Vampire's Veil Of Obsession
Chapter 184: His Words…

Chapter 184: His Words...

Zethan growled, his eyes shutting tightly as he tried his best to hold back from touching her again. The desire resurfaced once more. Just as she reached for his shirt, his hands caught hers.

Lilia’s lips parted in shock.

Did he just...?

Zethan opened and closed his eyes, his jaw working. He was really trying his best to keep his emotions intact by all means. He took a steadying breath, doing everything he could to stay composed. Then, slowly, he leaned forward and gently pulled her to him.

Lilia gasped softly, surprised as she landed lightly atop his chest.

"Wife," he murmured, his voice low, "go to sleep. It’s already late. Tomorrow will be a busy day. It’ll be very busy. I want you to get as much rest as you can. Is that okay?"

Lilia blinked at him curiously, sensing something more beneath his words. Then he added quietly, "Please."

Her eyes widened slightly.

From the way his jaw clenched, she could tell—he was holding himself back, deeply.

Now, she was even more curious. What was going to happen tomorrow that had him this tense? That had him pleading with her to sleep?

Still, she nodded without a word. And to his surprise, she didn’t move from where she lay. Instead, she remained atop him, resting her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

Zethan spoke playfully, his lips curling slightly. "Oh, wife... getting a little too comfortable with me. I’m glad," he said softly.

Lilia cracked one eye open and shot him a glare. "I’m about to sleep," she muttered, trying to sound annoyed—though she didn’t really mind him speaking. She loved the way his chest vibrated with his voice, and the calm of his steady heartbeat.

Zethan’s lips twitched into a full smile. She was trying to use his own words against him—and it amused him.

To his surprise, she shifted slightly atop him, trying to balance herself more comfortably. But in doing so, she unknowingly stirred something deeper within him. He groaned quietly, trying to suppress the heat rising in his chest.

"Behave, Lilia," he warned, voice low and strained.

Lilia opened her eyes and pouted, clearly enjoying herself. "What did I do, honey? This wife of yours is only trying to sleep as her husband said, and yet he is trying to disturb her rest. It seems he really wants her to touch him?" she said sweetly, her tone laced with mischief.

Zethan was speechless. He exhaled deeply, trying to remain composed. "You know exactly what you did, wife," he said through clenched teeth, doing his best to calm himself.

She could feel the warmth radiating from his body now, and her giggle was soft—almost innocent, yet teasing. Zethan couldn’t believe it. His wife was actually enjoying this—enjoying driving him to the edge.

She rested her head on his chest as she closed her eyes.

Silence fell between them after that.

A comfortable one.

Time passed, and gradually, her breathing grew slower, more even.

She had fallen asleep, right there on his chest.

And Zethan just lay still, afraid to move in case she wasn’t fully asleep and might wake. He held her close... quietly surrendering to the calm after the storm she left within him.

He stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought. The weight of tomorrow—of everything he held back—weighed heavily on him.

His expression darkened.

With a sigh, he brushed a hand through his hair, trying to push it all to the back of his mind. Then his gaze shifted back to Lilia—as if drawn to her like a magnet. And just like that, something in him softened.

It was as if she had cast a spell on him.

Her face, so peaceful in sleep, seemed to be the only thing capable of calming the storm inside him.

Lilia wasn’t just anyone to Zethan—she was his anchor. His powerhouse. The only one who could make a man like him feel stable.

Gently, he reached out and ran his fingers along her back, caressing it softly in slow, soothing motions.

And then, with her warmth pressed against him and her breath steady on his skin, Zethan finally closed his eyes...

And slept.

*

*

Lilia’s eyes fluttered open gently as the morning light spilled into the room. She stretched her arms and legs across the bed, her body relaxed from sleep. But the moment she yawned and blinked fully awake, flashes of last night’s memories rushed back with startling speed.

Her eyes widened.

She turned on the bed, sitting up as if trying to make sense of it all. Her eyes scanned the room.

Where was he?...

And then she saw him.

Zethan.

There he stood silently by the window, his back to her, unmoving. His posture was stiff, tense—his gaze fixed on something far beyond the glass, as though lost in a world she couldn’t see.

Lilia watched him quietly. She had seen Zethan thoughtful before, even brooding. But this... this was different. There was something eerie about the stillness of his body—like he was frozen in a moment of deep, unsettling thought.

And then, almost as if he felt her eyes on him, his eyelids twitched.

He knew she was awake.

He turned slowly.

Lilia stood as she walked toward him, brushing her hair back, concern etched into her face. "Good morning, hubby," she said softly. "Why are you up so early? Is something the matter?"

He smiled—but it wasn’t his usual soft, affectionate smile. It was distant, hesitant, like he was carrying something he didn’t know how to say.

"What is it, honey?" she asked, taking a few steps and stopping just in front of him.

Zethan’s gaze stayed on her, intense. Finally, he spoke. "The request."

She blinked. "Request?"

"Yes." He paused, then added, "I’ve been wondering."

"Wondering about what?" she asked gently, wrapping her arms around him.

Zethan’s eyes widened slightly as she leaned into him, her head resting on his chest, her eyes looking up into his. She was so warm. So trusting.

He hesitated.

Then he said it—quietly, but with a weight that made her breath catch.

"My request is... no matter what happens today, that you would forgive him."

Lilia froze.

Her brows furrowed in confusion, eyes narrowing slightly. Forgive him? she wondered.

What was he talking about?

She pulled away just a little, enough to look up at him more directly and take his hands in hers.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice no louder than a whisper.

Zethan’s jaw worked again, visibly.

Something was coming.

And he knew she wouldn’t like it.

"I just can’t," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

There was something final in his tone—something that made Lilia’s heart skip.

The way he said it... as if he’d already accepted the weight of whatever was about to happen. As if he’d played the scene out a thousand times in his head and still couldn’t find a version that ended well.

And Lilia—she felt it too.

That chill. That shift. That knowing.

Whatever Zethan was trying to say—or do—it wasn’t something small. It wasn’t something she could brush aside. It was something that would change things. Something that could unravel her.

And then, softly, she spoke.

"...You just can’t what?" She was getting impatient.

Her voice was barely audible, fragile—like if she spoke too loud, it might break both of them.

Her hands were still holding his, but now tighter, afraid that if she let go, he might disappear. Her eyes locked on his face, searching, hoping for an answer... but fearing it all the same.

Lilia shook her head, her voice barely a whisper.

"Zethan... please, stop."

She took a step closer, trembling, her hands pressed to her chest like she was trying to hold her heart in place.

"If you’re planning to do anything that’ll hurt you... then I don’t want to go anywhere," she said softly. "I don’t care about the land of the living. As long as you’re okay, that’s enough for me."

A desperate smile tugged at her lips, tears gathering in her eyes.

"See? I’m happy. I’m fine. You came back—no bruises, no pain... right?" Her voice cracked. "So please, stop. D-Don’t do this. Don’t make me cry more than I already have."

But Zethan only shook his head, his eyes dark with a mix of sorrow and resolve.

"I want the best for us," he said. "Think about our unborn children. What would they think... if their father was the reason they ended up in the land of the dead? They would be curious how the land of the living looks... and we are both here because of me?"

His gaze dropped, his voice soft but heavy.

"I want to make things right."

Lilia began shaking her head faster now, her chest tightening, heart racing.

"No...No...Z..Zethan you won’t.." She broke down in tears.

And then—it happened.

The words.

The ones she had waited so long to hear. The ones she had imagined would come during laughter, not tears.

"I love you." Zethan spoke with a smile as he tucked her dark hair backwards.

Three simple words. But they didn’t feel like the start of something beautiful. Their gaze locked.

They felt like the end.

Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms—holding her tighter than ever before.

Too tight.

"Zethan?" she breathed, her voice suddenly small.

Then—

She felt it.

Warm. Wet. Spreading across her stomach.

Her body tensed as confusion filled her.

A sharp pain suddenly bloomed in her abdomen, slicing through her.

She gasped eyes stretching as pupils stilled.

Her mouth parted in shock as she looked down.

Blood dripped.

It was his blood... and hers.

The sword had pierced through his back—and into her.

He was the one piercing it.

Her eyes widened in horror.

"Z... Zethan—!"

But it was too late.

"I’m sorry, sweetheart," he whispered, his voice breaking.

Then, without hesitation, his fangs elongated—glinting like death itself.

His gaze, now blood-red, locked onto hers with unbearable sorrow.

"I love you so much always remember that," he whispered.

And with a final breath... his fangs plunged into her neck.