CHAPTER 228: HOT STRANGER

*~Aurora’s POV~*

I just left him standing there, my breath heavy with anger. I can’t go to my room and sleep with this bad attitude. The rage is so consuming, I can hardly breathe. I need fresh air.

And I don’t even know what’s happening. How are those wolves—the ones I saw die—alive? How are they fucking alive? They should be dead. Their existence makes me look like a liar. Even I can’t believe the truth anymore—the truth I witnessed with my own two eyes.

Whatever is happening, I need to get stronger. I need to stop being weak, stop crying over damn Leon. I must be strong. I must face damn Ed Strong.

I swallowed hard and hugged myself tightly. It’s already night. The perfect time.

I went downstairs. I, Aurora, am the only witch to ever learn how to use dark magic. Dahlia—the one who taught me—is now dead. Every witch who uses dark magic must pay a price: they either die or lose a part of their body.

But me? No. Nothing happens to me. I managed to find the cheat code of dark magic.

Still, I can only perform at its limits. But tonight, I’ll push beyond. I’ll make sure I become stronger—so strong that even dark magic will bow to me.

To me, there’s no such thing as "dark magic." Because dark magic performed with an evil heart is truly dark. But dark magic used with a pure heart... is just magic.

I placed my book on the floor and sat in front of it.

"Versa!"

The book flipped open to the page I needed most—the dark magic section. And just as I was about to start practicing, I felt someone’s presence.

Someone was here with me.

My breath immediately itched. Oh my God—are they the demons? Are the demons here? Are they here to claim me too?

Because I found out about their existence... and I managed to erase everything about them. But somehow—I still know.

Are they here for me?

I tensed, holding my breath, ready to take down anyone. I was about to yell, but then I hesitated. What if it wasn’t an emergency? This is the High House. Any wolf could be awake—it’s just night, after all. Not everyone sleeps at the same time.

I tried to calm myself, but then I felt it—someone’s gaze on me. Right in front of me. The bushes.

I immediately stepped back, reaching for my book, but it was too far to grab quickly. Somebody was definitely there. Watching me. Fixated.

My mind raced back to the demons.

Are they really here to take me?

No. No, no, no, no. This must be one of my delusions. Nobody is here for me.

And then—a tall figure stepped out of the shadows.

It’s definitely the demons.

"Versa!" I shouted, sending a large tornado toward the figure. It struck, and the person crumbled to the ground.

I heard a masculine groan, low and pained. I froze, then rushed toward him.

"Caspian! Hazel!" I screamed. Footsteps thundered behind me—I must’ve alerted someone.

The figure stirred, slowly lifting his head.

"Please, don’t harm me," he said, voice trembling. "I’m not your enemy. I just... I need your help. You’re the only witch I’ve seen. Please."

My breath caught as his face came into view—black hair, piercing blue eyes, and features so striking it made me blink twice. For a second, I thought it was Caspian... or Hazel... or maybe even Cyrus. But no. He wasn’t any of them.

Still, that same dangerous beauty was there.

Oh my God. What’s a hot stranger like him doing here?

He ran a hand through his hair. "Please. You’re a witch, aren’t you? I’m a wizard. But I’ve never learned to use my powers. I’ve lived all my life as a human. I need someone to teach me."

He took a step forward. "I was told I’d find a witch here at the High House. When I sensed your power, I knew it had to be you. You must be Aurora—the great witch everyone talks about. The one who helped the Alpha take down Dahlia."

Then, unbelievably, he went down on his knees.

"Please. Help me."

I stared at him, feeling the faint trace of magic in his blood—a small current, weak but real. He wasn’t lying about being a wizard. Still... it was obvious he’d never used his powers.

But could I believe him?

"How can I trust you?" I asked.

"I’m from the Western side," he said, showing me a mark on his hand. "The Eastern witches have this symbol. You must know that."

I did. He was right. But I still wasn’t sure.

"Please," he said again, his gaze locking on mine. "Believe me."

Something in his voice—his eyes—made me pause. I didn’t know why, but for some reason, I did believe him.

And then—footsteps again. Caspian and Hazel.

"Aurora, what’s wrong?" Caspian asked. "We heard your voice. Should we alert the palace guards? We decided to come ourselves before causing a scene."

I turned to them quickly. "No, no—it’s fine."

Hazel rushed to my side, grabbing my hand. "Is he bothering you?"

"No," I said calmly. "He’s my student."

Both Caspian and Hazel froze.

"What?"

I nodded firmly. "Yes. He’s my student. I just took him in. I’ll be training him."

Caspian and Hazel were still doubtful, trying to make sense of everything that had just happened. And then Leon arrived—and everything exploded.

Hazel immediately took my side, while Caspian and Leon stood together on the other. Hazel supported me bringing him into the High House, but Caspian and Leon were both against it—especially Leon.

The way he glared at the stranger was sharp enough to cut.

What was his problem? Why did he even care so much about the High House’s safety?

Hazel managed to shut him up, whispering something in Caspian’s ear that made him blush before he finally agreed. Then Hazel walked away, leaving me to deal with Leon’s seething disapproval.

After threatening to take the matter to the council, Leon stormed off. I just grabbed the stranger’s hand and led him inside the High House anyway—though I promised Caspian he wouldn’t be sleeping there.

Truthfully, I didn’t even know who this man was. A part of me wanted to believe Leon was right. I had just met this stranger; I didn’t even know his name, and yet... I was trusting him so blindly.

Something about his eyes drew me in—something that made me feel like he was telling the truth. I just hoped I wasn’t making a mistake.

I didn’t even make it to my room before I heard him speak.

He gently pulled his hand from mine and lowered his gaze, avoiding my eyes. Then he bowed.

"I’m so thankful, Lady Aurora. I promise, I will not betray you."

"Yes," I replied softly. "And what did you say your name was again? I remember Leon mentioned it, but I didn’t quite catch it."

"Oh, my name?" He straightened slightly. "I’m Darius."

"Darius," I repeated, tasting the name on my lips. "Good. Come by the High House tomorrow. I’ll figure out how to train you then."

He hesitated. "And... you won’t be here long?"

I nodded. "No. I just came for a mission."

"For a mission?" he echoed, eyes locking onto mine again—those same eyes that kept pulling me in like a spell I couldn’t resist.

I immediately looked away. "Something important," I said briskly. "None of your business. Come by tomorrow for your training. You can leave now. And stay alert—this is werewolf territory. You’d better be careful."

He nodded. "Thank you." Then he bowed respectfully again and turned to leave.

I watched him go, exhaling deeply.

I hadn’t just taken him in for nothing. I wanted to know more about him—about the Western witches, their magic, and why his power felt so faint.

Was he truly that powerless? Or he is just hiding anyways I will figure out the truth.

I didn’t get a wink of sleep that night.

I just sat in my bedroom, staring at the moon for hours, trying not to think about anything. Trying to clear my head. But my thoughts kept spinning. I didn’t even manage to practice any of my dark magic. My mind was just... blank.

By the time morning came, I felt numb.

A gentle knock sounded on the door.

I was about to open it when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror—eyes hollow, dark circles shadowing them like bruises.

"Oh, my God," I muttered, dragging my hair forward to cover part of my face. Then I sighed and opened the door.

Cayden stood there—and someone else beside him.

Cayden’s expression was wary, his eyes flicking between me and the man beside him. Then he turned to me.

"You’re back?" I asked cautiously. Because he gone out searching for the demons—took a few of the wolfs with him.

But from the look on Cayden’s face, something wasn’t right. Maybe he’d heard something. Maybe they’d seen something.

I waited for him to continue, but instead, he frowned, eyes narrowing at the man by my door.

"Who is this guy?" he asked sharply. "He doesn’t smell like a wolf."

My heart skipped a beat.

Darius?

What the hell was he doing here so early?