Chapter 31: Car ride

Blanche watched the landscape through the window, fascinated. There were few pedestrians, but enough to raise her Aurato level three effortlessly. Their auras displayed in countless colors—some bright, some dull, others mottled with shadows that revealed a person’s state of mind without hesitation. Some were so dark that she immediately understood why.

Simple contrasts—white and black—became readable. But the one shade she truly sought, the one she hoped to see again, still eluded her. The filaments. Nowhere to be found. Not a single aura bore them.

Looking up at the winter sky, she gasped. As the sun finally set, gigantic, majestic dragons took flight in the golden light. Real dragons—brown, gold, green, blue, red… each different, each magnificent.

“There are dragons in the sky…” she whispered, shocked and awed at once.

“You see them?” Kiyan startled.

She nodded without looking away.

“You’re not supposed to see them before becoming a drakion! Pretend you don’t notice,” he ordered, his eyes flashing. “If anyone catches you, they’ll know you’re more than a simple drakion.”

Reluctantly, she turned her gaze back to observing the auras… while sneaking glances at the sky. Half an hour later, they finally arrived at the South Tower, enveloped in a delicious warmth. The temperature difference made her shiver. And yet, her grandfather didn’t live that far away…

She had passed more than a hundred pedestrians; Aura reached level four. Immediately, information about people’s personalities flowed in. She smiled: choosing that skill had been the right call.

Then she frowned. Why was Sean’s aura so dark? Something was being hidden… but what? And could it endanger Eva? She glanced quickly at Kiyan. Should she tell him? But what if she was wrong…? The sun set behind the horizon, and her body vibrated like never before. A new connection. A sense that would remain, wherever she went.

No. Until she was certain, she would say nothing. Sean would earn her patience. He had gained her sympathy.

The South Tower was immense, almost intimidating. Less majestic than the North Tower, yes, but far larger. Looking up, she felt a headache coming. And it wasn’t going to get better…

Kiyan parked his sublime car in the underground lot. Blanche inhaled deeply, savoring the familiar scent of leather and the perfume clinging to his skin—literally. By Babylon… she was addicted.

Absolutely addicted. He offered his arm, and they headed toward the elevator.

“Ready?” he asked, placing his hand on the door.

“No, but let’s go anyway.”

He gave a gentle smile. They ascended.

At the entrance, the guards let Kiyan pass without a word. Worse: they bowed, respectful, deferential… almost fearful. Blanche felt a pang of jealousy. Everyone here seemed to know the man who, to her, was simultaneously a mentor, a role model… and the one she loved.

And her? What did she really know about him?

She quickly banished the ridiculous thought. After all, she lived almost at his place, and no one—no one—had seen her room… except her. And Eva.

As they advanced, she noticed other strange signs: drakions with reptilian eyes, some scales on their faces—revealing their coats. But not only drakions. Individuals with red, white, or iridescent pupils. Some with claws. Others carrying invisible totems above their heads, with golden eyes.

Shapeshifters, demons… the whole spectrum.

She fought to keep a neutral expression despite her growing fascination.

Fortunately, they soon arrived at a large glass-walled conference room. Inside, a cocktail reception was in full swing.

Her gaze immediately locked onto a man sitting at the far end of the table. He leapt to his feet, astonished. His aura… By Babylon. Ink-black over a bright white background, with a touch of red. His eyes shifted from black to violet before returning to complete darkness. And beneath his eyes, red filaments appeared at the base of his aura, spreading throughout.

Magnificent.

“Who is that?” she asked, unable to tear her eyes away.

He resembled Kiyan, but younger, paler, almost translucent. Jet-black hair streaked with white, delicate features… and that same sensual mouth, that same gaze—though in different colors.

“My best friend,” Kiyan replied. “Vampiric King Sebastian.”

“What? You have a best friend?”

Why was she learning this only now?

“Does that surprise you?” he growled, eyes flashing with irritation.

She dropped the subject and refocused on the others. The man presiding over the meeting—pure white hair, icy blue pupils—was now following the vampiric king’s gaze. A genuine smile lit his features. His aura expanded: icy blue on black, red filaments identical to the king’s.

Her grandfather.

Her throat tightened.

The old man rose. Everyone else immediately followed. A single gesture from him cleared the room. As soon as the door opened, sound returned. Soundproofed, naturally.

People greeted them as they exited, this time bowing to her. Some cast lingering but silent glances.

Kiyan closed the door behind them. Only Winter, Sebastian, and two men flanking the vampiric king remained.

Bodyguards. From their extreme pallor: vampires.

The first, short black hair, around thirty, hostile gaze… but his aura, a very soft gray on white, betrayed the opposite. A genuinely kind man.

The second, tall, thin, wheat-colored hair down to his waist, burgundy eyes, pointed ears… radiated cheerfulness. His apple-green aura on fuchsia, circled like Kiyan’s, promised something important.

At first glance, the four men inspired trust.

Blanche drew a deep breath.

“Good evening. Sorry for arriving so late. I’m Elizabeth V. Blanche Drake… but everyone calls me Blanche. Pleased to meet you.”

Damn. She had rarely felt so disconcerted.

After all… it was the first time she was meeting her grandfather.