The invitation
Going through edits, so this is a rewritten version ;)
Pov: Aurora
The winds were getting chilly, and the apples were ripe. I was eating breakfast in the garden, enjoying the crisp autumn air.
This was my favourite time of the year. Autumn meant I could finally start preparing for my annual halloween party, my greatest pleasure. It was the one time of the year people besides myself enjoyed my creative pranks.
My husband emerged from the house, waving something in his hand. I smiled at him, enjoying the view of him in a white linen shirt, and rolled up nature colored pants.
We’d been married for almost two hundred years and I never tired of looking at him.
“A letter came from Angélique,” he called as he approached.
“A letter?” I chuckled. “So formal.”
“You’re going to hate this,” he smirked while handing me the black card. I frowned as I took it from his hand.
“She has to be joking!” I hissed. It was an invitation to her first halloween ball at her new court. It was marked for October 31, the same day as I always had my own party.
“We’re not going!” I said firmly and slammed the invitation down on the table.
“I hear you, but a few of my other siblings have been invited as well, and Bella sent me a text asking me if I thought it would be safe for her to go,” Damion raised a brow.
Any other occasion I would have loved the idea, but Halloween—that was my thing…
“Bella is going?” I asked, disappointed. I had looked forward to her joining another halloween, especially now, when she remembered using magic and could appreciate my craft.
“Looks like it. You could try to persuade her to come to your party instead, but you know how she feels about ghosts,” Damion smirked.
I let out a deep, annoyed breath. “The irony.”
My husband laughed. The sound almost calmed my fury, but then my phone rang…
My gaze hardened as I stared at my phone, it was Angélique. “To what pleasure do I owe, Angélique?” I asked when I picked up, keeping my tone polite.
“Bonjour, Aurora,” she chuckled. My grip around the phone tightened. “Did you get my invitation?”
“If you’re referring to the pretty little black card with golden letters, inviting us to a ball on October 31, then yes,” I said, hoping she’d catch on.
“I know you usually have your party on that date,” she excused, making me click my tongue in annoyance. “But I was hoping you could help me with mine this year,” she continued—the audacity.
“Surely with a court like yours you have no use of me,” I snorted.
“True, but it could really use a magical touch. Could you maybe, just this year, help me arrange an unforgettable halloween ball at my new court?” She asked me, all business in her voice—typical.
I was about to reject her and hang up... but then I suddenly had an idea and a wicked smirk formed on my lips. “Sure Angèlique, I’ll help you arrange a halloween ball you’ll never forget.”
Angélique thanked me before she hung up. Of course she did, she didn’t see my face.
“Play nice, Aurora,” Damion warned.
“I always play nice, honey,” I smiled viciously. I was going to arrange a night she’d never forget. That should teach the bitch a lesson.
“I’m serious, love. Don’t ruin this for her. You won’t be able to enjoy this Halloween the same as you usually do, anyway,” Damion murmured, stroking my cheek.
I leaned into his touch and blinked up at him, tucking my mischief out of his sight as desire coiled in my stomach.
“You’re right, I’ll just enjoy it differently this year,” I smiled at him—it wasn’t a lie, I was going to enjoy it.
“You better mean it, dear,” Damion chuckled, tilting my chin up so he could peer into my eyes.
I smirked at him. “Perhaps I should be punished for my wicked thoughts?”
There was a spark in his eyes as they darkened and his thumb brushed over my lower lip. “I think you’re right. Maybe I should distract you from your vicious mind.”
I rose from my chair keeping my gaze locked with his.
He placed his other hand at the small of my back and pulled me closer. “I mean it, Aurora, don’t do anything naughty. This ball means a lot to Angélique, and we do not want to see her authority challenged before her court,” he said with a low threatening voice.
It burnt like embers under my skin, but my mischievous expression stayed the same. “So serious,” I snickered and leaned my head on his shoulder, breathing in his cologne.
The crisp autumn air was the last thing on my mind now.
“You know you make me want to be naughty when your eyes give such promise,” I murmured seductively.
“And you know you don’t have to be wicked to get my attention, love,” He laughed darkly as his hand slid along my neck before he fisted my hair.
He pulled my head back, making me look into his eyes again. They were burning, just the way I wanted them too. I smiled back at him, daring him.
“Promise me you will not do anything stupid,” he demanded.
After all this time he still hadn’t learnt, and it was glorious.
“I think I need some convincing,” I purred, not even trying to look innocent.
Damion’s lip curled up, but his gaze didn’t cool down. “Gods, you are such an infuriating woman,” he chuckled, before his lips crashed against mine.
I melted in his arms, as our tongues fought for power. He bit my lip, tugging at it softly before pulling away. I shuddered as a cold breeze swept over my hot skin.
“You better brace yourself then, I expect this to take a while,” Damion smirked wickedly, all traces of kindness gone from his eyes—a darkness reserved for me.
“Bring it on,” I mocked him defiantly. I’d take his beautiful fury, enjoy it, and then—I’d let him think I was going to play nice.
