CHAPTER 202: _SOUL RIPPING PAIN

Aurora’s POV

*****

"S–Sorry for asking your highness." Seraphyne’s voice broke Aurora out of her reverie. "I’m just wondering what you’re... Doing here. This is a tier one hotel after all and..."

She paused, batting her eyelashes at Aurora like she knew she was asking too much.

She wasn’t.

"You’re right." Aurora chuckled lightly, leaning more comfortably on the counter. "I usually won’t be caught dead in one of these. Last time was because of some... Hiccups beyond our control."

For the briefest moment, her mind flashed back to Magnus and the tiny hope she’d still clung to back then that he would come back to his senses and beg for her forgiveness.

Only to have that hope shattered when Estella came back and announced he was killed by Kyren.

And before that, she still remembered the soul-ripping pain she went through when she felt the mate bond break due to Magnus’ death.

She once hated that man... But that pain was something she never wanted to experience again.

"Pardon." Aurora rubbed the space between her eyes, chuckling dryly. "Got carried away in my dark thoughts there for a second."

She brought her eyes back to Seraphyne’s and was surprised to see them soften.

The latter grabbed a bottle of Moon Dew from underneath the counter, alongside two glasses, and dropped them softly.

"I saw you that night. When you... Felt your mate dying." She revealed, causing Aurora’s heart to skip a beat.

Crap, a lot of people must’ve seen the same that night.

The princess became a little self-conscious, glancing wearily at the bar around her.

She caught a few customers staring at her and whispering. It didn’t take long for her to pick up their words.

"I was here that night." A man said with a drunken voice. "Saw it with my own two eyes. She... She glowed. Screamed like her soul was being ripped out of her."

"Oh, the poor thing. She’s always been my favourite royal." A woman chimed.

"I’m very sure her mate died. I haven’t heard shit about Baron Magnus, and my brother lives in his city. Apparently, his family has chosen a new Baron under the orders of the Alpha king."

"The royal family never made an official statement. Are we—"

Aurora couldn’t stand it anymore.

She banged her right hand on the counter, whipping her head back and glaring coldly at all of them.

"Can all of you at least wait till I’m out of here before you start spewing trash about me?" She snarled, her voice booming through the room.

Everyone became dead silent in an instant.

Some slowly stood up and attempted to make up with a bow. "Good... Good day, your highness—"

"It was a good day." She rolled her eyes with a scoff.

However, before she could turn her gaze away from them, she felt a soft hand clasp around hers. Aurora stiffened, a small chill running through her.

Not a fearful chill. Just one that made her legs numb.

"I understand what you feel." Seraphyne’s voice was soft, guiding Aurora to bring her gaze back to her.

The princess squinted, her eyes flicking from the bartender’s hand to her face repeatedly.

Why did her hand feel so... Right on hers?

"What? You’ve had your mate killed after he kidnapped you?" Aurora chuckled nervously, her voice breaking as she avoided the bartender’s sharp hazel eyes.

There were a few seconds of silence before Seraphyne slowly withdrew her hand from Aurora’s.

"Can’t relate to the kidnapping part. But yes."

Aurora raised her head, her lips parting when she saw Seraphyne pouring the moon dew into the two glasses.

"My first and only love." Seraphyne smiled bitterly. "Aria. We were mates, just like you and Baron Magnus. We had plans to... To get married, run away from Moon Haven and move to a simpler city at the western borders of the Empire. A cottage from my grandmother."

Aurora grabbed one of the glasses of moon dew silently, sitting on a stool. She stared attentively at Seraphyne as she went on.

"Long story short, Aria got a job as a mercenary. Under a company owned by the Dark Hand." Seraphyne’s fists clenched on the counter, her eyes raw with pain. "I’ll never forget the night I thought she’d come back from a mission. She—"

Aurora knew where this was going and clenched her jaw.

Meanwhile, Seraphyne sniffled, shrugging like it was nothing. She downed her drink in one gulp before sighing.

"I felt the mate bond shatter and couldn’t feel Aria again. She was dead. And I remember it feeling like my heart stopped." She muttered, her voice shaky. "The mercenary company ’never found’ her body. But I knew that was bullshit."

Seraphyne finally raised her head, blinking at Aurora who just sat there not knowing what to do or say.

The princess was usually easily able to relate to other people’s emotions. To dissect them. But right now her mind was a fog.

Odd...

"Sorry." The bartender rubbed the back of her neck. "I’m boring you with—"

"No, no, no." Aurora shook her head, grabbing her hand. "You’re not boring me. If anything your story has made me realise how my family has let the Dark Hand’s corruption fester in the shadows for way too long."

Seraphyne quirked her lips gently. "That’s just it. They’ve been working in the shadows. I don’t blame your family much for being unable to crack them down."

Oh... She had no idea...

Aurora forced a smile, lifting her glass and wiggling it around briefly. When she finally felt the moon dew streaming down her throat, tasting slightly like honey, she sighed with satisfaction.

"How much do I owe you?" She asked, already searching around for her ticket bracelet.

However, Seraphyne chimed hastily. "It’s on the house."

Aurora’s brows furrowed, her head rising to stare at that pretty face again.

Something stirred in her that she still couldn’t explain for the life of her.

"T–Thank you—" before Aurora could finish that sentence, she felt a tug on her mind.

She frowned, touching her necklace and watching as it glowed softly.

Someone was calling.

Aurora gave Seraphyne an apologetic smile before picking. "Hello?"

"Aurora." Lucian’s voice came through, sounding grim. "I may need your help with something."