What am I supposed to do, but sink my teeth in you?
I starve without you on my lips, I die without the taste of it
What am I supposed to be when you sink your teeth in me?
'Cause I live for the way you move, I'd die without the taste of you
~Taste of You, Rezz (feat. Dove Cameron)
His lips are dry. Eyes have deeper circles. To any wandering eye, Astarion looked as if he had a very long night, but that was far from the truth. In reality, he was starving. He hadn't fed since they wandered into these cursed lands. And it finally started to take a toll on his body.
Though it had been a few days since Raphael kept his promise and revealed the meaning behind his scars, the thoughts surrounding it were fresh as if engrained in his mind. He had been so focused on them that it was hard to think about anything else. Cazador planned to sacrifice him and the other spawn to become the most powerful vampire lord that ever existed. If Astarion could take that power somehow, he would be able to protect himself. Protect Ruby...and of course, the others who he won't admit are the closest he has ever had to friends.
He mindlessly followed Ruby up the stairs to their shared room, crimson eyes staring off into space. He didn't notice her at first when she turned to face him with a concerned look. It took the tender caress of her hands on his face to break him out of his thoughts.
The dhampir thumbed his face, analyzing it carefully. Astarion blinked once. Twice. "What are you doing, darling?"
Ruby furrowed her brows as she continued her analysis. "When's the last time you've fed?"
When the vampire spawn didn't respond, she removed her hands from his face as he felt the sudden loss of her lukewarm touch. She crossed her arms and gave him a skeptical look. "Astarion..."
He looked at her blankly, trying to figure out a good counter to diffuse her impending anger.
Then, it was as if she had read his mind. "You haven't fed since the Underdark."
It wasn't a question, but a realization. He could see the frustration building up in her intense gaze. The way she tightened her grip on her arms. He could hear her blood pumping faster and faster. It drove him insane.
"Don't you ever do that again!" the dhampir shouted as tears began to well up in her eyes.
Astarion gazed into her violet orbs, confusion etched into his brows. "I'm quite alright, darling. Truly, there's no need to worry."
Ruby let out a frustrated grunt. "You might be able to fool the others, but not me. Don't forget, I'm half-vampire, too!" She turned her back toward him, hiding the tears that threatened to spill over as she held herself tighter. "I know what happens when you go through that kind of withdrawal. If we were able to find a blood source for me, we can find one for you, too." She shook her head in disbelief. "I'm so stupid. I didn't even-"
A loud sigh escaped Astarion's mouth, drowning out her mumbling as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Then I would be depleting you of yours. Untainted blood is a rare find down here. Honestly, any blood at all is." He approached the dhampir slowly and gently touched her arm as he walked around to face her. "You are our leader, my love. We need you at your best." He moved his hand to her cheek and wiped away a stray tear.
The dhampir shook her head, golden curls following every beat. "But I need you. Astarion, please," she grabbed both of his hands and squeezed them tightly. "Just take a little. You need it."
"But what about you?" the vampire spawn whispered, concern flooding his features.
"I'll be okay," Ruby mouthed back with a wistful smile. Before Astarion could respond, she guided him to their bed and crawled in it, sprawling out on her back and tilting her neck to the side. She watched patiently as the vampire spawn hesitated. "I promise."
Astarion was worried. Her blood was intoxicating, and he was concerned about the feral part of him taking control. The hunger within him was a beast, constantly gnawing at his sanity, threatening to break free. The thought of draining her dry, of the life slipping from her eyes because of his uncontrollable thirst, filled him with dread. He hadn't fed from her since they entered the Underdark and, to be honest, he missed the taste of her—the rich, unique essence that was hers alone.
He cautiously climbed onto the bed, his movements slow and deliberate. Hovering over her, he could hear the steady rhythm of her heartbeat.
The dhampir gave him a reassuring smile, gazing into his crimson orbs. "Hi."
The twitch of his lips couldn't be contained as he returned it, bending down to nuzzle into her neck. "Are you sure about this, darling?" He could feel the slight tremor in his hands as he held her, the battle between his desire and his fear raging within him.
Ruby let out a content sigh and nodded her head. "Of course." She giggled as Astarion kissed her cheek, the light brush of his lips tickling her skin. The sound was like music to his ears, a balm to his troubled heart.
Then, he kissed her forehead, a gesture of affection and reverence. Her skin was warm beneath his touch, and he could feel her pulse quickening in anticipation. Moving lower, he captured her lips in a tender kiss, savoring the softness and the sweet taste of her.
He began trailing kisses down her neck. He could sense her relaxation, the way she melted into his touch, and it gave him the courage to continue. His lips continued to brush over the sensitive skin until he found the weak pulse point that called to him like a siren.
"Never stop that, my sweet," the vampire spawn whispered against her neck.
"Stop what?" Ruby's voice was soft, her breath hitching slightly as she relished the coolness of his lips on her skin.
"Laughing. It's one of my favorite sounds next to this one." His words were laced with a seductive undertone, a promise of what was to come. Before she could respond, in one fluid movement, Astarion sunk his fangs into her skin.
The dhampir gasped, the sudden sharpness of his bite sending a thrill through her body. Her fingers instinctively found his curls, tangling in the silky white strands and lightly tugging at the ones at the nape of his neck. The sensation of his fangs piercing her flesh was both painful and euphoric, a paradox that she had come to crave.
As Astarion began to suck her blood, a primal hunger driving him, they both began to breathe heavily. His feeding was a dance of control and desire, his lips and tongue working in tandem to draw out her life essence while savoring each drop. Ruby's pulse quickened, and she could feel her blood rushing to the surface, answering his silent call.
The vampire spawn's hand slipped around her waist, pulling her closer, his grip possessive yet gentle. He could feel the rhythmic throb of her heartbeat through his fangs.
Ruby's grip tightened for a moment before it began to loosen. The sudden slackening of her hold sent a jolt of fear through Astarion. His undead heart raced, and panic surged through him as he realized she was slipping into unconsciousness. He stopped feeding at once, pulling away from her neck as if her skin had burned him. His crimson eyes widened in alarm, desperately seeking her gaze.
Her eyes fluttered open, tired and unfocused, but they found his with a flicker of recognition. Relief washed over him like a tidal wave, and he sighed, his body trembling from the intensity of his fear. He had come too close to losing her, the thought of which sent a shiver down his spine.
With a sense of urgency, Astarion reached for the nightstand drawer and retrieved a small vial of boar blood. He popped the cork from the vial and gently lifted Ruby's head, bringing the vial to her lips. "Drink, my love," he murmured as he poured the thick, dark liquid into her mouth.
Although her eyes were still dreary, the color slowly began to return to her face. She swallowed the blood in small, measured sips, her body instinctively responding to the nourishment. Astarion watched her intently, his eyes never leaving her face, his anxiety gradually ebbing away.
As she finished the vial, a wide smile spread across her lips, a sign of her recovery. The sight of it was like a balm to Astarion's frayed nerves, and he couldn't help but return the smile, albeit shakily.
"See, I told you I'd be okay. How do you feel?"
Astarion brushed a stray hair from her face. "That doesn't matter. How do you feel, Ruby?"
A soft chuckle escaped her lips. She grasped the lapels of his shirt, pulling him closer. Their faces were inches apart, and Ruby's eyes sparkled with warmth and affection. She pressed her lips to his in a gentle, reassuring kiss. "Grateful," she mouthed against him, her voice barely more than a whisper.
It took the vampire spawn mere seconds to respond, his worry melting away in the heat of the moment. He returned her kiss with a passion that had been tempered by fear and now released in a wave of relief and love. Their kiss deepened, a fervent dance of lips and tongues, as they both sighed and giggled like two lovestruck teenagers discovering each other for the first time.
Their connection was electric, each touch and caress amplifying the bond they shared. They lost themselves in the moment, their kisses becoming more insistent, more desperate. Ruby's fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer still, while Astarion's hands roamed her back.
Neither of them needed to part for breath, their vampiric nature allowing them to savor the moment without the constraints of mortality. The world outside their embrace ceased to exist; there was only the warmth and softness of each other's lips, the mutual exchange of love and reassurance.
But as the minutes went by, reality began to creep back in. The Shadowfell loomed ahead, a dangerous and foreboding realm that demanded their full attention and strength. They could kiss all night, lost in each other's embrace, but it wouldn't change the challenges they would face come dawn.
Reluctantly, Astarion broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers, his breathing heavy and uneven. "As much as I'd love to stay like this forever, we need to rest," he murmured. "We have a long day ahead of us."
The dhampir nodded, her own breath ragged and her lips swollen from their kisses. "I know," she whispered, a small smile playing on her lips. "But it was worth it."
Astarion chuckled softly, pressing a final, lingering kiss to her lips. "Every second," he agreed. He lay down beside her, pulling the soft blankets over them. As he held her close, he could feel her heartbeat gradually slow.
They lay there in the quiet darkness, the threat of the Shadowfell a distant worry compared to the warmth of this moment. The vampire spawn's arms tightened around Ruby, his determination to protect her stronger than ever.
But with that determination came a deep-rooted worry. Once Cazador realizes Ruby's not buried under six feet of dirt, he'll be after her too. He needed to find a way to take the vampire lord's place in the ritual. Who cares if it destroys the other spawn in the process? They were never there for him anyway. Ruby, however, had been his guiding light since they met and she was worth infinitely more than the likes of them combined.
They didn't discuss much after Raphael finally spilled the beans. Ruby must have assumed he wanted his space to think...and he did. He really did. He thought hard...but the conclusion was always the same. Hopefully, the dhampir would understand. Surely, she would, right?
The vampire spawn nuzzled into the crook of her neck, thumbing her arm draped loosely over his around her abdomen. He planted a gentle kiss to her jawline. The dhampir hummed. "Aren't you the one who said we needed rest?" she murmured teasingly with a raised brow though her eyes remained shut.
"I was just...thinking," Astarion began cautiously.
Ruby let out a small chuckle and turned over in his arms, finally opening her lids to reveal the beautiful amethyst orbs hidden beneath. "You seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Seems rather dangerous to me, my love."
"True," he purred, pulling her closer to him. He gazed lovingly into her eyes, affection flooding his crimson orbs. "I have an idea. Now, before you say anything, just hear me out, darling."
"Okay?" An amused smirk made its way to Ruby's lips as she let out another soft chuckle.
"What if...we could find a way for me to ascend in Cazador's place?"
Yet, her reaction was not what he was expecting. For the first time, Astarion saw fear clouding her features directed at him.