Page 3 of The Vampire's Lament
“Thanks, sweetie,” I told it, complementing its shimmering leaves for good measure.
Having flora recharge my batteries was a perk of being an elf, and my presence gave them a boost too. The green of the leaves became more vibrant, each of them growing in size along with the branches.
I loved to see it.
Silvanus watched, his lips cocked into a faint smile.
My cheeks heated a little, but I smiled back.
“Fascinating,” he purred.
The ivy crawling across the house responded to me next, the sensation in my body amazing from all these planty gifts.
“Thank you, sweetie.”
The king cocked his head to the side, his left eyebrow quirking.
Damn, my cheeks were clearly turning a vibrant shade of crimson. “Oh. Shit. Not you. I meant the ivy.”
He chuckled. “Don’t panic, Paris.”
“Who’s panicking?” I protested.
He turned his back on me, shoulders shaking from his gentle laughter, the sound soft yet deep. Irritating and infectious, a chortle of my own tumbled from my mouth.
What a muddled existence I led lately.
A gust of bitter air rolled across the weed-choked garden. I shivered, longing for a banket and an open fire. Throw in a hot bath and I’d be in heaven.
“I’ll light the fire,” Silvanus said, opening the front door.
“You read my mind,” I whispered.
He paused, glancing over his shoulder. “I can’t read your mind.”
Oof. The guy looked so serious. “Turn of phrase, man.” And thank fuck he couldn’t read my thoughts. They were far too complicated.
And filthy!
“I see.” He smirked and entered the house, the shadows swallowing him.
The prick was pulling my leg.
Pull whatever you like!
With a sigh, I drew luck down my chest and followed him, expecting to enter a dusty domain with cobwebs and broken floorboards. But when Silvanus turned on the lights, a space of plush emerald carpet and biscuit-brown walls greeted me. We were surrounded by earthy colors with traces of gold, lots of pine furniture, and plenty of jasmine.
Just like his bedroom at his palace on Hurlock Island. It grew everywhere, accompanied by lots of flowers—white roses, orchids, lilies. So pretty, so fragrant. Apparently, he’d been a forest lover in his home realm of Selene Haven. Which explained the décor here and in his royal chambers.
I liked it, my senses practically singing with happiness as I greeted every plant.
One day, I’d like to live in a forest like a proper elf.
“Nice place,” I said, eyes roaming, nostrils filled with the rich bouquet of floral scents.
There was a curved stairwell in the middle of the big room, and a large brown corner sofa before the fireplace with a coffee table on a gold rug. Lots of bookshelves too, along with an open-plan kitchen.
“Bedroom,” he pointed at the stairs, “and bathroom.”
