Cassius sat at the head of the long table, barely touching the food before him. His eyes traced idle patterns on the polished wood rather than meeting Lilian's bright gaze. The memory of last night's intimate moment where headed his fangs and revealed his true nature to Lilian hung between them. He was certain Lilian now saw him only as the monster he feared himself to be.
Lilian, for her part, was content in the silence. She toyed with her fork, reflecting on their interaction to consolidate her findings about the vampires thus far.
In the soft candlelight she was cataloguing her discoveries—each hesitation in his voice, each flicker of shadow on his face, the fangs growing into sharp tools for murder but yet not an ounce of aggression in his handsome face—ready to commit them to her parchment after dinner. Her next questions were already forming, ready to split the silence but the hush was broken when the door swung open and Julius strode in, concern writ on his handsome features. Are all the vampires this handsome? Lilian thought as Julius dipped into a bow before Cassius. "Your Highness, may I request an urgent audience?" His body was tense and rigid in its movement.
"Speak, Julius," Cassius managed, forcing himself to swallow despite the knot in his throat.
"There's unrest at the northern border," Julius said plainly.
Cassius set his fork down with deliberate calm. He rose. "I shall excuse myself, Lilian. My apologies." He offered her a tight, uncertain smile, almost buckling under her worried gaze.
"Unrest?" Lilian's voice trembled. Her fork hovered mid-air, oblivious to the meal before her.
"Do not worry," Cassius said softly, as though soothing a frightened child. "I will return by breakfast." He swept from the dining hall with Julius at his side before she could press him further.
Left alone, Lilian's appetite vanished. She abandoned her plate and hurried up the marble staircase to the first-floor. From there she watched the courtyard, where the last rays of sun flickered over the cobblestones. Two riders thundered past—their cloaks billowing, a dozen knights following in their wake. She recognized Cassius astride his ebony stallion, the emblem of Ironwood gleaming on his breastplate.
A gentle step behind Lilian drew her from her vigil. Penelope, her maid, stood quietly, hands folded. "You needn't worry, Ma'am. His Majesty is vigilant—he acts swiftly before any threat can grow."
Lilian nodded, forcing steadiness into her voice. "What sort of unrest might there be?"
"Bandits in the woods, rogue vampires, even rebellious clans from before the war," Penelope said, her tone matter‑of‑fact. "Sometimes it's nothing more than lost travelers."
"And what becomes of those travelers?" Lilian asked, swallowing the lump in her throat. This scenario was the least likely to harm Cassius so she focused on it, trying not to dwell on a possibility that Cassius might be facing those vicious red-eyed vampires. A flashback invaded her mind, causing a painful twist between her organs.
"They are escorted safely away," Penelope replied. "And Pandomurus' magic erases their memories of Ironwood's borders."
"Pandomurus?" Lilian's brow rose and her gaze landed on the dark shadows beyond the courtyard.
"Pandomurus is the forest all around Ironwood, so thick and dense that some call it a living wall. Humans cannot penetrate it as it bears protective magic. The only real threat we face are other vampires or magical creatures."
"What other magical creatures are there?" Lilian felt dizzy from all the dire scenarios in her thoughts.
"There's not many magical creatures left in the world but it is believed that a few witches might still be left. Since the forest grew, we saw nothing cross it besides vampires so perhaps they are only a folklore." Penelope shrugged, not noticing the white knuckles of Lilian's clenched fists that held tightly onto the hems of her dress's sleeves.
"How did the forest grow?"Lilian questioned further.
"Magic, of course." Penelope smiled. "It was created during the Great War to protect this realm."
"The Great War?" Lilian started to realise the parallels between what Penelope shared and the stories in the book under her mattress.
"Perhaps a story for another day," Penelope smiled, touching Lilian's arm. "You should rest. His Highness will return soon."
Lilian offered a wan smile and retreated to her chamber, but sleep eluded her. She paced, sought the library, then roamed other quiet halls, each room a brief distraction from the memory of Cassius riding out at dusk.
Before dawn, hoofbeats echoed across the courtyard. Heart pounding, Lilian dashed to the entrance hall and peered down the grand staircase. The knights were returning—helms under arms, armor glinting with dark blood stains—but there were no dark raven hair or piercings by blue eyes among them. Panic twisted in her chest.
"Good evening, Lilian." Cassius's voice, deep and calm, sounded almost too gentle in the chill air.
"Cassius!" Relief and reproach mingled in her voice as she nearly ran to him. He stood before her, the torchlight flickering off his black hair and piercing blue eyes. Not a cut marred him. "You returned!"
"I trust you had hoped I wouldn't return?" he asked, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he teased her.
Her gaze flitted to the knights—blood spattered their armor—and back to him. She let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. "What happened?"
"Rogues along the border," he replied with steady voice. "All dealt with. Rest assured that you're safe." Cassius was captivated by her eyes that so eagerly looked at him. He felt fire under his skin as she studied him. Her gaze was loaded with emotion, so raw and heavy that it almost prickled his skin under his clothes where she barely glanced over.
She blinked, drawing strength from his presence. "I never doubted it."
Cassius watched her—her cheeks still rose‑tinted in the pre‑dawn light, her eyes shimmering with unshed questions. "What has caught your interest?" he asked, nodding toward his knights who were focused on removing and wiping their armour.
Lilian shifted, biting her lip. "Your… handsome knight exhibit." Her attempt at levity made him arch an amused brow. Cassius snorted at an absurd answer.
Lilian glanced over the knights but her eyes didn't land on any particular knight. She desperately searched for a distraction from Cassius and his electrifying eyes. She leaned against the balcony's banister, trying to look anywhere else other than Cassius.
"They are vampires," he reminded her softly, as if testing her reaction.
"Handsome vampires," she corrected, cheeks flushing anew. He stepped closer, the height of his frame nearly overshadowing her slight figure.
"Which one of my knights is to your liking?" he teased, leaning against the banister just inches from her.
Her eyes darted over their ranks. "They're all so strong and handsome… it's impossible to choose."
"Perhaps I could introduce you," he murmured, voice low.
"Are vampires monogamous?" she asked abruptly, tipping her gaze back to him, her surprise question charging the space between them.
"Many are," he answered after a pause,"It depends on the individual and the clan." His tone honest yet edged with curiosity, "What prompted that question?" he pressed gently, noticing the flush rising in her cheeks.
She shrugged, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's hard to pick just one."
Cassius inhaled sharply, a fleeting falter of breath he did not hide. Lilian nodded as though satisfied with the reaction to her testing the bounds of his patience. She was keen to understand more about vampire relationships and their lives, especially that of Cassius.
"I would have to ask about their preferences." Cassius started coughing at an answer, even if he knew that Lilian was provoking him, he still couldn't contain his reaction of his soulmate speaking so openly on such matters.
"I shall leave you to free yourself of your armour." Lilian smiled softly. "May you excuse me."
"Good night, Lilian." Cassius said as he watched her depart longingly.
"Good night, Cassius." She turned briefly, taking the view of Cassius in his armour fully, her heart full, her sleep still distant.