*~Aurora’s POV~*
I stood by the window, taking everything in. I knew I couldn’t run away from this place. I just had to stay here—and do whatever these demons wanted to do. Running away would be a huge mistake, especially since there was already another version of in the High House, cosplaying as . And if I did anything wrong, it would be them who’d pay the price. I couldn’t let that happen.
My fingers rested against the window fra as I stared out at the strange, golden city below. For a place ruled by demons, Decresh was... breathtaking. The houses shimred with layered gold and glass, their roofs curved like crowns. Every building looked like a palace—like a hundred High Houses stacked across the horizon.
Yes, these people were monsters. But I couldn’t deny it—their city was beautiful.
I was still lost in the view when the door behind creaked open. I didn’t turn.
"I see you’re admiring the City of Decresh," a smooth voice said. "The land of gold."
I turned to see Rebecca walking toward , holding two glasses of what looked like wine. She offered one.
I shook my head. "No, thanks."
"Oh, please," she said, rolling her eyes. "You’d better take it. It’ll help you regain your strength. If you ever want your powers back, you’ll need an energy boost like this."
I hesitated for a second before grabbing the glass from her hand. The mont the liquid touched my lips, I felt warmth spread through my chest.
"That’s what I thought," Rebecca chuckled.
She took a sip from her own glass before glancing toward the window. "Do you want to take a stroll around Decresh? I can show you around."
"No," I said. "I want to be left alone. If I can’t go ho, at least let have so peace."
"Oh, you’ll be let be," she said lightly, "but we can’t let you go."
I shot her a cold look, but she just smiled, unbothered.
"Taking a stroll would help you get familiar with this place. You’ll be spending the rest of your life here, Aurora. You might as well destroy the idea of going back ho. Once you’re familiar, we can even pick your wedding dress on our way back."
I froze. Wedding dress.
The words felt foreign in my ears. I’d only ever imagined marriage inside the High House— and Leon, before everything fell apart. But now? Married to a demon?
I shook my head. "No. That’s not possible."
Rebecca laughed. "Why not? Darius isn’t letting you go. You’re going to marry him whether you like it or not. You’d better start getting used to it."
"That’s a very strange thing for you to say," I muttered.
"Well, I’m not here to argue," she said with a shrug. "So? Will you take the stroll with or not? It’s boring tonight, and I thought we could have a nice walk—two girls under the golden moon. But if you say no, fine. I’m not going to force you."
She turned to leave.
I bit my lip. She was right about one thing. If I ever wanted to escape this cursed city, I needed to know its paths first.
"Wait," I said.
Rebecca turned, smiling knowingly. "That’s what I thought."
I finished the last drop of the wine in my glass and walked over to her. She handed a dark cloak.
"It’s cold tonight," she said. "You might want to wear this."
I took it and slipped it on. The fabric was heavier than I expected, but soft, almost silk-like.
She wasn’t lying—it was cold outside. The wind bit through my clothes as we stepped into the night, the streets of gold glowing beneath a pale, silver sky.
Even with layers of clothing, my legs were freezing.
"So," Rebecca said as we walked side by side through the glowing streets of Decresh, "you used to live in the High House, right? I’ve really been wondering how a witch like you beca such a close associate with wolves. I an, you actually lived with them."
Her curiosity was genuine, almost innocent.
"I’ve heard witches were treated like nothing in New Orleans," she went on. "They were cast out, beaten, chained. I think that’s where Dahlia’s from, isn’t it?"
I nodded slowly. "Yes. Dahlia placed a curse on the wolves once. But I helped Cayden—their alpha—break it. Since then, I’ve been a trusted ally of the pack."
Rebecca humd softly, as if that piece of history intrigued her. "You know," she said, "I’ve always been jealous of witches."
I blinked. "Why?"
She gestured at the streets around us, at the demons moving past—white hair, pale skin, blue eyes—all eerily identical. "Look at us," she said, stretching her hand out toward them. "We all look the sa. There’s nothing unique about us. But witches..."
Her gaze swept over . "You have red hair. The last witch I t had black hair. Every one of you looks distinct—different, special. Even your power feels different. A few of you are even stronger than most demons. Why wouldn’t I be jealous?"
I couldn’t help but chuckle. "Well, for what it’s worth, you’re very beautiful."
She smiled faintly. "Yes, but only to n outside our race. The demon n here don’t find us beautiful—they find us ordinary. But you’re kind? They find witches irresistible."
"What do you an?"
She nodded toward a group of demon n nearby. "Take a look. If Darius hadn’t already announced that you’re to be his bride, they’d all be trying to win your heart right now. You don’t look like us, Aurora. That alone makes you fascinating... and beautiful."
Her words caught off guard. I smiled awkwardly. "Thank you."
"No, we should thank you," she said. "You’re going to bless us with your genes. Your child with Darius will be extraordinary—beautiful, powerful. A perfect blend of witch and demon."
I frowned. "Why do you demons praise witches so much?"
"We don’t praise every witch," she replied with a small smirk. "Only the ones with the golden heart."
"The golden heart?" I repeated.
"Yes," she said softly. "You have one. Dahlia has one too. And there are rumors of two others in existence."
"What does that even an?"
Rebecca looked at aningfully. "It’s the ability to use dark magic without dying—or paying any price for it. That’s what the golden heart ans. Your heart purifies the darkness. It removes what makes dark magic dangerous and makes it pure, like any other magic."
I stared at her, stunned.
She continued, "The only thing you need to learn is how to pull the dark power into your body safely. Once you do, your mind and your heart will take care of the rest. That’s why you never pay the price for using it."
"So..." I whispered, realization dawning on . "That’s why I can use dark magic—because I have a golden heart?"
She nodded. "Exactly. But keep that na to yourself. ’Golden heart’ isn’t an official term. I’m the only one who calls it that. Others won’t understand."
We both chuckled.
"So that’s why you want Heather," I said after a mont. "Because she has a golden heart too."
Rebecca’s smile faltered slightly. "Not exactly," she said. "Heather has sothing beyond a golden heart."
"What do you an?"
"She inherited her father’s dark magic," Rebecca explained. "He was resurrected with it, rember? That blood runs through her veins. It makes her one of us. She’s stronger than her twin, stronger than most demons. But she doesn’t share our features. She doesn’t look like us. She looks like her parents.... That makes her special. She is ant to be our next crown ruler.
"Crown ruler?" I echoed.
Rebecca nodded, then looked away. "I’m sorry. I can’t explain further. It’s a matter for demons alone. Perhaps when you’re married to Darius, you’ll learn."
My chest tightened. "So Darius wants to marry ... because of the child?"
She shook her head quickly. "No. We never expected Darius to bring a witch here. He did that on his own. Believe , he genuinely loves you."
I scoffed. "Love? I don’t even know him."
Rebecca smiled faintly. "Darius doesn’t love anyone, Aurora. He’s slaughtered witches before. But you..." Her gaze softened. "There’s sothing about you that he likes."
" And there is nothing about him.. I like." I said and she chuckled.
"I an.. Is there anything about Darius that is likable?" she said and we both laughed.
My heart still has many questions so I proceed to ask.
"Are witches with Golden hearts the strongest race?" I asked and she turned and took a deep breath.
"Hmmm... Saying the strongest race is a bit much because there are Crescents.. Vampires, even though they are gone.. So many creations but the only ones who truly match up to a demon and a witch with golden hearts are white wolves." She said picking a stick.
"White wolves?" I asked, never heard of those before.
"Yes, they are the reincarnation of what werewolves call Moon Goddess and only a unique pack has those wolves. They are very strong." She said throwing the stick at a nearby tree making it stuck.
"Which pack?"
"A pack in California.. Not so far from this place."
"How powerful are these white wolves?" I asked and she chucked.
"Surprisingly they are very weak wolves but with a unique power. They can’t protect themselves when attacked but can do mighty stuff with their powers.... Mighty things that we can’t do." She said.
"Mighty stuff like what?" The question is eating alive.
"Like creating a new pack.. Making mates.. Creating a new world or even a new kind of wolves. That’s all I know... or I’ve seen." She kept answering all of my questions.
"That’s very cool," I muttered and she held my hands.
"Yeah it is... and sohow I know your child will do greater things," she said and I blinked.
"If you ever have a son do a favor and na him Azriel and if it’s a daughter you can na her.. Azazel."
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