The Past.

The sunlight hitting the woman's skin felt amazing. A small sigh passed though her lips as she titled her head back, and her eyes slowly drifted closed. Nathan looked over towards her and he cocked his head slightly to the side. "Are you alright Estella?" he asked lightly. The woman slowly opened her chocolate brown eyes and looked towards the male. "I'm perfectly fine. Just enjoying the warm weather" she said lightly. The male smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. He was getting slightly nervous, and he didn't like the feeling at all.

He cleared his throat and looked towards her. "Listen, you know you and I have been together for over a year now, and I've been talking to your father and I think this is the perfect time, and the perfect place for this" he said lightly. Estella's heart was hammering inside of her chest as she sat up and locked her eyes on him. "Nathan? What are you doing?" she asked lightly. She was slowly losing her voice, as her heart felt like it was about to burst from her chest. The male turned and reached into his pocket.

The woman's eyes locked on the box, and she knew what was happening. Her dreams were slowly starting to come true, and she knew what he was about to ask her. "Estella, will you share the rest of your life with me?" he asked her as he opened the box. Her eyes swam with tears and she nodded lightly. "Of course I will" she breathed out. The male smiled and slid the ring onto her finger, and then brought her hand to his lips. She broke out into a smile as she hugged him.

The two were soon on their feet, and heading back to her parent's farmhouse, when she felt someone watching her. She turned her eyes to the man standing in the trees, and she shook her head. The look on his face scared her, and she didn't know why. She wasn't about to ruin this good feeling though. She would worry about that later. She let Nathan take her hand and lead her across the lawn and into the house. She held her hand out, as she showed off the ring to her mother, and little brother.

Her father was standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked worried, and it was starting to worry Stella as well. She excused herself from Nathan's side and walked over to her father. She stood there and then started playing with her fingers. She bit the inside of her cheek as she looked up at him. "Why aren't you happy for me?" she asked. The older man just shook his head and looked down at his child. "I am happy for you, but something's not right" he spoke softly.

Before she had a chance to ask what he meant, he pulled her out the side door and out onto the grass. "Daddy, you are scaring me.." she breathed out. "You should be scared child. Did you see the man at the edge of the woods?" he hissed. All she could do was nod her head. "God no. I hoped he would have forgotten.." he breathed out. Estella bit her lower lip wondering what her father was talking about. She stood there waiting for him to speak. It didn't take long for him to sigh, and rub his face.

"I had promised you to Cian. He's been watching you for a couple of years now, and he was waiting to speak to you. I didn't think you would get with Nathan, because I know that Seth wants to make you his. I promised him I would work my hardest to make that happen. Seeing you this happy it breaks my heart, because I know it won't last" he said looking towards her with sadness in his eyes. Estella stood there listening to him speak. Her heart was shattering inside of her chest.

“You promised me to someone I don't even know? To someone I don't want to get to know? How could you do this to me?”

"I didn't mean too baby. I really didn't. Just know he's going to come to you in a couple of hours, and you will have a choice to make."

"What choice would that be daddy? Or do you not know?" she hissed. She didn't even wait for him to speak up. She turned on her heel and stormed into the house, slamming the door behind her.

The male shook his head and looked towards the trees. Sure enough, Cain was standing there looking slightly pleased with what had happened. The older male opened the door and slipped back inside. He knew something horrible was going to happen, but he kept that to himself. He pretended to be happy for the couple. As the hours slipped away, he didn't want to leave his family, and his daughter alone. There was a monster outside waiting to attack, and he felt it deep in his bones. As the sun started to set, it was time for Nathan to leave.

The couple walked out the front door, and he wrapped his arms around Estella's waist, drawing her closer. "I honestly can't wait to start planning out wedding, and our future together. I love you Estella Rose Kingsley, more than you will ever know" he whispered. The woman looked up at him, and licked her lips lightly. She felt like her heart was breaking. "I love you too Nathan James Oakley. More than my own life" she whispered back. The two shared a kiss, before he headed down the lane to his home.

As Estella stood there watching the sunset, she spotted the man from earlier that day. She narrowed her eyes and turned to go inside. She spent the time with her family, and when it was time for bed she excused herself to her room. She could hear her family slowly retire to their own rooms as well, and she sighed lightly. She heard a soft tap on her window, and her heart skipped a beat. "Nathan, what are you doing here? Daddy will have your hide" she said opened her window. She nearly screamed, but a hand covered her mouth.

"Shush my darling. You shouldn't scream and alert your family to me being here. If I was you, I would keep my bloody mouth shut. Your father told you who I was, and what I would be coming for. So you now have a choice. Either you become my bride of the darkness, or you watch as I rip your family apart. Then I'll make sure your lover boy down there, is killed slowly" he hissed. Estella's eyes darted to the window. The man holding her helped her look out.

Sure enough, there was Nathan bound and gagged. She felt tears sting her eyes as she was ripped away from the window. "When I remove my hand, you have two minutes to think, if you don't reply your brother will be the first to die" he said with a growl. He removed his hand from her mouth, and she let out a sob. She wanted to move away, but couldn't. She had a choice to make. She stood there and looked towards him. "If I do choose to be yours, you will leave Nathan and my family alone?" she asked.

The man nodded lightly. "I'll leave them alone, and I'll make it look like you killed yourself right here and now" he breathed out. She sighed lightly, and knew her choice was going to make her hate herself. She wanted her family, and Nathan safe. She knew she would hate Seth even more. She took a breath, and locked her eyes on his. "Alright, I'll be your's" she breathed out. The male smirked and nodded lightly. He then flew out the window, and Estella ran towards it.

She watched as Cain killed Nathan. She let out a heart-breaking sob, as Cain entered her room. "You monster.." she breathed out. The male just shook his head, and then started making it look like she killed herself. That's when he turned her into a creature of the night. The feeling of losing everything she loved, still burned inside of her chest as she followed the man out of her home, and away from her life for good…

Present Day.

The memory of the night she was turned reared it's ugly head, and it made the woman shutter lightly. She reached up and ran her finger's though her short hair. She wasn't in the mood to really deal with this right now. She had more important things to think about. Like work. She was going to be late. When she realized that, she flew out of bed and hurried to the bathroom to shower. She didn't have time for a long one, so she had to cut it down to ten minutes tops.

When she was done, she wrapped herself into a towel and then hurried into her bedroom. She found some clean panties, and matching bra. She groaned lightly as she realized what color the bra was. It wasn't her normal black, but it was her light pink one. She looked towards her work uniform and growled lightly. "Of course.." she muttered lightly as she dried herself off and got dressed. She buttoned the button on her black slacks, and then did up her button down shirt. She looked at herself in the mirror and cocked her head slightly to the side.

She looked alright, but she had a feeling she would be getting a lot of looks today. She then found her locket and put it around her neck. She had found a witch over a hundred years ago, and had her make it for her. It's so she could be among the humans in the daytime. She then applied a little bit of makeup, and was finally ready to go. She grabbed her flats from the bedroom floor, along with her apartment key. She grabbed her wallet last, and booked it out of her apartment.

When she unlocked the Mercedes she loved, she slid behind the wheel and started it up. The sleek black car was backed out of her parking spot and headed into town. She looked at the clock and cussed under her breath. She was going to be at least a minute late. She didn't want that happening, but she didn't have much choice in the matter. That's what she deserved while she was daydreaming. She pulled out onto the busy street when it was clear, and headed towards the cafe she worked for. She turned the air off and rolled the windows down.

She was kicking herself for thinking about Cain again. She had managed to escape from the male fifty years ago, and she'd been doing really well on her own. Being a monster wasn't all that bad, but she had to move every couple of years. She never changed, and it killed her. She had watched her little brother grow old and die. She was still pissed off with Cain for killing the man she really loved. She sighed lightly as she pulled into the cafe's parking lot. She shut the car off and climbed out.

Shoes in hand, and she hurried into the back of the building. "You are late Stella!" her boss called out. "I know. I'm sorry. I was wrapped up in my thoughts again" she called back as she clocked in. She dropped her shoes onto the floor and slid her feet into them. She then hurried and found the red headed woman. A small smile passed over her lips as she spotted her. "You do look nice though. Just remember to wear a white bra next time" Scarlett teased. Estella stuck her tongue out.

"Oh shut up. This was all I had" she said as she went out onto the floor. She spotted some customer's waiting for someone to take their orders. She grabbed her apron from behind the counter, and her notepad. She reached for her pen as well, and walked over to their table. "I'm sorry for the wait, what can I get you guys to drink?" she asked as she tied the apron around her waist. Some of her hair fell into her eyes, and she blew it out of her eyes.

When the couple placed their drink order she gave them a couple more minutes alone. She went back to the counter and Amilia stopped her. "There's a male in the corner booth, and he won't let anyone else serve him. He wants you" she said as she carried out a tray to another table. Estella sighed and looked towards the booth. As soon as she did, she froze. It was him. What was he doing here? She shook her head lightly as she moved over to his table. She stopped and looked down at him, her eyes blazing with anger.

"How did you find me?" she hissed. She didn't know if anyone was watching, but she wanted to sink into the floor and vanish. She didn't want to deal with this, and yet here he was. He was still handsome, and she hated him for it. She stood there her pad in hand as she waited for him to speak.

Cian stood in the shadows and watched from afar. Such were the requirements of his…condition. But it was no matter. He’d been navigating his unfortunate affliction for nearly a century already and was more than accustomed to its habitual undertakings. It came as naturally to him as breathing. Not that he had a need for air to fill his lungs anymore. For the man had no breath, no heartbeat, no indication whatsoever that he was alive. Because he wasn’t. Cian was a nightmarish creature that stalked the night and sought out victims to drain of their blood. He was called vampire.

The sun’s rays could very well destroy his existence, so he kept to the shade of the cluster of trees in the far-off forest. Even from such a distance, however, he needn’t strain to see nor hear. His keen senses could make out exactly what was happening across the glade. A young couple deliriously in love, wrapped in each other’s embrace. The male was nervous. Cian knew as much from the salty scent of the beads of sweat that wafted on the wind and the quickening pace of his heartbeat. It didn’t take long for the female’s heartbeat to mimic his. Cian clenched his jaw. That sudden rush of blood through the veins was enough to stoke his ever-present hunger. He could almost taste the sweet metallic liquid bursting over his tongue and dribbling down his chin. He licked his lips at the thought. But now was not the time to feed. After all, who was he to ruin a marriage proposal?

Once the female accepted and donned the male’s ring, the two stood. There was the briefest moment where she sensed Cian’s presence and turned to look at him. Fear flooded over her face, replacing the glow of the blushing bride-to-be. She quickly shook the feeling, however, and resumed her walk back to her parents’ farmhouse. If Cian had breath, she would’ve stolen it upon her departure.

Years. It had been years that he’d watched her. Waited for her. Longed for her. Always from afar, always from the shadows. He remembered the day he’d first laid eyes on her. He’d been in a pack then rather than on his own and had come into town for a hunting trip. It was supposed to be easy: pick off a few of the denizens who remained on the outskirts of society, shunned by the rest. A handful of beggars, a whore or two – people no one would miss if they went missing. Cian and the three others he’d traveled with were to make something of a holiday out of it. And they did for the first couple days that they were there. That all changed the moment Cian spotted her.

He'd been by the window of an inn in the center of town while dawn was just barely starting to break across the horizon. The sun was not yet strong enough to burn, but he could feel his skin beginning to prickle as it rose from the east. Cian was about to retire for the day, but he wanted to see it begin first. And indeed, shopkeepers and vendors were beginning to stir sleepily, preparing for business. Satisfied enough, Cian had turned to go back to bed, perhaps maybe stealing a snack from the long dead blonde they’d slaughtered the night before. But then she was there. The young girl looked as pretty as any picture with her bright blue dress and hair gently swaying as she walked. She’d gone into the village square with her arms laden with farmed goods to barter for other household items. Cian watched her hungrily – in more ways than one – as she made her way from one stall to the next. He could hardly pull his focus away from her. That is, until the sun seared his skin.

With a hiss, he retreated from the open window, swiftly drawing the curtain to block its invasive light as he did so. He’d suffered greatly that day, his skin raw and red from the painful burns. And he’d been suffering ever since, driven to the near point of madness with his desires. All the rest of the time in town suddenly became occupied by the woman he’d seen. His pack mates thought it endearing at first, but quickly came to realize the obsession. They strongly warned him against it. A human and a vampire being together only led to complications of the highest degree. Humans were a food source and should never be viewed as anything more. But Cian wouldn’t listen. Even when they berated him for it. Even when they beat him for it. Even when they eventually abandoned him for it. He still only had eyes for her.

Cian studied her methodically. Sticking to the shadows, he followed her day in and day out. Learning her routines, memorizing her gestures, staring at her in sleep. Never once did she catch on. Until, of course, the day of her proposal – the day some insignificant vermin of a man tried to steal her away from Cian. But it didn’t matter. He’d planned and prepared for this. He’d been there, after all, the day Nathan came into the picture. From the look on her face alone when she saw the newcomer, Cian knew immediately that he had to act, no more passive observation. He’d met with the girl’s father that evening to begin making arrangements to lay claim to his daughter. It was a difficult proposition to ignore. In his collection of years on Earth, he’d amassed a great deal of wealth and money talked. The old man agreed to his terms and promised to endear the girl to Cian as best as he was able. However, it seemed that his best was not enough. The longer the father delayed Cian’s introduction to the girl, the more ensnared she became to Nathan. It embittered the vampire to see her in the arms of another man, but he’d only lost the battle, not the war.

As it happened, Cian knew the proposal was imminent. So, he went to the girl’s father and instructed him to throw an engagement dinner for her on the day it was supposed to take place. Then, Cian would be invited and have a chance to woo the girl himself. After all, if you wanted something done right, it was best to go at it alone. From his standpoint he could head the man relaying as much to the girl: that there was to be a dinner, that he’d promised her to another, that Cian was going to be in attendance to dinner as an opportunity to court her. She didn’t receive the news well. Still, Cian was confident he could sway her to him. He had to have her. He’d waited this long, and his patience was wearing thin.

Just after dusk, when the sun disappeared behind the neighboring hill, Cian stood on the doorstep of the girl’s home. From within came happy chatter and clinking dishes. He cleared his throat and steeled his nerves before giving the door a light knock. He only needed to knock once when the door flew open and a very nervous-looking father filled the entryway.

“Ah, Cian! So delighted you could come!”
“The pleasure is all mine.”
“Please, please, come in!” The man ushered him inside. The previous tension that Cian felt evaporated somewhat as he was granted access to the home; he couldn’t have entered without invitation. The man walked him through to the dining room full of a few people eating a well-prepared homemade meal of roast pork, green beans, and mashed potatoes. “Everyone,” he announced. “I’d like you all to meet Cian Hughes. He is a welcome guest in our home, so I’d like him treated as such. He’s here to…erm, well, to wish the new couple good blessings – as are we all! Of course. Ahem. Stella, my dear, come and meet Mr. Hughes.” He gestured to his daughter who stood in the corner of the room.
Cian’s dark eyes were glued to her as she made her way over to him. Each step she took felt like an earthquake threatening to crumble the ground beneath his feet and swallow him whole. For the first time in what felt like the longest time, the vampire was the one to feel fear. But he remained calm and collected as she stopped in front of him.

Cian offered her only the slightest of smiles as he bent to take her hand. In a low bow, he kissed the top of it. And had to fight the overwhelming urge to bury his teeth into the soft vulnerable skin of her wrist. Her smell was intoxicating, like flowers after fresh rain on a spring day. It dizzied his senses and whirled his mind. Still, he straightened and said, “It’s an honor to meet you, Estella Rose Kingsley. I have been waiting for the opportunity for some time now.” He looked at her father with some mild disdain. “As I’m sure you’ve already been told.” Her father smiled sheepishly and scurried away to leave them alone. Most of the room had also gone back to their previous conversations, but Cian craved more privacy. “If it pleases you, I’d like but a moment of your time. Alone. Perhaps outside?” Although he asked the question politely enough, he placed a hand on the small of her back and began to lead her outdoors, leaving her without much of a chance to decline.

The night air was warm and heavy, as expected for a summer’s evening. Fireflies danced in the field just beyond the house, intermittently lighting every few seconds. Cian took a deep breath. Although he had no need to do so, he’d quickly learned he had to pretend at it in order to make humans feel at ease in his presence. It was strange otherwise if they realized the person they were with never breathed. “I’d like to offer my congratulations on your engagement, Stella. You must be so excited. And I am certain you’ll make the most beautiful of brides.” He began lightly. He ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it back away from his face so it rested behind his ears instead, just an inch or so above his shoulders. 

“Although, I must admit, I’d hoped to make you my bride instead. You see, I’d spoken to your father some time ago to arrange something for the two of us. But you had just met your fiancé, and he delayed our introduction. I regret not coming to you on my own now, but truly, your beauty is somewhat intimidating to me. I’m sure you understand. However,” he cleared his throat. “I am here now. And all I ask for is but a chance. A chance for you to open your heart to me even when you’ve given it to another. I know I can please you far more than he ever has. You will want for nothing. You will know only happiness. You will experience lifetimes of fulfillment.” Lifetimes only because Cian intended to condemn her to eternity. But she needn’t know that part just yet. He continued, “And you don’t have to agree to it right away – I know that I’m little more than a stranger to you. But if you’ll allow me to try…” Cian stroked her cheek with the tip of his finger. “I’ll want for nothing more so long as I live.”

Estella's eyes moved to the door and watched as her father let the handsome stranger in. The way he carried himself, the way his eyes found her right away made her heart skip a beat. She couldn't stay mad at her father for long and as he spoke she couldn't take her eyes off Cian. When her father told her to go over and meet with, Nathan put his hand on the small of her back and leaned over whispering in her ear. “You don't have to go to him, you have made your choice after all” he said lightly. Estella nodded.

“I know darling. But I have no choice in the matter. Daddy did invite him and I do have to play my part after all. Don't worry I'm not going to change my mind. I want you after all” she said lightly as she reached up and touched his cheek lightly. The male leaned into her touch and closed his eyes. He turned his head and pressed his lips to her fingertips. “I love you Stella” he breathed out. “I love you too Nathan, so, so much. I'll be back in a little while" she said as she leaned in and pressed her lips to his.

She wanted Cian to know that she was spoken for. No matter what her father had promised, she wasn't about to leave the man she was engaged to marry. She stood and slipped away from Nathan's side and went over to Cian and shook his hand lightly. She didn't like the fact he was taking her away from her family, and Nathan. She was about to decline the offer to go outside when she felt his hand on her lower back and soon, she was being escorted out of her own home. Her heart hammered inside of her chest.

Once they were outside and out of ear shot the male started to speak. She took a couple of steps back from him. She didn't like how close he was to her. She held up a finger to stop him for a moment. “You have no right to call me Stella, let alone my full name. The only people who have that right is my family and Nathan. You will address me as Estealla only. I know nothing about you. Daddy never told me about you and if he had, I wouldn't have given you the time of day.”

“I have Nathan and if you can't tell I'm engaged. So why wait until I was engaged to someone else to even apprach me? If daddy promised something he would have told me about it, but he didn't. So his word means nothing now. If I was that intimating why come now? Why approach me and pull me away from my family and my soon to be husband? Thank you for the offer but I'm not interested. If I had met you before I had met Nathan then maybe you would have had the chance but that chance is gone now.”

“You can't possibly ask me to break off an engagment. You can't make promises to someone you don't even know. You don't know how Nathan makes me feel. How can you? You just arrived and you are nothing but a total stranger to me. You are welcome to stay for dinner, but after that I'm going to ask you to leave. Don't bother contacting me again" she said softly. She was kind of curious of the male though. She had every right to be curious of him. He was handsome and her father seemed scared of him.

Her father wouldn't do something like that behind her back. Why woudl he? Was he trying to make her life a living hell? She looked over her shoulder and spotted Nathan walking out of the house and towards them. He stopped and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her against his side. “If you don't mind, I would like to take my soon to be wife back. We do have wedding plans to start talking about and we do need to finish our dinner. Come Stella” he said locking eyes on Cian. Stella knew that Nathan didn't like the male.

She couldn't blame him. She nodded lightly as she leaned against the male beside her and looked back at Cian. “Like I said, you are welcome to join us for dinner but after that you need to leave” she said lightly. She ducked her head and let Nathan lead her back into the house. A shudder ran down her spine as she left Cian. Something about him interested her and he couldn't quite put her finger on it. She wasn't one to be disloyal though either. She was smitten with another man and it was going to stay that way no matter what.

Cian blinked in surprise as Stella held up a single dainty finger to silence him. She haughtily corrected him for using her nickname and laid out the situation from her point of view. The young woman was blindsided, of course. Since her father neglected to make her privy to the details of the arrangement he’d promised to Cian, she was left in the dark as it pertained to his desires. Due to that lack of oversight, she determined that it was too little too late. Stella declared that not only was she not interested but also, judging by her tone, insulted at Cian’s suggestion that she’d ever leave her betrothed. 

Admittedly, the vampire did not anticipate a flat-out rejection. Having charmed and seduced many a maiden before, it was not something he was particularly accustomed to or, at least, hadn’t been for a very, very long time. Despite this, however, a small smile curved the corners of his lips. After all, a treat only tasted all the sweeter if one had to work for it first. Even if this one had a bit of spice sprinkled in.

Cian was about to rebuttal when the two were interrupted by Stella’s fiancé. He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close protectively, possessively. If only he knew that Cian could snap that very arm as easily as one would a toothpick. Luckily for Nathan, he refrained. In fact, the vampire didn’t even bother sparing the mortal man a single glance. He was of no real concern. Stella, on the other hand, couldn’t have shaken Cian’s gaze if she tried. He inclined his head to her politely as she both invited him in and demanded that he take his leave. “Certainly, Stella,” he said, pointedly using the nickname she’d asked that he refrain from using.

He waited a moment alone in the oppressive heat of the dark. Though the task of courtship was proving to be more difficult than expected, the man was nothing if not determined. In his mind, what he was after was already his. Cian only needed to take it. Intending to do just that, he soon stalked the newly engaged couple back into the house.

Though Cian continued receiving a cold shoulder from the woman he wanted to woo, the rest of her family were gracious and curious about the stranger that had entered their home. Her mother fixed him a plate of food upon his return, which he ate out of consideration for her kindness even though it tasted of ash in his mouth. As was the case with any sustenance aside from the one he was condemned to consume. Her little brother ran in and out of the space between Cian’s long legs, shouting at the man to try to catch him. Cian managed to almost snatch the boy out of thin air by the scruff of his collared shirt, much to the child’s delight. Her cousins swooned over his tales of the sights he’d seen and the things he’d done traveling the world. If he were after one of them to turn into his Queen of the Night, it would’ve only been all too easy. But still he only had eyes for Stella. And he kept them on her nearly the entire night. He only lost sight of her when, at one point, her father pulled him aside for a private conversation behind closed doors.

“How did it go?” he asked tentatively.
“Less than desirable,” Cian responded with an edge of bitterness. That had less to do with the girl’s response, however, and more to do with the fact that he blamed her father for his predicament in the first place. “She rebuffed my affections and announced her loyalty to her soon to be husband.” Cian ignored how her father’s chest swelled with pride.
“Well, then, there you have it I suppose. She’s made her choice, so we ought to – “
“She doesn’t know what she wants.”
At the interruption, Stella’s father’s tone suddenly hardened. “I assure you, sir, my daughter is more than capable of making her own decisions. Once her mind’s made up, there’s little that you or I can do about it.”
“Then you underestimate my capabilities,” Cian stated flatly. “You will continue to invite me over, and only ever at night. You will arrange for us to spend time together alone. I don’t want interruptions from any of the family nor that fop of hers either. Only then can I win her favor.”
“Now, see here, sir! Need I remind you that this is my home and that is my daughter!”
“And need I remind you of the deal you made to me to begin with, and what you and your family stand to gain from it,” Cian responded coolly. “I’m not the only one who seeks to achieve something here.”
Stella’s father deflated a bit. He rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh. “I know…but, but I-I fear it isn’t what she wants.”
“As I said – she doesn’t know what she wants. Not yet. But worry not, I’ll show her.” Cian gave Stella’s father a reassuring clap on the arm. “Your daughter will be in good hands with me, I promise. You and I are the same in one regard: we want what’s best for Stella. Talk to her. I’ll be by again tomorrow night.”

Cian left the man standing in the room by himself to rejoin the engagement party. People had begun to dance to a jaunty little tune played by some of the woman’s distant relatives. The vampire spotted his prey entangled in the arms of her lover, swaying and sweeping across the makeshift dance floor of the family room. She looked deliriously happy as she held fast to her man, and he spun her round and round. That smile faded immediately as the music changed to a slower song and Cian tapped Nathan’s shoulder to cut in. “One dance, then I’m gone,” he implored his enemy. Nathan looked from Cian to Stella and back again before deciding that it’d be the best course of action to rid the home of the stranger’s unwelcome presence as quickly as possible without making a scene. He stepped aside begrudgingly.

Cian paid him no mind as he stepped forward and slipped one arm around Stella’s waist while the other grabbed her hand and held it aloft. He pulled her closer, but still left a respectable amount of distance between them for appearances sake. He began to lead them in a measured circular motion, trying his damnedest not to act on the vicious gnawing in his stomach and throat as her scent filled his nostrils once again. In such proximity, he could see that her cheeks were tinged with a light blush from her previous physical exertion. All that sweet, sweet blood just swimming beneath the surface of the skin. Cian bit his tongue to keep from biting her.

“Hello again, Stella,” he said, his voice barely above a low whisper. “I do intend to leave shortly, as promised. On my honor, I swear it. But I found that I couldn’t possibly do so without one final word with you.” He paused, searching for the words while letting the music fill the silence between them. Deciding to let her father take on the heft of that labor, however, he simply said, “I only wanted to say once again how beautiful you look today and every day.” Cian leaned in ever so slightly, his lips just opposite her ear. “And how I so look forward to seeing more of you soon.”