Destroy My Life In You
Chapter 79: A Fleeting Confession

Chapter 79: A Fleeting Confession

Ravenna shifted slightly, and her eyes fluttered open, then let out a sigh, her body still sore from earlier. The dim glow of the bedside lamp lit the room, but beyond the curtains, darkness had already fallen. How long had she fallen asleep?

Her gaze instinctively went to the side, expecting to see Alaric beside her, but the spot was empty. The room was too quiet, a clear indicator he was not there.

Frowning, she slowly sat up, wincing as a sharp ache coarsed through her muscles. Though the soreness was still there, it was nothing that she could not handle. Wrapping up the silk blanket over around her, she let her feet touch the floor, the forced herself up.

"Alaric?" She called out softly, but there was no response.

With a long sigh, she grabbed his black shirt and her underwear, putting them on, and then she proceeded downstairs. The shirt barely reached her things, and if she bent even slightly, her bottom covered by the white underwear would be exposed. But she didn’t think much of it since Alaric and her were there.

She descended the stairs, one hand gripping the railing, but her eyes were wandering around, looking for him. Her brows furrowed when she caught no sight of Alaric.

She reached the living room and paused, carefully scanning her surroundings. The table clear, everything was in place, yet something felt different. Alaric wasn’t there.

Her heartbeat picked up slightly, wondering where he would have gone late at night.

"Alaric?" She called again, her voice a little louder this time.

Still, there was no answer.

She hesitated for a moment before heading toward the door, drawn by a strange pull from outside. When she stepped out, the night greeted her, cool and crisp against her exposed skin.

The night was moonless as the darkness stretched endlessly around her. There were no lights, which made her vision unclear.

Ravenna took a step forward, then another, her eyes scanning the vast darkness before her. Her body seemed calm, but she couldn’t help but feel a bit scared, even though she had spent all her life surrounded by deep forests.

"Alaric, are you there?" She murmured, hugging herself against the cold chill.

Then suddenly, a soft hum filled the air.

Her breath hitched when, one by one, different neon lights flickered to life, illuminating a path before her. The warm golden glow contrasted beautifully against the dark night, stretching ahead like a guiding trail.

Her heart pounded in anticipation as she followed the path, her feet moving instinctively. The lingering fear had vanished without her knowledge.

And then she saw it. Underneath on of the Magnolia trees she had seen earlier that day, its branches adorned with twinkling lights stood Alaric. The soft illumination wrapped around him, giving off the vibes of a prince of the sun. For a moment, she was captivated and forgot how to breathe. Then, something else caught her attention. There was a small table set before him, bathed in the gentle glow of candlelit.

Her lips parted in surprise, wandering how much she had slept, that he even had time to prepare a candlelit dinner.

Alaric stood with one hand in his pocket, the other one stretched out for her.

Ravenna felt warmth bloom in her chest as she made unhurried moves toward him.

"You did all this?" She asked breathlessly before placing her small hand into his. Her eyes darted between the beautifully arranged table and him.

Alaric pulled her closer to him in a slow motion, his eyes never leaving her. "Mm." He hummed, then paced a kiss on her forehead. "Sit. You’ve barely had anything to eat today."

She obeyed, still in awe of the sight before her. Who would have thought the cold and ruthless king of vampires had another romantic side hidden inside. Ravenna blushed, feeling lucky to be the one who could only see it.

She cast her eyes on the table. "You didn’t have to go this far," Ravenna said, her voice touched with warmth. "But... thank you. I love it."

Alaric tilted his head slightly, watching her intently. "I wanted to do something for you. Didn’t I say I’ll learn how to treat you the right way?"

Her heart did a strange little flip, recalling his promise, then nodded.

She glanced at the dishes before them, then dug in. She was halfway done when her eyes fell on Alaric, who had barely touched his plate. Ravenna had noted he never ate much human food, but the fact that he made an effort to dine with her filled with indescribable emotion.

"Will you be okay? I mean... we’ll be here for some time, and you also need to feed," She asked, lifting a brow.

Alaric let out a low chuckle. "Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine."

Ravenna went silent for a moment, then murmured under her breath. "If you need blood, then you could always come for me."

Amusement flickered in Alaric’s eyes, clearly hearing what she had said.

"Mm. But don’t blame me if I end up eating youuuuu..."

He was yet to finish, and Ravenna stuffed a large piece of meat in his mouth. "Shut up and eat."

Alaric laughed, shaking his head, but did not tease her anymore. He leaned back his gaze never leaving her, watching every expression she made. His dark eyes burned with something deep, something unspoken.

Ravenna, sensing the shift in his demeanor, set her fork down. "Is something on my face?" She murmured.

Alaric didn’t look nor reply to her immediately. Instead, his lips curled into the faintest smile. "You’re beautiful," he said simply.

Ravenna froze the words catching her completely off guard. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and for the first time in a long time, she felt at a loss for words.

Alaric, enjoying her reaction, leaned forward. His fingers brushed against the back of her hand that was on the table, his touch featherlight yet searing.

A pause lingered between, emotions flowing in their eyes and heart rapidly. The world around them blurred as they got lost in each other’s warmth.

Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, Alaric added, "I love you, Ven."

Ravenna’s breath hitched. The words hung in the air, echoing into her ears over and over, like a sweet melody she didn’t want to end.

Alaric watched her, his expression unreadable, waiting.

But Ravenna, she couldn’t speak. She wanted to say something, anything, but no words came out. Because at that moment, all she could feel was the weight of his confession and the sincerity in his eyes.. How long had she yearned to hear him say those words? And now that he did, she didn’t know what to do. She had not thought about it.

Ravenna remained frozen for sometime, and before she could gather her thoughts together, a sharp flicker landed on her forehead.

"Ow!" She yelped, while rubbing the spot. "What was that for?"

"Are you back?" He teased, smirking.

Ravenna blinked rapidly. "Wait, wait, wait." She held up her hand, still pressing the other against her forehead. "Could you say that again?"

Alaric arched a brow. "Say what?"

"You know what," She insisted, leaning closer to him. "I think I’m having hearing problems. I must have misheard because... never mind. Just say it again."

Alaric let out a slow, dramatic sigh before also leaning in until their noses nearly brushed. Ravenna held her breath waiting, her pulse quickening. She didn’t want to miss it and even pinched herself to make sure this was not a dream.

But then...

"No." Alaric whispered and sat back.

Ravenna frowned then her mouth fell in disbelief. "What?!"

A lazy smirk tugged his lips. "No."

Before she could even react or say anything, Alaric pushed his chair back and smoothly stood up, stretching as if he was completely unaffected by what had just happened. Then, he began walking back to the house.

Ravenna stared at his retreating figure, her mind racing between disbelief and irritation. Was he seriously going to leave her hanging after dropping such a bomb?

Oh, he’ll no! She wouldn’t allow it.

Without thinking twice, she shot up from her chair and rushed after him. The second she was close, she leaped on his back, wrapping her arms around his neck, and her legs around his waist.

"Say it again!" She demanded, her breathing warm against his ear.

Alaric, unfazed by her sudden attack, merely let out a low chuckle. He had already expected such a thing the moment he stood. She was not one to give up easily. "Ven, get off. I’m tired."

"Tired? What a liar!" She tightened her hold on him, her lips dangerously close to his ear. "If you don’t say it I’ll bite your ear."

Alaric let out a thoughtful hum as if genuinely considering her words. "What did I say? I forgot."

Ravenna’s mouth fell open. "You forgot?"

"You’ll have to try harder to get a confession out of me," he mused, causally adjusting her weight on his back. "Maybe use some other means of persuasion?"

Ravenna narrowed her eyes at him. "Fine!"

As promised, she bit his ear, not too hard but enough to make him feel it. But she forgot one thing, he was not human.

Alaric stilled for a brief moment, before a deep rumbled from his chest. "Mm, that tickles," he murmured, completely unfazed. "Try something else, love." And he caressed her thigh suggestively.

Ravenna caught the meaning in his words. "Dream off!" She exclaimed and wanted to climb off his back but he wouldn’t let go. "Wait till I know what your weakness is. Then, I’ll make you say you love me ten times, crying."

Alaric laughed harder. "I’ll be waiting for you to do that, love."