In her room, Zara stood beneath the steaming water of the shower. Her hands were pressed against the wall, her head lowered, cheeks flushed pink. She couldn't stop thinking about Lilith's confession.
"Lover…"Just remembering it made her face even redder.
She sighed, closing her eyes as the warm water poured over her body, trying to calm the chaotic thoughts in her head.
After finishing her shower, she stepped into the dressing room and slipped into a black shirt and matching pants. Clean and dressed, she wandered over to the wide window and sat on its ledge, gazing out at the vampire city beyond the mansion's tall walls.
The streets were alive. Vampires walked through the crimson-hued dusk, some casually drinking blood from the necks or wrists of their partners. There was something strangely serene about the whole scene—elegant, eerie, and alluring.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Her ears perked up. A knock at the door.
"Beauty, drink time~" came Lilith's familiar, teasing voice.
Zara quickly moved to the door and opened it. "Come in."
Lilith stepped inside gracefully… but she was empty-handed.
Zara raised an eyebrow, confused. "Where's the blood?"
Lilith just smiled, stepping closer, eyes gleaming with mischief.
her soft footsteps echoing in the quiet room. With a gentle motion, she reached up and unfastened two buttons of her dress, revealing the smooth skin of her neck.
Zara's eyes widened—but this time, she didn't flinch or step back. Instead, she locked eyes with Lilith, her expression calm but intense.
"Lilith," she said quietly, "are you really serious about the whole lover thing?"
Lilith's playful mask cracked for a second. Her fingers clenched behind her back, and her legs trembled slightly, but she didn't back down. She forced a soft smile, her eyes showing a rare vulnerability.
"Yeah… I'm serious, Zara. You know how it works with vampires. We can't just let anyone drink our blood. If another vampire drinks from us, a bond forms—a lover's pact. It's sacred."
Zara stood silently, the tension melting from her shoulders. She slowly closed her eyes, letting her breath out as her body relaxed.
"I see…" she whispered.
Zara opened her eyes slowly and looked at Lilith, her gaze softer now, but serious.
"Do you love me… or are you only saying this because of the neck biting?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
For a moment, the room fell silent. Then Lilith met her eyes—truly met them—and whatever playful teasing or games had been there before were gone.
"I… I love you," Lilith said, her voice trembling with sincerity. "And I'm not saying it because of some blood ritual. I felt it long before that night. The way you smile, how you try to act tough but still care about everyone around you... it just happened."
Zara's eyes widened slightly, her breath catching. She hadn't expected to see such raw, unfiltered love reflected in those silver eyes.
Her chest tightened, her heart beating a little faster.
The silence between them now felt different—no longer heavy, but warm… full of something unspoken, yet deeply understood.
After some time, a strange thirst began stirring in Zara's chest again. Her eyes flickered—red and blue alternating in an uneasy rhythm.
Lilith noticed instantly.
Without hesitation, she gently took Zara's face in her hands and guided her closer, tilting her own neck. "Drink," she whispered, voice soft and coaxing.
Zara stared at the smooth skin offered to her, hesitant. Her voice trembled."Lilith… I've never done this voluntarily before. What if I hurt you? What if I… lose control?"
Lilith chuckled, low and mischievous, the grin on her face both wild and affectionate. "Zara, it doesn't hurt. It feels... good. Really good."
Zara's face flushed. The heat in her cheeks rivaled the heat building inside her chest. Her fingers trembled slightly as they brushed Lilith's arm.
"Are you sure?" she asked, her fangs elongating instinctively.
Lilith nodded, brushing a strand of hair from Zara's face and guiding her closer."I want this. I want you."
Zara finally leaned in. Her lips brushed Lilith's skin, and with a sharp but careful motion, her fangs sank in.
The moment the first drop touched her tongue, Zara's eyes widened—sweet, intoxicating, like nectar laced with lightning. Every part of her body lit up as the blood flowed.
Lilith let out a shaky breath, her arms tightening around Zara's waist. A blissful smile curved her lips, eyes fluttering half shut. "Ahhh… just like that…"
Zara, overwhelmed by the taste and the closeness, pulled her tighter, drinking slowly, trying not to give in fully to the craving.
Lilith's fingers ran through Zara's damp hair, voice barely a breath."If this is what love tastes like… I don't want it to end."
Zara slowly pulled back, her fangs retracting as the burning thirst faded. A soft sigh escaped her lips.
But the moment her gaze fell on Lilith—her flushed cheeks, half-lidded eyes, and slightly parted, red-stained lips—something inside her stirred again. A different kind of hunger.
Without thinking, Zara leaned in and pressed her lips to Lilith's in a deep, desperate kiss.
"Mmm—!"Lilith gasped in surprise, her eyes flying open, but before she could speak, Zara cupped her face gently and deepened the kiss, sliding her hand behind Lilith's head and pulling her close.
Lilith's resistance melted instantly.
Their lips moved in rhythm, slow but intense—one kiss bleeding into the next, as if trying to make up for every moment they'd kept this tension buried. Lilith's hands found Zara's waist, gripping her shirt tightly as she returned the kiss with just as much passion.
Zara's breath was warm, her touch firm yet reverent. And for that moment, the world outside the room simply didn't exist—just two hearts racing in sync.
When they finally parted, their foreheads rested against each other, both breathless, eyes heavy with emotion.
Zara whispered softly, voice trembling but certain,"…I guess this means we really are lovers now."
Lilith laughed lightly, her fingers brushing over Zara's cheek."Took you long enough to admit it."
Elsewhere in the mansion, Lucien stood abruptly, his aura brimming with irritation as he glared at a red figure projected in front of him, arms folded tightly across his chest.
"That bi—I mean, that girl—how dare she! Seris, did you see that? I swear, I'll beat her next time!"
Queen Seris, who stood beside him with her usual elegant grace, let out a mischievous chuckle. With a soft smile, she placed a hand on his shoulder and murmured,
"What were you about to say just now, dear? Didn't I already tell you not to use such rude language?"
Lucien froze, the fire in his eyes dimming instantly as he turned toward her, voice suddenly calm and composed.
"Wife, what are you talking about? I just said girl, nothing else. You must've misheard me."
He quickly turned his head toward the sofa, where another woman sat—her fiery red hair cascading down her back, eyes as sharp as a warrior's blade. She exuded strength and authority, even while sipping tea.
"Right, Nyssa?" he said, trying to salvage his dignity.
Nyssa, Lucien's second wife and former sword instructor, tilted her head with an unimpressed look. She raised one eyebrow and replied coldly,
"Lucien… if you even think of using that kind of language again, I'll smack you. You have no idea how much trouble we've had cleaning up after your reckless mouth. Don't forget—I might be your wife now, but I was your instructor long before that. And I still hit harder than you."
Lucien visibly flinched, muttering under his breath,"…Why did I marry warriors …"
Seris and Nyssa exchanged a smirk, clearly enjoying his torment.