Chapter 7: Chapter 7

“Hello, how may I help you? Are you looking for something in particular?”

The human approached her, shooting Ryder a glance without realizing how dangerous he was. Her ignorance was exasperating and nerve-wracking at the same time. “I was told you’re selling peonies. Is that true? My neighbor mentioned it when I asked about her flowers,” the woman answered.

“Yes, I have various kinds on sale. Which color do you prefer?” Elena said and led her to a table in the back of the shop where she kept the flowerpots with peonies.

“I honestly don’t have a clue; they all look good.”

“Do you know about their meanings? Maybe that would help with your decision,” Elena smiled and continued to explain. “The pink ones symbolize good luck and prosperity. Red peonies symbolize honor and respect, and the white ones represent bashfulness.”

“Then I will take the pink ones,” the customer answered and followed Elena to the counter, where she wrapped them in paper so they would be protected on the way home. After the woman had paid and left the shop, Elena realized that Ryder was watching her intently. Curiosity shimmered in his eyes.

“You know the language of flowers,” he noted.

“Of course I do, I am a florist,” she replied and raised an eyebrow.

“Hardly anyone understands the meaning of flowers nowadays. It used to be very popular in past centuries, but people’s interest in it has disappeared.”

“What would you know about it?”

“I’m fluent in the language of flowers,” he said and winked at her.

“Don’t flirt with me.”

“And how will you stop me?” His obnoxious smirk widened when she didn’t answer him and avoided his gaze.

“There are so many other women out there, why don’t you go and talk to one of them? They probably wouldn’t hesitate to stay with you…” she mumbled. It was hard not to let her unease show, even more so because his senses were sharp and allowed him to pick up on even the smallest change in her posture and expression.

“I only want you,” he murmured. His eyes gleamed with an odd red hue. “You’re the one I desire.”

The way he picked his words, along with the husky tone of voice, prompted her to blush. She had never met anyone who had pursued her so brazenly, and she wasn’t sure how to deal with it. He didn’t care that she was already taken; if anything, it only strengthened his resolve.

“Please don’t say such things,” she whispered. “I can’t be with you. You’re one of them.”

“Why do you keep fighting your own fate?” he muttered and furrowed his brows. His smirk was gone. “If another vampire is threatening or hurting you, I will help you. I can offer you protection.”

A pang of loneliness went through her heart. She had to turn him down. “But you are dangerous yourself.”

“I’m not,” he growled under his breath. While his unpredictable mood swings and blank expressions could be hard to understand, this time, she had a good idea of what he was thinking.

“You must have expected someone better as your soulmate. I’m sorry, I’m such a disappointment,” she frowned. She was pathetic, couldn’t even stand up to a vampire. Instead, she trembled like a leaf and started stuttering. Elena had no clue why Ryder bothered to spend time with her. With his looks, he could have any woman he wanted.

“That is not true,” he countered angrily. And as always, when his fury rose, his eyes flashed bloodred, making her pulse race. “Stop assuming things about me. I’m not disappointed at all.”

Elena fidgeted with the flowery apron she wore and stared at the wooden countertop. She gnawed on her bottom lip, refusing to look at him. Ryder grimaced, sensing her growing unease and the tense atmosphere that built in her shop. He suppressed a sigh, seeing that she had retreated into her shell. This happened all too often and all too fast. He had to watch his mouth and his actions in front of her.

She was like a shy little bird that took flight at the smallest sign of danger. It was disheartening, but Ryder wasn’t known for giving up easily. He was infamous for his persistence, so he decided that the easiest way to connect with her was to speak about something she liked—her flowers. His eyes swept through the room until they found something peculiar he hadn’t noticed before.

“Why do you have dandelions in your shop?” Ryder asked. These flowers were considered weeds and not necessarily popular with people. Most didn’t like it when they appeared in their gardens. However, Elena disagreed.

“Because they are pretty and deserve their spotlight. I like to call them celestial flowers,” she said, and her tone softened with adoration. “They are yellow like the sun, and as time passes, they transform into a round white moon until they scatter like the stars.”

He tilted his head and watched her touch the plants’ leaves affectionately. The dandelions leaned towards her—a human wouldn’t have seen the subtle movement, but his eyes caught it.

“They like you,” he said, amusedly. “Fascinating. Your magic is linked to plants and nature.”

“I inherited it from my parents,” she said, her voice quietening towards the end of the sentence. “It has been passed down in my family for many generations.”

Her eyes narrowed, and her tone hardened. She glared at him. “Why do you want to know about my magic? Is it so you can…”

“This isn’t about your magic,” he interrupted her. “I’m interested in my soulmate’s life, that’s all. You always feel the need to make everything I do look bad—why is that? Only because I’m a vampire? It seems to be the main issue.” A drop of annoyance poisoned the silkiness of his voice. As he spoke, she got another glimpse of his deadly fangs, unease crawling over her.

“I can’t help it,” she whispered. “You are scaring me.”

“I’m the last person in this world that you have to fear,” he replied. “I would never hurt you, and I wish you would believe me. What happened to you that made you so reluctant to trust a vampire?” he asked. His voice sounded calm, but his expression was upset.

She couldn’t find words because she lumped in her throat, and if she opened her mouth, she would immediately begin to cry, so all she did was lower her head. But Ryder wasn’t deterred by that and patiently waited until she was ready to speak.

“I’ve been attacked by one,” she whispered. “He bit me. It was excruciatingly painful.”