Chapter 274: Pregnant?

"I’m not going to hurt your sister because she killed quite a large number of humans," he told her, his tone calm but edged with that unreadable weight he often carried. Words that made the frown already settled on Aria’s face deepen even further as she continued to stare at him. Her eyes, dark and glimmering faintly under the candlelight, didn’t waver for a second.Zyren stood still by the window, the silver light tracing the sharp lines of his jaw, his expression unbothered. "I’m a king of vampires for a reason," he continued, his voice low, each word deliberate and smooth. "But I guess you do need to speak to her. I’m not sure Savira can help though, but you can do as you like."

The words hung between them, heavy and quiet, and slowly, the weight that had settled in Aria’s chest since Zyren mentioned her sister began to ease. The cold pressure that had gripped her lungs gradually defused until she felt she could breathe again, though not completely.

Still, the thought of what her sister had done — the lives she had taken — filled her with a worry that words couldn’t fully describe. Liora’s face flashed in her mind, the memory of her laughter, her eyes once so bright, now replaced with something darker that Aria didn’t want to imagine. The more she thought about it, the stronger her urge became to end this conversation and go straight to her sister’s villa — to find her, confront her, and take Savira with her.

Her hand clenched unconsciously at her side as she silently planned it out, already halfway turned toward the door when Zyren’s voice broke through her thoughts again.

"Little flame," he said softly, drawing her attention back to him. His crimson eyes glowed faintly, reflecting the moonlight that poured through the window. "You should do what you want. You might not realize this, but I think you — unlike anyone else, including me — have all the freedom in the world."

Aria blinked, staring at him as if he had just spoken a foreign language. The corners of her lips tightened slightly, disbelief glimmering in her eyes. Freedom? She almost wanted to laugh. There was nothing about her life that resembled freedom. Every breath, every decision she made felt like it was under his gaze, tangled within his presence that she couldn’t escape.

She stepped closer until they were almost face to face, Zyren towering easily over her. The faint scent of him — cool and faintly metallic — reached her nose, unsettling and intoxicating at once. Her voice was low when she finally spoke, more a mutter than anything else, but she knew he would hear every syllable.

"I will kill you," she mumbled, her tone hard, her eyes unblinking. The words came out as a promise rather than a threat, a quiet oath that vibrated in the air between them.

Zyren’s lips curved faintly, his eyes glinting with a quiet, dangerous amusement, but he said nothing.

"You killed my father and brother!" Aria continued, her voice rising slightly, trembling with restrained anger. "I can never be okay with that!"

Her chest heaved slightly as the words tore free, heavy and raw. Regardless of the bond that existed between them — the cursed link that twisted her emotions until she couldn’t tell which were hers and which were his — she knew this much was true. Nothing he said, nothing he offered her, could change what he had done. No matter how much he claimed to give her freedom, she would never rest until he faced the same pain — until he was dead on the ground.

Zyren’s faint smile didn’t fade. If anything, it deepened as he leaned forward suddenly, closing the distance between them. Before Aria could step back, his hand slid behind her neck and he kissed her.

The world around her fell into silence. His lips were cold but commanding, the kiss rough and consuming enough to steal the breath right from her chest. Aria’s body tensed, her fingers curling at her sides as if to resist — but he didn’t stop. His mouth pressed harder against hers until she gasped for air, her breath trembling, and still, he didn’t let her go.

When he finally pulled back, it wasn’t to release her. His lips brushed the side of her neck, slow and deliberate, and she felt the light scrape of his fangs against her skin. Her pulse leapt. The tension in the air thickened, the heat between them almost tangible — a cruel mixture of anger and desire that made her chest ache.

For a moment, she was certain he would bite her. Her breath hitched, her heart thundering in her chest — but he didn’t.

Instead, his voice came, low and quiet against her ear.

"Even if I beg on my knees?" he whispered.

The tone in his voice — almost teasing but layered with something else — made her frown deeply. She pulled back sharply, annoyed by how flustered she still felt, her cheeks burning against her will. Her eyes darted to his, full of restrained fury and confusion.

Without another word, she took a few steps back, straightening her dress and forcing herself to breathe evenly. She was done with this. Whatever spell lingered between them, she couldn’t afford to stay another second longer.

She turned toward the door, her hand already reaching for the handle when she heard him speak again. His voice a low murmur that her ears only managed to hear.

"I hear a tiny heartbeat."

The words were soft, almost casual, yet they froze her where she stood. Something about the way he said it — quiet, unreadable — sent a strange chill down her spine. But she refused to turn around. She pushed the thought aside, convincing herself she had imagined it, and walked out without another glance back.

Her concern for her sister burned brighter than anything else.

The night air outside was cold when Aria stepped out of the main hall, her cloak brushing against her legs as she made her way toward Liora’s villa. The path was dimly lit by iron lanterns, and her footsteps echoed faintly against the marble floor.

Savira joined her soon after — the old vampire healer with silver-streaked hair and sharp red eyes that gleamed even in the shadows. Her presence was silent yet commanding, her dark robes swaying faintly as she walked beside Aria.

They traveled in silence. Aria’s mind was full — dread and guilt pressing heavily in her chest as the memory of Zyren’s words played over and over.

When they finally reached the villa, Aria didn’t hesitate. She pushed the doors open and stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Liora.

Her sister was standing near the window, her pale skin almost luminous under the moonlight, her expression unreadable — until she saw Savira. Then her entire demeanor shifted.

"What is she doing here?" Liora hissed, her voice sharp with hostility. Her crimson-tinged eyes flared slightly, glaring straight at Savira. "You brought her here?"

Savira didn’t react, her gaze calm and steady. "I came because you need me," she said simply, her voice old and unwavering.

"I don’t need a vampire healer," Liora snapped, turning away, her tone harsh but brittle.

Aria stepped closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Liora, enough. You’re not fine, and you know it."

"I didn’t kill anyone!" Liora shouted suddenly, the lie coming too quickly, too forcefully. Her jaw tightened as she crossed her arms. "I didn’t do it again, Aria!"

Aria stared at her, her expression pained. "Don’t lie to me," she said softly.

Liora’s eyes flickered, her gaze breaking for just a moment. The silence stretched — thick, suffocating — until she exhaled sharply and turned back toward the window.

"I didn’t mean to," she whispered finally. "They came after me. I couldn’t stop it. I tried, but the hunger—" She broke off, her voice trembling. "It’s worse now, Aria. I can’t control it anymore."

Aria’s heart clenched at the sound of her sister’s voice, full of desperation and shame. She wanted to be angry — to scold her, to demand why — but all she could feel was fear. Fear for her sister.

Savira stepped forward quietly, her crimson eyes flicking toward Liora with an expression that was neither judgmental nor kind — merely old and knowing. "Then let me help," she said, her tone firm.

Liora hesitated, her gaze darting between Aria and the healer, the defiance in her slowly faltering. Finally, she nodded, though the movement was small and reluctant.

Aria let out a quiet breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Her hand found her sister’s shoulder, gripping it gently as she spoke in a softer tone. "We’ll fix this," she said, her voice steady despite the worry that still lingered beneath it.

But even as she said the words, she couldn’t shake Zyren’s voice from her mind — Even Savira might not be able to fix her

It followed her like an echo, quiet but persistent, and she didn’t know whether it was meant as a warning... or something far more terrifying.