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AZURA. This kid was a little devil in disguise, and I liked it. With Katara having no interest in mischief, and the quintuplets too big to obey, I missed them at this age. "So, you can’t cook?" I looked at the tomato and cucumber sandwiches that he was gawking at disdainfully. "Yes I can, I made these." I pushed the plate towards him, proud of my accomplishment. No, I can’t cook, all I can make is nachos and that's in the microwave. "Oh. We don’t call this cooking." He added. "Well, can you cook?" "I'm five." "And?" "I'm too young to cook." I smiled, reaching over and tugging his cheek. "Yeah sure, but you are old enough to judge. Let me tell you something, making a sandwich is an art. Look; I had to margarine the bread slices perfectly, then spread the cucumber that were cut into equal sized thin slices, we then added some sliced cheese before finishing with perfect thin slices of tomato." "The tomato is thick and the cucumber slices aren't equal sizes." Corrado mumbled, l
LEO. I switched the coffee machine on, smoking a cigarette as I leaned against the worktop, looking down at my arm. The wound was long gone, but the memory remained. She was a fucking psycho, who the fuck went around stabbing people with whatever shit they had at hand?! I overreacted. I know I fucking did, but the moment Corrado started to show off his doll… I wanted her out of my life. I needed her gone, but I also knew she had reasons that were forcing her to stay, none that involved me. There was something that she was running from, and I was certain it was linked to whatever the fuck happened that night. If I was able to find out, I could have it dealt with, and then tell her she was safe to leave early. Her phone. I needed to get to work on that shit. "Good morning, Daddy." Corrado said, as he came out of his bedroom with Winona. "Good morning, you sleep ok?" I asked, crouching down and ruffling his hair. He smiled at me and nodded, giving me a hug. "I slept the best, a
AZURA. "He contacted me, wanting to meet me. I just needed a break." I shrugged, trying to fight my nausea. I was lucky it only came here and there and that I wasn’t vomiting buckets, unlike Raven with Katara. The girls knew a lot of what happened with Judah since Kataleya and Song both had not wanted me to get involved with him to begin with… I wish I listened, but I never really ever do, do I? "Fuck Azura, you need to tell someone." Skyla said, her eyes flashing a deep plum purple, that turned darker the closer it got to the pupil. Her anger clear within them. "He needs to die." "Skyla." Kataleya murmured soothingly, placing her hand on her sister’s shoulder. Skyla closed her eyes, exhaling deeply, as she fought her emotions. Malevolent, her cat, meowed, brushing her shoulder, and Skyla’s eyes opened as she smiled down at her little fur ball. Those two had been together for years, Alejandro had gotten it for her when she was little, ten years on they were still the dangerous gre
AZURA. And with those words, I walked over to him confidently and gave him a big bear hug, praying that this worked. I felt Leo’s aura rolling off him in waves, but just when I thought he was going to slit my throat in anger, Marcel let out a hearty laugh. "It’s a true honour! I need to hear what is going on, but how about I let you finish getting dressed…" He trailed off as his eyes fell on my mark, frowning deeply. "I never knew you were mated?" "Oh I am. Kinda." I winked. "Azura is really cool, but she can’t cook." Corrado added helpfully. I pouted as I looked at mini Leo, did he really need to add that part? Marcel chuckled, "Well we won’t need Azura to cook, we have plenty of people who can cook! But I'm happy to see you here. Surprised, but happy." He placed his hand on my head and I could see the happiness in his eyes. I smiled back, seeing Nikki turn and walk off. Leo glanced at me but didn’t say anything, and I had a feeling he knew I wouldn’t say anything, before he f
AZURA. "Later." Leo’s quiet, cold voice came as I walked over to Marcel. "Babe…" Conceal how you feel. You got this girl. "It smells so good." I said, smiling as I look at the flames. "Be careful, Azura, it’s very hot." The heat of the grill was nothing compared to the burning pain in my chest. "I don’t mind getting burned." I replied quietly, before giving him a smile. "So, where did you go on holiday?" "Well, I was in Scotland for the most part, and then I stopped at a few places before my visit to Alejandro was cut short." I could feel Leo’s irritation, but I didn’t bother paying him any attention. "I'm sorry about that." I replied as I picked up the platter of cooked meat and carried it to the round table, where everything was already set up. I didn’t want to sit at the table with him, but I had no choice but to. When Corrado jumped into the seat between Marcel and me, I expected Leo to take the seat next to his father, but instead, he took the seat on my left. I clenc
LEO. I looked at my phone. The message was crystal clear, but even then, I had to fucking read it a few times. ‘I’m going to be leaving. With Marcel here, I don’t think it’s smart for me to linger. Arrange me a car, or at least let your security know to let me out.’ She was leaving. Just how I fucking wanted… There was no relief, nor fucking excitement at the fact that she was. Yeah, because once she’s gone, Marcel will have a shit-ton of questions for me to answer. Why didn’t I fix stuff with her ‘mate’, and then Corrado would do my fucking head in about why I let her go. Stop fucking with yourself Leo, you know that isn’t the reason. I lit a cigarette, taking a drag on it as I stared at the phone, letting out a string of smoke slowly. But it was for the better that she left. Her being here was fucking with me. I texted her back that I’d come to get her, but she asked for an hour in return. ‘Fine.’ I tossed the phone onto the desk and placed my feet on it, resting back in
AZURA. "Let him say goodbye." Nikki said, placing her hand on Leo’s arm. He didn’t reply, and I hated how he had an effect on me. Why that single touch of Nikki’s squeezed my heart. Fuck Azura. This isn’t you. "Please don’t go yet. How about staying for five more weeks?" Corrado pleaded, drawing my attention back to his gorgeous hazel eyes. "I can’t, I'm sorry." I apologised softly. Oh, why was this kid making my heart break just like Marcel almost did? When he loves, he loves deeply. I pushed the memory away and smiled apologetically at the boy before me. "Then why not six more weeks?" I let out a breathy laugh. "You know, you're adding days on top?" I asked, ruffling his hair. "But I had fun, I wanted to make a police doll too…" My heart clenched, but I could sense Leo’s anger rising and knew he was getting impatient or simply annoyed Corrado was talking to me, but I was at least glad he let him say goodbye. Maybe the Ice Prince has a soft spot for his son at least. "I’
AZURA. "We shouldn’t have done that." I said quietly. He shouldn’t have done that. "Yeah, but don’t go fucking taking it the wrong way, it was to shut you up." He said, his voice sounding thicker as he looked away. It had gotten to him too… This was it, the moment to reject him. I looked up at him, trying to force myself to say the words. "I…" Do it, Azura. Leo frowned as he searched my face for something. Reject him. Fuck, why was it so hard? It fucking hurt. How had he had the strength to do so? And after marking me too. He raised an eyebrow, waiting, but I couldn’t do it. His scent was overpowering me. I was looking for an excuse… asking myself what I should do… When I thought of what I wanted in a mate, I always imagined someone who found me funny, someone who would be ok with me being crazy. The type to laugh at the shit I got up to. Not everyone found their fated mate, and not everyone had it easy. But was rejection the answer, without even fighting for him? Was