Then he opened the second drawer to reveal a stack of blank notebooks, each cover more beautiful than the last. On top sat a leather-bound journal embossed with silver phases of the moon, its pages edged in the same shimmering silver.
My breath caught. I had always wanted one like that.
“You said you needed a new notebook.” He seemed almost shy now beneath my stunned gaze.
The third drawer held bookmarks that looked like piano keys and swords as well as washi tapes with designs of bats and wolves and celestial patterns. There were also loads of stickers: Holographic, glitter, foil, glow in the dark, and so many more.
“Koko,” I breathed, my fingers hovering over the treasures before me, unable to find words to express the swell of emotion in my chest. “Each thing represents us.”
He shrugged, a gesture that tried to minimize what we both knew was an extraordinary act of thoughtfulness.
“I pay attention.”
“This is perfect.” I lifted the moon journal, cradling it as one might a precious artifact. “Everything is perfect.”
Standing on tiptoe, I pressed a kiss to his cheek, then another to his lips when he turned to face me.
“Thank you, my love,” I whispered against his mouth. “It’s the most thoughtful gift ever.”
“If that’s your reaction to stationery, I should have brought you some months ago.”
When I glanced over at our guests, I caught Kaori giving Papa a pointed look, one that clearly said,Are you taking notes?A blush crept up my neck at them seeing our intimate moment, but the warmth in Kaori’s eyes held no judgment, only a hint of playful envy.
“I must say I’m a bit jealous, Koa. I might need to drop some hints to a certain vampire.”
“I am standing right here, beloved.” Papa’s eyebrow arched.
“Indeed you are,” she replied sweetly. “Watching and learning, I hope. After all, your son is setting the bar rather high, wouldn’t you say?”
For a brief moment, I witnessed something remarkable: The mighty vampire king looking almost flustered. It humanized him in a way nothing else could have.
“Where did you find such unusual stationery?”
“Online. I’ll text you the info.” Koa’s tone was almost civil as he addressed his father directly for the first time today, and I hid my smile.
As the evening wore on, Papa rose from his chair with that effortless grace that reminded me he was no ordinary man.
“Koa, I’d like to check on Amabel before you retire. Ensure she’s properly secured.”
For a moment, I thought Koa might refuse, but he nodded.
“This way.”
As they left, the tension was still between them, but somehow less sharp-edged. Progress, however small, was still progress.
Left alone with Kaori, I found myself turning over a question that had lingered since Casimir had explained her nephilim heritage.
“Can I ask you something personal?” I ventured, arranging my new pens in rainbow order to avoid meeting her eyes. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“Ask away,” she encouraged, settling back in her chair. “I’m an open book.”
“Simmy told me you’re a first-generation nephilim. That you’ll live four or five hundred years.”
She nodded, waiting for me to continue.
“But vampires are immortal,” I said, voicing the concern that had been nagging at me. “What happens when…”
I trailed off, uncertain how to delicately phrase my question.
