze briefly flickering down to her clipboard before she responded. "Y-you have a meeting with the president's daughter later this afternoon," she said.

Aedion raised an eyebrow, his expression showing a hint of curiosity. "The president's daughter, huh?" He smirked slightly, as if the idea amused him. "What does she want?"

Aurora cleared her throat, shifting her weight slightly as she continued, "It's supposed to be a formal discussion about some political alliances, trade agreements, and... well, other matters of importance."

Aedion chuckled, his dark eyes gleaming with a knowing glint. "Other matters, I'm sure," he murmured. "Anything else I need to know about her? Any... interesting details I should be aware of?"

"She's sharp, well-educated, and known for being assertive in negotiations. You'll need to tread carefully—she's not someone easily swayed."

"We'll see about that." He straightened his tie, glancing at Aurora again. "What else is on my agenda?"

Aurora forced a faint smile. "Nothing else, that's all for today," she replied softly, clutching her clipboard a little tighter.

"And what about the Adriano matter? Did you find anything?"