100 Years Ago

Orianna had already been in Duskmire for nine months, unsure how the days had passed by so quickly. It might have had something to do with how removed this place was from the rest of the world, a bubble filled with fog that no one left because they really didn't need to, not unless they were thirsty for adventure. The outside world was a dangerous one filled with unpredictable outcomes; she knew this as well as any other.

"Orianna, is something wrong?"

She blinked out of her daze, noticing she had been staring off into space as she attended to one of the townsfolk. It was a young half elf boy, probably no older than thirteen with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. His parents had asked her to take a look at his sprained wrist which he'd hurt after falling from a tree. His human mother, Jane, was busy getting dinner prepared in the kitchen of their cozy home. It was warm and inviting, the type of atmosphere that reminded her of her home in Cormyr when her mother was still alive. The only difference was the presence of the father figure, Erdan, who was being a loving partner helping his wife peel potatoes at the dining table. They looked like a darling pair, happy and comfortable with a healthy child to boot.

"Sorry Aran, my mind was wandering."

Closing her eyes she mumbled a few quiet words, the soft teal glow of a healing spell rippled for a second around them. She stroked the boy's wrist gently, the swelling going down along with the throbbing pain with it.

"How does that feel?"

The boy rubbed his wrist and then carefully rolled it to test its mobility. He brightened instantly. "Good as new! Thank you!"

With new enthusiasm he flung on his thick coat and fur hat, quickly dashing towards the door to go outside and play with his friends once more.

"Be careful and make sure to be home for dinner!" His mother announced before he went to leave.

He replied quickly and went in a hurry. "Yes mother!"

Jane sighed and shook her head, but she was still smiling, knowing full well that he would continue to climb trees and sword fight with sticks with reckless abandonment. She walked over to Orianna, taking a seat where Aran had been sitting beside her. Her fingers swept her brown hair to the side as she smiled with appreciation.

"Thank you so much for the house call, Lady Orianna. You're probably terribly busy."

"On the contrary, I find there's far less to do than I'm used to."

Over the course of the months, she had gained a better understanding of the townsfolk and their lives in Duskmire. No matter who she asked everyone came across as grateful. She had wondered if they were enchanted or placed under some sort of spell, anything that could be manipulating their will, but there was nothing. Sure, the villagers held an appropriate amount of fear towards the vampires given what they were, but they were still undoubtedly content. Happy.

"I've lived here all my life so I'm not sure what it's like out there."

"There's a lot of good, but there's also the usual occurrences that can be more unfortunate. War, famine and sickness, not to mention the other dangers in the wild. There always seems to be a battle of good versus evil, but the longer I've been here the more I realize it's not all black and white— it's many shades of grey."

Orianna sighed, lacing her fingers together.

"I didn't want to admit it, but Duskmire isn't such a bad place. It's one of the first times I've seen two oppositions living together in balanced harmony. In a way where both parties are satisfied."

Jane smiled and nodded. "I know for an outsider it can be hard to understand. Lord Dragomir is a powerful vampire so it's natural to be scared of him, but generations of people have lived here under his protection for the last five hundred years. This town used to be destitute before he arrived. Giving a little blood feels no different than giving someone else money for taxes. We're safe and provided for, it's a fair trade to me."

Her husband Erdan walked over with two mugs of tea, offering one to his wife and Orianna which they took with thanks. He then moved to stand beside Jane and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"It's also a blessing that he doesn't demand donations until maturity. So, Aran has time to enjoy being a child for a while longer. He won't need to worry about responsibilities until he's a young man."

As much as Orianna had wanted to see Dragomir as a monster he sure made it difficult with all the high reviews she was hearing. The evidence was clear as day. Even if everything he did was purely for himself, in the end it still didn't change the fact that these families were thankful for what they had.

"Would you like to stay for dinner? It should be ready soon enough." Jane offered.

"Thank you for the hospitality, but I have another engagement."

Orianna finished her tea and wrapped herself in her cloak tightly before she took her leave. She had to politely decline any other offers the family tried to insist upon her, but in due course she was on her way. She truly didn't need anything thanks to a certain vampire who had been taking care of all the necessities during her stay. Yet all he asked of her was to join him for dinner every night, nothing more or less. At one point she had thought there was some hidden meaning, that she would in fact become the dinner, but it never happened. Not once had he mentioned it or given her the idea that he even saw her as a meal.

He was polite in nature with a hint of mischief, like he was always secretly amused by something. Difficult as it was to admit, against her better judgement she'd grown fond of him. How could anyone not be swooned by a man of his caliber? He was mesmerizing in every way, but also mysterious with the undertone of danger that made her hair stand on end. Deep down she knew she shouldn't get involved with him, but she found herself being drawn further into the darkness the longer she stayed here.

As she was lost in thought a breeze blew past, the cold air penetrating through her clothing which caused her to shudder. The winter nights were getting colder, and the snow had started to stick, but even in these times the town was still provided with ample resources. She'd never asked directly but it was apparent that Dragomir had flexible means of teleportation and a logical system at work. He had every manner of servant at his beck and call, both in Duskmire and within other unnamed cities far from here. Everything was run with immaculate attention to detail, like a well-oiled machine.

As she walked down the usual path she shivered once again and stopped to tighten her scarf around her neck, looking up at the sky. The snowflakes fell like soft feathers and melted as they made contact with her skin, a smile formed as her breath was seen with every exhale. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the winter's silence a while longer.

"You look cold, my dear."

She jolted and slapped a hand to her chest, startled as she looked at the source with wide eyes.

"Gods dammit, Dragomir— don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Apologies. You startle so easily, even though there are no dangers here to hurt you." He chuckled and walked up to her, removing his long black fur coat and placing it on her shoulders.

She shivered again and pulled it closer to her body, the soft fur of the collar tickling her cheek. Her hands stroked the material which felt smooth as silk as it ran between her fingers. Due to his undead form, the winter clothes he wore were probably unnecessary and were likely just for appearances. He tended to find it was better to blend in with the mortals and not scare them more than he already did. As they spent more time together, she'd observed that he enjoyed long walks in the forest, sometimes inviting her to come with him. He enjoyed a lot of things actually, including fashion and glamorous trinkets, as well as the arts and music, anything that encouraged self-expression. Vampires truly did enjoy the finer things and engaging in decadent behavior.

"Were you waiting for me?" She asked.

His bright red eyes looked into hers and he smiled, reaching out his hands to rub her upper arms to create some friction to warm her.

His silence was enough of an answer that he'd been doing exactly that. She'd always viewed herself as a fairly normal woman, so what parts of her interested him? This individual who had already experienced centuries of life and likely partook in his fair share of relationships. Who knew what places he'd already seen or the people he had met. It made her wonder if he ever grew bored of eternity or if he ever had more ambitions than he was letting on. On occasion he would take a portal and disappear for a few days to have a change of scenery, but those were few and far between. He had everything a vampire could possibly want, well, mostly everything. Except for the one thing she and every other living creature took for granted.

As she looked at him a while longer, she noticed his appearance was a little different tonight. His outfit was all black and monochromatic. It made her notice his other features more vividly, like how his almost black hair seemed redder than she remembered, wearing it down with strands tucked behind his right ear rather than slicked back. His common rubies with silver or gold metals were replaced with iridescent moonstones and rose gold. It made his crimson eyes pop against the rest of him and his ghostly complexion. He looked hauntingly beautiful standing there with the snowy white canvas behind him.

"Recently you've been looking at me differently."

She blinked, suddenly aware of how close they were, close enough that she could see snowflakes sticking to his long black lashes as she got caught in his stare.

"What do you mean?"

"That you see me as Dragomir. Not just a vampire." His slender fingers brushed a stray hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. His hand lingered there a while longer before bringing it back to his side. "Your face is flushed from the cold. We should head inside."

"Let's walk a little longer. It's too peaceful to leave just yet."

He chuckled and shook his head. "You're stubborn, but I don't dislike that side of you."

He circled around her and hooked his arm with hers, bringing her close to his side and started to walk. He was leading them back to the Scarlet Palace but when they reached the stairs to the main entrance he veered off the path and walked around the outskirts, granting her request. The snow was a tad deeper off the pathway and crunched under their boots as they leisurely followed the perimeter of the building. The garden at the back of the palace was dormant for the season, every hedge and stone bench covered in snow, the water inside the large fountain frozen solid.

Her arm slipped out of his as she walked a few paces ahead, spinning around to face him and grinning as she swayed on the back of her heels, allowing gravity to do the rest. The snow cushioned her fall like a firm cloud. She looked up to the sky, noticing the fog wasn't as thick around the palace as the rest of the land around it. Even with the misty cover she could still see some twinkling stars poking through.

"It's beautiful here no matter the time of year." She murmured, moving her arms and legs to create the pattern of a snow angel.

"The changing seasons are one of the few things that remind me my clock has stopped, but time still carries on around me." Dragomir spoke quietly, reflecting.

"Isn't it lonely?"

He looked at her silently pondering before copying her actions. He fell back into the snow beside her and turned his head to look at her. She did the same.

"Not in the way you might think. While the sands in my hourglass don't fall, I have infinite possibilities ahead of me. Mortals have expectations, they wish for their lives to hold meaning and purpose. As a vampire I don't have those foretold deadlines." He turned onto his side, leaning over her slightly. "Things like success and love don't need to be rushed in desperation when I have all the time in the world."

The mood between them felt more intimate than usual, like he was welcoming her into a deeper part of his mind in the form of conversation. His gaze was also pulling her in closer, but the stinging numbness in the tips of her ears and toes turned into something she could no longer ignore as her teeth started to chatter.

Dragomir covered his mouth and looked away with a snicker. He got up from the snow and helped her to her feet. "You're freezing. Come."

He snapped his fingers and a swirl of darkness wrapped around them, stealing her vision for a split second before the shadows disappeared. He had teleported them to his personal study, the one they sat in when they first met.

"Neat trick."

"Among many." He smirked, walking towards the fireplace he added a few extra logs to the embers. "Warm up by the fire."

She padded over, hearing the awkward squishing sound of her damp footwear from melted snow. She took a seat in the matching chair facing the fire, untying the laces of her boots and tugging them off, along with her socks. She stretched out her legs and winced, toes curling at the uncomfortable sensation of cold skin adapting to the hot temperature. She tugged Dragomir's coat closer to her, enjoying his scent of bergamot and Amberwood.

"Are you hungry?" He asked, removing his dress coat and placing it on the back of his chair. When he sat down he crossed his leg over the other and rolled the sleeves of his black shirt up to his elbows.

As if on cue her stomach made a tiny grumble. "I could eat."

He smirked in amusement and closed his eyes; a silent order being sent out by some strange master-spawn connection she still didn't quite understand. In minutes the vampire spawn Viktor walked in with a cart carrying her dinner as well as Dragomir's. He was a former human male, around forty-five when he was turned. He was handsome with platinum hair and the same red eyes as every other spawn, his outfit being a mix of black and blue with a small white apron tied around his waist.

"Good evening, Master Dragomir. Lady Orianna."

He bowed respectfully and cleared the small round table between the matching chairs they were sitting in. He placed down a few plates of food, followed by some crystal goblets and two different bottles of dark red liquid, one wine and the other blood.

"This evening I've made you roasted lamb shoulder with a brown butter gravy, accompanied by acorn squash and fingerling potatoes, along with a side salad topped with fresh goat cheese and figs in a balsamic vinaigrette. To drink we have barrel-aged Callidyrran this evening."

Orianna's eyes sparkled, placing her hands together she thanked him happily. Every meal this man made she enjoyed to the fullest, though she did wonder how he was so good at what he did without being able to taste the food. She didn't know much about him except that he'd been a well respected chef in his former life.

Viktor bowed, silently thanking her for the praise. He never announced what he was serving Dragomir, likely for her own comfort in not knowing who the doner was. He simply popped the corks off each bottle, pouring the liquid into the glasses and leaving them to be alone once more.

These dinner dates of theirs had become a routine she looked forward to. The food had been the main reason to keep her coming back in the beginning but now Dragomir's company was just as satisfying, even desired.

"This is the first time we havn't been in the dining hall." She commented, taking the first few bites of her meal, her mouth salivating from the rich flavour which made her hum happily.

"Tonight I wanted a change of scenery. Besides, it's warmer and more... intimate here."

She softly choked on her food, swallowing it down and reaching for her wine glass to wash away the tickle in her throat before proceeding with finishing her meal. What did he mean by intimate? She shouldn't look into it too deeply, he probably meant it was cozy in here compared to the formal dining room, with that overbearing table setting that could seat twenty people. Why did he insist on emphasizing it though... It only made her more conscious of her own feelings related to the matter.

Vampire or not, how could anyone not be drawn to him? He may have been the perfect cover model for a book on night creatures, but he was also more than that. He was evil aligned, she had no doubts about that, but the layers of his personality and what she thought was his former humanity would sometimes reveal itself. On those occasions where she got to peek behind the curtain was when she'd feel closer to him and find complicated feelings of her own bubble up to the surface. Somehow along the way she had developed a fondness, even yearning for his affection. But did vampires even love?

He chuckled to himself and took a long sip from his glass, the red staining his soft lips. He licked it away and stared as Orianna watched him with careful intrigue.

"You're doing it again~."

She averted her gaze and sipped the remainder of her wine, the stem making a quiet click when she placed it back on the table to pour another glass— but he beat her to it, her hand making contact with his as he grasped the bottle and filled her goblet. As she looked at the burgundy liquid poured into her goblet, she could already feel the buzz from the wine, a distinct tingle on the tips of her fingers. Maybe it was what made her brave enough to speak her mind.

"I think I was wrong about you." She admitted.

"Oh? Do tell."

With him staring at her so intently she noticed how warm it was now, so she slipped her arms out of his fluffy black coat and let it rest behind her, along with her own cloak she had been wearing around her shoulders. Under it she wore a wool long-sleeved navy shirt with small buttons on the front with an open neckline. She might have been mistaken but she could have sworn she felt his eyes on her collarbone.

"Everyone that lives here, though they fear you for good reason, they also adore you. They had nothing to express but gratitude for your symbiotic relationship, as you so gracefully put it." She sighed heavily. "I was only going to stay here for a few months and then leave. I found myself staying longer, wanting to make sure all these people were truly safe... Imagine how silly I felt when I realized I was no longer staying here for them..."

Dragomir's brows rose. "And what, may I ask, has caused you to stay?"

"I think you know the answer."

"I do. But I want to hear you say it."

She swallowed the lump in her throat and looked at him seriously.

"You. I stay here because of you."

He placed the back of fingers against his mouth to hide the large smile on his face, but Orianna could still see it in his eyes.

"Your words are music to my ears, like a poem or a love letter." His ruby eyes searched hers as he spoke. "I assumed our time together was fleeting, that you would disappear back into the fog from whence you came. It pleases me that we need not say our goodbyes. You can stay here as long as you'd like— till the end of your days if you wish."

"Wouldn't that bore you? You might grow tired of me after a century or two. Besides, don't you ever want to leave this place?" She spoke in a light manner, but she was also anxious for his answer.

"You're not boring or dull. Since the first day we met you've intrigued me, made me feel curiosity for the first time in centuries." He traced the rim of his goblet in thought. "The past is what brought me here. I have little intention of leaving now."

It made Orianna wonder what had driven him to live this sort of lifestyle in the first place. She had read stories and heard tales of the types of vampires before him. Always thirsty for more power, more blood, more domination. If Dragomir had these qualities, he was exceptional at keeping them hidden.

"What made you come to Duskmire?"

"I've said it before, I wanted my own utopia."

"That was five hundred years ago. What did you do for the first hundred?"

"You're curious as a cat, aren't you?" He took another sip from his goblet and stood up. He walked a few paces and pressed his hand on the hearth, staring into the flames of the fireplace as they blazed and crackled.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Dragomir was in quiet contemplation for a few moments before he turned to her. "I've never had any reason to talk about my past, but since you're so eager I can give you this privilege."

His movements were graceful as he relocated to the navy velvet loveseat by the stained glass window, depicting a forest scene with the changing seasons. His arm was resting on the back of it as he beckoned her to join him. She followed and sat down on the other end of the seat, her knee bumping his as she pushed the throw pillow behind her back.

"Do you know how vampires are created?"

"You bite them and they bite you?"

He chuckled. "More or less. Vampire spawn are created when a Vampire bites and drinks the blood of another creature. Once the spawn is born, they are subservient entirely to their creator. They may only regain their free-will through the death of their creator, or reciprocally drinking their master's blood to become a true vampire."

"I can't imagine many vampires get created..."

"Exactly. No vampire wants competition. There are obviously exceptions though, otherwise I wouldn't exist. I am probably one of the few of my kind who didn't live a single day as a spawn."

Orianna looked at him surprised. "How?"

"The woman I loved was a recently turned vampire named Katherine. Back then, I'd never laid eyes on someone so beautiful. She adored me, stole my heart away and changed me six hundred years ago. I'd heard the transformation process for a spawn can be excruciating— worse than death even, but Katherine didn't make me suffer. When she drained me dry and gave me her blood, the pleasure completely outweighed the pain."

He looked at Orianna and gave her an almost apologetic look as he continued his story. Maybe because he knew the next part would make her uncomfortable or perhaps see him as the monster he was.

"As two young vampires we were immature, full of bloodlust and hunger. We lived lavishly, bathing in the blood of our enemies and gorging ourselves on the innocent. Whatever moral compass I possessed before had been broken. I relished every second of my new immortality. To have all that power, to dominate the weak and feel invincible was... euphoric."

Orianna jolted slightly as she felt his cold fingers brush her shoulder, but she refused to move away or show any sign of fear. The picture he painted of his former self didn't seem real, like it was completely made up when she saw who he was today. So, she sat there and listened patiently to the rest of it.

"That time together was short lived. I learned very quickly that extravagance and greed get you killed. Our presence did not go unnoticed."

"What happened?"

"Katherine was killed by vampire hunters. I knew then that eternity was never certain, and that complacency is the true killer of immortality."

His thumb stroked her shoulder again and she could have sworn she saw a hint of sadness in his expression, but it disappeared almost immediately.

"In turn, I pushed my past aside and decided it was better to live a quiet life where no one would have any reason to end my existence. I had the ludicrous idea to make my own sanctuary. Thus, I created my first loyal spawn to help me build that dream."

"Has your nature changed since then?" Why did she dare ask that question...

Dragomir flashed his fangs with a smile and leaned in closer to her. "Orianna, my pet. I could have feasted upon you the instant I saw you. So, you tell me."

"You won't hurt me..."

That statement was almost like a test, to see if it were true or if he would prove her wrong and do all the things she feared, all the stereotypes she'd first expected of him. It would have made all their progress with each other vanish like it had all been an illusion. Instead she felt the pads of his cold fingers trace the outline of her jaw then hold her chin between his thumb and forefinger.

"Never intentionally." His voice was softer than usual, almost a whisper as he closed the gap between them and pressed his lips to hers.

She inhaled sharply and her eyes fluttered closed as she fought against her body's fight or flight reaction. The danger he exuded made her skin tingle as the anxieties in the back of her brain fired rapidly, demanding she get to safety.

"Your pulse quickens with every second... ease your mind... look at me."

Somewhere in her conscious mind she trusted him enough to not allow her survival instincts to win. She opened them and stared into his, astonished she had the confidence to look into them so deeply. Somehow his face calmed her as she did her best to ease her panic and the tight discomfort in her chest. She traced every line of his face with her gaze, from his brows to his nose and lips, along his strong jaw and back up to his eyes again. The uncomfortable anxiety was dissipating and she could breath again.

"I-I'm sorry... I don't know what happened..."

"It's a natural reaction. Vampires should be terrifying, the same way a lamb should fear a lion." He caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers and then pulled away. "Let's end here for today—"

Orianna's hand moved quickly to grasp his. He looked puzzled as she took his hand and placed it over her heart, feeling the tempo of her steady heartbeat.

"I'm okay, truly. You just startled me— as you tend to do on a regular basis."

He was absorbing every tiny detail of their interaction. His keen senses could feel every pulse as blood pumped through her veins, every rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, her thick scent permeating the air around him which caused his mouth to water.

"I suppose I should try to stop that bad habit of mine."

This time he didn't initiate, instead leaning back into the loveseat and leaving the ball in her court. Giving her the power to make her own decisions on the matter seemed like the right course of action, it would make her feel in control. Safe.

To his pleasant surprise she shifted her body closer in a way he would have never expected from such a reserved woman like her. He felt her leg move up to his side, adjusting herself as she straddled his lap, knees on either side of him and her hands placed on the back of the loveseat. Sexual as this position was, she appeared to do it out of simplicity and comfort, not necessarily for seduction. Her charms were working on him though as he grinned back at her.

"Well, this is unexpected."

"Say much more and I'll lose my nerve..." She warned, part of her already regretting her actions.

She didn't want to feel embarrassed but the reality was she hadn't been this close to another person in a very long time. That fact made her nervous and self conscious. She became aware of the way her weight rested on his firm thighs and that his hands had somehow found a comfortable position on her wide hips. Other than that he was unmoving, still as a marble statue.

"May I speak?"

"Against my better judgement."

"You don't know it do you? How luscious you are."

"Choice words." She grumbled in disapproval but was fighting to hide a smile.

It made him laugh, his fangs causing her far less worry than they had a few moments ago. When his enjoyment was genuine and exuberant it made him look more alive. His beauty made her stomach flutter as she grabbed hold of that last sliver of confidence she had left. With that she slid her hands from the sofa and down onto his shoulders, wearing an expression of yearning. For so long she had been alone, but now she was here with this immortal, and she wondered if she could spend her life with him. If he could love her the way she needed.

"Your scent has thickened... it's delightful." He murmured; his expression relaxed into one she recognized as lust.

No more stalling. She finally closed the gap and kissed him property, parting her lips in a way that felt most natural to her.

Dragomir followed her lead, gently matching her rhythm as her hands moved to tangle in his hair. He hummed in approval, mirroring her as fingers clasped the back of her head and angled it to kiss her deeper. When he felt her hot tongue tentatively brush his, he responded simply by doing the same thing back to her which caused her to shiver, only this time it was one of pleasure rather than fear.

Orianna broke the kiss, taking a moment to calm her excitement and hugging her body close to his. Her breasts pressed against his chest as she rested her face into the crook of his neck. The arousal she felt was beyond what she anticipated. Centuries of zero intimacy must have severely built up over the years.

"You're so warm." He wrapped his arms tightly around her and breathed in her scent. He could practically taste her.

"I haven't done anything like this in ages... it's almost overwhelming..." Her voice was husky, hardly sounding like her own.

He kissed along her neck, feeling her pulse flutter under his lips. All it would take was a tiny nick of his fang on her tender flesh to finally see her blood blossom onto ivory skin. Her scent was hot and heady like a summer's day. The way it changed with her arousal was fascinating, how it started off with gentle notes like a fresh spring morning and morphed into a vibrant afternoon. It was unlike anything he'd smelled before; he could only imagine how it tasted.

In fact, why merely imagine it?

This was his abode, his own kingdom, and he was the master of it. A vampire had the power to do whatever they wanted, but if he did it without permission it would destroy all of his hard work. Open as he'd been he could not deny the presence of his manipulation and deception. He loved her, truly, but not in the same way she did. To him she was a prize, a priceless possession he would protect, cherish, and polish when it became tarnished. Much like his spawn and every other thing he owned, she would be his.

"I said I wouldn't hurt you intentionally... But I was lying. There are many things I want to do to you that would cause pain."

Orianna already knew what he was getting at, what he meant. He may not have given her any clues to his bloodlust for her, but it had been present all along. She didn't want to hold it against him though, she wished to be understanding and accepting of his nature rather than push him away.

If only she knew what her acceptance would have cost her.

"It's okay..."

It was an invitation she could never take back. She winced as a sharp pain pierced her neck, causing her body to go rigid as that anxiety tried to creep up again. She pushed it down and concentrated on the feeling of other things rather than his fangs buried in her flesh. Instead, she focused on how soft his hair was between her fingers and the feeling of his arms wrapped around her in an embrace. When he dislodged his canines, she felt his mouth suction around the wound and drink slowly.

Dragomir hardly had to suck as the blood spilled into his mouth and coated his tongue. After years of experience, he was never set into a frenzy when he drank from the source. But this felt different, tasted different. He could feel the ravenous monster inside him claw at its restraints, begging to be let out and feed to its hearts content. He stayed calm and calculated though, not allowing her to notice his inner turmoil as her blood sent him on a journey coursing with ecstasy. He couldn't begin to describe how it tasted or how he felt. All he knew was that she was all that existed in this moment. There was no one else and there would never be anyone else.

It was a curious thing when the pain started to numb and turn into something more sexual. The feeling of his lips against her sensitive neck and the way his hands gripped her body, the sensation of her groin pressed against his as the presence of his arousal became more apparent. There was also the noticeable light-headed sensation as her body grew heavy and weak. It was like her senses were being bombarded from every angle with a confusing mix of pleasure and uncertainty.

"Dragomir... stop..."

She had nearly expected him to keep going, to drain her past the point of revival. If he did, would she become a spawn? That likely wasn't even possible for her.

She was thankful when his mouth was removed, but when he leaned away enough for her to see his face the look in his eyes made her weary. They were intense, his pupils blown out to a degree that made his eyes look black as ink. He stared at her bloodied neck with the sparkle of discovery in his expression, like he'd figured out the answer to a question that had plagued him his entire life. In that instance, something changed between them.

They couldn't go back to what they once were.

"I knew you were special."