Hello Lovelies! Happy Holidays, I hope you're having a lovely time and looking forward to the New Year. As always please let me know what you think, this chapter kind of wrote itself so I'd love some feedback.

Much love,
Liv x

Milena's Point of View –

I awoke to someone's lips brushing against my forehead, panicking for a second before Aro's heady scent hit me. I blinked my eyes open and found him with his back to me, shrugging on his suit jacket. My God he's beautiful. "Hi." I breathed, knowing he would hear me regardless of how loud I was. He turned around quickly and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Go back to sleep Cara Mia, it's still early." He whispered, brushing my hair out of my face. "Where are you going?" I questioned, reaching for his hand and interlocking his fingers with mine. "I'm needed at Court. I won't be gone for too long, I'll come back to you don't worry." He said lifting my hand to his lips to kiss my knuckles. "Okay." I sighed, burrowing into the duvet, inhaling his heavenly scent before falling back to sleep.

I slept for hours, and I slept better than I had in a long time. Aro's bed was so comfortable, I slept so well that my head felt fuzzy like I'd woken up from surgery. I laid in bed for ages after I awoke, too comfy to move. When I finally rolled out of bed it was after midday. I jumped in the shower and pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt before heading to the games room. I decided to watch a movie, I didn't have the attention span to read anything. I'd slept well but I couldn't stop thinking about the nightmare that had sent me into Aro's arms. Knowing he could be anywhere, alongside being trapped inside the castle was sending my subconscious into overdrive. Like Demetri. I could have sworn that he smelt of his cheap cigarettes of his cologne but that was ridiculous. I knew it was my mind playing tricks on me, betraying me. It was even worse when I slept. I dreamt that he was in the castle, that he and Caius were scheming against me. Every time I turned a corner one of them was there, I couldn't get away. I ran and ran but there was no escape. Panic consumed me and I was thankful when I woke up, I was even more thankful that Aro didn't ask questions. In the moment I didn't even think about what it meant to seek comfort from him. I didn't really think at all, I just felt this need to be close to him, this desperation to be held by him. I couldn't even say looking back that it was a mistake. It felt good to be in his arms, it felt right. I pushed away the confusion this thought created and begun watching Harry Potter, trying to put everything else from my mind.

Harry had just been abandoned by Draco in the Dark Forest when I felt a kiss on the top of my head. "How are you feeling Cara Mia?"
"Good." I said, grabbing the remote to pause the film. "How was your day?"
"It was okay, uneventful." He said crouching down to lean over the arm of the sofa. "Have you eaten anything today?"
"No, I haven't been hungry."
"Are you sure you're feeling okay?" He asked, reaching forward to brush my hair from my face. It was then that the smell hit me again. Cigarettes and Old Spice. I fought the bile that pushed its way up my throat, but I failed to hide my cringing. "Milena, are you alright?"
"Yes." I rasped, pushing up from the sofa. "I just need to use the bathroom. I'll be back in a minute." I waited until I got out of the room before breaking into a sprint. Thankfully I managed to make it to my bathroom before being sick. I sat on the cold tiled floor for a while just trying to catch my breath, letting a song play through my head rather than think about how irrational I was being. Once the nausea had passed, I used the sink to pull myself up. Quickly brushing my teeth before heading back to the games room. I wasn't sure how long I'd been gone but I hoped Aro wouldn't question me. I had no idea how I would explain myself without telling him everything and I really didn't want to do that, I wasn't sure I'd ever tell him, not everything at least.

When I reached the games room, I found Aro placing a plate of food on the coffee table next to some orange juice. He'd managed to get changed as well, I hoped this was due to his vampiric speed rather than how long I'd been gone. He now wore black slacks and a slate grey turtleneck, he looked gorgeous. I stood in the doorway for a moment just to watch him, the turtleneck hugged his muscular body in just the right way, what he saw in me I didn't know. "Hi." I murmured stepping back into the room. "Ah you're back!" The smile that overtook his face when he saw me made me melt. "I made you a sandwich you really should eat something, even if it's not the whole thing." I couldn't help my frown, why did he care so much about me? I was a nobody, why would a man with such power want me when he could have anyone? He wouldn't if he knew. Nobody would. "Are you alright?" I didn't reply, instead I practically ran to him, I knew I would feel safe in his arms, wanted. I knew being held by him would make the little voice in my head shut up. "What's wrong, Milena?"
"Nothing." I whispered, wrapping my arms around his waist. He held me tight for a minute before pulling away to cup my face in both of his hands. "What is it, Sweetheart?" He questioned, gazing into my eyes. "Nothing, I just missed you." He continued watching my face, like he was trying to find the answer written there. "Are you sure that's all it is?"
"Yes." I murmured, turning my head to place a kiss on the palm of his hand.
"Come." He said, taking my hand and pulling me down to the sofa where I curled up against him. "I missed you too." He whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of my head as I nestled against his chest.