Married To Darkness
Chapter 196: The Decade Feed

Chapter 196: The Decade Feed

"Do you think that was a safe decision?" Lucius asked, his voice a low rumble, eyes gleaming with faint irritation.

Alaric met his gaze without hesitation. "Leaving you alone in this kingdom in your current state?" His tone was biting. "That would be the biggest mistake I could make."

Lucius’s lips curled into a smirk. "Fair enough. Let’s go hunt some prey, then."

For the first time that evening, Alaric’s expression softened into a smile. "I’ve never done this with a partner before."

Lucius’s grin widened, exposing the faint gleam of his sharpened teeth. "Perhaps neither have I." Without another word, the two of them vamp-sped into the night, their movements nothing more than dark blurs against the shadowy backdrop of the forest.

The inn stood at the edge of a quiet, worn-down village, its creaky sign swaying gently in the breeze.

The faint glow of lanterns inside spilled out through the grimy windows, illuminating the gravel path leading up to its entrance.

The moment Alaric and Lucius stepped inside, the air seemed to shift.

The innkeeper, a middle-aged woman with sharp features and graying hair, looked up from her counter—and immediately froze.

Her eyes widened in alarm as they locked onto Lucius, or more specifically, his bare chest.

"What kind of improper nonsense is this?" she snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. Her gaze darted between the two men, lingering with suspicion on Lucius. "You come waltzing into my establishment half-naked like this? Have you no decency?"

Lucius cocked his head, his dark locks brushing his shoulders. "I didn’t realize the sight of me would scar you so deeply," he drawled, his tone dripping with mockery.

The woman’s lips thinned into a scowl. "You can’t just—"

Alaric stepped forward smoothly, cutting her off with a disarming smile. "My apologies for my companion’s appearance," he said, his voice calm and commanding. "We’ve had a rather... difficult evening."

The woman’s eyes narrowed. "Difficult, you say?"

"Yes," Alaric replied, his gaze steady. "A long journey through dangerous terrain. You’d forgive a man for losing his shirt under such circumstances, wouldn’t you?"

Lucius leaned casually against the counter, flashing the innkeeper a roguish grin. "Surely a strong-hearted woman such as yourself wouldn’t be rattled by something as trivial as this."

The innkeeper’s scowl faltered, her cheeks flushing faintly at the unexpected compliment. She huffed but didn’t press the matter further.

"Fine," she muttered, waving a hand toward the hallway. "Just... don’t cause any trouble. And put on a damn shirt next time."

Lucius chuckled softly. "I’ll do my best."

As they moved past her, Alaric leaned in toward Lucius, his voice low and amused. "Smooth."

Lucius smirked, his fangs briefly glinting under the dim light. "You’re welcome."

The two of them strode further into the inn, their predatory energy palpable as they scanned the dimly lit room for their prey.

They could feel the faint pulse of life emanating from those inside, the steady beat of hearts that quickened ever so slightly at their presence.

"Shall we begin?" Lucius murmured, his voice laced with excitement.

Alaric’s lips twitched into a smile. "Let’s."

The room they stepped into reeked of sweat, blood, and decay, a sinister atmosphere pressing down like a heavy fog.

It was a grotesque scene—dim, flickering candles casting warped shadows on the walls, and a group of individuals huddled together in their depravity.

A young woman, bound and gagged, lay trembling in the corner, her tear-streaked face buried in her knees.

Lucius inhaled deeply, his dark eyes glinting with hunger. He licked his lips, an eerie smile playing on his face. "There’s so much food," he murmured, his voice a low purr.

Alaric shot him a sidelong glance, suppressing an eye roll. "You better not be my father," he muttered, his tone laced with disdain.

Lucius smirked, showing a hint of fang. "Shut up, youngster. I don’t want to be your father."

As they entered fully, the atmosphere shifted. The drunken laughter and jeering from the group stilled as the intruders’ presence registered.

The men, dressed in shabby imitation vampire attire, glanced at each other nervously. A burly man in the middle stepped forward, his false bravado clear.

"Who the hell are you?" he barked, his voice loud enough to make the trembling girl flinch.

Alaric sighed, closing the door behind him with deliberate slowness. "That question is more—"

Before he could finish, Lucius was already in motion. Faster than the human eye could track, he grabbed the nearest man by the throat.

A sickening crunch echoed as Lucius sank his teeth into the man’s neck, drinking deeply.

Blood trickled down his chin, and his eyes glowed faintly red as he fed. The room erupted into chaos.

"Lucius!" Alaric barked, his tone sharp. "Some of them might intend to repent."

Lucius paused mid-feed, tossing the lifeless body aside like a rag doll. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and pointed to the bound girl.

"Repent? Look at her, Alaric. They’re beyond redemption."

Alaric’s gaze shifted to the girl, her fragile form trembling in terror. Her wrists were raw from struggling against the ropes, and her clothes were torn.

A dark rage simmered within him as he turned back to Lucius and gave a curt nod. "You’re right. Feed."

A feral grin spread across Lucius’s face. With vampiric speed, he darted across the room, sinking his fangs into one man after another. Screams filled the air, their terror palpable as they tried to flee.

Some fell to their knees, begging for mercy, while others were too paralyzed by fear to move. None escaped Lucius’s wrath.

He drained them one by one, their lifeless bodies collapsing to the floor like discarded puppets. His movements were a blur—vicious, predatory, and efficient.

Blood spattered the walls, the air thick with the metallic scent of death.

Meanwhile, Alaric stood in the corner, his arms crossed as he observed the carnage. With a wave of his hand, he cast a silencing spell, ensuring that no sound escaped the room.

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