Celeste stared at Malum. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. His skin was lightly tanned, his features sharp, and his dark eyes held a depth that made her forget to breathe.
Then Malum groaned, snapping her back to reality.
Celeste quickly stood up. Malum did the same but clutched his left arm. Blood was running down his skin, the arrow had sliced through his clothing and grazed deeply across his flesh.
"You're bleeding!" Celeste rushed toward him.
Malum staggered. A wave of weakness hit him, and he collapsed against a nearby tree. He slid down until he was sitting, teeth clenched, his hand gripping his wounded arm.
Celeste knelt beside him, panic swirling in her chest. She had no idea what to do.
Malum tore the fabric around the wound with his other hand.
Celeste gasped.
The skin around the cut wasn't just bleeding
It was burning.
Blackened edges hissed with lingering heat.
Malum groaned again.
"Wait... don't vampires heal?" Celeste asked, confused. She knew vampire regeneration was fast, but this wound wasn't even trying to close.
Malum barely heard her. The pain from the heavenly fire was far worse than he'd expected.
"I can heal it for you," Celeste whispered.
Malum lifted his gaze to her.
"What is a fairy like you doing here alone?" he asked, frown deepening.
"I… I… That's not the important part right now. Let me help you heal your wound."
Malum didn't respond, but he didn't stop her either.
Celeste moved closer, lifting her hand over the burn. Heat radiated from it unnatural, terrifying. She had never seen anything like this.
She closed her eyes.
Soft golden particles shimmered from her hand, drifting gently over the wound.
The burn began to fade.
The skin pulled together and healed, the pain vanishing completely.
Malum felt no pain, only a faint tingling warmth.
When the light faded, the wound was gone.
He stared at Celeste.
He didn't understand the feeling rising inside him. No woman ever dared come near him unless he allowed it, but her presence didn't anger him.
It… calmed him.
Celeste lowered her hand and looked around. Her eyes landed on the dead bodies. A shiver ran through her. She remembered seeing him standing beside them earlier. Why had she even run to save him?
Malum noticed her fear.
"They attacked me first," he said, trying to clear the misunderstanding.
Celeste nodded quickly. "Oh… sure."
Malum pushed himself to his feet, stretching both arms now that the pain was gone. Celeste stood too.
"What are you doing in the vampire realm alone?" he asked.
"I… I was running an errand for the princess," she explained softly. "And I came across some decaying flowers. That's how I ended up here."
Malum studied her for a moment, then simply turned away.
He walked toward his horse, waiting near the border. Celeste followed him timidly.
Her basket was on the ground beside the large black horse, and the creature had lowered its head toward it, sniffing curiously.
Celeste hurried forward.
"No, you can't eat that," she said gently, pulling the basket away. Relief washed over her when she saw the moon-bloom flowers were still intact.
She looked up at the horse and smiled, rubbing its head. The horse neighed softly.
"He likes you," Malum said as he stepped closer to Celeste.
Their shoulders nearly touched.