“Aefre, no. That reasoning isn’t logical. He has taken her once, he will do it again,” Constantine says.
“Constantine, please. This is the only way. Tell Sebastian I’m sorry. He will see me again one day, as will you.” I cross over to kiss him, knowing this is the best way, the on
ly way to protect my unborn child. “I love you. Please promise me you will keep Cassis safe.”
“Aefre, no, you cannot leave,” he says, desperately clutching my hands as he sees my resolve.
“Promise me, Constantine, that you will protect our daughter,” I say again, needing to hear him say it.
“Of course, I will. I will not allow him to take her again, but Aefre…this isn’t the way. You cannot leave me. I love you. Please,” he begs.
“I will return, my love. I love you too much to be apart from you for too long.” I brush the tears from my eyes, missing him already, and I daren’t even think of my sweet Sebastian. I hope he forgives me in time. I step back from him and he shouts, “Aefre, no,” as I Astral off, cloaking myself so that no one will ever find me.
I know exactly where I am going. I open my eyes carefully, hoping that I have landed here alone. The suite is empty and looks just like it did the last time I saw it. I smile in anticipation as I change my clothes and alter my appearance just slightly so that I look exactly like the woman he fell in love with. With a feeling of sadness, I pull my wedding rings from my fingers and put them on my right hand. It feels awful and unnatural, but Cole will never agree to anything if he knows I am married.
I exit the suite, knowing I am risking a lot by going out a different way to which I came in, but also knowing that it is worth it. Worth it be a sire, worth it to stay off the grid until my child is born and hopefully by then I will have some idea how to protect her so that I never have to see Drake again.
One day, my love, we will be reunited, but for now I must do this. I have to do this for me and for my child.
I conjure up a bunch of documents with her name on them and some credit cards. I make my way to the front desk and book myself a suite and then I sit and wait. I have no idea where he is and no connection to him to find him. I am not about to wander around Miami looking, so I wait where I know I will see him when he returns. The time ticks away as I flick through a magazine absently. Then I see him, looking just as gorgeous as before, and I crave his touch. I know it will be different now. He is human and it will be very strange for me knowing what he can give me. He is alone, which is good, the hotel doorman is blocking the cameras from following him inside. I stare at him, following him with my eyes as he makes his way across the lobby. He must sense me staring, as he turns with a slight frown towards me, and I wait a beat as his eyes meet mine and then I smile. Slowly and seductively. His eyes sweep over me, sitting in the big armchair with my legs crossed, in my heels and tiny skirt, and he smiles back. He hesitates, but then slowly makes his way over to me.
“Hi,” he says, his beautiful eyes a deep shade of blue.
“Hi,” I say softly in her British accent. His eyes light up as I stand and hold my hand out in the way for him to take it and brush his lips gently over it, which he does to my delight. His eyes take in my Fae markings with a raised eyebrow and a smile.
“You are far too beautiful to be sitting here alone, shall I keep you company while you wait for your...” his eyes flick to my left hand free of my rings, “...date?”
“No date,” I say.
“No date?” he repeats. “Is this my lucky day?”
“Maybe, if you are good boy,” I say with a smirk and he laughs.
“Oh, you are a wicked woman. May I buy you a drink?” he asks.
“You may,” I say, and we make our way to the bar.
“I’m Cole O’Dell,” he says.
“Liv O’…”
Oh, crap! I have no idea what her name was before she married him. Oh, well, maybe he will find it charming.
“…Dell,” I finish, wrinkling my nose up.
“No way?” he asks with a laugh. “Are you just saying that?”
“Not at all, look…” I pull out the fake driving license and he peers at it closely.
“Well, fuck me, will you look at that. If we ever got married, you wouldn’t have to change your name.”
I grin up at him and a shiver goes down my spine as his eyes darken. “It’s handy, I’ll give you that. I’ll bear it in mind when I’m looking for a suitor.”
His eyebrows go up. “And what else will you be looking for?” he murmurs close to my ear as he leads us to a secluded table in the back.
“The usual.” I shrug nonchalantly. “Tall, dark, and handsome,” I smirk and add with a saucy wink, “and with the prettiest ever-changing blue eyes I ever did see. What about you?”
He snorts in amusement. “If I were looking for a wife, she would have to be short, blonde, with eyes like emeralds and lips like cherries.” He brushes his fingers lightly over my lips and I part them slightly. His eyes focus on them for a moment as I run my tongue over them slightly and I can hear his heart start to pound. “Someone who isn’t afraid to express themselves via ink and I think I would also like to find someone who doesn’t have to change their last name to be with me.”