The fire in the living room had dimmed to a soft glow, casting long shadows across the stone walls. Aeliana lay beside me on the couch, her breathing steady, deep in sleep.
Her face, usually so animated, was now peaceful, soft, and entirely vulnerable in this rare moment of stillness.
The tension from our earlier playful banter and more intimate moments had dissipated, leaving behind a strange quiet between us.
I gazed at her for a long while, feeling a warmth in my chest that was hard to ignore. The way her hair fell loosely across her face, the soft rise and fall of her chest as she breathed everything about her right now was beautiful.
I couldn't help but smile, though there was a pang of something deeper underneath it. I wasn't used to feeling this kind of attachment, this need to have someone so close. But with Aeliana, it was different.
Carefully, so as not to wake her, I slipped out from under her arm and stood, stretching slightly.
The night was quiet, the castle around us still, and the only sounds came from the crackling of the dying fire and Aeliana's soft breathing. I hesitated for a moment, watching her, and then made up my mind.
Gently, I leaned down and slid my arms under her, lifting her carefully into my embrace. She stirred slightly, but didn't wake, her head resting against my shoulder, her warmth seeping into me.
For a moment, I stood there, holding her in my arms, feeling the weight of her body, the softness of her skin. It felt right having her this close to me.
I started walking through the dim corridors, the familiar stone walls of my castle looming on either side of us. The cool air brushed against my skin, but Aeliana's warmth in my arms kept me anchored in the moment.
I couldn't help but let my mind drift as I carried her. So much had happened tonight so much had changed.
I didn't know when I had started feeling this way about her, but now, standing here, carrying her through the quiet halls of my home, I couldn't imagine a life without her.
I glanced down at her, her face illuminated in the soft glow of the candles lining the walls. There was something achingly beautiful about her in this moment.
She looked so serene, so at peace, and my chest tightened at the thought of her leaving. What if this was temporary? What if she walked out of my life just as easily as she had walked in?
"I don't want you to leave," I whispered softly, even though I knew she couldn't hear me. The thought of her not being here, of her absence, was something I hadn't fully allowed myself to dwell on until now. But the idea was unbearable.
As I walked further into the depths of the castle, my mind wandered. Aeliana had become a part of my life in such a short time. It wasn't just her presence that I craved; it was everything about her.
Her laugh, her wit, her stubbornness, and even the way she challenged me at every turn. I didn't just want her to stay I needed her to.
And it wasn't just for the warmth she brought into my home or the playful banter we shared. It was because, for the first time in a long time, I felt... alive around her.
I glanced down at her again, unable to resist the urge to brush a stray lock of hair from her face. She shifted slightly in my arms, her face nuzzling into my chest, and my heart skipped a beat.
Without thinking, I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. It was a gentle, almost hesitant gesture, but the emotions behind it were anything but.
As I continued walking, a sudden, playful voice broke through the quiet.
"Well, well, well. If this isn't the most adorable thing I've seen in centuries."
I stopped in my tracks, my grip tightening around Aeliana. I didn't need to look to know who it was. Leora. She stepped out of the shadows, her eyes gleaming with amusement, her arms crossed as she leaned casually against the doorframe.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, but there was no hiding the slight embarrassment creeping into my tone.
Leora grinned, her fangs glinting in the dim light. "Oh, don't mind me. I was just passing through. Didn't expect to find you carrying your little princess to bed. How sweet."
I scowled at her, but there was no real malice behind it. Leora had always had a knack for showing up at the most inconvenient times. "It's not what it looks like," I muttered, though I wasn't entirely sure what I meant by that.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Oh, of course not. You're just being a perfect little hostess, right? Carrying your guest to bed, making sure she's all comfortable. How noble of you."
I shot her a glare, but she just laughed, the sound light and teasing. "You should just marry her already, Ciara," she added, her tone half-serious. "You're clearly smitten. And from what I can see, she's not exactly fighting it either."
My heart skipped a beat at her words. Marriage? The thought had never seriously crossed my mind... or had it? I looked down at Aeliana again, her face peaceful in sleep, and for a brief moment, the idea didn't seem so far-fetched.
But no we weren't even dating. Not officially, anyway. I couldn't just jump to marriage.
"Leora," I said, exasperation creeping into my voice, "now's not the time."
She waved me off, still grinning like the mischievous devil she was. "Fine, fine. But don't act like you haven't thought about it." She gave me a wink, then disappeared back into the shadows as quickly as she'd come, leaving me standing there, my mind whirling.
Marriage. The idea lingered, even after she was gone. Could that really be something for us? I shook my head, trying to clear the thought.
First things first, we weren't even... whatever this was yet. I needed to figure that out before anything else.
Still, the thought of waking up every morning with Aeliana beside me, of building a life together it didn't seem so impossible.
I finally reached my room, the large wooden door creaking slightly as I pushed it open with my shoulder. The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn, and the bed looked invitingly soft.
Carefully, I lowered Aeliana onto the bed, her body sinking into the plush mattress. She stirred slightly, her eyelids fluttering, but she didn't wake.
I stood there for a moment, just watching her. The way the moonlight filtered through the cracks in the curtains, casting soft shadows across her face, made her look almost ethereal. I sighed, feeling a strange sense of contentment wash over me.
But then, a familiar hunger stirred deep within me. The craving for blood. I hadn't fed properly in days, and the need was becoming more insistent.
Normally, I would have taken care of it by now, but... I glanced at Aeliana. The thought of feeding on anyone else disgusted me now. I didn't want just anyone's blood. It was Aeliana's blood I craved, but I couldn't ,wouldn't cross that line.
I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the urge. I'd have to manage. For now, the hunger could wait. I didn't want to ruin this moment.
With a deep breath, I walked over to the other side of the bed and slipped under the covers, careful not to disturb Aeliana.
Her warmth seeped into me, and despite the gnawing hunger, I felt... content. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I belonged. Like I wasn't just a vampire, alone in my castle, but something more. Someone more.
I glanced over at Aeliana one last time, her face soft and peaceful in sleep. I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of calm settle over me.
Whatever happened next whether we ended up dating, or... married I knew one thing for sure. I didn't want her to leave. Not now. Not ever.
As the weight of the day finally caught up with me, my eyelids grew heavy. I allowed myself to sink into the warmth of the bed, the quiet sounds of the night lulling me into a peaceful sleep.
The last thing I thought of before I drifted off was Aeliana her laughter, her smile, the way she made me feel like I was more than just a creature of the night.
And for the first time in a long time, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
As I began to drift off, Aeliana stirred beside me, shifting in her sleep. Her arm instinctively wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to her.
I felt her warmth against me, her head nestling into the crook of my neck. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around her in return, savoring the softness of the moment. Her breath, steady and calm, lulled me deeper into the comfort of her embrace.