As if struck by a sudden realization, Naomi’s eyes widened. "Are you...?" she began but left the question unfinished, her voice trailing off into the soft whisper of the breeze.
Her gaze shifted to Zylan, who had turned his head slightly to the side, avoiding her questioning eyes. His silence spoke volus, yet it also deepened the mystery that clung to him like a second skin. The faint pink tint coloring his ears caught Naomi’s attention, and despite the heavy air between them, she found it utterly endearing.
A soft giggle escaped her lips before she could stop herself. The sound was light, unrestrained, and filled with a warmth that even she couldn’t fully explain.
Zylan turned to her, startled by her unexpected reaction. His brows furrowed, though his expression softened at the corners. "What’s so funny?" he asked, his deep voice low and calm, but there was a faint note of curiosity behind it.
"My hubby is killing with cuteness right now," she teased with a playful smile, her laughter bubbling up again. It was the first ti...Wait second ti she had seen him flustered, and the sight ignited a strange boldness in her.
Shifting slightly, Naomi raised herself within his embrace, her body still wrapped around him. The closeness was intoxicating, making her heart race in ways she didn’t entirely understand. She leaned closer, her breath brushing against his reddened ear. Without warning, she gently nibbled on his earlobe, savoring the way his body tensed beneath her touch.
Zylan inhaled sharply, his ink-dark eyes widening for a brief mont as if battling an internal war. Naomi, unbothered, pulled back just enough to et his gaze, her lips curled into a teasing smile.
"Co on, you can tell anything," she said softly, her voice gentle but insistent. There was no malice in her curiosity—only the pure desire to understand him better.
He didn’t respond imdiately, his gaze shifting away as if searching for the right words in the rustling leaves or the glint of sunlight on the nearby waterfall. Naomi noticed his hesitation and decided to ease the tension.
"Okay, fine," she continued with a playful grin, pointing at a smooth, flat rock a few steps ahead. "Since I’m barefoot, why don’t you drop at that rock over there? It looks perfect."
Zylan’s lips twitched as if suppressing a smile, but his expression remained stoic. He shook his head, exhaling a slow sigh. How had this woman—this tiny glimr of light—managed to unravel him so completely? He, who had once lived with such rigid finality, now found himself drawn into her world, one playful step at a ti.
Without a word, he began walking toward the rock, his strides steady and purposeful. Naomi clasped her hands together, pressing them to her chest in a gesture of gratitude.
As Zylan lowered her onto the smooth surface, her lips parted in a soft gasp. "Oh my goodness," she murmured, her toes curling against the cool, polished rock. The sensation was delightful.
She held onto his arm for balance, tilting her head up to et his gaze. "Thank you so much, dear," she said warmly, her sincerity evident in her voice.
For a mont, Zylan was at a loss for words. Her earnestness had rendered him completely speechless. Instead of replying, he reached out and gently pinched her cheek—a small, almost childlike gesture that lingered just a mont too long.
Naomi tilted her head curiously, her golden-blonde hair shimring under the afternoon sun. "Is this the place you usually co to... apart from watching the sunflowers?"
Her question caught him off guard, but he didn’t show it. Zylan opened his mouth to respond, yet no words ca out. Naomi didn’t seem to mind. She continued with a teasing lilt in her voice, "Rylan told you love watching sunflowers. I must say, I do too." Her smile brightened, radiating warmth.
"But...," she added, her tone playful, "who would’ve thought that stoic Zylan Reed would be the kind of man to watch flowers? How cute!"
Zylan blinked, her words sinking in like ripples across a still pond. "Stoic?" he repeated, arching a brow.
Naomi nodded enthusiastically, her mischievous grin widening. "Yep, you’re so stoic," she said with a twinkle in her eye. Then, with an exaggerated pout and a baby-like tone, she added, "Very, very stoic, Mr. Zylan."
Despite himself, a small smile tugged at the corners of Zylan’s lips. He quickly masked it with a shake of his head, but Naomi caught the flicker of amusent in his dark eyes. Her lightheartedness was like a balm, softening the edges of his otherwise reserved deanor.
"Can I stand on the grass now? It’s safe, don’t worry," Naomi said convincingly.
Zylan nodded, his silence granting her permission. She stepped onto the soft grass, her bare feet sinking slightly into the lush greenery.
The sensation was unlike anything she had ever felt before—cool, grounding, and utterly freeing. A gentle smile spread across her face as her eyes twinkled brightly, reflecting the golden light around them.
Zylan stood silently, watching her. She looked like the very embodint of nature itself—a goddess brought to life, her presence ethereal against the backdrop of the cascading waterfall. Her hair shimred like spun gold under the sun, blending harmoniously with the rocks and flowing water. She was breathtaking, a masterpiece too precious for mortal eyes.
Naomi turned to him, her joy evident as she lowered herself to sit on the grass. Her feet finally touched the water, and a soft gasp escaped her lips, filled with awe.
"Oh my, Zylan, this is incredible," she murmured, swinging her legs playfully in the cool water. Relief washed over her, knowing she had chosen to go barefoot. Her hands rested on the smooth rock beside her, grounding her in the mont.
"Co on, sit with ," she said, patting the space next to her.
Zylan hesitated, his gaze fixed on her. This woman—his wife—was too beautiful, too innocent to realize what she was doing to him. Slowly, he lowered himself onto the rock, his movents deliberate. His eyes were drawn to her legs, swinging gently like a child’s. There was sothing comforting, almost disarming, about the simplicity of her actions.
"Are you the fastest vampire?" Naomi asked suddenly, her voice filled with curiosity and a hint of admiration.
Zylan shook his head. "Vampires are fast, Eaglet. But I’m an elite-pureblood, aning we are faster than the others." His tone was asured, careful not to reveal too much.
Naomi’s eyes widened slightly, her curiosity deepening. "Elite-pureblood," she repeated softly, as if tasting the words. "That sounds... powerful."
Zylan’s expression turned serious, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "Naomi," he began, his voice low, "we are very dangerous. You seem so fascinated..." He trailed off, unsure how to warn her without frightening her.
But instead of fear, her eyes sparkled with even more intrigue.
"Does that an elite-purebloods are also the most handso?" she asked, her tone teasing yet sincere. "Because my husband is one very handso being."
For a mont, Zylan was stunned into silence. Then, a small, genuine smile broke across his face. "I had no idea my wife thinks I’m handso," he replied, his voice light with amusent.
Naomi, however, barely registered his words. She was too captivated by that smile—so perfect it felt almost unreal.
"Do you hear heartbeats?" she asked hesitantly, her voice trembling slightly. Her own heart pounded loudly in her chest, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer.
Zylan’s gaze softened. "I hear all your heartbeats, Eaglet," he said softly. "Yes, I listen to them."
Naomi fell silent, her thoughts swirling as the weight of his words settled over her. He’s been hearing all my heartbeats... The thought left her speechless.
Desperate to change the subject, she hesitated before asking, "The lady... the one who... uh, entered earlier..." Her voice faltered as she tried to tread carefully, not wanting to cross a line. She fell silent, her eyes fixed on the cascading waterfall.
Zylan finally broke the quiet. "She’s the Leek-Vampire," he said. "She holds knowledge that the last of her kind passed down to her, making her the chosen one. The Leeks are typically ancient, but she is the youngest ever to carry their legacy."
Naomi tilted her head slightly. "Is it like a revelation? Is she like a seer or sothing?"
Naomi didn’t know why she was curious about this, yet a strange excitent bubbled within her. It was as if the mystery itself was calling to her, drawing her deeper into its intricate web.
Zylan turned to her, their gazes locking. For a mont, the world around them seed to fade away. "Yes," he replied. "She has other powers, but if that’s how you want to describe her, then... yes."
Naomi nodded slowly, her mind still turning over his words. "But... she’s a lady. Shouldn’t she be called a Vampiress?"
Zylan blinked, montarily caught off guard.
Now, how did Naomi know all this?
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