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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Thesun had barely started to stretch its golden fingers across the penthouse skyline when Aurora's alarm buzzed insistently, dragging her from a dream of sprawling meadows and endless skies. She groaned, smacking the snooze button with the precision of someone who'd had too many mornings ruined by punctuality. Somehow, mornings never seemed to cooperate with her sense of dramatic flair.
Klaus's voice floated through the open door to her room. "Rise and shine, Aurora. You're not planning to waste the entire day in bed, are you?"
She shot back from under her pillow, muffled but not missing a beat. "Technically, I'm practicing horizontal energy conservation."
A pause. Then a soft chuckle that had nothing to do with amusement and everything to do with someone finding you slightly ridiculous. That was Klaus. He leaned casually against the doorframe, hands tucked into his pockets, hair perfectly untamed in the way that made her want to mess it up just to see if he'd scowl.
"I see," he said, his tone as dry as ever but with a hint of something warmer hiding beneath the edges. "And how exactly does horizontal energy conservation plan to solve the world's problems today?"
She sat up, hair already threatening to tangle like wild vines. "First, I conquer breakfast. Then, maybe I decide if the world deserves to be saved."
His eyebrow arched. "Bold strategy."
Aurora smiled to herself, tugging at the pajama top she'd slept in, which she was immediately considering changing because Klaus was still watching, though not in an obvious way. She could feel the way his eyes lingered a little too long—he noticed the curl of her hair, the tilt of her shoulder, the way she shuffled her feet across the floor—and her stomach did a backflip she'd been trying to ignore since yesterday.
A knock at the door interrupted her mental gymnastics. Stefan. He peeked in, holding a tray with coffee and toast. His eyes were kind, concerned, the ever-patient older brother type, though he looked faintly bemused at the scene. "I thought you might want breakfast before heading out," he said softly.
"Perfect timing," Aurora said, taking the tray. "You're a hero. Honestly, I should give you a cape or something. Or maybe a really dramatic theme song when you enter a room."
Stefan raised an eyebrow, clearly suppressing a laugh. "I'll keep that in mind for next time."
Klaus, meanwhile, had settled onto the edge of her bed, arms crossed, pretending to be exasperated. "I'm waiting for the part where she magically makes the bed herself, but instead, she's conquering toast. Typical human priorities."
"Santa Klaus," she quipped before she could stop herself, placing the tray down. "Honestly, your hair looks like it's auditioning for the role of villain in a musical. Very dramatic, very seasonal."
