Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 26760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
“It looked like you were still open,” Aidoneus remarked, a trace of amusement evident in his voice. His eyes, however, were serious, scanning the room before settling on me.
There was no way he thought that. Curfew had gone into effect almost an hour ago, triggering the café’s windows to automatically tint, transitioning from clear to an opaque shade that ensured nothing was visible from the outside.
Tyler poked his head out of the back room, his eyes widening in recognition and fear when he realized who had just walked in.
“I-Is there a problem?”
Aidoneus' gaze shifted from me to Tyler, his expression unwavering. “You should leave,” he stated, the command in those three words clear.
And just like that, Tyler practically scampered out the front door, not even bothering with his belongings. I mentally scoffed at his spineless retreat, feeling a twinge of anger. Nice to know he had my back if something went down. I glanced at Amalthea, who was now on high alert, her gaze fixed intently on Aidoneus.
“Nice place you got here,” Jae-Hee commented, his voice dripping with casual indifference.
“It is, but we're closed.”
Aidoneus nodded. “That’s fine. We wanted a quick drink before heading back to Elysium. You can manage that, right?”
He wanted more than a drink.
Men like them didn’t come to places like Nectar & Beans for a caffeine fix. Their sector had far better options. But all I could do was nod, a thousand questions and annoyance swirling in my mind. Amalthea, always attuned to my emotions, slowly rose to her feet. Her large, icy-blue eyes never left the two men. A low, nearly inaudible growl vibrated from her throat.
I could feel the tension emanating from her, ready to pounce if I gave her the slightest sign. Aidoneus, to his credit, didn't flinch. Instead, he met her wolf's gaze head-on, an unspoken challenge passing between them. It was almost as if they were engaging in their own silent communication, a primal understanding between beings of power.
The air seemed to crackle with energy, the weight of the atmosphere growing heavier, a taut thread stretching to its limit. In that moment, I almost saw the flicker of ancient fire in his eyes, hinting at the fantastical depths beneath his composed exterior.
We learned in school that the Maelstroms were symbolized by dragons because their bloodline was said to be blessed with dragon blood, among other traits. As curious as I was to discover the truth behind those legends, I wasn't willing to risk Amalthea's safety to find out.
“Thea,” I murmured, using one of the silent commands we had been practicing. At once she settled back, though she remained alert, her protective stance evident.
“She's well-trained,” Aidoneus remarked, breaking the silence. His eyes held a glint of admiration mixed with curiosity. “Not many can manage such a creature.”
I forced a neutral expression. Thea was more than a wolf hybrid to me. She’d been a gift from Grandma right before she vanished. She’d become one of my closest friends, more family than pet. “She's loyal. We look out for each other.”
A slow, approving nod made me feel like I had passed some unspoken test. He then motioned to his companion, indicating they should sit. “Now, about that drink...”
With a barely perceptible shift in the atmosphere, the two of them took seats at the counter, their presence dominating the small space. I withheld a wary sigh, seeing they had no intentions of leaving. Amalthea’s gaze remained trained on their every movement.
“All right, what will it be?”
Aidoneus leaned in, his eyes locking with mine, their depths threatening to drown me. "Something iced. Dark and white chocolate, a touch of caramel, and a hint of hazelnut. Swirl some whipped cream on top, but not too much. And a dash of cocoa to finish."
His order was oddly specific. Each detail felt like a veiled reference to me—the dual chocolates for my mixed heritage, hazelnut for the scent I often wore, and the caramel for my sun-kissed skin. I turned to Jae-Hee, hoping I was wrong.
“And for you?”
“Just a black espresso, thank you,” he replied, his voice low.
As I turned to start preparing the drinks, I couldn't help but notice a dark stain on Jae-Hee’s collar.
Dried blood.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I sanitized my hands and then set the machine to brew before moving to the cold section, glancing once more at Amalthea. I tried to focus on the familiar routine of my work, but the quiet was stifling. I grabbed a glass cup, filling it halfway with ice.
“Do you know who I am?” His voice, gravelly and controlled, broke the relative silence. The underlying note of mischief in his tone made my skin tingle.
The way he said it, with such confidence, almost made me drop the frother. I caught myself just in time and frothed some milk until it was perfectly chilled and creamy. “You're Aidoneus Maelstrom,” I replied, reaching for the dark chocolate syrup.