Happiness.

It was an emotion I haven't felt in a very long time. In fact, I couldn't remember the last time I was absolutely content with no reason. In the span of my 100 years, I've been raised and taught that I had an immortal obligation to my people. Everything was systematic. There was a hierarchical level to everything until I met her.

Ophelia.

Ophelia was a factor I didn't expect appearing in my life. She flipped my world upside down and took me out for a spin. The things I don't see myself doing, I was doing with her.

I stepped out of the bathroom, freshly showered and a towel wrapped around my waist. Glancing at the bed, and Ophelia was sleeping soundly on the bed. The crystal sat nearby on the nightstand next to the bed.

It was dark outside. We spent the entire day in bed. My eyes traveled down her backside and when I saw all my bite marks on her body, I got hard again. The possessive monster in me wanted to claim what's mine.

Fuck me, I could live between her legs every second of the day. However, I knew I had exhausted her body. I needed to give her time to recuperate. Reluctantly, I turned to the closet to get dressed.

I put on boxers, a black trouser and a white dress shirt. I tucked the hem in and then buttoned up my dress shirt as I walked out of the closet. I walked to the bed and sat down on the edge. One of my hands slid up her backside, and I felt her shiver and moan. One glance at her face and her lips parted on a breath. My hand slid up to the back of her neck and her eyes flew open.

"Hey," she whispered.

God damn.

She was the most beautiful creature I've encountered on earth. Sensual without trying. Sweet as honey. I leaned forward and kissed the back of her shoulder before moving to brush my lips across her cheek. I felt her smile and pulled back to look at her. Her eyes were closed as she softly sighed in her sleep.

Although I didn't want to admit it, her skin has grown paler over the last few days. Her lips were whiter than usual. I should feed her something good before we head back.

"Get up," I urged her.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"I'm going to take you out to eat."

"Eat?" Her eyebrows raised, and she pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her sexy bed hair flying all over the place. The bed sheet wrapped around her slipped down her body and exposed her exquisite body.

"Aren't you hungry? I don't think I fed you in the last 24 hours."

Something changed in her face, but it disappeared before I could read it. She put up a smile and nodded her head before getting up and walking to the closet. I waited for her downstairs by the front door. I made sure the attending maid put the red crystal in the car.

I didn't see her appear until another hour passed.

When Ophelia appeared, she changed into a beautiful, casual, black evening dress that reached her knees and high heels. Her fiery red hair brushed and cascaded down her backside. She took the steps down the stairs. One hand on the rail. Ophelia looked so fragile, but radiant. She wore my bite marks proudly. She didn't even bother hiding them, and it made me prouder than ever to be her mate.

A second later, she tripped, and I sharply inhaled as I flew up the stairs and caught her in time. She fell into my arms. I swept her off her feet and carried her the rest of the way down the stairs.

"I thought I was doing so well in these heels, too." She wiggled her feet.

I smirked and carried her all the way to the car.

"Oh? Are we driving tonight?"

"It would be weird if we appeared out of thin air around a bunch of humans and security cameras."

"It would be weird indeed."

I slipped her into the passenger seat before I walked around the car to get into the driver seat. Where we are going, it should be fairly safe that I didn't need that many soldiers following after me. Yet I couldn't risk it with Ophelia. My soldiers will be around us, but blended into the crowd of humans.

I pulled out of the driveway of Lazarus's mansion. We drove through the night city for a while. Cars were still busy trying to get home. Traffic was awful and I would rather run than sit in an enclosed vehicle that ran slower than my two legs. Yet I couldn't risk revealing our identities.

Ophelia's eyes glowed as she gazed upon the life of the city. I took hold of one of her hands closest to me and brought it to my lips. It was hard not to touch her.

She looked in my direction. A soft smile playing on her lips.

"Do you love city life?" I asked.

"I do. I love the noise of this city. To me, it is soothing."

Ophelia pointed in front of us. I saw a little family walking down the sidewalk, hand in hand. Suddenly, a strong feeling twisted my heart. It was a rush that had me inhaling fast. I wanted that. I wanted to have a child with Ophelia. I want to see her smile. I want to watch her happiness play over and over for me for centuries. It would be what would make my dark life livable. Ophelia sighed and talked about the city life around us. She could talk for days and I didn't need to say anything. It didn't really matter because I liked listening to her.

When we finally arrived at the restaurant, I parked the car before walking around to open Ophelia's door. She stepped out and slipped her arms through my arm. She leaned her head against my shoulder as I led her inside.

Something was happening to me. I've fallen so deep, I don't think I'll ever find my way out. Ophelia got me so far wrapped around her finger that I never want her to unwrap me.

The hostess welcomed us before asking for our reservation. Once I gave them the information, they led us into a private room. It was one I booked specifically for us. A dome room with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. In the middle of the dome was a table set for both of us.

I led her to the nearest chair before pulling it to sit. I sat across from her. The server poured us wine before putting it on the table for us. I had already pre-ordered all the dishes, and they were already being wheeled into the room.

"Wow, I don't think I have ever eaten at a place this fancy in all the years I lived outside of my crystal."

"I'm curious about your previous owners." I leaned forward. I had no interest in wine or food. They were all for Ophelia.

"There isn't much to tell." She shrugged her shoulders and reached for her wine.

"Still, how was life before me?"

Ophelia sighed and sat her glass down on the table.

"My previous owners were assholes and a bunch of humans. They didn't like my presence and were pretty much afraid of me. Many of them tried casting me out with shamans and priests. They thought I was an unrested soul that needed to find my peace in the world before moving on."

Ophelia picked up her fork and poked at the steamed carrot on the plate in front of her.

"I remember little. All I remembered was the nights that I was out of the crystal. Sometimes, I'll spend them alone in a basement, or in an empty storage room. I even spent some time in a museum once."

I imagined her in a dark room and realized that she must have felt scared or lonely. Being stuck in a crystal for so long and then coming out only to be alone again. I recalled how I reacted to our first night. I stuck her into the dungeon. I remembered how she begged me not to let her go down there.

I got up from my spot and walked around the table. She looked at me, surprised, as I lifted her up from her seat and then sat down on the chair before putting her on my lap.

"What are you doing?" she asked with a confused face.

I cupped the back of her neck and brought her forehead down to mine.

"I'm sorry for throwing you into the dungeon."

"Oh, that. I'm fine, Atlas."

I captured her lips quickly for a kiss before pulling back.

"You must have been scared."

Her eyes gaze into mine and for the first time, I saw vulnerability flicker in her irises. Ophelia pulled in her bottom lip to bite.

"It's all in the past."

"I should have found you sooner. You wouldn't have been lonely this long if I did."

Ophelia grinned before moving in to pinch one side of my cheek.

"You wouldn't have been able to find me since I am way older than you, Dracula. With you being able to find me in your hundred years, that's lucky enough for me."

I moved to bite her hand, and she yanked it back.

"Eat, Ophelia."

She turned in her lap and stabbed a piece of steak before putting it into her mouth to chew. She chewed it slowly. It felt like she didn't want to swallow, but forced herself to swallow.

"Not good?" I asked.

"No, it's good."

I raised an eyebrow. "I haven't eaten steak at all in my life. So, I can't tell if you are trying to convince me or yourself."

Ophelia giggled before shoving me. She got up from my lap and grabbed her glass of wine. I watched her walk to the opposite side of the room. She stood by a window and gazed out the window at the city streets. I followed closely behind.

"Thank you for bringing me here."

I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her into my chest. She settled in nicely.

We spent the next hour eating and chatting until it looked like Ophelia couldn't keep her eyes open. She ate very little tonight. I urged her to eat more, but I didn't want to force her to.

When we got into the car and I drove us back home, she fell asleep immediately again. I didn't wake her when we arrived home. I carried her all the way upstairs and to bed.

As soon as I tucked her in, I heard a knock at the bedroom door. I opened the door to see Silas on the other side of it. I've never been happier to see him.

I pulled him into a hug and patted his back.

"I'm glad you're safe."

Silas glanced behind me at Ophelia, who was sleeping on the bed before taking hold of my shoulder. He pulled me out of the bedroom and closed the door.

"What did you find out?" I asked.

"Not here."

I followed Silas into a private study room. As soon as he closed the door behind him, his expression changed.

"Ophelia was telling the truth about her past. She offered herself to the coven in replacement for her sister, Freya Mcquoid. From there, she entered witch trials to unlock her powers. It was hard to find more information about her since she is far older than you and I and few people live that long."

"What else did you find out?" I knew there was more. He didn't just pull me out to tell me what I already knew.

"Ophelia's sister is still alive, and she's nothing like Ophelia."