Chapter 80: Ancient Men and Infants

Chapter 80: Ancient Men and Infants
Vlad didn’t move, nor did he speak. But his pulse betrayed him. Aurelia’s unease rippled through their bond. He felt it like a bruise inside his own chest.

What on earth was it about that silly question that made her so uneasy? Unless her answer was one she was embarrassed by. He studied her from behind, noting how her shoulders had tensed up.

No.

Damn her. Was it him?! There was no way he was one of her favorites. Was she drunk?

He’d been nothing but cruel to her; she couldn’t be so hopeless as to still like him. Even if they were bound by their soul tie. She was oblivious to the fact, wasn’t she?

“Is it me?” Zen asked, frowning. “Don’t be shy, weakling.”

“No,” Aurelia said.

“That was too quick.”

“She said it’s not you,” Ethan said. He looked at Aurelia. “It… wouldn’t be me, right? I’ve hardly spoken ten words to you since Olive brought you around.”

Aurelia smiled but shook her head. “No, Sir, it’s not.”

“Then it’s Fayed,” Zen said. “Damn that silent seducer.”

“No.”

“Seth! He makes you want to be his wife?”

“No. Although Mr. Seth is dashing.”

“Dashing!” Ethan repeated with a laugh.

Seth ran a hand through his hair, trying to hide his smirk.

“Then who is it?” Zen asked.

He stared at her, noting the pink in her cheeks as the silence stretched. He frowned, eyes slowly squinting.

Like heaven suddenly blackened the room and put a spotlight on them, Zen could suddenly see the tension thickening the air between Aurelia and Vlad, who stood stiffly behind her.

“Surely not…” he whispered. “No way! I couldn’t be Vl—”

“Xavier!” Aurelia blurted. “Xavier’s my favorite! H-he’s… been very nice.”

“Balls,” said Ethan. “He’s been a complete butthole to you since you arrived.”

“Language,” Seth sighed.

“Yeah, but he’s changed!” Aurelia chirped, smiling. Ethan’s profanity didn’t shock her anymore.

Vlad clenched his jaw, glaring at the back of her head.

He was unaffected. Of course, he was unaffected! He hadn’t expected her to say his name, that would be senseless. To the others, she was his least favorite person; it wouldn’t make sense for her to claim he was her favorite.

But still… he couldn’t unclench his jaw.

A silent scoff flared his nostrils.

Xavier?

Please.

“In what way has he changed?” Ethan asked.

“Yeah,” added Syre. “What about his insufferable attitude towards you made him become one of your favorites?”

“Well, he said I don’t have to call him Sir!” Aurelia said. “I can call him by name.”

“Me too,” said Syre.

“Call me Zen,” Zen offered. “I never did like the Sir part, makes me feel aristocratic, in some way.”

“Yeah,” agreed Ethan.

Aurelia blinked in pleasant surprise. “Can I call you all… by name, then?”

“I officially grant you permission,” Zen announced, waving a regal hand toward her.

“Wonderful,” she expressed. “I’m starting to feel like I have real friends now.”

“Friends?” Zen asked, raising a brow.

“How old are you?” asked Ethan. “My friends must be at least three centuries old.

She blinked. “I’m… nineteen.”

The room plunged into silence.
It stretched as they stared at her. Were a dried leaf to land upon the floor at that moment, it would produce a thunderous sound.

Aurelia swallowed hard, tensing under their shocked stares.

“You’re… nineteen?” Seth said, nearly whispering. “You’re a baby. You’re an infant.”

She blinked. “Not quite—”

“How did you get into slavery when you’re only a child?” Ethan whispered.

“I’m not a child—”

“To think that you were able to resist us despite being an infant,” Zen dazedly said. “You must be some unbelievably powerful species.”

“Guys, my infancy was eighteen years ago—”

“No wonder you’re so frail,” Fayed quietly mumbled.

Surprised, Aurelia looked at him, only to find him looking pitifully at her. With an incredulous smile, she took his arm. “Don’t look so sad! I’m fine.”

He sadly sighed, making Aurelia even confused at their reaction.

Syre was staring at her like he was seeing her for the first time. “I’m… going to have to protect you a lot more now…”

Aurelia huffed, sticking her hands on her hips. “I’m perfectly fine, everyone! A nineteen-year-old is an adult!”

“I was nineteen five hundred years ago,” said Zen.

She gasped, a hand rising to cover her mouth. “Oh, my goodness. That’s… You’re ancient...”

“I am,” Zen proudly said.

“Then…” Aurelia didn’t know why she did what she did next. Before she could think it through, she turned and looked at Vlad. “How old is…?”

Stunned at her sudden question, Vlad straightened and stared at her in disbelief. “That isn’t any of your concern.”

“He’s four centuries and fifty years old,” Ethan offered, earning himself a glare.

“Seth is the oldest,” Syre said. “Then Fayed, and then Zen, then Vlad, then Xavier, then Ethan, and then me.”

“Whoa,” Aurelia breathed. “How old are you, Syre?”

“I’m—”

“We don’t have time for this,” Vlad finally muttered, sick of their chatting.

“It’s a harmless conversation,” said Zen. “Some of us enjoy talking, you know?”

“Talking isn’t going to get her everything on the list,” Vlad countered as he walked toward Seth, already pissed that Aurelia had acquired personal information on him.

“We’ve already agreed that the list is impossible for her,” Ethan said.

Vlad turned, staring at Aurelia. “Then you’re not going to the damn academy?”

She pouted. “I want to go. Please.”

His teeth clenched then, showing displeasure at her answer. “I told you that you could die. Everyone here’s telling you that it’s impossible. Why won’t you listen?”

She looked simultaneously apologetic and stubborn as she glanced around at the guys. “I’m sorry, I just… If I give up on this, I’ll be left with no other way to go back. I must go back, I need to…”

Aurelia trailed off, studying the curious looks on their faces. She sighed.

“And so, what if you do go back?” Vlad asked.

She looked at him.

Not being alone in her secrets gave Aurelia comforts. Even if the person she shared them with wanted nothing to do with her.

“What if you go back and you’re powerless to change anything, with or without us?” he demanded. “What will you do then?!”

She thought it over. “Without or without you? Without, maybe. But… I don’t think I can ever be powerless if I have the Legion of Onyx by my side. So, just help me. Stop fighting me, and help me, Vlad. Please.”

All around the room, shoulders squared and eyes glinted with pride at her faith in them.

Only Vlad was grinding his teeth. “You’re unbelievably frustrating. Do you know that?”

His words didn’t make her angry. Thinking of what Bronan said and seeing the bruises on his knuckles, Aurelia couldn’t really get angry at him right now. Besides… she needed him.

She smiled gently, hoping—desperately wishing—that their relationship could change for the better. Even if he wouldn’t reciprocate her undeniable feelings for him. “I’m frustrating?”

“Extremely,” he muttered.

She laughed cheerfully. “That, Vlad, Sir… sounds to me like your acceptance to help me.”