“I never would have made a good Lady, would I?” Adriana asked, causing her father to nod in amused agreement. “I am sorry if I was ever a disappointment to you. I know that I should have been more respectful at all of those dreadful balls.”
“Calling them dreadful shows precisely the amount of respect you had for them. I am only sorry it has taken me so long to respect your opinions on the matter.”
Sebastian stepped closer to her and lifted his hand, as if he were going to embrace her, but quickly dropped it before she could think anymore of it.
“I wanted what was best for you,” he continued. “I wanted what was best for any young woman, but you are not just any woman. You are my daughter, and I trust you to make the right decisions for yourself.”
Adriana stood speechless, unable to respond as his words sunk in. She would not be married off like the other wealthy girls, she would not be forced into a corner, and although she knew her father would never have pushed her to do something she didn’t want, it was a relief to hear him confirm it.
“Well,” Sebastian said, clearing his throat and clasping his hands together as he turned to head back into his study. “If I were a betting man, I would put my money on you trying to sneak out of this house to meet Lord Duran. I do hope he has plans to court you properly soon.”
Adriana’s face reddened in embarrassment, her heart hammered even louder now.
Her father picked up the lamp from his desk in the study and headed to the staircase, not looking in her direction at all. “Now, I am going to retire for the night, and I am not going to payattention to the front door. So if you or anyone were to come and go, I would be none the wiser.”
Adriana stood still, her mouth agape as she watched her father ascend the staircase and disappear, leaving her to the silence of the night again.
A low chuckle from the other side of the door made her jump. She wrenched it open and threw an accusing stare at Xander, who stood leaning against the doorframe with a smug smile.
“I do believe he is starting to like me.”
Adriana rolled her eyes as she closed the door behind her and pushed past him. “Do not look so proud of yourself, it is unbecoming.”
“You look beautiful.”
“You say that every day.”
Xander caught her hand and spun her round to face him, his head tilting down to brush his lips against hers with a delicate kiss. “Good,” he whispered against her mouth. “I mean it.”
He gave her hand a squeeze before lacing his gloved fingers through hers, his eyes roaming over her attire with a look that she had learnt meant he was ensuring she would be warm enough now that winter had arrived in full force.
“Where are we going?” Adriana asked as he began to lead them down the path towards his horse.
“I thought we could spend this evening outside of bedrooms and barns, to celebrate the start of the new year properly. Although, I’d be happy to pay the barn a visit later.”
Adriana playfully punched his arm, earning a yelp from a puppy-eyed, pouting Xander.
“Oh, shut up, that did not hurt you. You are the strongest Daemon in the world.”
“And the most handsome. Do not forget that part.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at his words, though she made sure her mental barriers were up so he couldn’t see that she agreed with him.
They’d made great progress on her abilities, not just her Luciferus power, but also in her physical and mental strength. Xander had trained her how to defend herself with all sorts of weapons, and how to shield her mind from his Manipuli ability. It was tiring, and their training sessions often left her bruised and sore, as did their nights together, but Adriana didn’t mind. She liked that she was becoming stronger. She could feel it with every step she took, with every element she controlled, with every punch she threw and every ounce of light she conjured.
“I remember when I used to sneak out to the village at night to visit the other children in town and listen to their stories,” Adriana pondered aloud. “Some of them would align with Striga’s, but most were awfully scary. I was so terrified of Lamiae, all the tales of how they snatched children in the night to feed from them, and seduced women to become their obedient brides. I feel so foolish now for believing in them.”
“Hmm, and you are sure they are not real? Have I not seduced you?”
“Self-flattery does not suit you, Xander. And I am neither your bride nor obedient. So, if the tales are true, then I am afraid you are a terrible Lamia.”
Xander stopped in his tracks as they reached his horse and clutched his chest, feigning a look of hurt. “A terrible Lamia? Oh, how you wound me!”
Adriana giggled as he grabbed her waist and lifted her to sit at the front of the saddle atop his horse. She swung her leg round, refusing to sit like a lady would, despite her skirts, and shifted forward to allow Xander to climb on behind her. He looped one arm around her waist and brought his horse to a steady trot, steering them towards the nearby village. Adriana hummed ashis warm lips placed a tender kiss against her temple, his arm tight around her in a comforting gesture to keep her warm.
“You have Nicolai to thank for those stories,” Xander spoke, his voice light as he spoke about his family with ease, something Adriana had been able to entice him to do over the months. “My brothers and I fabricated lies during the first few decades before we could fully control our bloodlust. Fearsome tales to keep the townspeople away from wherever we were living at the time. Nic liked to make up the more eccentric ones, those that included seducing women. We tended to feed at night when everyone would sleep, and we did not want to risk anyone venturing into the woods whilst we hunted animals.”
“You can survive on animal blood?”
