*~Aurora’s POV.~*
Fear the oldest trick in the book
somehow the one we decided would win us this war. Cayden had already laid the plan out in front of us. Lilith and I wrapped the rope around his body, tying off each marked spot. Hazel kept those marks memorized in her palm, and we promised each other that no matter what war we were about to step into, we’d win... and still make it back tonight, so I could have my abecking burial in New Orleans tomorrow.
We all stood. I looked at every single one of us, and the same fire burned in our eyes. This was going to be our last fight. We had been fighting forever. We fought Dahlia. We fought ourselves. We fought Jonathan. These bloody demons were nothing compared to the battles we’d survived — not when we stood together.
Emotion tightened my chest. I just hoped we all made it out alive, because we couldn’t keep running. We couldn’t keep living in fear. We couldn’t keep pretending there was someplace waiting to save us. There wasn’t. So we moved — not back home, but straight onto demon ground.
The moment we arrived, the cold hit me. It wasn’t like last time. Back then, this place had been alive — demons roaming everywhere, those white‑haired monsters living their wicked little lives. Now? Nothing. No footsteps. No voices. Just a heavy, choking darkness pressing down on everything.
Good. It should be dark. It was their last day in this demon house — because we were here.
Cayden turned to us. "You know the plan."
"Yes, I know." I flexed my hand. Hazel had wrapped it earlier to hide the mark. "Are you sure?" Cayden asked.
"I’m very sure," I said. "Darius will lose his head if he sees me again. Better we do this once — and do it right."
The plan was simple: I would go in first. The others would follow, but not directly. They’d sneak in from the sides, slip through the gaps, and access the demon stronghold while every single creature inside focused on me. My presence alone was enough to draw their attention. Darius would never let anyone else strike me first.
I walked inside as the demon doors groaned open. The others stayed behind, disappearing into the shadows. Every pair of silver eyes — every icy blue stare — snapped to me. A shiver crawled down my spine. For a moment I thought about Rebecca, and my heart softened... but then I remembered my sister, and it hardened all over again.
I shut the door behind me.
A growl echoed across the hall.
"She came back! Someone get Lord Darius!"
And then — suddenly — he appeared. Darius stepped out of the darkness like he had been waiting for me. His eyes widened, shocked.
"Aurora?"
I stood my ground as I locked eyes with him.
"Hello, Darius. I’m back," I said, swallowing hard.
His eyes flashed — fear, suspicion, something I couldn’t name.
"You came back," he hissed.
I nodded. "You killed my sister. And you said you’d keep killing everyone I love if I didn’t return. I had no choice but to run away from them."
He smiled as he walked closer. I stepped back, my heart thumping in my chest. I couldn’t risk my life — or my baby’s — not now.
His gaze dragged slowly from my legs to my face, and my pulse spiked. He took my hand, and it trembled in his grip.
"Oh, my poor little girl," he crooned. "You’ve already caused enough damage. You killed Rebecca."
"And you killed my sister."
"I know," I said quietly.
He shrieked, and before I could speak again, his hand crashed across my face. Tears blurred my vision as the sting exploded across my cheek. I felt Leon through the bond — rage pounding, barely held back by the others.
"Even though I don’t like hitting you," Darius snarled, "even though I don’t like any of this... you force my hand."
I straightened, forcing my spine tall, pretending the slap hadn’t rattled me.
"I deserve that. And I won’t run again," I said.
He narrowed his eyes.

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