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Chapter Fifteen

Though Tsukiyo made a big fuss about protecting me and whatever, I'd barely seen him the past few days. I tapped my nails against the counter, impatient, while reviewing the instructions for making a pork soup. It looked simple enough, but I still wasn't confident in my ability. Tsukiyo had been pretty encouraging…but I wasnt convinced he wasnt faking it just to be nice.

"What smells good?" The low question from beside me startled me into whirling around. Tsukiyo stood mere inches from me, a contemplative look on his face as he lifted the lid of the nearby crockpot. "Soup?"

"Yeah…in a soupy mood." I looked down at Tsukiyo's clothes. "Is that…blood?"

"I had to quell an uprising in the Underrealm." He shrugged, running his fingers through his long hair. "Mind if I use your shower?"

"Uh… Sure." I blinked at him. "You're not hurt, are you?"

"I'm fine." He smiled before turning and walking off. I stared after him for a moment before returning my attention to the recipe.

Was he really?

I shook my head hard before busying myself. With the soup in the crockpot, I needed to put away everything else I'd pulled out. Once that was done, I gathered up the recyclables and carried them outside to the bin.

A familiar car honk pulled my attention to the street, where I found Emily and Richard's sedan pulling into my driveway. Uh oh.

"Cel~i~a!" Emily called with a grin once they'd parked and gotten out of the car. "Oh my god. That dress is so cute on you! Who you dressing up for, hmmm?"

"Dressing up?" I glanced down at my sky blue sweaterdress. "You call this dressed up? I call it comfy."

"So soft!" Emily cooed before turning to look up at Richard. "We totally need to find our baby a blanket made out of this fabric!"

"Can we come in?" Richard glanced toward the front door then at me.

"Uh, yeah, I just finished setting up a new recipe," I replied weakly. Emily was loud, so that would clue in Tsukiyo that we had guests. I hoped. Though, I wasnt sure how to explain his presence. Ugh.

"Cooking?" Emily stared at me.

"I wanted soup, so I'm trying a recipe I found." I shrugged before holding the door open for them. "Want tea or something? I just restocked the pantry and the fridge."

Emily and Richard shared a knowing look before following me into the kitchen. I tried to pretend I didnt see it.

"Wow, you meant it." Richard pulled open the pantry door and stared at the contents inside. "You must really like him, huh?"

"Yep she totally does." Emily peered in the fridge.

"Come on. I don't need a man to make me happy, organized, or take care of myself." I sighed at them and crossed my arms. "I'm trying to eat out less. That means learning to cook—"

"It smells really good, by the way." Emily edged over to the crockpot and licked her lips.

"A woman maybe?" Richard murmured, rubbing his chin.

"No." I pressed my fingers to my temples. "What are you guys doing over in my neck of the woods anyway?"

"Well, with how crazy the news has been…" Emily perched in a chair and sighed, rubbing her baby bump absentmindedly. "Did you know about your family, Celia? That's the Nightingale Crest on the uniforms those people are wearing…"

"They're claiming every child born in the country from here on out has to be checked for magical powers and if they're pureblooded human," Richard added, grimacing.

"I only learned recently. Apparently them disowning me is mostly because I'm powerless," I muttered, earning a sympathetic look from Emily. "Its…been a lot to process."

"Well, of course it has!" Emily exclaimed. "Finding out angels, demons, and who knows what else are real? Magic? Not to mention dumping your ex, said ex is now missing, you need to find a good man… How was your date with Tsukiyo, by the way?"

"It was…as fine as a date involving me can be, I guess." I grimaced and shook my head. "Your friends seemed really mad when he asked me, though."

"Oh they were." Emily rolled her eyes. "Worse when they confirmed the nice car outside was his. They all wanna marry rich even though their families are already well off. I don't get it.

"Seriously though, Celia, dont be so hard on yourself! A good guy will come around, whether its Tsukiyo or someone else. You just gotta be open to seeing where things go! You're super defensive and down on yourself all the time, but new people in your life aren't going to realize it's not them making you like that."

"Easier said than done." I sighed. "I'm not sure I even deserve to feel better or happy considering what my family has apparently been up to. People, including the demons and angels, are going to see me as involved even though I've been disowned. Just because I'm blood related to that…that tyrant."

"Well…" Emily trailed off, her and Richard both staring somewhere behind me. A giggle escaped Emily, while the biggest shit-eating grin I'd ever seen spread across her husband's face.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Sorry to interrupt," Tsukiyo purred. When I turned around to look at him, he gave me a warm, innocent smile and adjusted the towel around his waist.

"Uh…" I tried to think of something to say, and not let my gaze drift down his chiseled body. "Didn't you have clothes?"

Smooth, Celia, smooth.

"About that, I was wondering if I could use your laundry room." Tsukiyo took a step toward me, a mischievous smirk forming on his lips when I glanced down between us. "I doubt your other guests would appreciate it if I gave them a peek."

"Sooo, I thought you said you ruined your date?" Emily drawled.

I flushed deeper and looked away from Tsukiyo when he shot me a questioning look. He reached up and patted my head before walking by. "Celia did no such thing. She's just hard on herself, and we're still learning what makes each other tick."

I stared blankly at the wall for a moment. He didn't deny it was a date. Yet, patting me on the head like that was more of a brotherly thing. Which cue was I meant to focus on?

"Well?" Emily smirked at me.

"Huh?" I blinked at her.

"Hot, wealthy man borrowing your shower and walking around your house in just a towel, and that's your response?" Richard gave me a dubious look. "Even you cant play innocent with this one."

"Celia, would you mind if I borrowed one of your robes?" Tsukiyo strolled back into the kitchen and shot me a sympathetic-yet-amused smile after passing my friends. "I doubt your friends appreciate the view as much as you are."

"Celia~" Emily giggled, leaning in her chair. She turned her attention to Tsukiyo and grinned. "So, what are you doing here anyway? I've never seen her let anyone other than me and Richard visit her here."

Tsukiyo gave me a surprised look before smoothing his expression over and looking at Emily, "David has Celia working with me on our joint business venture. I spilled a drink on myself earlier, so she graciously lent me her shower."

"Huh. Guess David's worried about letting her go into the city?" Richard grimaced, while Emily pouted in displeasure. "Celia, you need to help him find a robe, right?"

"Oh. Yeah." I fidgeted with my sleeves and turned to look up at Tsukiyo. Letting the Aloryi have free rein to poke through my room probably wasnt the best idea. "Help yourselves to drinks and snacks. It'll be a few hours before the soup is ready."

I followed Tsukiyo out of the kitchen and upstairs, where he promptly returned to his true form and stretched, a fang-filled yawn escaping him.

"Sorry they're so…nosey," I muttered, pushing the doors to my bedroom open. "You sure one of my robes will be good enough?"

"Unless you had something else in mind," Tsukiyo mused, his vibrant eyes flicking down to my legs briefly. "They just want what's best for you, even if they're a little misled on what that is."

"You're enjoying teasing them—and me— too much." I pulled open the door to my closet and nudged a few robes aside. Finally, I pulled down one of my oversized fluffy robes and offered it to Tsukiyo. "This might be long enough on you."

"Were they telling the truth? You dont usually let people into your house?" Tsukiyo took the robe from me but made no move to put it on, his attention instead focused on my face.

"Oh… Yeah," I grumbled, glancing away. "My house is supposed to be my sanctuary that doesnt have any bad memories or emotions clinging to it to drag me down. So, unless I know for sure that someone can be trusted…"

"I'll do my best to let you keep your sanctuary, though I cant promise to stop teasing you." Tsukiyo gave me a mysterious smile. He looked like he might say more, but soon shook his head slightly. "I should change, and you should get back to your friends. I'll…try not to intrude."

"You wouldn’t be—"

Tsukiyo shushed me. "Its fine. I am have work I can tend to, and I'd prefer to stay in this form. I'll lock myself in the guest room so they won't stumble across me."

"…oh. Okay." I tried to keep the disappointment from my voice. I'd been looking forward to possibly having him around more, but it looked like those hopes were dashed. Work was important, after all.

Even so, it stung like a rejection. It was unreasonable of me, though. He had no reason to socialize with me or my nosey friends. I could understand why he'd want to focus on something like work instead. It was probably more pleasant than…me.

When I returned to the kitchen, Emily perked up. "What you gonna make for dessert?"

"Nothing," I stated. Richard narrowed his eyes at me, but Emily remained oblivious.

"Come on! Now is the perfect time to try and impress Tsukiyo with your cooking skills!" Emily pointed at me, and I sighed. "Cake, cookies, pie, tart, brownies or blondies—doesn’t batter so long as it's made with love!"

"…did you just say batter?" I peered at her.

"It was a pun!" Emily puffed out her chest.

"…no." I rolled my eyes. "And I dont have any dessert recipes anyway. So—"

"You have the internet."

"My phone is charging."

"Laptop!"

"Sweetie, you're being pushy again," Richard spoke gently, giving Emily a plaintive look. "If you want sweets, I can go by that little bakery you like—"

"This isnt about me!" Emily pouted.

"Then you need to let Celia go at her own pace." Richard sighed, plopping down heavily in a chair across from Emily. "Besides, Tsukiyo can probably hear every word you're saying."

"Good! 'cause he needs to realize—" Emily glared at Richard when he reached across the table to clamp a hand over her mouth.

"Sorry, Celia, I know she’s being a little…much," Richard offered with a lopsided smile. "If you'd rather we leave…"

"Oh, no, it's okay." I shook my head. "I can’t eat all this soup by myself, so…"

Well, either way I wouldnt be eating it by myself. Though, if Tsukiyo really didnt want to mingle with my friends, that meant we probably wouldnt get to have dinner together after all.

But, maybe that was for the best. If Emily or Richard brought up our new reality again, I wasnt sure if I could keep myself together. My grandmother's power was terrifying on its own without factoring in the paranormal. Add in the existence of powerful fantastical beings who would likely see me as their enemy…

I didnt want to have another breakdown, but especially not in front of anyone.

"Overthinking again?" Tsukiyo's forearm came to rest on one of my shoulders. I glanced up at him, startled, but his eyes were on Richard and Emily. "You were saying something about dessert?"

"Ah…hahaha…" Emily turned bright red. "You heard that?"

"Quite easily." Tsukiyo raised an eyebrow. He looked at me, his gaze softening. "I could make dessert, if you dont mind. After all, you started dinner."

"What?" I stared at him. "But, you have work to do! I wouldn't want you to waste your time on—"

Tsukiyo's fingers slid under my chin a split second before he leaned down to shut me up with a brief, soft kiss on the lips. Whatever else I was going to say left my mind, and I just stared at him in surprise as my face grew hotter by the second. He…had kissed me. Did he mean anything by it? Did I taste okay? Had I remembered to exfoliate my lips this morning?

My mind reeled with dozens of questions as Tsukiyo chuckled and glanced toward my friends. "Why dont you three go relax in the living room? I'll see what I can come up with."

Emily and Richard dragged my dumbstruck ass out of the kitchen and into the living room while I tried to make sense of what had just happened.

I was hopeless.

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