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These were my thoughts as I silently slipped through the moonlit hallways, trying to make as little noise as possible. My heart was pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, as I ventured out into the night. My relentless desire for freedom and solitude drew me towards the shimmering allure of the lake.
I always felt at ease here. That feeling of serenity washed over me instantly, as the moon cast its radiant glow upon thepath before me. The night air whispered through the trees, carrying the sweet scent of nature’s secrets, while the distant chirping of crickets created a soothing melody that harmonized with the rhythm of my own heartbeat.
I remembered swimming here with Cass during lazy afternoons, when we didn’t have a single care in the world. We would lie in the grass, looking up at the sky, talking about our hopes and dreams, wondering what our lives would be like when we grew up. I surely didn’t imagine that I would have to marry Luke of all people.
I inhaled deeply as I stopped right by the banks, making sure not to get too close to the water. The night air was cool and there was a gentle breeze rustling through the surrounding trees. Despite the fact that it was the middle of the night, I still felt safe. I was close enough to home, that even if something did jump out at me from the nearby woods, I would probably be able to run back to the castle fast enough and reach safety.
I scoffed suddenly, remembering my bodyguard. My brows knit at the idea of needing him. I could understand my father’s concern, but he could have understood me as well. I wasn’t his little girl anymore, although he would like us both to be. In a way, Cass had always been more docile, more easily controlled. Maybe that was why he decided to marry me off first and not her. She would do whatever he asked of her. We all knew that. This was my father’s way of keeping us both under control, only in different ways.
At that moment, there was some rustling behind me. I turned around, my heart beating all the way in my throat. I quickly looked down, noticing a large rock, which I immediately picked up. Squeezing at it frightfully, my eyes darted in the direction where the noise was heard. I thought about calling out but changed my mind.
Moments felt like hours. Was it possible that a vampire dared to tread so deeply into human territory? This was unheard of. Yet, there was someone here with me. Someone who obviously didn’t want to have their presence known just yet.
“Show yourself!” I finally shout, deciding to prove to whoever or whatever it was that I wasn’t afraid.
Another moment passed, then another. My eyes had already adjusted to the darkness. I would notice if someone jumped out of the thick shrubbery and trees. Finally, more rustling was heard, and a familiar silhouette came out into the moonlight. His face held a hint of exasperation mixed with undeniable fascination.
“Again?” That was the only thing he asked. “At least you didn’t go too far this time.”
I frowned, scolding myself silently for being so bad at sneaking out of the castle.
“Are you always so serious?” I suddenly asked, wanting to see what he was like when someone pushed his buttons and annoyed him. I didn’t know why I was finding such a thrill in challenging his protective instincts.
“Yes,” he replied simply.
I tilted my head at him. There was something about meeting him in the middle of the night, just the two of us. His rugged features seemed to take on an ethereal allure in the moonlight. The soft glow illuminated his chiseled jawline, accentuating his strong countenance. His tousled dark hair seemed to catch the moonbeams, as they cascaded effortlessly, framing his face and drawing even more attention to his eyes.
“Why couldn’t I have gotten a bodyguard who remembered what it meant to be adventurous? To take bold risks because only bold risks were truly worthy of the prize that would follow?”
I sighed, turning away from him and staring at the lake.
“You make my job unnecessarily difficult,” I heard him say.
I turned to him again, suppressing a chuckle. Our eyes locked, and a spark of mischief danced between us. I took a step closer to him.
“You play with danger every single day,” I told him. “Have you been doing it for so long that you completely forgot all about the thrill?”
He fought to maintain composure. I could see that much.
“You have no idea what real danger is,” he revealed.
“Exactly!” I exclaimed without meaning to. Then, I exhaled with deep effort, although no relief came of this. I shook my head, trying to find the right words that seemed to have found an outlet right here, right now. “I feel like I haven’t lived at all, and now, when it is my time to do what I want with my life, I have been stripped of that choice.”
I didn’t mean to say any of this. It just slipped out. But it didn’t matter. Not like this man here… no, this vampire, cared about what I had to say. He was paid to stay by my side and keep me safe.
“You don’t know what you are saying,” he tried to correct me, as I expected he would. It was like hearing my father speak through him. “You have a family, and you have an obligation to them. Love isn’t just good times. It is also being there and doing something you don’t like. In your case, it is…”
He didn’t finish it, so I did. “The wedding.”
For a while, we were both quiet. It was as if that very word held too much weight and we wanted it gone. I knew I did.
Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled. It brought us back to the present moment.
“Sometimes, I feel like the night beckons to me,” I murmured, more to myself, but I didn’t care if he was listening,too. “I’ve always found something magical in these moonlit hours.”
Now, we were both staring into the distance, into the moon’s reflection on the calm surface of the lake.
“I know you can’t leave me here alone,” I told him. “But I’m grateful for the fact that you’re not dragging me back to the castle.”
