Chapter 15: I am not soft
Alaric’s POV
Although my eyes were shut, I wasn’t sleeping. My senses remained sharp, attuned to every detail—the gentle rise and fall of Enzo’s chest, the faint hitch in his breath when he dreamt, the warmth of his body radiating against mine. His presence was a comfort, yet an enigma. Was I here because he truly wanted me, or was I simply an escape, a fleeting solace from whatever storm raged inside him? The thought gnawed at me, persistent and unrelenting, like a whisper in the dark that refused to be silenced.
Enzo stirred slightly, his body shifting closer, as if seeking something even in sleep. Instinctively, my hand found its way into his tousled hair, fingers gliding through the strands in a slow, soothing motion. A faint murmur escaped his lips—soft, unintelligible words lost to the night. The sound tugged at something deep within me, an unfamiliar ache I wasn’t ready to name. I chuckled softly, shaking my head. He had no idea how much power he held over me, how easily he could unravel me with a simple touch. A mere human wrapped in the embrace of a creature far beyond his understanding, and yet, somehow, I was the one who felt vulnerable.
I stayed longer than I should have, listening to the quiet symphony of his breathing, memorizing the way he felt beside me. But as much as I wanted to remain in this fragile moment, reality would not allow it.
Before the sun could kiss the horizon, I slipped away, moving with practiced ease. Staying risked exposure. If he removed the blindfold and saw me—truly saw me—would he still reach for me? Would his hands still seek mine in the dark? Or would he recoil, the illusion shattered? I wasn’t ready to find out. Not yet.
I lingered for a moment, watching him from the shadows, committing the sight to memory. But I couldn’t stay and watch him from afar either—not today. The day had its demands, and there were matters requiring my attention, matters involving the vampires under my command.
By the time I returned to my domain, the air had shifted, thick with an unspoken urgency. The moment I stepped through the grand archway, one of my subordinates approached, his gait brisk, his expression tense. Trouble awaited me, as it always did.
And just like that, the brief illusion of peace was gone.
"My Lord, we’ve caught some men lurking around our territory. They are human," he reported, bowing slightly.