Chapter 67

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept so peacefully. Perhaps it was the exhaustion, the blood loss, or simply the chaos of the past few days catching up to me, but whatever the reason, I woke feeling strangely rested. The cool silk sheets draped over my bare skin were the first sensation I noticed. As I opened my eyes, a faint smile formed on my lips before I caught myself, warmth flooding my cheeks as flashes of the previous night raced through my mind.

Instinctively, I raised my hands to shield my face, as though I could hide from my own memories. But when I lowered them, I realized I was alone in the bed. Panic gripped me for an instant before my eyes darted around the room and landed on Hadrian, standing near the window. Relief washed over me as I took him in.

He was naked, bathed in the golden hues of the sunrise. Every sculpted line of his body seemed carved from stone, a living masterpiece that caught the light in a way that made him appear almost otherworldly. My breath hitched, and I couldn’t stop myself from staring. He looked like an angel—no, something even more divine, the most perfect being I’d ever laid eyes on. The sunlight danced across his skin, and I couldn’t help but whisper, “Doesn’t it hurt you?”

Hadrian turned to me, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “It used to,” he replied, his voice calm yet magnetic. “But not today. I’m not sure why, but the sun feels...different now.” He smirked, as if amused by some unspoken thought.

“Maybe it’s a side effect of the poison or...something else?” I offered nervously, unsure what to make of his response.

“No,” he said, his gaze locking onto mine. “I think it’s because of you. Your blood—it’s changed something in me.”

My heartbeat quickened as he began to move toward the bed, his steps deliberate and measured. “Changed you? How?” I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s made me stronger,” he said, his smirk deepening, a mix of seduction and danger.

The sound of his voice sent a ripple through me, a shiver that started at the base of my spine and coursed through every nerve. As he drew closer, my body betrayed me, trembling with anticipation I couldn’t control.

“I want to taste you again,” he murmured, his tone dripping with hunger.

I flinched as his fangs elongated before my eyes, the memory of pain from his bite flashing through my mind.

“Relax,” he said with a soft chuckle. “It only hurts the first time—when the mark is made. Think of it as losing your virginity.” His teasing grin made heat rush to my face, and I let out a nervous laugh despite myself.

He slid into bed beside me, his body impossibly close to mine. Gently, he pulled the sheets away, leaving me exposed. His eyes roamed over me, igniting another wave of tension and excitement. Without warning, he took my hand, his touch firm yet tender. I watched, my breath caught in my throat, as his fingers traced the lines of my palm before skimming up the length of my arm.

“Look at me, Thalassa,” he commanded softly. “I want you to see me as I taste you.”

His words sent a jolt through me, but I didn’t resist. He brought my wrist to his lips and sank his fangs into my skin. I gasped but felt no pain this time, only a strange, exhilarating pull. His eyes burned a vivid red as he drank, their intensity locking me in place. My blood seemed to fuel him, the primal satisfaction in his expression almost hypnotic.

Then his free hand moved lower, caressing my thigh with deliberate care. He parted my legs, his touch exploring with a confidence that left me breathless. My back arched instinctively, a moan escaping before I could stop it.

When he finally withdrew his teeth, he kissed me—first my lips, then my neck, trailing down to my chest. Each kiss ignited a fire within me, a longing I wished could last forever. In those moments, I reveled in his touch, his lips, the way he consumed me so completely.

But then reality crept in. I forced myself to confront the truth, to silence the dangerous thoughts threatening to take root. I couldn’t afford to fall for him, no matter how much I wanted to surrender to the illusion of intimacy. This wasn’t love; it was passion, fleeting and temporary. Letting myself believe otherwise would only lead to heartbreak.

“You should work on your stamina,” Hadrian teased after pushing me to the edge of pleasure yet again.

I panted, my body trembling from exhaustion. “You do remember I’m human, right?” I shot back, my tone equal parts frustration and humor.

“Well,” he said, pulling me closer and whispering against my ear, “you’ll need to take better care of yourself. I have a feeling my appetite for you will only grow.”

His words made my heart flutter, but I forced myself to remain guarded. “It’s not me he wants,” I reminded myself sternly. “It’s my blood.”

Yet even as I tried to rationalize, I couldn’t ignore the small, treacherous part of me that longed for more. Hadrian’s mark hadn’t changed me in any tangible way, but it had shifted something within, making me painfully aware of the walls I’d built around my heart. And now, I found myself treading carefully, afraid of how easily those walls could crumble.

I had expected Hadrian to be consumed by regret after being forced into something against his will. But that wasn’t the case. He lay next to me, holding me like a newlywed basking in the afterglow of their first night together. There was a calmness in his embrace, an unsettling contrast to my growing unease. As I watched him, a thought struck me: what if the mark wasn’t meant to change me at all? What if it was meant to change him?

But while he seemed at peace, I felt increasingly restless. My thoughts spiraled, chaotic and unwelcome. It reminded me of the kind of uncertainty a teenage girl feels after surrendering herself to her first love. It was like the sentiment behind Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, though this wasn’t about losing my virginity. And Hadrian? He didn’t love me. I wasn’t even expecting him to. Or at least, I told myself I wasn’t.

Fine. Time to face facts. My situation was spiraling into something far messier than it already was.

A sudden flash of red light on Hadrian’s desk snapped me out of my thoughts. It looked like some sort of alarm. Hadrian noticed it too, his expression hardening into an irritated grimace.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Honeymoon’s over, love,” he chuckled, though the annoyance in his voice was unmistakable. “Caspian’s here to check on us. He’ll be up any minute now.”

He got out of bed and walked to his closet, casually pulling out something to wear. Meanwhile, I stayed under the sheets, frozen in place, still reeling from the way he had just called me love.

“No matter how much I’d love to keep you like this,” he smirked, glancing back at me, “I’m not about to let anyone else see you naked.”

I glared at him, wrapping the sheets tighter around myself. “It’d be easier if I had something to wear. As I recall, someone tore the dress I had on last night.”

“Check Penrose’s closet,” he said, his grin widening wickedly.

I scowled, tiptoeing out of his room while clutching the sheets around me like armor. His laughter followed me down the hall, only fueling my irritation.

Penrose’s wardrobe was a nightmare of impracticality. The options ranged from outrageous to scandalous. I finally settled on a black dress with a plunging neckline and a slit that climbed to my hip. Under different circumstances, I’d call it sexy as hell. But compared to everything else in Penrose’s closet, it was practically modest. I paired it with Manolo Blahnik heels and marched back to Hadrian’s chamber.

By the time I returned, Caspian was already there, collecting a vial of Hadrian’s blood. Both men turned their heads as I walked in, their gazes locking on my outfit. Hadrian’s jaw tightened, his red eyes glowing faintly. He didn’t like my choice, which only made me enjoy it more.

Feigning innocence, I grinned at Caspian. “Lovely to see you again,” I said sweetly.

Caspian returned my grin, carefully placing the vial in his medical briefcase. “Good to see you too, Thalassa.”

I took a seat across from them, crossing my legs deliberately. The motion caused the dress’s slit to part, revealing a glimpse of my thigh. Hadrian’s pupils glowed brighter, his body visibly tensing.

“Now this is fun,” Caspian said, clapping his hands with mock delight. “Seeing Hadrian jealous might just make my day.”

Hadrian sighed heavily, shooting Caspian a glare before turning his attention back to me. “Couldn’t you have worn anything else?” he asked through gritted teeth.

I met his glare evenly. “Oh, absolutely. I could’ve gone with the latex bra and shorts. Or maybe that lace number. You should’ve checked Penrose’s closet before tearing my dress to shreds.”

His roar of frustration echoed through the room as he hurled a blanket at me. It landed neatly in my lap. Caspian, meanwhile, watched the entire scene like a child at the movies, his expression alight with glee.

“Could you at least try to contain your enjoyment of the mark’s effects on me?” Hadrian hissed at him.

“Well, it’s only fair,” Caspian said with a smirk. “The strongest vampire in the world ought to have at least one weakness.”

“The strongest vampire?” I asked, a nervous laugh escaping me.

Caspian’s gaze turned serious as he looked at Hadrian. “You should tell her. You promised, didn’t you?”

Hadrian exhaled sharply but gave a reluctant nod.

Caspian hesitated, then turned to me with a nervous smile. “Thalassa… I ran tests on your blood. It’s not just valuable to werewolves—it’s precious to vampires too. If an ordinary vampire drained you, they could become human again. And for noble vampires… your blood can make them unimaginably powerful.”

My stomach dropped.

Caspian’s voice grew quieter, more somber. “Since Hadrian claimed you, he might now be the most powerful creature on this planet.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling like a stone in my chest.