Under the soft moonlight, Lauren felt the gentle touch of his hand cradling her face. Lost in the captivating gaze of his deep obsidian eyes, she wandered through a world where time seemed to stand still, enveloped in the silent connection they shared.
As his face lit up with a brilliant smile, reflecting the admiration she held for him, she snapped out of her reverie, like a daydreamer abruptly brought back to reality.
"Are you enjoying the view?" he teased playfully, his thumb lightly brushing her blushing cheek. Her cheeks flushed even more at the sight of his charming smile, radiating a Greek god-like aura even under the gentle moonlight.
Moving his hand from her face to her shoulder, Damien created a palpable tension in the air, an unspoken desire lingering between them, silently woven into the fabric of their shared moment.
Feeling a hint of sorrow as his hand left her face, the cool touch strangely warming her, she yearned for his touch once more but restrained herself, keeping her emotions in check with a sense of decorum.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Damien's inquiry was laced with genuine concern, a desire to understand the burdens she carried alone. Letting out a deep sigh, she absentmindedly ran her fingers through her dark locks, a habitual gesture in moments of contemplation.
she let out a soft sigh, her voice carrying a hint of weariness as she spoke. Retreating back to her car, she settled on the bumper, seeking a moment of rest. Watching her closely, Damien sensed her exhaustion and gently suggested she save her story for another time, guiding her towards the comfort of the estate, urging her to rest.
"Maybe you could fill me in tomorrow—" he began, only to be interrupted by her sudden revelation, "I got summoned to the supernatural council today; they want me there tomorrow." Her words hung in the air, casting a veil of mystery over their conversation.
"What? Summoned by the council? For what?" he inquired, moving closer, a trace of concern coloring his voice. His follow-up question was marked by a shift in tone, devoid of its previous warmth. Lauren couldn't help but smile at his assumption that her summons held no ill intent, that perhaps the council sought her audience for their own reasons.
Her reluctance to share had she known he was already aware, quickly evaporated as she found herself the unwitting informant. "They want to know why I never reported that I knew the blood rage vampire they've been hunting for ages," she admitted, studying his reaction.
A brief silence lingered as he processed her words, his gaze unwavering as he sought to understand the implications. "Is that why they sent the summon? Did they threaten you?" His inquiry dripped with a simmering anger, a protective instinct rising to the forefront as he grappled with the revelation before him.
A pensive look crossed Lauren's face as she realized she hadn't been entirely truthful with her team, Anderson included.
"You know, it wasn't actually them who sent that note. It was the vampire who kidnapped Director Shaw that sent the note so some faction of the Benneth witches, they told the council before launching their attack on us at the estate," she explained, her voice tinged with a mix of revelation and concern.
"I suspect the vampire possesses knowledge of your identity, and—" Lauren's words faltered, the absurdity of the demand leaving her momentarily at a loss.
"—and what? To barter my surrender to the council in exchange for Director Shaw's release, is that his gambit?" Damien interjected, seamlessly completing her unspoken thought. "Rest assured, I shall not be handing you over to anyone, not like I can anyway," she affirmed, descending from her perch on the car's bumper to stand face-to-face with him, intertwining their fingers in a show of unity.
Adopting a playful tone to alleviate the gravity of the situation, she continued, "I mean, realistically speaking, I have no chance against you—stronger, swifter, and undoubtedly more powerful," a light-hearted jest that elicited a chuckle from Damien, a brief respite amidst the tension that lingered in the air. "That goes without saying," he responded with a smile, acknowledging the unspoken truth.
"I'll face the council tomorrow and then get back to searching for Director Shaw. We were so close today, especially with Venessa's help," Lauren recounted, her determination shining through. "Alright. I know the place. When do you want to head out tomorrow?" Damien inquired, ready for the next steps.
But Lauren shook her head, a resolute expression on her face. "Actually, I have to do this alone. Neither you nor my aunt is coming with me, okay?" she stated, meeting his disappointed look with unwavering certainty.
In a moment fraught with contemplation, Damien sought to dissuade her, his words bearing the weight of concern and reason.
"No. Have you truly considered the gravity of this endeavor? The council... Do you even comprehend the composition of its members? Vampires, witches, werewolves, and fairies—beings with centuries upon centuries of existence. Confronting them alone is a perilous prospect, one that should give even the bravest pause," he implored, his voice a melodic blend of caution and concern
A soft smile graced her lips as she gently cradled his face in her hands, mirroring the tender gesture he had bestowed upon her moments before. It was a gesture of unexpected tenderness, a moment shared between them that spoke volumes without a single word.
"I will be safe, I assure you. Promise me, in return, that you won't follow after me," she murmured softly, her words carried by the gentle caress of the night breeze, imbued with a quiet resolve that contradicted with the tension within her.
His gaze locked with hers, her green orbs shimmering like precious emeralds in the moonlit night. Enthralled by her presence, he found himself on the verge of accepting her wish, teetering on the edge of her request.
"I cannot make such a promise," he uttered simply, a note of regret lacing his words as he lowered her hands, a pang of disappointment flashing across her features. Yet, deep down, she harbored no surprise, for she had long known the steadfastness of his spirit, his unyielding nature a trait she had come to rely upon.