Doe's POV:

The moon was reaching the point in the sky that began the effects of the bloodmoon.

After a long bath, I ended up falling asleep for a few hours. Both the emotional and physical toll everything that happened put on my body lulled me to sleep at his side.

I planned on staying up all night with him anyways, so it did me some good reguadless.

Usually, by this point, Xander would be by his window, watching the seconds pass and the moon deepen in color.

He was in my arms this time, his head under mine and arms folded behind my back while I played with his hair.

We both just stayed quiet as the moon took its effects on him, but my curiosity had me pin-pointing every twitch, every heavier sigh, or the press of fingers into my back.

I found myself waiting almost impatiently for his wings, despite him already telling me that there was always a 50/50 shot of that happening.

He wasn't wearing a shirt for that exact reason so... I think it was only fair that they showed up.

I steadily dropped one hand to his back, trailing around those spots like I was trying to coax them out.

He responded by locking his arms, a vibration traveling from his chest to mine.

Purring during a bloodmoon. That's certainly new.

"How's it going so far?" I asked my signature question that came with every bloodmoon.

Another thing that was new, was him chuckling a response.

"Good," He began, "Really good actually. That feral part of me is in a really good mood today for some reason."

I rolled my eyes at that last part, specifically the smug tone.

"So... no wings?"

He laughed again at the traces of disappointment in my voice.

"Most likely not, but I can try to get 'em later, now that my body is all," He searched for the right word, "In agreeance."

Oh yeah. I think Khloe mentioned something about that earlier.

Well, I suppose that was fine then.

I tilted my head down, inhaling a whiff of his shampoo, "Yeah you better." I grumbled.

I don't think my brain had come to the conclusion that since he now knew that I loved him, that I should act like it with the way that I talk.

That there was no need to be snappy in an attempt to hide my feeling because he was aware of them already.

But then I also realized that nah, I didn't want to do that yet.

I considered it part of my charm.

Plus he always read between the lines and knew my true intentions anyways.

I remember despising him for that once upon a time.

God that all feels like so long ago when it really wasn't.

Had you told me on the last bloodmoon what would happen on the day of this one... I would have considered you insane.

It felt insane to a degree, but a little insanity keeps things exciting I suppose.

Time flew. Everything fell together rather fast once it had the ability to.

For once everything felt steady.

There were no loose ends, no long-lasting detrimental questions, and now a plan for the future.

It wasn't a solid one, but it was an outline and with how much time we had, an outline was enough.

This feeling of peace was one of the firsts of mine that didn't come with an underlying fear that something was going to come and wash it all away.

"So uh... you're like my boyfriend now, right?" Yeah, I couldn't hide the awkwardness of this question behind snark.

I'd just seen the notion appear in books... and it sounded nice.

And the thought of 'dating' a vampiric prince stirred it up even more.

His purr grew deeper.

"Y-Yeah," He cleared his throat, "Yeah. I'm yours to call whatever you want."

"What would you call me then? Hypothetically if this wasn't something that stayed between us," I wondered.

"It won't be that way for long," He assured, "And either way I prefer 'My love' or something along the 'Dove' line. Girlfriend works for the technical term, but it wouldn't be my first choice when addressing you."

Oh.

How dare he make me blush in the middle of every vampire's most hated night?

"I see," I simply replied, not wanting him to somehow hear it in my voice.

I seemed to have forgotten that this man has hundred of romance novels in this room alone, so he most definitely has a firm idea about what he's doing in that department.

Totally unfair. I had so much to catch up on.

Oh so much that he could just teach me.

And now my own thoughts were effortlessly warming my cheeks.

Fantastic.

Luckily Xander's movement stopped my brain from going further down that treacherous and merciless road of possibilities.

He shifted almost uncomfortably, unlocking his arms and scooching back away from me.

Thinned pupils met my gaze, and that discomfort could be seen just as easily in them.

I tilted my head at the sight, and he explained promptly.

"The effects are fine, but the moon is making me restless. I think I just need to get up and walk for a bit. Maybe explore through the indoor portion of the gardens if you want to join me," He offered, "The chefs usually leave snacks in the kitchen before leaving early for the night, so we can stop by there after to see if Lily did the same."

I nodded while he pushed himself up.

"Do you plan on going like that?" I asked, pointing to his bare chest.

He looked down and thought for a moment, already knowing the answer, but not being too happy about it.

I let out a silent laugh, reaching over to grab the shirt I'd previously taken off of him and tossed it over.

~~~

"Congrats on surviving the night, you guys!" I yelled specifically to Khloe and Marcus as I entered the dining room, snagging their focus from their plates.

As if I didn't see her last night and didn't know that Marcus was safely locked in his room just in case.

Lily too, who waved at me through the window that showed into the kitchen.

A few more boys were sprinkled into the room, and either found my words amusing or strange, but it wasn't for them anyway so I didn't mind.

Just skipped on over to my friends.

"Hey you too," Marcus chaffed back, though not with as much energy as he usually did.

He did look like he was becoming more tired by the day, and the bloodmoon wasn't the best night for him to be able to catch up with his sleep.

Actually, both of them looked tired, and well, I was too.

I imagine both Khloe and I stayed up with our vampires.

Xander's plan was to take a fat nap after breakfast since he had a check-in to do with his parents about their report of last night over the meal.

I guess the Lord and Lady spend their nights on the bloodmoon patrolling and making sure that none of the human citizens get hurt.

But what was Marcus' excuse?

"I see the moon got to Xander a bit?" Khloe began, pointing to the bite on my neck.

My hand immediately shot up to cover it now that I remembered its existence.

Oh yeah, that was... not the moons doing.

Not that I could give her the specifics.

'Haha yeah we just had an intense tear-filled love confession and then we had sex, and you know how those vampires can get during that.'

Yeah no. Not yet.

But the thought did make me realize the now intense presence of something new.

There was something in me now that was swelling and felt like it was about to burst.

I wanted to tell them.

I wanted to tell my friends everything. About how they were right about it all along. I wanted to thank them for helping me with the understanding of this whole love thing in the first place.

But, for what felt like the first time in my life, I bit my tongue and stayed quiet.

At least until I can gather good enough evidence to feel good about it.

Last night was quite a show. When we met up with them in the dining room, Nico was clinging onto her as Xander had been to me.

I still needed just a little more solid proof first before I was going to corner her about it.

I leaned forward, crossing my arms and resting them on the backrest of what was going to be my chair.

"Yeah I suppose that was part of it," I settled with, "That, and it was about that time he needed fresh blood. You know how the royals are."

I watched for her blush that, sure enough, showed through the sudden absence of her freckles as they blended in with the red on her otherwise pale cheeks.

Hmm.

"Oh. Uh- Yeah. I get it."

Marcus just kind of looked questionably between the two of us.

And I would have called him on it If Lily didn't speak first with my favorite words to hear.

"Doe, honey, breakfast is ready!"

I launched myself over to the bar where my plate sat fresh and steaming.

A perfect breakfast skillet with potatoes, cheese, and vegetables topped with two over-easy eggs, and a fresh blueberry streusel muffin.

One of Xander's favorites I've heard.

There were also two glasses, one of water, and another with some sort of fruit juice.

"The skillet is hot, so make sure you hold the plate itself you..." She looked down at the two cups, assessing it all, "You might have to take two trips."

Yeah okay easy enough-

"Oh, no need. I've got it," A voice I knew spoke out from behind me.

A pair of hands took my plate, leaving just the cups for me.

Ah. This Austin guy again.

He must just have a thing for carrying and delivering my food.

"Shall we?" He asked with a smile, gesturing back towards my table.

I just blinked at him for a second, that odd feeling whenever he showed up creeping its way up my spine.

Eh, whatever. If he wants to burn himself on my hot plate then I wasn't going to stop him.

So I just nodded, thanking Lily, who had a look on her face that matched my strange feeling and followed him back to my table.

He walked a little slow for my liking, especially given the fact that he was in current possession of my meal.

"So," he began, his voice a little more hushed than what seemed normal, "When are you going to let me share a meal with you like you promised."

Promised?

"That's not how I remember our previous conversation going," I flatly replied.

That night may have been a mess for me, but I doubt I promised this dude anything.

"Really? I remember it quite well. 'Next time' you said, but we never got to discuss when that would be."

Huh. I guess I did say whatever I could to get him out of my room, but my memory still lacked this 'promise'.

I passed his ridiculous slow pace, reaching the table with a visibly angry Marcus and a confused Khloe, placing my glasses down.

"Either way, I don't have an answer. I've been busy, and I still am busy with the prince's royal junk."

He thankfully put my plate onto the table, standing a bit too close.

"Oh come on," He whined, "I'm sure you could spare a meal here soon. Just ditch your friends here for once and-"

"Austin. Gardens. Go. Do your job." Marcus grit. Obvious from his voice alone that not only was he exhausted but he seemed like he was at his wit's end with him specifically.

Again, that glaring stare-off I've seen too many times.

Which again ended with that calm smile on Austin's face as if Marcus was the one making this weird.

"Relax Marcus, I just needed a drink is all," He cooed, plucking my glass of water from the table, "It's getting warm out there you know, the last thing you need is one of us slowing down from dehydration."

He sipped from my glass, eyes falling on me, "I'll talk to you later."

With that, he turned with my glass and walked out of the kitchen.

The three of us just watched, a tense silence coming from the remaining boys in this room.

"Oh he is so into you," Khloe spoke, breaking the awkward quiet.

"Yeah and not in a good way either," Marcus uttered with a curt sigh, "I'm putting him on the list of people I'd advise you to stay away from. I don't like the way he talks about you."

I shrugged, sitting down in my chair, "You don't have to tell me twice."