After a long journey, Draven stepped foot inside his palace.
It was strange seeing the place so empty.
How many of my people have managed to return alive?
There were even fewer servants about the place, but that could be because they were tending to the vampire who had returned from the battle, hungry and injured.
As he stepped foot into his throne room, he was met with a voice.
"Draven!"
He turned towards the sound of the footsteps heading towards him.
It was Serena, still wearing her suit and scythe from battle.
She ran over to the vampire lord and looked as though she wished to hug him.
But there was an audience, so she stopped herself and instead bowed her head.
"I am pleased to see that you have returned, master."
Behind her were the surviving Nocturnal Knights.
Draven did a quick head count.
Fifteen. Excluding Dracula and Lucian.
Five of our knights have fallen in battle against the Werewolves.
He had yet to acquaint himself with every Knight, especially those of the weaker ranks, but there was one person that he knew was missing.
Florissa. The Eighteenth.
His mind flashed to the time they spent together during the night of his waking, but he shook the thought away.
He had no time to dwell on the losses.
A large number of forces stood in his throne room, and they all waited for him to speak.
Draven walked past the knights, making his way to the throne in silence.
Dracula stood beside it, as he always did. Still worn from his battles.
As Draven sat on the throne, the entourage of knights stood on the red carpet spread in front of it, waiting for him to speak.
Draven's clothes were torn and the wound on his arm from where he had scratched it was yet to heal completely.
He hardly looked like a lord.
Draven cleared his throat before talking.
"The battle is won." He announced, proudly.
Some of the vampires let out sighs of relief.
It was a gruesome battle for everybody, and they hoped that their efforts had not gone to waste.
They had all seen the beasts that tore through the mountains before they left.
Some wondered whether it was a beast too strong for even Draven.
But those that thought that, were fools.
"Although we allowed many werewolves to escape, we managed to kill their leaders. Lunaris and her brother are dead. The Werewolves have fallen and will not rise again."
He let the vampires take in the words for a few moments before her continued.
"But that does not mean that our mission is over. We still have trouble awaiting us at the capital. The Humans. However, we can talk about that another time. You are worn out from our war. Retire for the day and replenish yourselves. When I need you again, I will call for you."
After that, the vampires all bowed their heads once more, before heading out of the hall.
The only ones left behind were Draven and Serena.
She stood there, looking at the vampire lord with worry in her eyes.
Draven returned her glare, wondering what it was that she wanted.
"Master Draven, do you need somebody to attend to your wound."
She was looking at the cut on his arm that was yet to heal, and her tone seemed shy.
If he left the wound for a couple more days or two, the wound would slowly heal by itself.
But she was offering to speed the process up for him.
Well... I'd be a fool to turn it down.
---
Inside Draven's chambers, there was a slow humming sound as Serena sat in front of Draven, hands hovering over the scratch marks on his arm.
A faint red light was glowing from her hands as her blood magic slowly knitted the wound together.
Draven watched her as her white hair fell down the sides of her face, still messy from the battle. She was gorgeous.
"I did not take you for a healer." He said to her as he glanced at her scythe that she had placed on the table.
It was a gruesome weapon, one hardly used by warriors.
Yet hers was bloody. It had certainly been used.
"My father was a healer." She replied. "He was never the strongest fighter, and I did not wish to meet the same fate. He taught me the ways of healing magic, but once he passed, I practised in the way of the scythe."
It made sense. Serena knew that the role of lord would be thrust upon her.
Only having healing magic would make It difficult for anyone to be a leader.
That's probably why her father fell in the first place.
Still, being a leader extended past mere prowess and abilities.
It was about your traits.
What you were willing to do to accomplish your goals, and ensure that your people prospered.
Draven recalled the conversation he had with Serena about the burdens of leadership and the effect it had on her mentally.
A role too cruel for someone so sweet.
He looked at her, and the two met eyes.
Serena's cheeks blushed, as she moved her hands away from Draven's wound.
"A-all healed." She said with a stutter, though she masked it behind a smile.
Draven rubbed his finger over the sealed wound. There was a faint scar that would fade over time.
"Thank you, Serena."
The two looked at each other once again, though this time, their eyes stayed locked.
Draven wanted her.
He leaned forward to kiss her, and she allowed it.
Her lips were soft and warm, and Draven felt that he couldn't contain himself any longer.
He had wanted this since he first saw her.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her onto him.
He continued to kiss her whilst she sat on his lap, and used his hands to grope her ass.
He reached his hands down her pants as their lips remained locked, and he felt something wet against his fingers.
"Ahh~♡" Serena moaned, sensitive to his touch, but he continued.
Removing his hand from inside her, he tore her shirt off and sucked on her pink nipples, whilst playing with her other breast.
At this point, Serena was moaning and twitching with pleasure.
I haven't even put it in yet, and she's already like this.
He pulled down her pants and teased her with his member before entering inside.
"Ahhhh~♡"
Juices flowed from her as she let out a scream. Her cute face and red eyes look at Draven, practically pleading for more.
And he did.
Draven pounded her in many different positions.
The number two-ranked vampire, who always seemed so innocent and confident, was now moaning as he entered her from behind.
Her round pale backside was marked red with handprints.
They went on for hours, trying out different positions, in synch with each other.
Draven came inside of her multiple times, a risk he would usually not take, but she had begged him, stating that it was a 'safe day'.
And finally, once they were finished, they lay on the bed together, completely exhausted and satisfied with the day.
Serena snuggled up close to him, her naked skin pressed against his, as she rubbed her hand on his chest.
"That... That might be the best thing that's ever happened to me." She said between breaths.
Draven liked this lustful side of her.
He had slept with few women during his time awake.
Florissa. The eighteenth knight who had now passed.
Prudence. The third-ranked Knight.
Odalys. The whiteyes leader whom he had killed in the skies.
But Serena felt different.
By far she was the best.
Draven let out a sigh of joy, as he reached a hand down to squeeze her soft breasts.
I couldn't ask for a better reward.
[End of Volume 1]