His Human, His Sin (Book 2 of Aurora the Vampire's Pet)

Chapter 7

Aurora’s POV:

My thoughts spun in confusion as I watched Theo disappear from the room in a blur.

He’d said he found a way out—our way out—which meant he’d come up with some kind of solution. I couldn’t even begin to guess what it was as I tried to will the warmth from his kiss to fade from my cheeks.

I abandoned the idea of speculating almost immediately. Whatever it was, I’d hear about it soon enough when he returned.

And just like that, the concern was swept aside, replaced by a rush of happiness so strong it nearly made my chest ache. Everything that had happened only moments ago came crashing back in full force—the excitement I’d forced myself to hide while he was still here, terrified of embarrassing myself.

Now, though? There was nothing holding me back.

All that bottled-up joy surged through me at once, buzzing beneath my skin like it had nowhere to go. I felt like I might burst from it. I wanted to run to the window and shout my happiness into the world.

Unfortunately, my current physical state—and the very poor idea of announcing something like that out loud—stopped me. So instead, I did the next best thing.

I grabbed the nearest pillow, buried my face in it, and let out a muffled squeal, kicking my legs over the bed like an overexcited child. In that moment, nothing could ruin this feeling. Not even the bandages wrapped tightly around my torso mattered compared to this.

I had never felt happiness like this before.

A small part of me even understood the relief Theo had felt earlier, though I hadn’t been ready to admit it out loud. Pulling the pillow away, I took a sharp breath.

I wanted him. And despite every rule this world seemed to enforce—despite the hatred and division between our races—he wanted me too.

Even though his kind had killed my family.

My shoulders sagged as the thought settled in.

My parents. My sister. What would they think of this?

Would they be glad that I hadn’t ended up as nothing more than a vampire’s blood source? That I’d found my own happiness, even if it came from the very beings we were taught to fear? Or would they be disappointed—angry, even—that I didn’t hate vampires the way I was supposed to? That I hadn’t lived by my father’s beliefs or sought vengeance for what was taken from us?

I knew I’d never have an answer to that.

Surprisingly, it didn’t hurt as much as I expected. Because no matter what, it wouldn’t change how I felt. What I felt when I was with Theo—what I still felt now—was right. Undeniably so.

I doubted many things in this world, but not that.

I was happy. And that had to count for something.

I nodded softly to myself, absently tracing my fingertip across the pillowcase. Little patterns formed beneath my touch as my thoughts drifted, savoring the moment while it lasted.

The sound of the door opening snapped me out of it.

Theo rushed back in, wearing the same excited expression he’d left with.

“Aurora,” he said as he shut the door behind him, his voice bright with energy. “We’re leaving.”

My eyes widened—both at his words and at how just seeing him reignited that rush of excitement all over again.

“What?” I asked, startled but thrilled. “Where?”

He crossed the room quickly, his excitement practically glowing.

“Home,” he said, setting the letter he’d taken earlier down beside me on the bed. “My father invited Ali and me back—to live with him and my mother.”

Something about how upbeat he sounded caught my attention.

“I thought you and your father didn’t exactly get along,” I said cautiously.

He let out a short laugh.

“We don’t. But I’m willing to deal with that if it means we don’t have to stay here anymore.”

My mind raced with the possibilities. A new city meant a new Lord, a new castle, new rules, new people—an entirely different world. I wondered briefly what kind of ruler Theo’s father was, how different his city might be.

I’d lived my entire life under Lord Lucas’s rule. The idea of anything else felt foreign. Even with my excitement, a quiet sense of nostalgia tugged at me. Leaving the only place I’d ever known wasn’t as simple as it sounded.

“Aurora, you’re going to love it there,” Theo said gently, clearly noticing my silence. He carefully laced his fingers through mine. “It’s safer. You’ll have freedom—real freedom. You won’t be stuck in my room all day. You’ll be able to explore our entire floor without worrying.”

“Your entire floor?” I repeated.

He squeezed my hands.

“We’re Princes. Ali and I have our own level—our own kitchen, a library, space to move freely. Only a few servants are allowed there. And trust me,” he added quietly, “Ali is no longer a danger to you.”

I couldn’t deny how much better that sounded than my current situation.

Theo leaned closer.

“I’m willing to work through things with my father if it means giving you this,” he said earnestly. “It gets us away from Lilith and Lord Lucas. It gives us a fresh start—together.” His tone softened, like he was afraid I might refuse. “I know it’s not perfect, but it’s more than I can offer you here, and I—”

I stopped him by tugging his hands toward me, closing the small distance between us before pressing my lips to his.

Words felt unnecessary.

The kiss was brief and gentle—just enough to say everything I couldn’t put into sentences. I treasured the look of surprise on his face afterward, along with the faint color dusting his cheeks.

“When do we leave?” I asked, making my answer unmistakably clear.

He cleared his throat, stepping back slightly and rubbing at his nose in a weak attempt to hide what I’d already noticed.

“Tomorrow morning. I’ll need to start preparing early,” he said.

That was soon.

“Do you think we can pack everything in time?” I asked, glancing at his overflowing closet and desk drawers.

“Easily,” he replied. “Most of my things will stay here. I have plenty back home. We’ll probably bring more of your belongings than mine.”

I raised an eyebrow. The only things I really wanted were my art supplies—and—

“We’re bringing your dress,” he added firmly.

Relief washed over me.

“And my grey sweatpants,” I said, “and your favorite hoodie?”

I loved sleeping in them. They mattered more than I wanted to admit.

“Of course,” he said softly. “Anything you want, sweetheart.”

That single word made my face heat instantly, which clearly pleased him.

We’d only confessed our feelings less than an hour ago, and already we’d turned making the other blush into a competition.

Fine. I’d let him enjoy that win.

After all, the real game would begin once tomorrow arrived.