Bride To His Darkness-Chapter 277: Hours Of The Night

Her own arms wrapped around his neck, and he was quite surprised when she reciprocated his display of affection– their mouths perfectly molded, their tongues locked and sliding against each other. He could feel his muscles relax when he tasted sunshine on her lips, his heartbeat merging with her own as they shared a beautiful moment under the magical night at the capitals.

How much he needed her in his life terrified him. He could feel something in his heart rip apart at the thought of her distance, and it felt like fear. He couldn’t imagine love was like this for everyone; if so then a lot of men would have become a lunatic for their wives! Maybe it was just him, or maybe just the two of them alone.

When he pulled back, he opened his eyes to stare into those emeralds that gleamed with a nocturnal glow. When she rested her head on his chest with her arms around him, a smile painting her features as she continued to watch the entertainment, something strong gripped his heart. He’s never been so possessed by another person before– the way she consumed him and his mind were in ways he couldn’t possibly articulate, and he would never let go of this heavenly feeling.

"Whoa! Ivan, did you see that?!" She pointed at one of the entertainers who breathed out a large flame from his mouth, and every other thing that interested her, she drew Ivan’s attention towards it. However, the vampire solely had his eyes on her, taking photos of her every reaction and framing it in his mind.

When they felt they’ve spent more than enough time outside, before the guards came looking for them, they decided to head back. Samantha was still feeling the festivity spirit in her blood, whilst she walked ahead of Ivan while chattering on about all the best parts of the Autumn festival. Her cheeks were rosy, and she had this smile on her lips that refused to fade, however, Ivan was quiet all through, giving her his attention as he listened to all the interesting rubbish she spewed.

"We’re down to the last one." Ivan’s eyes were fixed on the single roasted chestnut in his hand, and he peeled it before handing it to his wife who gazed at him with round eyes, seemingly stupefied as she received the last chestnut from his grip, and then it moved to the empty transparent pouch in his grip.

"Did you need more?" Reading her expression as someone who wanted extra, he looked behind him to see how far they’d left the central square. "We haven’t walked that far, do you want to go back and–"

"But you bought two of these bags filled with roasted chestnuts, did you peel... Everything by yourself??" She blinked in astonishment upon realizing she ate everything.

"I’m starting to eat too much these days aren’t I?" Her hands subconsciously moved to feel her body, "I ate three square meals for breakfast and lunch today, and I finished two bags of roasted chestnuts" she gasped and met Ivan’s indifferent stare, "I feel like I’m becoming a glutton now. What if I add weight?"

"Hmm... I say we’re making good progress then." Ivan remarked with a softened gaze, "You need to add weight, what if I’m not there and you get swept away by the wind?" He seriously teased, and Samantha’s eyebrows pulled disapprovingly, whilst she took a step back at his absurd remark.

"Are you comparing me to a feather?"

"Do you prefer an elephant?"

"You’re an elephant!"

"Come here you little ant." Instantly reaching for his little lamb before she could think of getting away, he effortlessly lifted the flustered woman onto his shoulder, making her feel like the weightless feather which he claimed she was.

"Drop me down." Samantha’s voice came out meek as she struggled for him to release her.

"What did you say?"

"Drop. Me. Down!! Ivan!"

"Can you say it louder?" Ivan had already begun walking, leaving Samantha defenseless in his secured hold. She was thankful for the hood that shielded her face, because their actions seemed to have drawn the attention of passersby. Eventually, she stopped struggling when it became clear that her efforts were futile, and he carried her all the way to the stables where he left Blaze.

Bringing her down to her feet, Ivan got to see another stubborn side of his lovely wife when she refused to get on Blaze. What she didn’t know was that she had an equally stubborn husband who could match up to her level.

Ivan simply got on Blaze and said to his wife, "if you won’t climb, then you can camp here." He looked down at the woman who stiffened at his words, but even so, she refused to budge, and he continued. "The capital will soon be empty, everyone will return to their respective homes and my little lamb will become a subject of prey to the night. Are you coming? Or do you want other lurking vampires to taste veggies in human form?"

"Can you shift to the back or do you need me to sit on your legs?" Still keeping her face, her eyes zoned in on Ivan who quietly shifted back, and she got to sit at his front.

"My little lamb." He coaxed sweetly when she denied him from touching her.

"Hmph!"

"My sweet! You’re free to stay mad, we have till eternity to make you love me again. I hope you’re aware?" He whispered the last part close to her ear, and her cheeks uncontrollably flushed red, whilst she pulled her hood even tighter, hiding her face, and her behavior was so cute, Ivan couldn’t help falling in love over again.

Knowing he had to focus on the path now, he pulled at the reins, and Blaze, already knowing what it had to do, began to lead the couple back to the kingdom. When they returned, the Palace had grown quiet, making them realize that they had spent quite a lot of time outside for everyone to suddenly disappear into their various quarters.

When they quietly returned to their own chamber, Samantha successfully locked the door from inside. Ivan was the first to freshen up before she followed suit, and after changing into their night-wear, they both collapsed on the bed, their gazes fixed on the ceiling. Their expression defined contentment, and Ivan, who was only beginning to feel the weight of the festival, could feel his eyelids slowly dropping to a close.

Samantha had turned to the other side of the bed to pour herself some glass of water, but the jug was empty.

"My luck." She sighed before rising from the bed and taking the jug with her.

"Where are you off to?" Asked Ivan as he watched her make her way to the box where she kept her pet plant. Her Viney wasn’t asleep yet, it seemed to be tapping a vine in displeasure when she opened the little box, and if it had a face, she would have probably been able to guess if her pet was being jealous or not.

"I’m going to get some water, I’ll be back." She let Ivan know, and his eyebrows creased in annoyance as she had grown quite attached to that carnivorous plant of hers.

When she left the room, Ivan closed his eyes as he reminisced on everything that had happened, and in the process, he fell asleep. Hours seemed to pass by when his eyes flung open again, and he sat up on the bed, as if he just woke up from a bad dream. It wasn’t a bad dream, but his body had acted out of restlessness, which he felt for only a splitting second.

"The hell was that?" He murmured to himself, massaging the back of his neck. His eyes inadvertently looked at the space where his wife was supposed to occupy on the bed, but it was still empty.

Confused, his eyes moved to the table where the jug was meant to be, and it wasn’t there.

"Huh? She isn’t back? What time is it?" Looking out the window that conveyed half of the night was already over, he realized he had slept for long, but she wasn’t back yet?!!

Concerned, he got out of bed.

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