Dear Enemy, You're My Mate

Chapter 39 **

Alice

I roll my eyes the second the door to my room is closed. The older Dior is sitting on my bed with a cheese tray in his lap. He is munching away while looking at some nature program with sharks in it—typical older Dior.

"What if someone finds you in here?" I ask as I near my bed, slipping a knee over the mattress to climb up. The duvet is dark blue cashmere, summoned by none other than the prince of darkness himself.

"Let them." Dior doesn't even look away from the screen. "Patricia seems to have finally found the other me, and I'm not exactly a threat to them—I want her to be happy."

I sigh and glance at a lion eating a zebra. "Why do you keep coming back here, then?"

"Why not?" Dior snorts and his lips form a grin. "This timeline is heading in another direction so far away from my own that I find it interesting, and besides, you still need my help."

I lean my back against the bedrest. I'm still wearing my clothes, but I'm used to it by now—Dior visits me a lot. He is a lonely soul without friends in his dimension, and I suspect I'm the only person who cares about him, which I do. Care about him.

"How nice of you to stay for my sake—so, when are we saving my mate from June?"

I smile at Dior when he lifts his eyebrow, along with his trademark grin spreading over his lips. He looks tired, and I know without asking that he has been in a fight with the council in his world.

Dior notices me staring at the dark circles underneath his eyes, and the man immediately turns back to the screen. He picks up another ball of cheese and pops it into his mouth.

He speaks with his mouth full of cheese, not caring to embarrass himself in front of me, who he must consider being a child. "Whenever you've come up with the perfect rescue plan, then we will head out to save your beloved William."

I smile but can't stop myself from asking my next question. I'm too curious about the council to prevent myself from voicing my concerns. They are hurting Dior, and I wouldn't say I like it. My friend looks even more exhausted this time around, and I suspect he died earlier and made a full-on recovery from scratch.

"Why is the council so determined to get rid of you?"

Astonishment lights up Dior's face, and then he breathes a laugh while keeping his eyes low. He smells like alcohol and cigarettes, totally unlike his younger version. My friend is sadder, more rugged, and broken with a darkness in his eyes, yet he is kind.

"Caring about my well-being, are we?" His grin is quick and broad.

"Well," I shrug and feel my lips straining to compete for the biggest smile in the room. "We are friends, aren't we?"

"True," Dior sighs heavily. "I don't think I should tell you too much about the council yet, but after June is dealt with, the council will be your next enemy—make no mistake."

"And why is that?"

Dior hums. "The council seeks power and destroys anyone who might be a potential threat to them in the future. I have committed no crimes in a long time, but I'm from the shadow realm—they don't like that."

I groan in frustration. "Fuck! Damn you, Dior! Now I'm not sure what question to ask next! I both want to know more about the council, but I'm also interested in this shadow realm!"

Dior chuckles in amusement. "Let's focus on the council because they might come for you next."

I blink in surprise. "What do you mean?"

Dior hesitates momentarily, and his mood seems to darken as if having caught himself saying too much. He turns to face me with a thoughtful expression, still delaying his speech.

"A member of the council recently died in your timeline, which changes things even more—I'm no longer sure what the future holds, but if I'm right, the council will either try to recruit you or Patricia."

I furrow my eyebrows. "But didn't you say the council only recruits people with special powers? Patricia is a normal werewolf."

Dior flashes me a megawatt smile; it's secretive, and his eyes twinkling in the light coming from the TV tells me he won't reveal anything. Another groan leaves my lips. Sometimes I hate Dior because there is no way for me to force the answers out of him.

"Aw, come on!" I pout at him, even giving him my puppy eyes. My lips are whimpering, and I press myself to lean my chin against his shoulder, hoping he will fall for my fake tears. "Tell me!"

"Not a chance!"

I try to push him, but Dior only ends up laughing at my desperation to know his secrets. He sticks out his tongue at me, popping another one of those balls of cheese into his mouth. I cross my arms over my chest and blow him a raspberry.

Laughing, Dior finally reveals his secrets. "Patricia is unique, but she doesn't possess any special powers. She can't control the seasons or control shadows or teleport through the darkness. Yet I suspect there is something about her."

"You only suspect it?"

Dior smiles. "She died in my dimension, so I haven't had it confirmed yet."

I groan. "Why do you have to be so secretive?"

"Because you can't know everything, Alice. It would help if you formed your own opinion about things—I've already made you hate the council, which might fuck things up since you were a core member in my dimension."

I sigh. "Fine, but what if me not knowing enough will be the reason for my downfall?"

Dior laughs, rubbing my head with his hand. I smile at him in confusion, unsure if I like or dislike being treated like a child. I'm aware of my face looking freakishly young, but I feel like a kid around my friend.

"Then that will be taken cared of in the future," he says, yawning before pulling the blanket higher.

I study his closed eyes, laughing at his content face. "Don't tell me you're planning on sleeping in my bed again? Wow, I thought the shadow kind had a luxury bed at home."

Dior cracks one eye open, smirking. "Tonight, I can send you into William's dreams if you want, but considering I'm a shadow creature, it might turn into a nightmare. Are you fine with the skies burning?"

"Oh, you're going to send me away?!" My mood immediately brightens. "Stay for as long as you want!"

Dior snorts. "That's what I thought," he then beckons me to lie down and creep closer. "Close your eyes and relax—my magic will work like a charm if you allow it to enter through your system."

Smiling, I do as he says. "I've asked you to do this ever since I found out you could use your magic this way."

"I know, but it takes a lot of energy."

"You can rest after I meet with William."

Dior snort laughs. "So selfish, but you're my friend, and I will do anything to keep you happy," he places a large hand on my shoulder. "Say hello to William for me, okay?"

And with that, my mind drifts into darkness, yet I'm not afraid—I have come to trust older Dior. He wouldn't trick me.