This was her husband. The vampire. The darkness that was supposed to consume her and strangely as she gazed at him she didn't mind being taken away into whatever world he hid from this world and the hearts he cherished.
He had been unyielding, protective, and unwavering in his support for her, making it clear to everyone present that no one had the right to dictate her life or how she should be treated.
Alaric, sensing her gaze, softened his expression slightly. His eyes, once hard and cold, now looked at her with a quiet tenderness. "You're in control here, Salviana," he murmured, his voice lowering as he spoke only to her. "No one else decides how you're treated. Especially not them."
Salviana's heart swelled with warmth, a feeling she wasn't used to. Her lips parted in a soft, shy smile. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
