Adeline's eyes wandered too much. The buttons of his shirt were left wide open. She saw the hard plains of his chest, the tightening of the eight ridges of his abdomen, and the clench of every muscle. He was breathtaking, even in the darkness. His jaw was tensed, his eyes burning like molten liquid.

"Coming to a man's room this late at night, dressed in a thin piece of fabric. I know you're here to do more than just apologize."

Adeline's gaze lowered until she saw an enormous tent straining his pants. Her eyes bulged, as he lowered himself even more onto her, until it pressed into her thigh. She forgot how to breathe.

"So speak, my sweet. What else did you want to do aside from apologize?" he murmured, his lips skimming the side of her neck.

She tried to form sentences as he pressed open-mouth kisses down the side of her throat. He was thorough, with his moist lips, warm and breathy. He lightly licked every spot he kissed, until she writhed a bit under him. Her body grew slightly heated, her thighs clenching together when warmth pooled.

"I only wanted to say I was sorry for being so rude, but you should apologize as well!" Her body jolted when he bit upon the spot that made her knees weak. It was the same spot his fangs had lightly cut to draw blood. He did it again, just as she felt a pinch on her skin.

Her breathing came out in pants. "Elias…"

"Just a taste." Elias gently suckled on the spot, drawing out even more blood with his sharp fangs.

Adeline squeezed her eyes shut when a taste became indulgence. He drank from her until she felt light-headed and weak. Was that his intention? To prevent her from escaping, her eyes nearly rolled back a bit.magic

"I can't think," she muttered, her words coming out in a slur. She knew Pure-Breds drank full blood, but she didn't he'd take a careless bite like this.

"Good. At this moment, I prefer for you not to."

Elias softly kissed the exposed wound, watching as the holes slowly closed. He lifted his head to see her face was much more subdued, her skin paler than usual. Her entire body was creamy and smooth, he remembered how easily his hands wandered it.

"It's your turn to apologize," she still managed to say.

Elias tilted his head. He met her tired gaze. He supposed he had drank too much. But she was absolutely delicious. He licked his lips, wanting to taste much more of her.

"Forgive me," he murmured.

"For?"

"What are you apologizing for as well?" Elias took one hand and drew it down her nightgown. He loosened the strings at her chest, and slid the flimsy fabric lower and lower, revealing the valleys of her breast.

Adeline was weak from the lack of blood, thus he met her gaze and waited for a protest. Tiredly, she lifted her arms and suddenly hugged him. Elias's face was pressed upon the smooth pane of her chest with a quirked brow. Nonetheless, he rested there, embracing her affectionately."I said I was sorry for being rude. Now, it's your turn," she said.

Elias merely smiled. He rose from her body, her eyes growing tired.

He supposed it would be too much of a strain for her blood to suddenly rush down there as her body clenched in ecstasy. But he'd never give that to her, since she still had to serve her punishment. But tomorrow night, he will make sure she gets it.

"Forgive my insolence as well." Elias touched her cheek with the back of his hand. She was so demure and meek right now, he wanted to ravage her.

Adeline smiled up at him and slowly nodded her head.

He let out a small sigh. He adjusted the nightgown back onto her shoulder. Pity, really. He wanted to rip this thin fabric off of her, exposing her lovely body to him. But she needed rest, and he'd gladly allow it.

"You must stay awake," he instructed.

Elias slipped away from the bed. He walked out in nothing but his shirt and loose trousers.

Adeline's eyes quietly closed shut. She snuggled into his bed, that was icy cold despite his body lying there. But the blankets smelled like him and it shrouded her in ultimate warmth. And thus, she nearly fell asleep, if it wasn't for the wind that bristled past her.

"Elias…?"

"Milk with honey."

Adeline's eyes instantly opened. She recalled the dream. Was it real then? He was truly part of her childhood just like he had said? But he was so cold to her in the past. It felt like he kept his distance, far, far from her, but she tried to go back to him.

"In my childhood, did you… did we often meet?"

"Did I groom you?"

Adeline shot out of bed, but it made her light and dizzy. He pressed the warm milk towards her lips. She took the cup with gracious hands, quietly drinking it.

"I didn't. I never had intentions of befriending you or establishing an emotional connection. As a matter of fact, I wanted nothing to do with you. I've seen you only for a handful of times, only to glare and walk away. So no, I don't believe we met often."

Adeline finished half the cup of milk. It instantly warmed her body with much needed nutrients. "I had this dream… I was wondering about your castle halls as a child. You said I was misbehaving again and reluctantly carried me back to my bed after I pestered you enough."

"Your Father sent you to me, hoping you'd gain my favor. You didn't. In my eyes, you were a snot-nosed brat, too spoiled for me to care for you. I carried you back to your room because you wouldn't have accepted it otherwise. You barged down my hallways from morning to night, like the irritating little gremlin you were."

Adeline awkwardly scratched the side of her face. She remembered his irritated glower when she demanded a hug.

"I existed in your childhood very briefly, and the last time we saw each other, I wiped all of your bad memories."

"You must've been part of my bad memories…" Adeline drank the remainder of the milk before it cooled down. She passed the empty cup to him who settled it on the nightstand. He wiped her mouth with his thumb, smiling when she moved her head.

"Good. I don't want you to think favorably of me."Adeline's brows wrung together. "You've once asked why I have forgotten you."

Elias took a seat beside her. "Because I had been offended and hurt that you'd dare to forget such a mighty person. You've forgotten me so much that you threatened to kill yourself instead of coming to my castle when you came of age. Now that I've answered all of your questions, why don't you explain to me why you said that?"

Adeline's eyes went wide. The day she came of age… When she turned eighteen. She remembered being locked in her room that day, after Asher was caught sneaking snacks.

"I was locked in my room, there was no way I said such a thing."

"Your Uncle—hah. I see." Elias let out a dark, cold chuckle. Now that he knew of their relationship, he understood everything perfectly. His lips curled into a sneer.

Torturing the Mardens would be fun and worthwhile. He would make sure they suffered to the worst of extent, until their bodies were so mangled, not even their own parents would recognize them.

"Now that we've solved the misunderstandings, I believe it's time for you to go to bed." Elias pushed her back onto the mattress. He had things to deal with later, but she needed to be asleep first.

Almost as if she knew what he was thinking, Adeline tugged at his unbuttoned shirt. "Stay."

"This is my bed." Elias rolled his eyes. "I should be telling you that."

"Stay until the morning. Don't go."

Elias let out a small laugh. "And why should I?"

Adeline frowned. She turned on her side and showed her back to him. "Whatever pleases you. I'm going to sleep here. I'm too tired to go back."

Elias raised a brow. "Is this the consent you speak of?"

"Elias!"

"Adeline."

Adeline groaned. She buried her face into the pillow which also smelled like him. She tried to not breath in deeply, in fear of coming off as weird.

"I just want to sleep," she grumbled.

"Together?"

"Not the way you're intending it," she muttered.

"Ah, I see you're learning well, my sweet."

Adeline scowled. She felt the bed dip beside her and the blankets being pulled over. Her breath hitched when his arm slid over her stomach. He yanked her towards him, her entire body being hauled.

"If you want me to stay the entire night, you have to hold onto me for dear life, Adeline and never let go."

Adeline swallowed. She turned around, her heart leaping for the heavens, and her stomach fluttering like butterflies dancing. She met his eyes that stared deeply at her. She hesitatingly grabbed the fistfuls of his shirt and buried herself into his embrace.

"That's much better." Elias allowed her to use his arms as a pillow, even though he wouldn't be able to feel it in the morning. That way, he would be trapped here, just as she had intended.

He'd always be trapped with her, for the rest of eternity, or as long as a human like her was allowed to live.