Twilight's Embrace

Chapter 15

As Amara wandered around the rose garden that night after school, she couldn't help but replay the events that occurred over and over in her mind. The fear she felt when she was cornered by Ayato and Kanato, the relief when Subaru had come to her rescue. Something about the way he had looked at her, the way he had promised to protect her, made her feel safe.

She sighed, plucking a rose from its stem and twisting it between her fingers. She knew she needed to thank Subaru properly, but she wasn't sure how to go about it. She didn't want to seem weak or needy, but she also wanted him to know how grateful she was.

Suddenly, an idea came to her. Maybe she could offer Subaru her blood as a way to thank him? It was a risky move, she knew, but something told her it was the right thing to do.

With her mind made up, Amara gently smelled the rose in her hand, the fragrance making her smile. She put the flower behind her ear, and turned back to the mansion, determined to look for Subaru.

As Amara made her way back into the mansion, she couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. She wasn't sure where Subaru would be, or how he would react to her offer. But she was determined to find him, no matter what.

She wandered through the halls, her footsteps echoing off the high ceilings. She tried to remember if Subaru had mentioned any favorite spots in the mansion, but came up empty.

After she looked everywhere inside, she also searched outside, but couldn't find him anywhere. By the time she decided to give up the search, it was already an hour before sunrise. Luckily they don't have school the following night, so it's not a big deal that she stayed up so late. She went back inside and went to take a bath before bed.

The warm water of the bath soothed her tired muscles, and she closed her eyes, letting her mind wander. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that she hadn't been able to find Subaru, but she knew she could try again tomorrow night.

As she soaked in the tub, she suddenly heard a soft knock on the door. Startled, she sat up, water sloshing around her. "Who is it?" she called out, her voice trembling slightly.

"It's me," came the reply, muffled by the door.

Amara's heart skipped a beat. Subaru had found her, after all. "Come in," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. The door opened slowly, and Subaru stepped into the steamy bathroom. His eyes immediately landed on Amara, who was sitting in the tub with her arms crossed over her chest.

Subaru's eyes immediately averted from Amara's form, a deep blush creeping up his cheeks. "I-I heard you were looking for me," he stammered, almost tripping over his own tongue. "S-so, I wanted to m-make sure you were okay."

Amara bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. She wanted to tell him about her offer, but now that he was here, standing so close, she felt tongue-tied. On top of that, it was very clear that he was uncomfortable by the fact that Amara was naked, so maybe right now wasn't the right time.

"U-uhm, Subaru-kun?" she asked him, her voice soft and somewhat shy. "Could you maybe wait for me in my room? I...I want to tell you something."

Subaru nodded, still avoiding her gaze. "O-okay," he stuttered. "I'll, uh, I'll be in your room then. See ya." Without another word, he turned and left the bathroom, the door closing softly behind him.

Amara let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She was grateful for the reprieve, but she knew she couldn't put off the conversation forever. Quickly, she finished her bath, slipped into a clean pair of comfortable and fashionable panties, and wrapped herself in a fluffy towel, her heart racing as she made her way back to her room. When she opened the door, she found Subaru sitting on the edge of her bed, his hands clasped tightly in his lap.