Waking, Aurelia felt a warmth between her legs, a longing for something she was unable to let herself think of having.

She showered and did her usual morning routine, getting ready for work. She decided on a more showing outfit today; a short navy skirt with a tight-fitting white tank top. She placed a matching blazer over her tank and left her apartment.

Noxus was already waiting for her outside the apartment doors. She tried to hold back the smile that was forming on her face. She felt comfortable with him, safe even, but she couldn’t trust him. She knew that men only wanted one thing from women. She had experienced it all throughout her life.

They walked side by side to work and upon entering, all eyes within the company seemed to be on them. She knew what it looked like and she didn’t care. Maybe this would stop Jerry and some of the other men from the dinner from hitting on her or making any more moves.

Entering Aurelia’s office room, Noxus’ eyes remained on her as she took her seat.

“Have you thought any more about leaving with me?” he asked.

“I have.” She was short and didn’t feel like engaging in conversation or leaving the door open for him to grow within her mind or heart more.

“And?”

She turned quickly to look up at him. He now stood right next to her at her desk.

“How do I know you won’t kill me?”

Noxus laughed and then spoke, “Sweetheart, if I wanted to kill you, I would have done so already.”

“You only want me to go back with you so that the faes don’t get me?”

He stared at her with a longing in his eyes. There was more to it. He felt propelled to her; he didn’t want to be too far away from her. His body, mind, and heart needed her. It had never occurred to him how strong the mate bond could be, how it could bring him to his knees. He wasn’t about to tell her that, though.

“Yes,” he said with a small gulp.

Looking at him, she saw the nerves within him. Unsure of what caused those nerves, her mind automatically assumed it was because of the fae. Were they that intimidating? Was he that afraid of them?

“When would we leave?” she asked.

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“Tonight.”

Her breath hitched. If she was going to do this, it was going to be a decision made by her. She wanted to say, ‘Let’s go’ so that he wouldn’t get the chance to make her. Either way, it wasn’t really her choice, but she tried to convince herself that if she agreed to it or had some sort of say, it would be better.

“Tomorrow,” she said. It was a statement, not a question.

Noxus chuckled and shook his head. This human was beyond fiery. He could feel it deep within. She had more to her than what he had seen so far. He wanted to peel back all of her layers.

“Tomorrow it is.” He knew her ploy, wanting a say in part of it, and he was going to give her that.

The day passed quickly; she hoped it would slow down. She wasn’t prepared to leave everything behind. Her mind was already berating herself internally for swooning over a creature. The thought of her uncertainty of his possible ability to control her thoughts and feelings came to the forefront of her mind. She didn’t think he was doing that. She felt like herself, but she felt him within her in a way that made no sense as if he were sketched into her being.

The ethereal mate bond was something unfamiliar to her, had she known more, had she been born into the Otherworld, she would have recognized it.

Noxus understood the bond, he had felt it that day by the bus stop. Yet, he refused to tell her, refused to let himself feel it fully. He was unsure if he would ever allow himself to feel it fully, it already worried him that he was choosing a human over the rest of the basilisk at this point. He didn't think there was anything within the world that could make him choose something other than the basilisk return, then he met her. He vowed in his mind and heart to go to the realm of dragons and take back his kind, knowing that meant he would have to take his spot as king.

Before the day was up, she unlocked everything on her computer. As she was doing so, she caught Noxus watching her from the corner of her eye.

"Will I be welcomed by your people?" Aurelia asked

Thinking her question over in his head, he sat silently without an answer.

"I'll take that as a no," Aurelia said quietly.

Having decided on how to tell her, part of the truth, the part that was less likely to send her running scared, he said, "I am the next to take that basilisk throne. I am the future king. No one will have a problem.

His words sent her into a frenzy of thoughts and questions. She was unsure of what this meant. He was a future king and that thought thrilled and worried her.

Pulling her from her thoughts, as if reading her mind, Noxus said, "It is my job to keep my people safe, I will keep you safe."

She wanted to doubt him, wanted to hate him for being like all the other men, but she couldn't. She could feel his sincerity linger throughout the room.

As the clock hit the hour, she hopped out of her seat without looking at Noxus and walked outside.

Noxus walked her home, similar to how he had walked with her to work, side by side. They didn’t speak or look at each other but electricity seemed to spark between them.

Walking into her apartment, leaving Noxus at the steps of the front door, she immediately started writing a letter to Bryn. She didn’t want to see the response that Bryn would give her and she didn’t want her to come after her. She simply said that she was quitting her job and wouldn’t be able to talk to her for a while. She knew this would be hard for Bryn to grasp, it would be even harder if she knew the whole situation.

Sleep came easy, once she got into bed, and for the first time since she could remember, her sleep was dreamless and restful.