Isolde's Pov
I don't think I will ever get used to this.
The way the air shifts when he teleports us to his room… it's not like anything I've ever seen. The stone walls, everything screams royalty—regality—and I feel so out of place… even without my clothes.
Even with the torches lit, I don't feel any warmth.
I crave his warmth.
So I look deep into his eyes.
Then he asks me, "What do you want?"
And I smile.
"All I want… is you."
He smiles back at me and takes me to his bed.
"I want to take my time with you," he whispers into my ear. "I want to feel all of you."
His lips trail from behind my ear to my neck, to my shoulders, and settle on the swell of my breasts.
I feel his hands—one slowly circling my thigh, the other flickering against my nipple—and I gasp.
I don't even realize when it slips out of my lips.
"Dare…"
The nickname.
The same one Cassian and Silas used.
The same one I heard the night I was turned.
He pauses.
Lifts his head.
"What did you just call me?"
"Dare…" I say again, breathless.
"Say it again."
"Dare—" I gasp, because his lips close around my nipple, his tongue teasing it, while his other hand works the other one.
My back arches. My legs lift without me telling them to.
"More…" I moan.
And he gives it.
God, he gives it.
His mouth moves between them, his hands squeezing, firm, deliberate, and I grip the sheets like I'm holding onto something that might disappear if I let go.
I gasp when his hand grips my waist and pulls me closer.
"I know I've tasted you," I whisper, my thoughts not even forming properly anymore, "but I want to taste you."
He exhales.
"Do you really have the patience for that?"
"I want to… but you've already made me—" I don't even know what I'm trying to say anymore.
"You've made me whole again," he murmurs. "You've become my little trouble… something I'd rather die than not have."
My brain barely processes the words.
Little trouble.
Before I can even think about it—
He's back over me.
Hovering.
Parting my legs.
Kissing me.
Soft.
Not like before.
This one feels different.
Slower.
Like reassurance.
Like he's telling me without words that I'm safe.
His lips move from my mouth to my cheeks, my neck, my ears—
Then he whispers,
"This might hurt… but trust me. It gets better."
I nod.
Because I trust him.
God… I didn't realize how much I trusted him until now.
Then I feel him.
And—
God.
He's big.
Too big.
Fear creeps in again—the same fear I felt when I first touched him. The same thought:
This won't fit.
I almost want to laugh at myself.
But then—
He starts.
Slow.
Careful.
Guiding himself into me inch by inch.
I close my eyes.
The pain comes.
Sharp.
Real.
And I gasp.
He groans too, holding himself back, letting me take him slowly.
Letting me adjust.
Letting me breathe.
And just when I think—
That's all… that has to be all—
"I'm not even fully sheathed in you," he murmurs.
My eyes snap open.
"What?"
I gasp.
"Just—just do it. Hurry…"
"You asked for it."
And then—
One snap of his hips—
He's fully inside me.
A broken sound leaves my throat.
"I know it hurts," he says softly. "Just adjust… just a little."
I really thought being a vampire would make this easier.
Less painful.
Faster.
Another wrong thought.
He starts moving.
Slow.
And slowly…
The pain starts to change.
It melts.
It shifts.
Turns into something warmer.
Something deeper.
Something that makes my breath hitch instead of break.
With every thrust, the heat builds under my skin. My fingers clutch the sheets tighter as the bed shifts beneath us.
"Dare…" I moan.
"Please…"
"Faster…"
"Are you sure?"
"Please… faster. I want more."
I don't even recognize myself anymore. Every part of me is trying desperately to meet each thrust of his hips.
But I don't care.
And he doesn't hesitate.
He gives me more.
His pace increases.
And—
"Gods—ah—too much…"
But I don't want him to stop.
"I was trying to hold back," he mutters. His voice tight with restraint "I don't want to hurt you"
"Don't… don't hold back… I want this…. I want to feel all of you…ohhh just like that…take me harder…make me yours!" I gasp
That's all it takes.
Something in him breaks. He grunts and roars
And suddenly—
He's taking me harder.
Faster. Every snap of his hips is harder than the last.
His hands gripping my thighs, flipping us before I can even think.
Now I'm on top. My legs separated by his big ones, no time to part with him as I feel him even deeper with every jerk.
His hands on my waist.
Guiding me, making me bounce on him as the room is filled with the sound of our moans and skin on skin.
Pulling me down as he thrusts up. Groaning and grunting with every thrust "D-Dare! gods! Please! Hah… mmmhh…"
"Yes… good girl… yes, my trouble…"
My voice breaks into gasps, moans—sounds I didn't even know I could make.
I don't care who hears.
I don't care about anything.
It's just him.
Just this.
Everything blurs.
Positions shift.
One second I'm above him.
The next, he's above me again.
My legs over his shoulders.
His pace relentless.
His eyes—
Crimson.
"You smell so good," he groans into my neck.
"I'm… I'm coming—"
"Not yet."
He keeps going.
Faster.
Deeper. His thrusts are relentless, consuming my every thought, "uhhh..please-
I'm losing everything.
Control.
Thought.
Breath.
And then—
His fangs sink into my neck, drawing blood but putting something else more connected-
Pleasure, unrestrained pleasure that releases something animalistic and untamed in me
I scream.
The pain—
The pleasure—
They crash together.
Too much.
Too intense.
My fingers dig into his back as he groans, drinking from me.
My legs shake from the intensity, my throat groans and releases sounds I never realized I could produce.
Everything breaks.
My body gives in completely.
And all that's left is my breathing—
Shaking.
Heavy.
Gone.
"That…" I whisper weakly, my voice hoarse
"…was the most… interesting time of my life."
————————————————————
Darian's POV
I wake.
I never had to realize that I slept.
I slept.
Vampires don't sleep.
But I slept.
Is it exhaustion? Is it the feeling of contentment? What exactly made me fall into a dreamless sleep?
Is this what they call sleeping?
Is this what humans call sleeping?
Because I have never experienced this in my life.
I turn on the bed and I see her.
The sun peeks through the windows. The curtains might be closed, but I can still see the rays slipping through the tiny openings.
No one ever comes upstairs to my room to ask if I need anything. I warned them not to. I was not comfortable with anyone getting near my things—any servant at all.
But here I am…
With her.
With mine.
My troublesome, beautiful, unique Isolde.
My trouble.
I never took pleasure in taking women to bed. I mostly drank from them and let them be on their way. The ones I allowed myself to feel anything with were short-lived, and I never brought them here.
But I knew she was different.
I have always known she is different.
Everything that happened last night keeps replaying in my head, and it makes me want to do it all over again, with no atom of regret.
As I think of it, I feel a certain part of my body come to life again.
It never really died down.
I only let her sleep because I realized she was tired.
It was her first time.
And it doesn't matter if she is a vampire or not.
She is still mine.
I will have plenty of chances to make up for that.
I lift my hand and run my fingers through her hair—her short hair.
The one I had cut.
She might think that I hated her, that I despised her, that I called her weak. That is why I commanded they cut her hair with shears.
But the truth is—
Whenever I saw her, I saw the human in her.
I saw that vulnerability, and if an enemy saw it, they would use it against her.
I do not want her to be weak.
She is not supposed to be weak.
I am proud of how strong she has become.
I am proud of how adamant she is to learn, to understand the ways of being a vampire.
My hand trails from her short hair to her cheek.
My thumb rubs slow circles before moving to her lips—full, plump lips.
I remember my lips on them yesterday.
How sweet she tasted.
"Mmm…"
She stirs.
She's waking, I realize.
I make up my mind.
I don't want to lose her.
I don't want to lose her to anyone.
I want her for me and myself alone.
She's mine.
And I will not trade her for anything.
A knock comes.
More like a bang.
"Your Majesty, the members of the court have arrived. They say you are to lead the men to war."
War.
Right.
I remember.
I am supposed to go today.
This evening.
I can hear the guard clearly from behind the door.
By the time I turn, I see Isolde looking at me.
Her eyes are filled with a lot of emotions.
Confusion.
Something else I cannot name.
"Good morning," I say.
She smiles.
"I didn't realize vampires sleep."
"Neither did I."
That light in her eyes twists something inside me.
Before I can stop myself, I lean forward and steal a kiss.
She's taken aback.
Her eyes widen, and she gently pushes me by the chest.
"I thought you had war to fight."
"That can wait."
"Darian—"
I don't listen.
I lean in again, pressing kisses to her cheek, her neck—wherever my lips can reach.
She laughs, soft and breathless, trying to push me away.
"You are really beautiful when you smile," I tell her.
"I am?"
I tuck her hair behind her ear.
"I could stay like this forever," I whisper.
I look into her eyes.
"I want to stay like this with you forever."
She gives me a look.
"Don't start saying things you won't be able to fulfill."
I laugh softly.
"And what makes you think I won't?"
"I want to spend every waking moment with you like this. To kiss you, to have you in my arms, to have you in my bed, to see you smile, to be the cause of your smile…"
I kiss her forehead.
"To cherish every inch of you."
I kiss her nose.
"And the best of all… to make you a part of me."
I look into her eyes before kissing her lips, slow, sensual, filled with emotion.
I want this for the rest of my life.
And I will make sure I have her.
By the time we are done kissing each other…
I make her come on my tongue.
Twice.
She looks spent.
Breathless.
But I don't stop there.
I guide her to the bath.
I run it myself.
The water warm against her skin as I wash her slowly, carefully, my hands taking their time on every part of her body.
She responds so easily.
Too easily.
And I lose control again.
My fingers find her.
She comes on my fingers in the bath.
Soft gasps slipping from her lips as I keep going, not letting her come down from it.
Then again—
Until she trembles.
Until her body gives in.
Later, I have food brought to my room.
Not because I need it.
But because she does.
And because I want to eat with her.
I don't want her uncomfortable.
I take the tray from the servant myself.
Her eyes try to peek into the room.
Curious.
I shut the door in her face.
Let them gossip.
It means nothing.
When Isolde steps out—
Wearing my shirt—
I pause.
"Food," I say.
"Aren't you going to eat with your cousins?" she asks.
"No."
I guide her closer.
"I want to eat with you."
I take her in slowly.
"Did I mention you look exceptionally beautiful in my clothes?"
"If I don't eat, I might faint," she says.
"You're a vampire."
"I could live without eating, but you drained my energy," she replies.
I smile.
"We could just feast on ourselves."
She laughs and pushes me.
"Let me eat."
"Fine," I say.
"But you'll have to feed me."
"Why would I feed you?"
"Because my hands…" I trail my fingers from her knee to her inner thigh, "…will be busy doing something else."
She gasps.
"Darian… aren't you tired?"
"For you? Never."
I look at her.
"Are you tired?"
She says nothing.
But her eyes say everything.
She is not tired.
She wants it just as much as I do.
She is trying to fight it.
And she is failing, I see the lust in her eyes.
Because the look in her eyes betrays her completely.
"My naughty trouble."
Isolde's POV
It is finally time for us to leave the room.
I see him pause at the door as he turns to me.
"I am going for war," he says.
"What? Why are you saying it like that?"
"I know the people of Greyhaven don't know, but there is a war happening—and it has been happening for a while. Witches are trying to dominate all cities and towns, and they have already taken maybe five towns that hold great power. If we can end this war, then we save those towns they have dominated."
He pauses.
"They are aiming for Greyhaven because they know pure-blooded vampires rule here, and they assume humans are weak. We do not want the humans to know what is happening. They would think all supernatural creatures are joining forces to make them extinct."
I swallow.
"I am going to fight this war," he continues, "and in this war, I might meet the man who left you at death's door."
My breath catches.
"And when I meet him, I will make sure I capture him alive… so you can do whatever you please with him."
"I promise you that."
I look at him.
I truly look at him.
He is not yet in battle clothes. Maybe they will dress him in the court. Maybe everything is already prepared, and he just has to go down and wear it.
He looks… different.
Calmer.
Softer.
Not the ruthless king I met the day I was being tried.
"You will come back to me, right?" I ask.
"I will come back to you," he says.
"I promise."
"And when I return… I will let everyone in this castle—and in Greyhaven—know that you are mine. No one will harm you. No one will question you."
"Because you are mine and mine alone."
"That is the truth."
His hand comes up to my cheek, caressing it gently before he leans forward.
He kisses me.
And I kiss him back.
Deeply.
My thoughts are running wild.
My heart—if I even have one—is twisting painfully, and something deep inside me whispers that something bad is going to happen.
But I don't say it.
I don't want to scare him.
I just… hope nothing happens to him.
When we finally part, he presses a kiss to my forehead.
"Wait for me."
"I will."
I pace back and forth in the room.
Waiting.
Preparing myself for the moment I hear the carriages or horses move—proof that he has truly left.
I keep thinking.
I keep praying.
I have never been religious, but right now, I pray to anyone who will listen.
God.
The gods.
Any being at all.
Just—
Keep him safe.
Let him come back to me.
Please.
I don't know how much time passes.
He said evening, but I know he must leave now—to catch them unaware. To prepare, to set whatever plans kings set before war.
I don't know how war works.
But I know he has to go.
And I keep hoping—
Praying—
That he comes back to me.
I look out the window.
Horses are lined up.
Men are gathered.
And there—
I see him.
Leaving the court.
There is a priest.
The same priest Cassian spoke to the day we went into town.
He is blessing them.
All of them.
I know he feels my gaze.
Because his head lifts.
His eyes meet mine.
And for a moment—
Everything stills.
Something shifts.
Something… connects.
And then—
I hear it.
Don't worry. I will come back to you.
My eyes widen.
Did he just—
Did he just speak to me?
Through my mind?
Yes.
His voice again.
You can say anything to me. Say whatever you want. I will hear you.
My breath catches.
We are connected now.
I swallow.
Please… be safe, I say in my mind.
I will be. You don't have to worry.
I watch him.
He's about to mount his horse.
And then—
Something in me snaps.
I move.
I run.
I don't even think.
I just—
I need to see him.
One more time.
I race through the halls, completely unladylike. My breath is uneven, my heart racing, my body burning with urgency.
Are you okay? his voice comes again.
I can feel you. Your heart…
I'm coming to you, I reply.
What?
I'm coming to you.
By the time I reach him—
I don't stop.
I run straight into him.
I wrap my arms around him.
And he holds me just as tightly.
"You stubborn little trouble," he murmurs.
One hand on my waist.
The other on my head, soothing through my hair.
I can feel the eyes on us.
Everyone is watching.
I don't care.
"Be safe for me… okay?" I whisper.
"I will come back to you."
"Don't stop training. Keep training."
Then—
his voice again, in my mind.
Stay away from Cassian.
I almost laugh.
Why?
Seeing him with you… it does something to me. Something dark. It makes me want to throw him from the highest point of the chapel.
I smile.
You wouldn't. He's your cousin.
He is. But when it comes to you… family does not matter.
I shake my head slightly.
I will train with him. But I will keep my distance. Okay?
He exhales softly.
"I'll be back, trouble."
He presses a kiss to my forehead.
Then he pulls away.
Mounts his horse.
And leaves.
That's when I feel it.
Something wet on my cheeks.
I pause.
Confused.
Am I—
Crying?
I am crying.
I look up.
Watch him.
Watch him disappear into the distance with the rest of the men.
Farther.
And farther.
Until he is almost gone.
I keep staring.
I don't move.
Not even when I feel someone behind me.
Silas.
"He finally did it, didn't he?"
"Shut up, Silas."