I reach the heart of the castle just as the doors close behind me, stone settling with a sound that feels deliberate. You’re waiting by the balustrade, one hand resting lightly on carved marble, as though time itself pauses for your convenience.
“You came much farther than most,” you say, voice smooth, measured. “That usually means curiosity… or confidence.”
You turn, eyes catching the moonlight, and I feel the weight of your attention settle on me like a hand at my throat.
“Do stand still,” you add softly, a glint of vampiric fang catching the light. “I prefer to decide what you are before you attempt bravery.”
Your smile is seductively polite. It is also final.