The Demon's Claim [House of Arcane #2]

‘So, do you know where were you at 1 PM-2 PM on Thursday, Nov 2?’ detective Darren said to me as I was looking at my husband. Logan was nonchalant to the fact that I don’t even know what he was thinking right now. I focused back on Darren before I cleared my throat.

‘We were registering for our marriage license at the city hall. I was with Logan at the time, if you are wondering I have an alibi or not,’ I said as Darren took notes of my explanation. I turned back to Logan and he was doing a quick scan of the place as we were sitting in front of the detective’s desk.

I can smell coffee and donuts everywhere in this station but surprised to see that Darren did not take any of them.

‘Well, that crosses you out, Sullivan. Good thing you are with this lovely lady over here, right?’ he said before Logan scowled at him.

‘The lovely lady in question is my wife so you better watch out what you’re saying about her, Grant,’ Logan said before my heart was beating so hard right now. I can even feel the heat was on my face as I was trying to look elsewhere but Logan’s face right now.

‘Right,’ Darren laughed before he was typing into the computer of the information that he just got. I have told him everything that I might know about my parents from last year’s information and I don’t know if it was relevant or not.

But it was worthy information, nonetheless.

‘Okay, I think I will have to investigate these partners that you told me about. I have to check out your background as well, mate, for safety reasons of course,’ Darren said before Logan was cursing under his breaths.

‘I am clean but feel free to waste your time there,’ he said before we were thanking the detective and headed out of the police station. Logan was putting his hand on my lower back as I can see that Darren smirked and mumbling something before our faces were hitting the cold air.

‘Now, that’s done. Shall we get some breakfast now?’ Logan asked me before he unlocked the car and opened the door for me. I thanked him as I slid inside and he closed it. Then, he went to the driver’s seat and got in. He started the ignition before he was reversing the car before hitting at the road again.

“And for the record,’ Logan said as I turned to look at him after a few moment of silence between us, ‘I don’t want you to be alone with him or any man really. It will be bad for my reputation to see on the tabloids that my wife was caught going down and dirty with some men,’ he said before I was rolling my eyes.

‘Why should I care about that? It’s not like we’re in love or anything,’ I mumbled before I saw that Logan was griping the wheels tightly that his knuckles were white.

‘Fine, whatever,’ I replied before we were hitting the highway and went to the destination that my husband wanted me to eat breakfast for that day.

*****

I don’t know where we were but I was looking at the restaurant that stood enormous in front of me right now. Logan got out of the car before he was walking to the front door as I was slipping out of the car.

‘Wait up,’ I said as I was walking up to him. So much for being a gentleman, this one!

Logan opened the door and I was closed enough before someone was holding the door for me. I turned to look at him and he has golden eyes.

How enchanting that was.

‘After you, ma’am,’ he said as I was smiling sheepishly at him. I slid inside the restaurant before I drew my scarf from my neck and I was looking around. Logan was nowhere to be found before I was looking at the hostess that was smiling at me.

‘Hi, table for one?’ she asked me and I looked at her name tag. Erin was her name.

‘Um, I was looking for my husband—‘

‘Nora, what are you taking so long? I thought you were behind me,’ Logan said as he was pulling me to the side before he turned to look at Erin and smiled charmingly.

Asshole.

‘I am so sorry. My wife always looks for trouble if I was not around. She’s with me,’ Logan said before he was pulling me to go to the table that he had reserved. I was rolling my eyes as I turned to look at Erin and the guy with the golden eyes. They were staring at each other and I thought I heard he said, ‘Mine,’

I could not be sure because I was far away enough to be hearing anything at all.

I was looking at the patrons that were sipping wine and eating their food. I was also looking at the couples that were dining together, they were being in love with each other and here I was, being dragged by an asshole that I called my husband.

Only in paper, not in truth.

‘Why you have to be so clumsy?’ Logan murmured before he released me as I was narrowing my eyes at him. He took his seat and I scoffed.

‘Right, because I was being escorted by a real gentleman after all,’ I mumbled right back before I took my seat and a waitress appeared in front of us, who was staring at Logan nonstop as if I did not exist right here.

‘I will have an omelet with bacons please, love,’ Logan said as he handed the menu before smiling charmingly. The waitress giggled before I rolled my eyes.

‘I will have veggie scrambles and some sausages with an orange juice, please,’ I said as the waitress was still staring at Logan, oblivious for my order.

‘Hello?’ I asked her before she was talking with Logan and he had the nerve to be so talkative as well with her!

‘…and make sure that it will be hot and cheesy, alright love?’

‘As you wish, sir,’ the waitress said before I stood up as I slammed the menu on the table. All the patrons were looking at me and I can feel the heat was on my face.

‘I think I have lost my appetite. Hope you enjoy your omelet then, husband,’ I gritted my teeth before I was taking my bag and scarf before I ran out of the restaurant.

Such a day of my life being Logan O’Sullivan’s wife.

*****

I was sighing when I was walking by the side of the road before I was looking at the grim sky. This morning fits my mood very much for I was being ignored and no one was taking serious about what I said and do.

I am sick of it!

I was walking alone, lost in my thoughts as I was staring at the ground before I was bumping into someone. I apologized immediately as I was trying to be polite to the person that I hit just now.

‘Sorry. I don’t know where I was going,’ I said before I was looking at the person that was handsome in a dark way.

His hair was black and his eyes were dark green. It pulled me in like a vortex before I blinked and the man was smiling at me.

‘I am so sorry, it was my fault for not be able to look away from you,’ he said before I felt heat on my face.

‘I am so sorry. I have to go now,’ he said before I was looking after him. He took out his cellphone and he was talking into it with someone about something. My heart was beating so fast that I cannot think about anything else but him.

What is this feeling? Is this the feeling of love at first sight? If it was, then I am deep in trouble. Very deep in trouble in deep as I was looking at the black haired man who disappeared around the corner.

Logan O’Sullivan’s POV

My chest ached. I don’t know what the cause of it but I can fairly sure that it was because my Cornelia was here. She was near but who? Could it be the waitress that was being flirty with me? Could it be the hostess with her bright smile?

I think the hostess was out for Ethan just claimed her as his.

I shook my head before I was looking at the empty seat in front of me. Nora had left me here to finish my breakfast as I rewind the scene in my head.

She was furious, her blue-green eyes were blazing as she was mocking me by calling me ‘husband’. I don’t know why the sight of her being angry when I was ignoring her was stirring something inside me.

It was not like how Cornelia used to stir my interest. But Nora was not Cornelia. Then, why, oh why, my heart was aching even more when I thought about Nora and her absence in this restaurant right now?

There must be an explanation to this and who’s better to talk to than Ophelia herself, right?