Chapter 53: Living Vicariously Through Her.
This was her husband. The vampire. The darkness that was supposed to consume her and strangely as she gazed at him she didn’t mind being taken away into whatever world he hid from this world and the hearts he cherished. He had been unyielding, protective, and unwavering in his support for her, making it clear to everyone present that no one had the right to dictate her life or how she should be treated.
Alaric, sensing her gaze, softened his expression slightly. His eyes, once hard and cold, now looked at her with a quiet tenderness. "You’re in control here, Salviana," he murmured, his voice lowering as he spoke only to her. "No one else decides how you’re treated. Especially not them."
Salviana’s heart swelled with warmth, a feeling she wasn’t used to. Her lips parted in a soft, shy smile. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Alaric smiled back at her, his hand still resting on her back. The tension between them had melted into something more intimate, more comforting. He leaned in slightly, his closeness making her heart race. "You’re welcome," he replied softly.
As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s presence, Alaric realized that he had come to enjoy mornings far more than he used to. Something about having Salviana beside him made them seem brighter, warmer—despite the darkness that still clung to him, a part of his very nature. Her presence softened the sharp edges of his cold world, and he found himself unwilling to step away from it, even if just for a moment.
"I’d be leaving now," he whispered, his voice low, almost hesitant.
Salviana took a step back, her head tilted as she caught his gaze, her expression puzzled. "What, why?"
He cocked his head slightly, confused by her question. Why? What did she mean? He was used to leaving without a second thought. Yet, there was something about the way she asked that made him pause. She wanted him to stay? The idea of someone actually enjoying his company, his wife no less, made his heart stutter in a way he hadn’t felt in years. The thought of her wanting him by her side stirred something deep in him.
"We haven’t had breakfast yet," she said, a playful pout forming on her lips. "Don’t you wish to eat with me?"
Alaric blinked, momentarily stunned. The simple request, "Eat with me," repeated in his mind like a forgotten melody, foreign yet soothing. He wasn’t used to such mundane but intimate moments. His chest tightened, an unfamiliar warmth blooming there. His wife wanted his company.
"Fiery," he purred softly, a slow smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he watched her, her delicate face lighting up with a smile of her own. "Of course, I’ll eat with you."