章 30: Chapter 30 - A Lesson in Trust
Eira stood near the window, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the moonlit grounds below. The soft glow of the night did little to calm the storm in her chest.
Behind her, Caius sat perched on the edge of the bed, his posture rigid, his hands braced against his thighs. The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the faint sounds of the castle stirring in preparation for the evening's gathering.
"You're holding back again," Eira said, her voice cutting through the stillness.
Caius didn't respond right away. His golden eyes glinted faintly as he stared at the floor, his shoulders tense.
"I'm fine," he said after a long pause, the words clipped and controlled.
Eira turned to face him, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "No, you're not," she said firmly. "You're starving yourself, and for what? To prove something to them?"
Caius's jaw tightened, but he didn't lift his gaze. "It's not about proving something," he muttered.
"Then what is it about?" she pressed, stepping closer.
He exhaled sharply, standing abruptly. The sudden movement made her pulse quicken, but she held her ground, refusing to let him intimidate her.
"It's about control, Eira," he said, his voice low and strained. "If I take too much, I could hurt you. If I show too much restraint, they'll see it as weakness."
Eira blinked, caught off guard by his honesty.
"And what do you think they'll see if you walk into that court like this?" she asked, gesturing toward him. "Barely holding yourself together? You think they won't notice?"
His eyes flicked to hers, the glow brighter now, edged with hunger. "They always notice." he said bitterly.
Eira stepped closer, her frustration spilling over. "You're so afraid of what they'll think that you've stopped trusting yourself."
Caius froze, her words cutting deeper than he wanted to admit.
"I trust you," he said quietly, his voice softening.
"Then stop holding back," she said, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. "You're not taking anything from me if I'm offering it."
The tension between them was electric, the weight of her words pressing down on the space between them. Caius's golden eyes flickered, the hunger in them impossible to hide.
"Eira," he murmured, his voice a warning.
She didn't flinch. Instead, she took another step closer, her hands brushing against his arms. "I can take it," she said softly.
His hands curled into fists at his sides, his jaw tightening as he fought against himself.
"This isn't just about you," he said, his voice trembling with restraint. "It's about what they'll see—what they'll use against us."
"Then give them nothing to use," she countered, her tone fierce. "Show them you don't hesitate. Show them you don't doubt yourself."
Her words hung in the air, sharp and unyielding. Caius's gaze locked onto hers, the battle raging within him written across his face.
Slowly, his hands unclenched, and he reached for her, his touch careful but deliberate. His fingers brushed against her neck, tilting her head gently to the side.
"You're too stubborn for your own good," he said, his voice low and laced with something she couldn't quite name.
"Then stop fighting me," she whispered.
For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Then Caius leaned in, his lips brushing against her skin. The warmth of his breath sent a shiver down her spine, her pulse quickening beneath his touch.
When his fangs pierced her skin, the pain was sharp and immediate—a searing ache that spread like wildfire.
Eira gasped, her hands flying to his arms as her knees threatened to buckle. The intensity of the bite stole her breath, her body trembling under the force of it.
Caius tightened his grip, steadying her as he fed. His hunger was unrestrained, primal, but there was something agonizingly deliberate in the way he held her—as though he was both taking what he needed and punishing himself for it.
The bond between them flared to life, a visceral connection that burned brighter with every second. Eira's head swam, the mix of pain and heat overwhelming, but she refused to pull away.
She focused on the sound of his breathing, the way his body trembled against hers. Even now, as he fed, she could feel his restraint—his refusal to let himself lose control entirely.
When he finally pulled back, Eira's chest heaved, her body trembling against his. The sharp ache in her neck lingered, raw and stinging, and her vision swam as she tried to steady herself.
Caius's golden eyes burned with intensity as he stared down at her, his lips stained faintly red. His breathing was uneven, but there was a flicker of guilt in his gaze as he reached up to cradle her face.
"It's not over yet," he murmured, his voice rough.
Eira frowned, confusion flashing across her face before she realized what he meant.
Before she could brace herself, Caius lowered his head again, his tongue sweeping over the fresh wound.
The pain was sharp and immediate, a white-hot sting that made her gasp and clutch at his arms. The healing process was worse than the bite itself, an agonizing burn that seemed to sink into her very bones.
Her legs gave out, and Caius caught her, his arms circling her waist as he held her steady. "Easy," he murmured, his voice low and steady.
Eira buried her face against his shoulder, her breathing ragged as the pain ebbed slowly, leaving behind a strange warmth that spread through her neck and chest.
When it was finally over, Caius pulled back, his hands still firm around her waist. His gaze searched hers, guilt and something deeper flickering in his golden eyes.
Caius's golden eyes glowed brighter than before, the faint trace of blood on his lips a stark reminder of what had just passed between them.
"You're stronger than they realize," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "But I hate that I have to prove it like this."
Eira's legs wobbled slightly, and he caught her, his hands steadying her as she leaned into him.
"You didn't hurt me," she said quietly, her voice shaky but certain.
He let out a low, bitter laugh, his grip on her tightening. "You don't have to lie to spare me, Eira."
"I'm not lying," she said, meeting his gaze. "It hurt. But I'm still here. I'm still yours."
Her words hung between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. For a moment, Caius's expression softened, the raw vulnerability in his eyes taking her breath away.
Then, as if realizing himself, he stepped back, his hands falling to his sides.
"Stay close tonight," he said, his tone cooling as his mask slipped back into place. "We can't afford any mistakes."
Eira watched as he turned toward the door, his movements deliberate and controlled. Eira pressed her fingers lightly against the newly healed mark on her neck. The pain had faded, but the weight of what they'd just shared lingered, raw and undeniable.
Whatever awaited them in the court tonight, she knew one thing for certain. Caius might wear his control like armor, but the bond they shared would always expose the cracks beneath it.
クリエイターの想い 
JadedButCute
JadedButCute Hey there, lovelies! What did we just experience? Because phew, Caius and Eira did NOT hold back in this chapter. I mean, can we talk about the emotional tug-of-war here? Between Caius’s ridiculous need to micromanage his every move and Eira’s no-nonsense, “just bite me already” energy, these two might just combust before the court ever gets the chance to judge them.
This chapter was all about vulnerability wrapped up in tension—both emotional and, uh, neck-related. Let me know: were you holding your breath too, or is it just me trying not to scream at these two to communicate better? Anyway, what’s your verdict on Caius? Broodingly noble or frustratingly self-destructive? Drop your thoughts below! I can’t wait to hear how you’re feeling about this delicious chaos. See you in the next chapter!
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