DANIEL

Daniel was unsure what clouded his mind more, whether it was Damien's potion or the handsome witch rifling through Daniel's kitchen cupboards. The moment they stepped into the kitchen, Blake sent the kitchen staff away, promising he'd finish their work in-exchange for some privacy. No one pried or asked why. They happily said goodnight, leaving the boys alone.

With more authority than Daniel had ever seen, Blake directed Daniel to sit and do nothing. Daniel complied, hopping up on the kitchen island while Blake whispered sweet incantations to the mop, the broom, the sponges and rags so they'd get to work. The kitchen worked on its own as all the cleaning supplies bobbed and glided through the air to complete their chores. The magic pulled Daniel back to his childhood as he imagined himself in a fairytale.

Now and then, like when the rags finished drying a plate, its edges would spark incandescent light. Sometimes when the broom caught the edge of a cabinet, a small firework would whizz across the stone floor. It smelled like a crackling fire, and the light kissed his skin with warmth.

It was beautiful... but Daniel couldn't look away from Blake. Blake who furrowed his brow as he grumbled and grabbed what appeared to be nothing but random spices and oils to Daniel, but Blake used great purpose to crush it all into a mortar and pestle. Blissfully, Daniel watched from the kitchen island. Everything had changed when Blake returned.

It all reminded Daniel to never make Blake mad.

Blake must've cast over a thousand curses on his brother by now.

Unable to help himself, Daniel chuckled. Blake's glare snapped up from underneath his heavy brow. "You seem thrilled for someone who told our entire family that you sucked my blood."

Shaking his head, Daniel explained with a smile glued to his lips, "I don't care what anyone else thinks. I'm happy because you're taking care of me. It makes me wish to be babied by you forever."

Blake shut his eyes and stood straight up, taking a deep breath. "Danny."

"I love it when you say my name like that."

Daniel used a bit of his own magic and enchanted Blake's skin to stain red, a stain that flooded his ears and neck and reminded Daniel of rich wine. It just made it harder for Daniel to stop grinning, but Blake whirled around, turning away from him. Daniel's eyes lingered on the unruly curls on the back of his head, his slender neck and his curved shoulders.

"I wouldn't let anyone besides you call me Danny." Sliding off the counter, Daniel watched Blake stiffen as if reading Daniel's mind.

"You have to stop talking," Blake begged Daniel while his fingers spun over the glass, spinning the ingredients into a whirlpool until the clear liquid turned orange. Blake turned to say more, but the words caught inside his throat. Daniel stepped closer and closer, backing Blake into the counter. Behind Blake, his orange concoction continued to stir on its own.

"I won't." Daniel shook his head. "Because when I tell you this, I don't want you to question if I'm being sincere. I want you to know that when I say that I like you, you know I mean it, or when I say that I'm completely and pathetically smitten by you it's true and when I admit that when I saw you again for the first time that I thought you were the most beautiful creature I had ever laid eyes on, you know that it comes right from my heart."

Blake swallowed nervously. He drew in his lips, his eyes flitting to Daniel's. This close, Daniel heard Blake's heart thrumming like the trill of piano keys. Daniel loved this song.

"And..." Blake murmured. Maybe only a vampire could hear it. "And earlier? When you mentioned almost kissing me, did you mean it? Would you really have kissed me?"

Daniel smiled. Unable to help himself, Daniel brought his hands up to Blake's cheeks, extending his fingers to brush the curls by his ears. That potion did more than bewitch his lips, but it made an honest man out of Daniel's hands. Blake laid his hands on Daniel's waist, holding him in place. Daniel didn't move again. He had spent all evening being honest. Now, it was Blake's turn to make the next move. Taking a deep shuddering breath, Blake's eyes darted around Daniel's face until landing on his lips. A warmth pooled at the pit of Daniel's stomach.

Blake tilted his head, Daniel's hands moving through his hair and brushing his neck. He was so soft, no matter where Daniel touched. Blake rose on his toes and pressed a kiss to Daniel's lips. Everything came to life as if all the darkness in Daniel's life burned away, illuminated into crisp light like a ballroom of chandeliers igniting. Everything made sense and for the first time in a long time, Daniel understood what was going on, he knew what he was doing and things felt right. The kiss relieved him in a strange way, holding Blake inside his hands.

With his body humming, Daniel kissed Blake again, opening his mouth and letting himself devour the witch's lips. The bitterness of wine lingered in Blake's kiss and warmed Daniel's body as if he had drank the entire bottle himself as if he had laid in the sun for hours without burning as if he was a human man burned by the touch of his lover.

And yet, close wasn't close enough. Daniel hoisted Blake onto the counter and Blake responded by wrapping his arms around Daniel's neck, running his hand up the back of his head. Daniel wanted to crawl inside of Blake's body and huddle there for warmth. He ran his hands up Blake's thighs, making the witch squirm. He never wanted to let go.

Blake broke the kiss to catch his breath, resting his forehead on Daniel's shoulder with his hands still on Daniel's neck. Daniel kissed his head and rubbed his back as Blake trembled. "My entire life..." Blake said, his voice shaking. "I've never been able to make my own choices." He looked up, meeting Daniel's eyes. "But I'm making the choice to love you, to choose you."

"Thank you," Daniel said, never feeling more grateful in his entire life. "You won't regret it. I won't let you."

Blake smiled a little, his eyes shining with the promise of tears. Daniel held his face, pressing a kiss to Blake's forehead, his nose, his chin and then his lips. It was slow and soft as gentle as a silk gliding across his skin. Daniel wanted to treat Blake like that kiss, like something so precious.

"Drink the antidote," Blake whispered.

"In a second." Daniel hummed, dragging his nose down Blake's neck. He loved being so close to Blake's heartbeat. Blake held his breath as Daniel pecked his neck. It made Daniel chuckle.

Blake whacked his shoulder. "I mean it."

"Okay, okay..." Daniel lifted himself up with some effort, but he kept his hand on Blake's thigh. He didn't want to let go, to stop touching him for a moment now that he could. Blake slid his hand across his, interlocking their fingers together. Daniel rubbed his thumb along Blake's skin. He grabbed the orange drink and brought it to his lips.

"Make sure you drink it in one go," Blake instructed.

Daniel smirked. It was so easy for Blake to tell him what to do, and honestly, Daniel loved it. Just as instructed, Daniel threw his head back and chugged the potion. It tasted spicier than Daniel assumed, like a stronger apple cider vinegar infused with cinnamon, but as soon as the last drop fell into his stomach, the world pressed down on his body. He went slack, using Blake to keep standing. He let out a long, tired sigh.

"Time for bed," Blake whispered, patting Daniel's head. He slipped off the counter and put Daniel's arm around his shoulder, but Daniel used all of his strength to keep from having to lean into Blake and taking him down. They passed the dancing broom and mop on the way out. The dining room was silent and they were the only two people roaming the halls, other than the ghosts.

They didn't speak on the way to Daniel's room, but they didn't need words. Daniel caught Blake staring at him, which made Daniel smile and Blake blush. Blake bit down a smile, practically bubbling over with joy, and stared at the ground. Daniel continued to stare. If Daniel from when he was a kid saw himself now, he wouldn't believe it... but he would be jealous, Daniel thought.

Daniel opened his door but grabbed Blake's hand before he could escape. He pulled on Blake's arm and begged, "Come stay with me."

Blake smiled, but didn't take his hand back. "I can't."

"You can. Choose to stay with me," Daniel used Blake's words against him and Blake just nervously laughed and was flushed again.

"I can't. I have to make sure the kitchen goes to sleep too or they'll run rampant."

"Let them clean the entire castle. Sleep with me." He brought Blake's palm to his lips and rested his cheek there. "Please?"

Blake shook his head and grabbed Daniel's face. "I can't. I want to say goodnight to my parents and talk to Iggy, and I need to shower and clean my room after Damien destroyed it and—"

"What's wrong? Do you not want to go to sleep?" As Daniel asked it, he realized what was going on.

Blake took back his hand. "I'm worried that I'll have nightmares again."

Daniel used his door to help him lean forward and kiss Blake's cheek. "Then why don't you dream of me?"

Letting Blake go, Daniel watched the witch walk down the hallway. He glanced back as if he was being sneaky, but quickly looked forward again after meeting Daniel's eyes. It made Daniel laugh and yet; it sounded sadder than expected. Daniel wished they could be together longer. When Blake disappeared, something was out of place. There was a worry deep inside of him that he had lost something and he didn't know where to find it.

It didn't take long for Daniel to go to sleep, lulled by the magic of Blake's potion and his lips. His dreams were just as sweet, and Daniel prayed Blake could have the same. 

#

AUTHOR'S NOTE

It's been a minute, huh? Haha. I've been working on other projects, one being a Middle Grade, so I've been reading nothing but MG to be in that headspace. Which! Makes it so hard to write adult, haha. But I was so inspired today and just wanted to write Til Death. I've missed my boys! Hopefully another chapter really soon! 

Next chapter is a dream chapter ;) Get ready to see Henry again! 

We got a kiss!! Oh my gosh! We haven't had a kiss since Henry and Nicholas kissed chapter 12. I actually didn't even plan for them to kiss here, but sometimes my characters are like WE HAVE TO KISS RIGHT NOW OR WE'LL DIE. Lol. I think it was like that in Somewhere too. In Going Rogue Jess and Drew were together from the beginning so they just kissed whenever. Only in The Golden Rule they kissed according to plan. I just like writing kisses >.<

That was a kiss tangent. Lol. 

Let me know what you guys think! What did you think about the magic cleaning supplies? And what did you think about Blake and Daniel's confessions? And then, what did you think of the ending? Do you think Blake's will have nightmares or sweet dreams? 

If you like this book, check out my other books! I have 3 completed~