Chapter 335 - 69: An Entirely Unpleasant Welcome

Dane stood at the balcony railing, staring across the boulevard.

Aurora was still there.

She stood near the gates of the new property, looking up at him as if she’d been waiting for him to appear. Lantern light caught her fame tracing the four-story facade he’d seen from his window earlier. Ramon was beside her, still mounted on his bay stallion, his attention fixed on the activity around the house.

Dane’s fingers tightened around the railing.

He’d been awake for less than a minute when he’d walked onto the balcony. He’d expected darkness and quiet, maybe a drink before going back to bed.

Instead, he’d found her.

After four days.

Across the fucking street.

The glass door opened behind him.

Destiny stepped outside, rubbing her bare arms against the evening air. "What are you looking at?"

Dane didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. She followed his line of sight across the boulevard, and the moment she spotted Aurora, her expression changed.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me."

Dane’s jaw tightened.

Destiny glanced down at herself. She was still wearing the linen shirt he’d thrown aside earlier, the collar hanging open with nothing underneath.

"I am not going down there like this."

She turned and went back inside.

Dane kept his eyes on the street. Ramon had dismounted and was speaking to Aurora now. Then Aurora laughed.

Dane’s mouth tightened.

He knew that laugh. He’d heard it enough times to know she was enjoying herself.

A few moments later, Destiny returned wearing trousers and one of his heavy cotton shirts, the buttons done up in a hurry. She caught him looking at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

The corner of Dane’s mouth almost lifted.

He looked back toward the boulevard.

"Come on."

They headed downstairs together. Dane took the steps quickly, Destiny close behind him, and by the time they reached the front entrance, Ramon was already leading his horse toward the gates. Aurora followed a few paces behind him, with Elara trailing after her.

Dane pushed through the gates.

Ramon saw him coming and met him halfway.

"Dane. Stay calm."

Dane stopped in front of him. "Don’t tell me to stay calm."

Ramon glanced toward Aurora. "She just arrived. Her father helped arrange the purchase of the property. The deeds were cleared through the district magistrate two days ago."

Dane looked past him at the house, then back at his father.

"You knew?"

"I knew she was leaving Silvercrest. I didn’t know she’d bought this place."

"You didn’t think that was something I should know?"

"I found out when I rode up."

Dane gave a humorless laugh. "Convenient."

Ramon’s hand came to his chest when Dane moved forward.

"It’s legal."

"I don’t give a shit."

"Vance followed the law. We can’t force her off the property."

"Legal or not, it’s fucking petty."

Destiny stepped through the gates beside him.

"Very."

Aurora’s attention shifted to her immediately. Dane noticed her eyes move over Destiny’s clothes, lingering on his shirt before returning to her face.

"Look who decided to come down," Aurora said.

Destiny folded her arms. "Were you expecting him to come alone?"

Aurora’s gaze dropped to the shirt again.

"You couldn’t even dress properly?"

Dane’s expression hardened, but Destiny didn’t seem bothered.

"It’s his shirt," she said. "And I’m in my own home. I don’t need to dress for you."

Behind Aurora, Elara made a small sound that was suspiciously close to a laugh.

Ramon glanced at her. "Elara."

She pressed her lips together, but the amusement remained on her face.

Aurora stepped around Ramon and moved closer to Dane.

"I told you I was leaving Silvercrest," she said.

"I remember."

"I never said I was leaving you."

Dane stared at her. "You bought this house because of me?"

"You know I did."

He looked past her at the property. Four stories of pale stone rose behind the tall iron fencing, with gardens stretching along the front and ivy climbing the facade. Then he looked back at Aurora.

"That’s fucking insane."

"You looked at me when you came onto the balcony."

"I looked outside."

"You saw me."

"Yes."

"And you felt something."

Dane let out a slow breath. "You really want to do this?"

Aurora took another step toward him.

"I can see your room from mine."

Dane’s eyes narrowed.

"Every morning. Every night," she continued. "You’ll see me every time you look out that window."

Dane glanced toward the upper floors of her house. He could already tell which windows faced his bedroom.

Then he looked back at her.

"You bought a whole house just to watch me?"

Aurora lifted her chin. "I bought it because I belong wherever I choose to be."

Dane studied her for a moment.

Then he looked at Destiny.

She was standing beside him in his shirt, watching the exchange with her arms folded.

Dane slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her against him.

Destiny looked up at him, surprised by the sudden gesture.

Dane turned his attention back to Aurora.

"You want to watch?"

Aurora said nothing.

"Watch."

His hand settled against Destiny’s hip.

"From now on, I’ll leave the balcony doors open. And when I’m in that room with my wife, I’ll make sure you know exactly what you’re looking at."

Elara choked behind them.

Ramon dragged a hand over his face.

"Dane."

Dane didn’t look at him.

"She bought the house for a view," he said, keeping his eyes on Aurora. "She can have one."

Aurora’s face went pale.

Dane saw her eyes drop to his arm around Destiny before lifting back to his face.

Destiny leaned slightly into him.

"Enjoy your view," she said.

Dane glanced down at her, unable to stop the faint smile that touched his mouth.

Then he turned them toward the house.

"Dane!"

Aurora’s voice followed them.

He kept walking.

"You’ll get tired of her!" she called after him. "You know you will!"

Dane didn’t slow down.

"Keep telling yourself that."

He walked through the gates with Destiny beside him. Behind them, Ramon said something to Aurora, but Dane didn’t bother turning around to hear it.

The gates closed behind them.

Dane looked down at Destiny as they crossed the entrance hall.

She was still wearing his shirt.

"You enjoyed that."

She glanced up at him.

"Maybe."

Dane shook his head and headed for the stairs.

"Come upstairs."

Destiny followed him inside, and the front door closed behind them, shutting out the boulevard and everything waiting across it.