Broken

[Nox]

Nox had not expected Dorian to turn Elyse away, but if he had would he have left? That was a question that he wasn't sure he knew the answer to but right now it didn't matter, Elyse could stay and she was willing to share her secret, that was what mattered right now. Nothing hidden. Everything out in the open.

Dorian led them to the study. "What would you like Elyse?"


"Whiskey, please."
Nox looked down at her with a surprise she was going strong tonight.

Nox sat Elyse down on an empty couch and moved to where Dorian was pouring drinks. "I got it."


Dorian smiled then whispered with a chuckle. "Don't trust me?"


Nox grinned. "I trust you. I'm just being a good boyfriend."
Dorian laughed and patted Nox on the back with a whispered good man. It felt odd having someone else's father patting him on the back and telling him he was doing a good job. Nox stayed at the bar a little longer than necessary while he pushed his lingering grief away.

Sage's message chimed again and Nox pulled it out of his pocket. Ascendancy was alive and Aria had played a part. Sage had also asked what he'd gotten into. Nox sent him a reply. "I'll tell you the next time we talk."

There was an immediate reply. "I'll keep you to that. Stay safe."

Nox replied. "Always."

Nox sat next to Elyse and handed her her drink. "Drink as much as you like. I got this, Elys."
Nox draped his arm over the back of the couch and around his girlfriend pulling her a little closer.

Mrs. Vega sat in an arm chair with a glass of wine between her fingers and Christian sitting dutifully on the arm of it next to her. Cruz and Rachel had disappeared. Nox grinned at the thought of what the other man might be doing. But he seemed a bit to proper to be doing anything too dangerous.

Dorian sat across from them drinking his own wine. Nox and Christian were the only ones not drinking. But it was getting late and Nox knew that he'd need to crash soon, he still had things to do.

Nox finally answered Dorian's question from earlier. "Aria is in the hospital at the moment. I'm not sure when she'll join us but I will insist she does. If that's not a problem. I have some errands to run tomorrow - one for her that I was prevented from doing today. I really need to get these things done."