Crimson Bonds

Warmth

The room is quiet now, save for the soft hum of the world outside, muffled by the thick motel walls. My body feels light, like I'm floating just below the surface of consciousness, caught between exhaustion and the strange, burning heat that lingers from their touch.

Dante's arms around me feel strong, protective, and for once, I don't fight the comfort. I don't fight the security of being held by him, cradled so close I can hear the steady thrum of his heartbeat under my ear. His presence grounds me in a way that feels unsettling yet soothing at the same time. I can't explain it—this feeling that everything has shifted, not just in the room, but inside me. I should be afraid of it, but instead, I feel oddly safe.

As I try to steady my breath, the burning from their bites lingers, leaving a warmth that spreads through my limbs, sinking deeper into my core. I can still feel Nikolai's grin hovering in the room, though he's quiet now, reclining across from us as if waiting for something interesting to happen. Lila, ever watchful, sits by the window, scanning the parking lot. Her expression is calm but alert, as though she's tuned into something I can't sense.

My body feels too alive, too aware. Every brush of Dante's fingers against my skin sends a jolt through me, like the warmth of their healing has left my nerves exposed. It's not painful—it's more like I'm hyper-aware of the connection between us. Between all of us. Something primal, something deeper than I can rationalize, keeps tugging at the edge of my thoughts.

Dante shifts slightly, pulling me closer, his hands resting gently on my waist. His voice rumbles in my ear, soft but firm. "You're still shaking," he observes, his tone lined with concern.

I nod, though I'm not sure if the trembling is from exhaustion, the aftereffects of their feeding, or something else entirely. "I feel... strange," I admit, my voice barely more than a whisper.

"It's natural," Dante reassures me. "The feeding heightens your senses, especially when you've been exposed to it for the first time like this. It will pass."

Nikolai smirks from his spot across the room. "You sure about that, Dante? She seems like she's getting used to it already."

I shoot him a half-hearted glare, but I can't muster the energy to respond. Nikolai's teasing feels different now—less irritating, more like part of this new dynamic that's forming around me. Like it's his way of pulling me into their world, piece by piece.

Lila glances over her shoulder, her gaze softening as she looks at me. "You're handling it better than most humans would," she says gently. "But you need rest. Your body needs time to adjust."

I take a slow, deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering heat that coils in my chest. "I don't know if I can sleep," I admit, my voice barely audible. The truth is, I'm not sure what's keeping me awake—fear of what comes next, or the fact that I feel so connected to them in ways I didn't expect. "It's like... everything is buzzing."

Dante's grip tightens around me, just a fraction, as if to remind me that I'm not alone in this. "Let yourself rest, Olivia. We'll keep watch."

I let out a small, tired laugh. "You keep saying that," I murmur, "but I can't shake this... this feeling."

Dante doesn't respond immediately. Instead, he shifts his body, settling me more comfortably in his lap, his arms a solid weight around me. The rhythm of his breathing is steady, a stark contrast to the chaos in my mind. "You're safe," he says softly, and for some reason, the simple assurance feels like a promise, one I want to believe.

The heat swirling inside me begins to ebb, but it leaves something behind—something unspoken between the four of us. A connection that wasn't there before, or maybe one that's always been there, just waiting for this moment to surface.

I close my eyes, the warmth of Dante's body against mine a stark contrast to the coolness of the room. My head is spinning with questions, but for now, I let them fade into the background. The exhaustion is pulling me under, and despite the strange tension still humming in the room, I know I'm not in danger.

Not from them, at least.

With a small sigh, I let my body relax fully into Dante's hold, trusting him to keep me anchored. The steady beat of his heart beneath my cheek becomes a lullaby, pulling me deeper into the haze of sleep. I can feel the weight of Lila's gaze, hear the quiet hum of Nikolai's breath, and for the first time, I'm not afraid of what any of it means.

As sleep overtakes me, one final thought flickers in my mind—a realization that whatever happens next, I'm no longer on the outside of their world. I'm part of it now. Bound to them in ways I don't yet understand.

And as unsettling as that is, I can't help but feel... safe.

For the first time since this all began, I fall asleep knowing I won't have to face what's coming alone.