OffSpring | ✎

Chapter LXXIII

Chapter Seventy-Three | The Meeting
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Delano allowed me to take the lead as we ventured deeper through the north wing of the manor. The further we walked, the more useless my senses became to the familiar noise of bustling bodies that accompanied the main hall's atmosphere. It seemed that Delano designated a location far from the wandering ears of the castle's inhabitants for this particular occasion.

My heels clicked with the rhythm of my footfalls as the carpeted floors bled into wood. His gaze burns a trail down my back, the sensation of it scorching a trail to the confinements of my heart; putting me into a slight daze. The hallway soon splits into two directions and Delano advances over me silently, fluently claiming the lead before I can react to the sudden change.

I haven't been this far back on this side of the wing before, it was only reasonable he did as such, though I made it a mission to explore every crevice of this castle I was to call home for my children and me.

He steered our path to the right-hand side, where two wooden doors stood tall at the end of the hall. The dark oak of the doors blended with the red single carpet that stretched beyond its entrance and sashayed with the dark oak walls and red fabricated curtains. They rose high with the floor-to-ceiling windows, the claret red bleeding in waves.

The hues of light illuminated the hallway in an ambiance that tickled my flesh as we walked alongside the decorative pieces of sculptures and greenery that complimented the tone of the hall.

Our small journey slowly ends as the doors grow in size at our approach until we're soon standing completely before its entrance. The distinct noise of voices from beyond its structure flutters through my ears. My steps come to a halt beside Delano's frame and his scent sweeps over me, calming whatever spec of anxiety that wished to strike at the reins of my control.

Nonetheless, it didn't seem to be enough to hold my conscious from acknowledging the pressing weight of standing before other vampires– other Purebloods at that. The thought alone crushes the remaining air in my lungs: leaving me breathless in my state of apprehensiveness. In that bleak moment, I shut my eyes, drawing a long and slow breath to ground myself and grant my mind a second to run noiselessly. Maybe it was the distance there was between the twins and me that had my state of indifference teetering.

I wanted nothing more than to run away with the anxiety and fear that dared try to breach the veil of my conscious and clutch them within my embrace; carrying out the duty of protecting them.

Rough fingers grasp the side of my face with a tenderness that causes my eyes to shoot open, not realizing they have been shut longer than I intended. Those deep blue waves thrash wildly in the depths of his irises, accessing my features, concern etched within his eyebrows. The sense of clarity that I've desperately been searching for washes over me the moment we lock gazes.

"Are you still sure about this?" Delano offered in a soft mumble. His hand was a warm reminder of our closeness.

My eyes flicker between his, making no move to accept or remove his palm. I sigh, "There's no concealing that I'm a bit uneasy. I'm more frightened at the mere fact than I was at your induction ceremony. To be standing before other Vampires," I ramble truthfully, swiping my hands over one another to rid of the dampness that gathered.

"Purebloods for that matter. What if—"

His palm shifts to grip my chin with his thumb and forefinger, tilting my head up enough for me to peer at him through my lashes. The remainder of my sentence grew quiet on the tip of my tongue with a slight change in movement.

Vibrant shock of tingles tease their way up my veins the longer he touches me, they settle within my bones in a delicious chill that crawls over my shoulders, sending me spiraling in the wake of my unconcealed desire— distracting me from my preexisting thoughts.