Under the vampire Lord's protection Chapter 617: Rightful place

After their return home, everything fell into place smoothly. All people and objects resumed their proper positions in the most seamless fashion.

Days passed, and Grace sent word that she was safe, looked after well by Arthur and the Sterling household.

From time to time, Allegra dropped by with Remus for a visit. Even the fairies adapted to romping with the lad while the women gossiped idly on various topics.

On this particular day, Silas came back home earlier than customary, spotting Arabella by an open window in a lounge area, her fingers engaged in embroidery.

"Has Ada forsaken you?" He planted a gentle kiss atop her head.

"Oh... I tried to get a word out of her, but her nose is buried so deep in those books... I believe an earthquake wouldn’t be able to capture her attention," she shook her head, smiling softly.

"She’s quite determined,"

"Which is exactly what she is supposed to be,"

"And what are you working on?" His diamond eyes fixed on the fabric clamped between the wooden hoops clutched in her hands.

"Just a handkerchief with your initials on it," she simpered, rocking side to side in her chair.

"A gift? For me?" His hands swept her hair aside, letting him toy with the nape of her neck, kneading it tenderly.

"You sound surprised," she murmured, eyes closing to savor his warm caress.

"Well, receiving gifts isn’t something I am particularly used to,"

Her head tilted aside as she hummed in reply, "I think I can remedy that," a soft chuckle followed, "But how is business going?"

"Fairly," he nodded, releasing her neck to claim the nearby chair, "What about things at home?"

Arabella set aside the needle and thread to join the talk fully, "Fairly as well," she nodded, "Later, I’ll have a bunch of human women and men auditioning for entertainer roles. The syndicate sent some of them too,"

"And do you feel ready for the task?"

"Yes, more so than I believed I would," she chuckled again.

Her smile softened a bit as her gemstones roamed across his face, urging the vampire to ask, "What is it?"

"You haven’t fed in a while. I believe that tonight will be as good as any," her expression grew grave, eyes still locked on him.

Silas cleared his throat prior to replying, "I’ve gotten a lot better at abstaining for longer than two weeks. I think we should postpone the nearest feeding session a few more days at least,"

"Silas," her voice stayed soft yet firm, "I am perfectly alright and able to handle it even without needing to ingest your blood. So, if you are still worried that-"

"I will always be worried," he interrupted her, "I still firmly believe that you shouldn’t ingest more than a few drops of it a month. I am afraid of the consequences it could yield on your body,"

Challenging his view proved useless. What argument held water? Silas was correct; the impact of ongoing consumption on her remained unknown.

Yet... An irresistible urge gripped every part of her essence. That unyielding craving for his crimson nectar persisted without end.

Her sensible side rebuked the tiny, desperate, rash portion that relentlessly sought more, though...

"Well, I can also say I am worried since your body isn’t supposed to go without feeding for longer than two weeks," she pouted, taking up the needle once more.

"Don’t you worry yourself about that,"

"I cannot exactly control it, much like you cannot control your worries," she grumbled, eyes fixed on the fabric.

Silas rose, kissed her head anew, and departed, "I must return to it then. There still is the matter of Dragomir which the syndicate members wish to discuss,"

What a clever way to sidestep the discussion! Even so, she humored him.

"What do they want to do about him?"

"I’ve spoken to Liriel about it and we’ve agreed to keep the details from the rest of the members, especially Grishnak,"

"Yes, of course. Otherwise, it wouldn’t bode well for Allegra, seeing the extent to which she was involved, even though against her own will,"

Following a quiet pause between them, Arabella ventured, "So, what will you do about it?"

"I am unsure for now,"

She raised no strong objection as he left the room. The young lady refocused on her embroidery right before her, while unruly thoughts swirled in her head.

Persuading Silas to feed that very evening? It stood as her top concern at the moment.

All so trivial, yet vastly preferable to the trials they’d conquered earlier.

Quarreling over whether he’d feed this week or the next...

Did life grant blessings like this?

Thoughts of the prince, Dragomir, or her father no longer haunted her. Accomplished in mere four months.

Her gemstones traced the silver patterns her fingers wove carefully into the cloth, as visions of gifting him the handkerchief flickered in her mind.

How pleasant to revel in such innocent daydreams, unlike the terrors that once arose from torments thrust upon her.

Life grew truly enchanting now, absent the hollow ache swelling in her gut... Absent her heart steeling for the next faltered pulse...

Everything and everyone had found their true places at last. No exceptions whatsoever.

One small idea demanded extra attention from her. Pondering if Reubon had reunited with her mother beyond didn’t torment her exactly, but it pulled gently at her focus all the same.