3. Her Dream Come True

CHAPTER 3

Her Dream Come True

J elisette gripped Emery's hand as he pulled them through the Void. This was reckless and, quite possibly, stupid. It was so far out of character that she didn't even recognize herself. And yet, her shadows were quiet, and she felt… safe.

Strange.

If things changed, she could always just rip out his throat and divest him of his head. Vampires could survive many things, but even they couldn't live after that. One didn't become a four-hundred-year-old vampire without picking up a few self-preservation tricks along the way.

More than a few men with wandering hands had died when they tried to touch Jelisette without her consent. No one did that. Not since the events that had led to her Making.

The black shadows cleared as they stepped out of the Void. Jelisette's eyes widened, and she stared at their new location. When Emery had suggested they get a drink, she'd assumed he would shadow them to one of the many blood bars that catered to vampires. She'd never expected this.

Jelisette turned in a slow circle, her fingers still laced with Emery's, as she took in the space.

Glowing sky blue and emerald crystals hung from a cavernous ceiling high above their heads. Clusters of luminescent mushrooms added their light to the space. A massive wooden bed covered in furs was pushed against one wall, and stacks of books were piled throughout the cave on top of every available surface.

How was it possible that Emery was both a skilled killer and a lover of literature?

He was Jelisette's dream come true.

Emery strode over to a wooden trunk pushed up against the base of the bed and lifted off a pile of books. He reverently placed them on the floor, opened the lid, and withdrew a glass bottle. Amber liquid sloshed as he poured two servings before extending a glass to Jelisette.

She took it with a smile. "Thank you." Cocking a brow, she glanced at the glowing crystals. "Is this your home?"

His lips twitched up into a smile. "If I said yes, what would you say?"

She made a show of looking around, first at the books, the crystals hanging from above, and the massive bed. If she didn't know any better, she'd think this was better suited for a dragon shifter than a vampire, but who was she to judge? She lived in a plain apartment in Golden City.

Like most vampires who'd lived for several centuries, Jelisette had accumulated a significant amount of wealth. However, she'd never truly found a use for most of it. She kept her money in Golden City Bank and lived in a modest one-bedroom apartment. Most of her money was spent on acquiring blood.

"I think it's beautiful," Jelisette admitted. It felt comfortable and safe, away from the world. She liked it. "Much better than my apartment. But I'm sure all the women you bring here say that."

Emery eyed her for a moment. "Would it surprise you to hear that I don't have many visitors?"

Jelisette stared at him. Was he lying to her? She studied him, searching for any signs that he was lying. There was an undeniable connection between them, but it didn't mean he couldn't deceive her.

She didn't see any signs of untruths on his face, though. Eventually, she nodded. "I… yes, it would."

Jelisette had assumed that Emery would be bringing a new woman back here every night. There certainly were enough willing elves, shifters, werewolves, even humans in the Republic of Balance. After all, Jelisette had never seen a vampire as stunningly beautiful as Emery. She had been dreaming about him every night since she first saw him across Starless Lake.

He smiled and lifted his glass in cheers. "To surprises."

She echoed his phrase, chinking her glass against his before sipping the amber liquid. It burned as it slid down her throat, the liquid gloriously smooth. Alcohol like this didn't affect vampires—she was as alert as ever—but it tasted delicious.

Jelisette drank, studying Emery carefully. Her shadows continued to sing, and that feeling of safeness had only grown since they'd come here.

Perhaps a younger vampire would've finished her drink and left Emery with her number, but Jelisette had lived far too long to let the opportunities of life pass her by.

If there was one thing she'd learned over her centuries, it was that most things in life could be bought, stolen, or found. But true connections? Relationship? Love ?

They rarely happened. And when it did, when someone was lucky enough to find a person they connected with, they were to hold onto them with all their might.

Jelisette had never been in love, but she'd witnessed what it did to others. This wasn't love—she wasn't stupid; she knew one didn't fall in love in a night or even a few weeks—but there was something here that promised… more.

She wanted to explore it. She needed to explore it. How could she leave this cave and go back to her dreary life from a few weeks ago?

Since finding Emery in the alley, she felt more alive than ever before. More vibrant. More… real.

Whatever this was, she wasn't prepared to let it go.

With that thought in mind, she placed her now-empty cup on the ground and stepped towards Emery.