Chapter 8: United in Darkness and Light
Weeks turned into months. Aiden and Lila's relationship deepened. She met his "two sides" and cared for the whole, broken soul. He learned to balance the demon's power for good, especially if Lila was in danger.
One evening, as autumn leaves fell, Aiden returned home to find Lila waiting with candles lit in the living room. The scent of jasmine filled the air.
"I thought we could have a little celebration," she said, eyes shining.
Aiden smiled, surprised. "Celebration?"
She stepped forward. "It's been three months since we met in the alley."
Warmth spread in his chest. He took her hand, pulling her closer. "Time flies with you."
They danced slowly to music, wrapped in each other's arms. Lila's head rested on his shoulder as they swayed. Outside, the city lights glimmered.
Aiden's mind drifted. The demon lurking inside him watched this as well. Something changed in the darkness. Jealousy turned to… wonder. It saw how Aiden looked at Lila, gentle and full of love. Even the monster began to feel things it did not expect: protectiveness, admiration. Aiden's kind nature wasn't weakness, it was power too.
Lila lifted her face to his. "I love you, Aiden."
His breath caught. Golden light returned to his eyes. "I love you too." He pressed his lips to hers.
They kissed—a long, heartfelt kiss. Passion and relief mingled. Then Aiden pulled back slightly, eyes searching hers.
She was lost in his gaze. He took her hand, kneeling on one knee without breaking eye contact. "Lila," he said softly, "you are the light in my darkness. Will you marry me?"
Tears sparkled in her eyes as she felt a lump in her throat. "Yes," she whispered.
They embraced, hearts pounding in unison.
Behind Aiden's mind, a low growl of satisfaction rumbled from the demon. This was… pleasant. The demon realized how precious Lila was to Aiden. If helping Aiden meant being with her, maybe it wasn't so bad.
On their wedding day, under an azure sky, Lila and Aiden stood hand in hand. Friends and family surrounded them. In his heart, he felt complete. His demon persona was tucked away, mostly silent.
As they exchanged vows, Aiden's voice quivered with emotion: "I promise to protect you always, even when I have to protect both of me." Lila squeezed his hand. They laughed softly together.
Later, they danced as husband and wife. Lila fell into his arms.
The demon in Aiden's mind watched with quiet curiosity. It did not feel anger. It felt… peace. For once, it was safe in the darkness. Together, they all looked forward to the future.
It wasn't the smoothest path, but it was theirs—and it was beautiful.