Mystic Falls has secrets. So does she.
Aurora St. James didn't mean or want to get involved. She only wanted a fresh start - to blend in, finish school, and keep the strange flares of energy inside her quiet.
But Mystic Falls doesn't do quiet.
And n...
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Aurora found herself sitting in the back-seat of Klaus's sleek black car, her fingers tapping nervously against her knees. The leather smelled faintly of expensive cologne and leather conditioner, a strange comfort she couldn't quite place. Outside, Mystic Falls blurred past, a quiet town she knew like the back of her hand, a town she wasn't sure she would ever see again—at least not for a long time.
Stefan sat beside her, angled slightly toward her, his hand brushing the seat between them as if instinctively trying to shield her. He wasn't touching her, not exactly, but his presence was a tether, a grounding force. Aurora glanced at him, noticing how tense his jaw was, the faint sheen on his skin that reminded her he'd fed from the bags earlier. His control over himself was meticulous, almost graceful, but she caught the subtle tightening around his eyes, a sign of the effort it took to stay calm with her human scent so close.
"You shouldn't have come," Stefan murmured softly, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "I don't like that you're here. I don't like that you even have to be here. I wanted... I wanted you safe at home."
Aurora chewed her lip, hands clasping together as if the leather seat could give her courage. "I know," she said, voice wobbling a little, "and I wanted to stay. I wanted to scream 'I'm staying!' at the top of my lungs, but... I couldn't. Not when I knew you'd be in the middle of this. Someone has to be here, Stefan, and I'm... well, I'm it." She paused, her gaze dropping to the floor, and whispered, "I just... I don't even know if I'll see anyone again for a while. And I didn't even say goodbye properly."
Stefan's hand twitched near hers, but he didn't reach for it. "I know," he said quietly, and for a moment, the weight of the unspoken words filled the space between them. He was thinking about how dangerous this trip would be, the unknowns lurking at every turn, and yet he stayed beside her, letting her cling to a semblance of normalcy even as the world pulled them into chaos.
Klaus's voice cut through the moment, smooth and unhurried, tinged with amusement. "Shall we?"
Aurora blinked, startled, and glanced out the window. The private jet waited at a small tarmac a few miles out of town, sleek and ominous, yet elegant in a way that screamed both danger and luxury. Her stomach twisted with anxiety and a strange excitement. She should have been thrilled at the idea of a private jet, but instead she felt a hollow ache, like leaving behind all she knew was a betrayal to herself.
Stefan nudged her gently. "Come on," he said, his voice soft but insistent. "We need to board." He offered her a small, encouraging smile, though she could see the worry behind it. His blood control reminded her he wasn't just worried about Klaus or the wolf—they were stepping into the unknown, and he knew exactly how unpredictable Klaus could be.
Aurora exhaled sharply and muttered to herself, a little humor trying to fight its way past her nerves. "Why did I think this was a good idea? Oh right. Because I'm crazy, apparently. And somehow heroic. And... maybe just a little curious."
