CHAPTER 20 — The Morning After And Things Are Changing
ALEXIY — POV
Warmth.
That was the first thing I felt. As I slowly woke up. I felt a steady, warmth beneath my cheek—so different from the cold terror of yesterday. I felt a the slow moment of breathing. For a long, blurry moment, I didn't move. I just listened.
Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum
A heartbeat.
Its slow, heavy, steady rhythm sounded relaxing. Not fully human, almost deeper, slower. As if it wasn't fully alive. But It was real.
My eyes fluttered open.
Elion was already awake.
He lay back against the couch, arms draped around my waist, one hand resting lightly on the small of my back, the other on my head slowly moving his thumb as he brushed his finger against my temple. His clear, silver eyes watched me with a softness I never imagined he possessed.
Then—
A small smirk tugged at his lips.
"Morning."
My face heated immediately. "M-morning, I—"
He cut me off by leaning in and giving me a soft, lazy kiss on the lips.
Just a brush — a peck, but it was warm and intimate.
I froze. Then melted. As I snuggled closer shoving my face into his neck and taking a deep breath, he smelt of old vanilla, and there was a hit of cinnamon shampoo?
He pulled back only enough to whisper next to me ear:
"I want to test something."
I blinked, still dazed. "A… skill?"
"A bloodline skill," he corrected.
My heart skipped.
His bloodline, he mentioned that, when I check my status I didn't see a part tag said anything about a 'Bloodline' so I was really curious what a bloodline skill could do.
He sat up, pulling me with him until I was sitting fully on his lap, my legs draped over his thighs. I had fallen asleep clinging to him like a koala, and now I was sitting on his lap like a child asking Santa for gifts.
I felt my cheeks burn with heat as one of his hands slid from my back to my hip, steadying me effortlessly, while the other rested on my bare thigh. His palm felt warm and softer than I expected on my bear skin. Before I could think about what my mother or Lily would say if they saw me Elion spoke.
"I've been looking at what awakened in me," he said quietly. "I 'unlocked' or 'awakened' or 'received' 3 skills from my bloodline. Two passives and one active. One of the passive abilities in particular—the Bloodline Authority — lets me make a thing called a 'Fledgling Mark'… a bond." His fingers rose, brushing my cheek. "I want to see what it does to someone who trusts me."
That last line made something inside me flutter in a way that should probably concern a therapist… if therapists still existed.
"I trust you," I whispered.
His eyes softened.
"I know." He smiled a real smile that made me want to kiss him again. "The skill says that a person needs to drink my blood to undergo a mutation... I'm not sure what that means but you will become part of my 'Blood Family'... Again something I don't know, but this says that the "Blood Family Trait grants: Strength, agility, senses, and mana tolerance increase. Effects vary depending on compatibility and will."
"So... I drink your vampire blood become your vampire bride and get skills like yours maybe?" I asked curious if I was understanding what he was saying.
He let out a laugh at my phrasing and nodded. He then lifted his free hand, mana gathering silently.
A thin blade of ice formed across his palm—cold, clear, delicate like carved glass. I stared mesmerized but its beauty, I knew he was practicing his skills, but he formed the ice blade so fast, and he seems a lot more in control than when I sue my Lighting Bolt
He drew it across his other palm. A thin deep line of crimson welled up.
My breath caught. He just cut himself and didn't even flinch.
He then held out his bleeding hand to me.
"You can say no," he murmured. "But if you drink it, you'll become my 'Blood Family' in the eyes of the system. You'll get probably stronger, faster. Defiantly harder to kill." His thumb brushed my lip."Lexy, I won't force this. It's your choice. I will still keep you by my side if you don't want to do this, I'm not sure of the side effects, so I won't push you. You make your decision."
I didn't look away.
I didn't even hesitate, I slowly reached out grab his hand and then brought the open wound to my lips.
The hunger that flickered in his gaze wasn't the monstrous kind — it was something deeper. It felt like he almost saw me as something to be eaten like how he drank my blood last night.
I lifted his hand to my lips and kissed his wound, then—
I drank.
Warmth flooded my tongue. A strange, almost electric sweetness. My body shivered violently——but not from disgust, or pain. But from power.
It felt like a wave of mana was filling my body with each gulp. The world seemed to vibrate. My heartbeat thudded once—twice—
And then a soft chiming sensation echoed through my skull:
[New Passive Unlocked: Lesser Vrykolakas Physique]
Strength surged through my limbs. My vision sharpened—colors deepening, the shadows brightening until I could see every detail in the dim apartment. My instincts felt clearer, sharper, like someone wiped dust off my mind.
Then another notice:
[Bonus Skill Unlocked: Lightning Conduit]
Lightning flickered across my fingertips—soft, subtle, but alive, like the air itself was listening.
I released my mouth from his hand and gasped softly.
"Elion…" I looked up into his beautiful silver eyes.
He watched every flicker of change in me like he was memorizing it.
"How do you feel?" His voice was low, laced with concern.
"Strong," I breathed. "Really, really strong." I smiled a bright smile. A real smile.
I leaned forward instinctively, heart pounding, and kissed him.
This man... How can this man be this amazing
He kissed me back—slow, deep, his one hand sliding up my spine as though committing my shape to memory, while his other tightens his grip on my thigh, not painful or tight but I felt the possessiveness, like he was telling he didn't want to let me go. His mouth was warm, his grip firm, his presence overwhelming me in the best way.
The kiss intensified — just enough that it felt like my nerves were glowing.
His hand slid beneath my hoodie. Not grabbing — just resting on my bare back. His warm touch felt grounding. It felt like he claiming me his. That nobody should touch except him.
"Elion…" I whispered against his mouth, "I feel like—like you're more than just someone I care about."
He kissed my jaw. My cheek. My neck where he bite me last night, still tender and sore. Then my lips again.
"Good," he murmured. "Because I'm not letting you go." As I heard the steel in his voice, I almost melted. I felt a heat start to rise between my legs.
My chest tightened with something sweet and dangerous.
I shifted closer, lips brushing his again—
"Ahem."
We both froze.
I turned my head slowly.
Lily stood in the hallway, arms crossed, face pink, eyebrows raised so high they could touch orbit.
My brain short-circuited.
I shot off his lap at literal lightning-speed—so fast a gust of wind blew Lily's hair back—and sprinted to my room without looking back.
BAM!
I slammed the door.
And hid under the blankets.
GOD.
KILL.
ME.
*******************
ELION — POV
I stared at the spot where Alexiy had been.
Then at the faint ripple of air she left behind.
"Elion," she said sweetly. "Good job." Then, with an evil smirk, she added: "Your girlfriend is fast. You might need to tie her down. I think she would be intre-"
"Stop." I interrupted whatever noises she was rambling and rubbed my face, trying to calm down. "Please pretend you saw nothing."
Lily grinned like the devil incarnate."No promises."
She held out the tablet.
"And your… uh… crazy girlfriend texted."
"Meso is not my—" I stopped, took the tablet, and sighed.
The notification said New Message: Meso (187 unread → 188).
I opened the latest message, and skipped the previous 187 new ones that she sent since last night.
The message read:
Meso: GOOD. You're alive. Reminder: You have friends who actually CARES when you disappear for 57 HOURS after the end of the fucking world. Elfio, we will be discussing your time management issues when you arrive. ANYWAY—I'm heading to the cabin now~ Coordinates attached. Code: 2854150.
I cannot WAIT to meet you in person!!!
(If you catfished me and you're a 45-year-old balding man, I am legally entitled to castrate you as per our contract.)
Love, Meso ♥
Lily stared in horror.
"…She sounds nice?" she said weakly.
"She has… enthusiasm," I muttered.
I typed back:
"Still 19. Still insane. Still a bastard, you know me Meso. I'm leaving tomorrow at first light I need to get a car today. Stay hidden! Don't burn down the world before I get there. And as per our contract if you arent an insane 21 year old female then you are my man servant for the rest of eternity. :) "
I hit send.
Lily made a small "praying for you" gesture.
Before I could respond, Sarah emerged from the hall tying her hair back.
"Breakfast time," she said warmly.
The apartment slowly came alive. Aaron stumbled out half-asleep. Rea followed quietly. Alexiy… she peeked from her door, face still red, before joining the table. She wouldnt' make eye contact with me or Lily.
Breakfast was good. Sarah knew how to cook, eggs, with bacon. Warm pancakes with syrup and juice. It felt human. Almost normal.
As I sat down among them—for a moment—
Just a moment—
It felt like a family.
The calm before everything changes.
Tomorrow, we leave.
Tomorrow, the world gets bigger.
Today…
We prepare and train and pack.