Chapter 90 Confession.
The guest suite Domenic had assigned me was a masterpiece of sophistication. High, vaulted ceilings were braced by dark mahogany beams, and the walls were draped in heavy, midnight-blue velvet that swallowed the light.
I was raised in luxury. I knew the difference between expensive and priceless, and this place was definitely the latter.
I stood in the center of the room, thinking about all that lead to this moment in my life. I realized with a start that I didn't care about my company. I didn't care about the wealth I’d spent my entire life accumulating. All I cared about was Camille.
It was an irrational, terrifying realization. I had known this woman for almost a month as my housemaid—someone I saw every day who appeared very strange into my life. Now, knowing she was a princess of a race I didn't even believe in some days ago, my only instinct was to ensure she was safe. I didn't know if it was love, or madness, or the adrenaline of the hunt, but she had become the only thing on my compass.
The room felt too small, too heavy with the weight of my thoughts. I walked over to the tall French doors and pushed them open, stepping out onto the balcony.
California at night was a different beast than the city. Here, the air was crisp and smelled of pine and damp earth. The moon hung low and heavy in the sky, a brilliant silver disc that turned the manicured gardens below into a landscape of ink and chrome. I leaned my elbows on the cold stone railing, mesmerized by the celestial glow. It felt like the only thing in the world that hadn't changed.
"It’s a beautiful night, isn't it?"
I jumped, nearly losing my footing. I spun around, my heart hammering against my ribs. Camille was standing there, leaning against the doorframe. I hadn't heard a single sound. No footfall, no rustle of fabric, not even the sound of her breathing.
"God, Camille," I wheezed, clutching the railing. "You have to stop doing that. My heart isn't built for vampire stealth."
She offered a small, apologetic smile, though there was a glint of humor in her eyes. "I’m sorry, Josh. I didn't mean to startle you. May I join you?"
"Y-yeah. Of course," I stuttered, suddenly feeling very conscious of how I looked in my wrinkled travel clothes.
She stepped out onto the balcony, and the moonlight hit her. My breath hitched. She had changed into a long, flowing nightdress of pale silk. It was simple, yet on her, it looked like a gown fit for royalty. The thin fabric clung to her frame, catching the silver light in a way that made her look ethereal, almost translucent. Her dark hair was loose, cascading over her shoulders like silk.
I felt a heat crawl up my neck. I’d seen her every day for weeks, but seeing her like this—unburdened by a uniform, standing in the glow of the moon—made me feel incredibly fidgety. She came to stand beside me, her presence radiating a strange, cool energy.
"Are you okay, Josh?" she asked softly. Her eyes were fixed on the horizon, but I could feel her focus on me.
"Yeah," I said, my voice sounding a bit too loud in the quiet night. "I mean, why wouldn't I be? I’m in a mansion filled with vampires, running from an vampires. It’s a Tuesday, right?" I joked but she didn't laugh.
Instead, she looked down at her hands, which were resting on the stone. "I am so sorry, Josh. I truly am."
"For what?"
"For getting you into this mess," she whispered. "If it weren't for me, you would still be in your home. You would be safe. You would be living your life as a normal human, far away from the troubles of the vampire world. I’ve taken everything from you."
I looked at her, really looked at her. The guilt on her face was plain, and for a second, she didn't look like a powerful vampire princess. She looked like a cute little kid who was sad.
I reached out, my hand hesitant before I settled it over hers on the railing. Her skin was cool, but the contact sent a jolt through my system. I forced a smile, leaning closer.
"Don't worry about it, Camille," I said. "To be honest? It’s kind of thrilling. Running away from the vampires and hiding out here in california. It feels like a vacation." I sighed and continued. "My life was boring. I had everything I wanted, but I was bored to death. I’ve never felt more alive than I do right now, even if I am terrified half the time."
She turned her hand over, interlacing her fingers with mine. She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine with an intensity that made the air feel thick. The silence stretched between us, no longer heavy, but charged with something I couldn't name.
The moonlight reflected in her pupils, making them look like deep pools of mercury. My heart was thudding so hard I was sure she could hear it. I couldn't look away.
"You're a good man, Josh," she murmured.
Before I could ask what she meant, she moved. It was a blur of silk and shadow. She stood on her tiptoes, her hand sliding up to the back of my neck, and pulled me down.
Her lips met mine.
It wasn't like anything I’d ever experienced. It was cool and sweet, yet filled with a desperate, hidden hunger. For a second, I was too shocked to move. My brain was screaming that this was impossible—that she was a vampire princess and I was just a human.
Then she pulled away, just an inch, her breath ghosting over my lips. Her eyes were wide, a hint of vulnerability in them that I’d never seen before.
"I... I shouldn't have done that," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I’ve felt this way for so long, watching you everyday while pretending to me a normal human maid. But I know I’m a monster in your eyes. It’s okay if you don't feel the same. I understand."
She started to step back, her hand dropping from my neck.
I didn't let her finish. I didn't let her move an inch further away.
I reached out, my hands tangling in her hair, and pulled her back to me. I kissed her with everything I had—all the fear of the last few days, all the hidden longing of the last year, all the thrill of the life I’d chosen to leave behind.
This time, the kiss wasn't just sweet. It was passionate, a collision of two worlds that should never have met. I didn't care about the fangs or the immortality or the danger waiting at the gates. In the moonlight, on a balcony in a house of monsters, she was the only truth I had left.
And as she melted into my arms, I knew I would follow her into the dark, forever.