80. "I WANT YOU, ALARIC..."

Alaric's breathing seems to calm slightly as he absorbs my words. His gaze softens, but there's still a noticeable tension in his features.

"I'm here, young lady," he finally responds, his voice laden with a silent promise. "I always will be. Are you sure Elijah didn't harm you? Zion brought you to my room, fearing Elijah might have done something to you."

Alaric's expression is a mixture of relief and concern as he examines every inch of my face for any signs of harm. His touch is gentle yet firm, as if trying to assess my condition without causing further discomfort.

"I'm fine, Alaric," I reply, trying to convey as much sincerity as possible in my words. "Elijah didn't harm me. He just... said some strange things."

The worry in his eyes doesn't diminish, but there's a flicker of relief in his gaze as he absorbs my response. A firm hand clasps mine, offering silent support that I gratefully accept.

"I shouldn't have left you alone in the library. He managed to break the spell that was on the wing we're in. Then he managed to locate you. I shouldn't have trusted too much, knowing he can accomplish anything."

I rest my face against his neck, inhaling his seductive scent, while the pulsing of his vein awakens a overwhelming desire in me. Instinctively, I run the tip of my tongue along his neck, feeling him shiver completely at my touch, his arms tightening around my body.

"What are you doing, young lady?" Alaric questions, his voice husky, surprised. The Adam's apple rising and falling betraying a latent excitement.

I feel as if I'm on high alert, as if every cell in my body is vibrating with a strange urgency. Alaric's scent is almost hypnotizing, as if it were the most natural and irresistible thing in the world. Every beat of his heart feels like a tempting invitation, hard to resist.

It's as if my body is on fire, a hunger that seems never to be satisfied. Every move he makes seems to exude this aroma that drives me mad, making me tremble with an uncontrollable desire. My hands shake as I struggle against something I don't want to admit aloud. This craving for his blood is overwhelming, clouding my thoughts in a way I can barely comprehend.

Alaric slowly lowers me from his lap, keeping our bodies close, locking his gaze with mine. I lift my hands, placing them on his chest, delicately sliding them over the buttons of his shirt.

"I tried to resist, I swear I tried. Ever since we were together in that bathtub, something changed inside me." My eyes don't leave his, as intense as honey.

Anna is completely right to say that fear draws me to him, whenever I feel afraid. I end up in his arms, but this time I don't just want to be in them, I want everything from him, every drop of blood, every sensation that Alaric causes me.

A shiver runs down my spine as I feel the tips of his fingers sliding along my arm, up my collarbone, and diverting to my neck. Every touch of his seems to ignite a flame within me, increasing my desire even more.

"I stopped resisting a long time ago, young lady," Alaric whispers, his lips drawing closer to mine.

A whirlwind of sensations envelops me, his warm breath delicately brushing against my lips. I feel my heart beating erratically, as if trying to keep pace with the frenetic rhythm of my thoughts.

Every part of my body yearns for him, for his presence, for his touch. My mind, so accustomed to resisting, seems to surrender before the overwhelming desire that consumes me. I feel like a marionette, whose strings are pulled by Alaric's irresistible magnetism.

My chest rises and falls with shallow breaths, my lips parted eagerly awaiting contact with his. My hands tremble slightly as they move instinctively to wrap around his waist, as if seeking to anchor myself to him.

And then, as our lips are about to meet, a timid voice within me whispers that perhaps it's better to stop, that perhaps it's better to resist. But it's as if that voice gets lost, making way for another that screams to continue, to surrender to the desire that consumes me.

Alaric guides me closer to the canopy of the bed, his firm body pressing mine against him. I feel my heart race even faster at the proximity, my hands instinctively clutching the fabric of his shirt.

"You seem different, young lady," Alaric murmurs, his husky voice intense. "Your scent is one of pure excitement, unlike before. I can clearly hear the rapid beats of your heart, accompanied by your shallow breaths, inhaling from your lips."

His touch on my waist sends a wave of shivers throughout my body, making me tremble under his touch. My lips involuntarily part in anticipation as the heat of the moment intensifies around us.

"I like to see that you're letting fear fade away, allowing the desire you've always felt to take over," Alaric murmurs, his voice laden with an irresistible blend of authority and desire. "It would be strange to say that I don't like everything that comes from you, even when your stubbornness and curiosity drive your actions."

His lips draw closer to mine, the promise of a kiss hanging in the air between us. My breath becomes even more shallow, my body craving his touch, while the inner voice whispering to resist disappears completely in the consuming desire.

His warm and familiar breath brushes against my skin, sending an electric current through me. My eyes automatically close, surrendering to the moment, while my mind empties of any rational thought.

Our lips meet in an intense kiss, as if we've been longing for it for so long, different from any other kiss we've exchanged. Every touch is electrifying, and I feel my body instantly respond to his warmth. His hands explore my body delicately, sending shivers across my skin. I lose myself in his caresses, surrendering to desire.

I feel the tightness of his hands on my waist as he releases my lips, turning me around so my back is against him, his hands trailing up my body, circling my breasts over the dress. My breath catches as I feel the nibble on my ear.

"Do you think I don't know that you desire my blood, young lady?" Alaric whispers maliciously, as if he's playing a game. His warm breath sends shivers down my spine as he trails his lips along my neck.

"Surrendering is only a matter of time, once you taste the flavor of my blood..." He murmurs, his voice sending shivers through my body. It's as if he's intentionally toying with me, knowing exactly what makes me weaken.

With a subtle movement, Alaric slides his free hand over my waist, sending shivers across my skin. His fingers trace a path skillfully sliding down the zipper of my dress.

"You know you can't resist for long, Nyra," he murmurs, his voice enveloping me like a spell. "Every part of you yearns for my touch, for my blood..."

A shiver runs through my entire body as I feel the tip of Alaric's tongue tracing a teasing path along my shoulder, slowly rising towards my neck. Every touch of his is like a blazing flame that consumes any trace of resistance left in me.

"You desire me more than you can admit, young lady..."

His whispers caress my ears, sending shivers down my body as he slides the straps of my dress off my shoulders. I feel the fabric smoothly slide down, falling to my feet, leaving me vulnerable to his will.

"Please..." My voice comes out as a whisper, pleading for more, for everything he can give me.

Alaric lets out a husky laugh, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of desire and amusement. He places his hands on my waist, gently turning me to face his body, leaving me completely exposed.

His lips curve into a mischievous smile as his fingers caress my lips, sending an electrifying sensation across my skin. His dark eyes lock onto mine, overflowing with desire and intensity, while his chest rises and falls with rapid breaths.

"Tell me, young lady," he murmurs, his voice husky and full of promises. "Tell me what you want from me."

The urgency in my veins is almost palpable, and I find myself completely succumbing to the desire that consumes me. With a trembling sigh, I allow myself to surrender to the temptation that Alaric represents.

"I want..." my voice comes out in a whisper, choked by the intensity of the moment. "I want you, Alaric. More than anything else in this world."

Alaric's hands pause on my face, meeting my eyes that are sparkling with desire.

"You had to run from me to realize that it's inevitable to stay away, young lady," he says as he runs his thumb over my lower lip, pulling it slowly.

"I just can't deny how much I'm craving you, it would be foolish of me to deny," I murmur seductively. In a quick and decisive movement, Alaric grabs me by the waist, pulling me closer to him.

"Then let's quench that desire, young lady," he whispers against my lips before finally surrendering to the desire we both feel for each other.