Chapter 256: Hidden parts
Leaning his head back a little to get a glimpse at her, Silas’ eyebrows remained furrowed even when he’d asked her, "Why are you looking at me that way?"
"It’s because...," she trailed off, her gemstones still sweeping his features, "You are smiling," she murmurs.
The vampire’s expression did not change despite her pointing it out. It was clear after that, that it was voluntary and not a slip up on his part.
"You’ve just agreed to let me in, to grant me a place in your heart. Isn’t that right or am I mistaken?" his fingers rose to brush some unruly strands of hair out of her face.
"You are not mistaken," she shook her head very slowly.
"Well, here is your answer then," the way his diamonds fell upon her was unlike many other times he’d glared down at her. They were soft and kind, "From now on, I consider you a cherished member of my family, and that means that I concede to let you see parts of me never before seen by anyone, not even my own parents,"
The weight of those words hung heavy, much like her breath, deep and slow, allowing her to process, digest and enjoy every second in that paradise he led her through.
"While we speak of pieces we gave each other, you were honest with me and thus I feel obligated to follow on that path," his warm breath came to brush gentle strokes on her hair and forehead, "I, too, haven’t had much experience when it comes to romantic relationships. I haven’t had any in the past three hundred and twelve years of walking these grounds,"
The smile on him dimmed, but the ghost of it lingered.
The two of them just refused to let the other slip out of their grasp, hugging each other’s figures as if something unkind would befall them should they ever let go.
Silence saw its chance and crept in when neither had anything to share. Although it wasn’t the unbearable, stifling sort.
While Arabella gathered the courage to speak again, her cheeks left no secret untold and betrayed her state of mind.
The shade around her face kept on deepening as her lips first quivered before allowing any sound out, "I don’t know much if not nothing at all when it comes to romance or relationships but...," she bit on her bottom lip, "I don’t know if I should say this but, the other night on the island I really liked it when you kissed me," her eyes widened as her skin threatened to release steam and then the stuttering began, "I mean, I don’t know how it is supposed to be done but I do know I enjoyed the way you did it,"
She spoke fast, barely articulating, but while going on and on about the kiss, all that Silas could focus on were her rich lips, moving and shaking at times.
Arabella only simmered down when his hands came to cup her cheeks one more time. His thumbs then connected with her lips and brushed ever so softly against them.
"However," that words resonated stronger and got his full attention, "I do appreciate that you are not trying to...," her confidence waivered.
"That I am not trying to touch you like I did back on the island," he half asked.
In response, the young woman merely nodded, eyes still locked with his.
For that, Silas had no Lords to thank internally. Ada’s timing had been impeccable with her visit and advice.
She was the one to be thanked and the vampire made a mental note to remember that.
Had her last words to him not blared in his mind in the nick of time, he’d have gotten overwhelmed by the moment, potentially fumbling his chances and scaring Arabella. That was his belief, at least.
Eventually, his mind followed the logical order of things from there and asked if she wished to spend the day in his company.
An enthusiastic "Yes," was her answer.
"At first I thought the province castle would do, but as it turned out, the syndicate decided to renovate some of its parts so that is off the table for the time being," his thumb still caressed her bottom lip, "But there is another place I am sure will interest you,"
"What’s this place?"
Standing almost on the tip of her toes, the young woman barely managed to contain her ardor. The grin on her features spoke volumes higher than her words.
"You may have read about it," Silas started, "Its ruins stand at the west of KasselMoon,"
He’d barely had the time to finish that her eyes flashed wide open, the green of her gemstones glistening.
"Do you speak of the ruins of Belchatta?"
"I do," he admired the stars riddling her eyes, "I suppose I assumed right when saying you’ve read about it," he half asked again.
"Yes," she nodded.
"Then I can’t wait for you to tell me all about it when we’ll be there," he finally set her lips free to rub little circles on her back, "Go take your breakfast and get ready for the outing. There is something I need to do before we set off,"
It was with those words they finally parted. Heart light but nerve endings on fire.
Silas pushed and pressed the news about Prince Cedric down the deepest corners of his mind as it was neither the time nor place to discuss such a topic.
The last thing he wished to do was wipe that beautiful smile adorning her face.
Arabella’s feet barely touched the ground. Gravity and all of its might failed to keep her down.
She practically floated through the first half of that hallway, flappy butterfly wings fluttering in her stomach.
Although the bliss wasn’t meant to last since right around the first corner, the young woman came face to face with none other than Edna.
Her face did not fall per se, but in front of the darkened glare the blonde returned, it was hard for her joy not to dim.
"I-"
Arabella tried but Edna averted her gaze at once, with a long blink that lasted until she was sure her blue eyes were at no risk of meeting the green ones.
The young woman’s irises followed her figure as it stomped further away, past Silas door and then onwards.