Persephone

13. Explain

Alistair pulled his incisors back into his mouth, unlatching himself from the unconscious girl below him. Moving to see her face, he sighed. He had taken too much.

But he couldn't help himself, her blood just tasted too good.

He knew what he was about to do next would probably not go over well with her, but it was the only way to ensure she would become completely health again.

Holding his wrist up to one of his teeth, he slit it just over a vein, moving it over her slightly opened mouth before the wound could heal, allowing a few drop of blood to move past her lips.

Being what he was, his blood was healing, a few drops of his blood, especially after feeding, would help a human heal faster than normal. His red blood cells would work quickly to replenish hers, dying out before they could do any actual harm to her. By the time she woke up the next morning she would feel fine. Better than fine, the effects of his blood still remaining in place.

Trailing his fingers down the side of her face, he brought his lips to her forehead. Alistair moved off of Persephone, before lifting her up into his arms. Stepping from the bed he moved to the nearby dresser. Earlier that day he had had the maid stock his room with her clothing since she would not be leaving his side. He removed a cream colored nightgown, much like the one Persephone had woken up in, from one of the top drawers, the waiting of the now fragile girl shifted to one arm.

Slowly he moved to a chair, setting down the nightgown before moving his freehand to her hair, gently pulling pin after pin out, leaving the wavy brown locks to fall past her shoulders. He rested her feet on the floor, supporting her waist so he could more easily access her.

Carefully, he unzipped the back of her dress, slipping it from her body. He trained his eyes on her face, not looking at what his hands were doing. Alistair knew if he looked he would not be able to help himself, so instead he focused on her dark eyelashes resting just above her pale cheeks.

Color was beginning to return to her face as he allowed the elegant blue dress fall to his feet. Leaning down, he pressed a chaste kiss to her cheekbone, retrieving the night gown from the chair. He easily slipped it over her head, moving her arms though the half length sleeves.

Once she was fully clothed again, Alistair lifted her back up into his arms and brought her back to his bed, tucking her in. Moving to his side, he unbuttoned his dress pants, sliding them down his legs, and climbed in beside her. Wrapping an arm back around her waist, he gently pulled her to his chest, allowing himself to revel in the feel of her skin against his.

He closed his eyes, falling asleep to the different ways he could explain this to her tomorrow.

~~~~

The fresh blood within his old body felt amazing. It heightened his senses and abilities. In this was he was awoken as soon as Persephone's breathing sped up.

Alistair buried his face in the waves of her hair, tightening his arm around her waist, holding her against his bare chest.

"Shh, hush, it's alright, my love," he murmured into her hair, slowly tracing circles in the soft flesh of her stomach through her nightgown. He allowed some of his compulsion, only the tiniest bit, to wash over her, "Calm down, my love."

Guilt sunk into his veins as she visibly relaxed in his arms, against her will. He had not wanted to come down to this but he had to. At the rate her breathing was picking up, she would have hyperventilated in a few minutes. And he could not have that.

Alistair shifted so Persephone may lay on her back, immediately she turned her head towards him, her face inches from his, concern written in her eyebrows. He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, pressing his lips to her forehead. Her doe eyes widened but she remains calm.

"I do apologize for last night, my dear," he waited for a response but when she only lay in his arms looking at him, he sighed, "I usually can contain myself," this was met with a snort and an eye roll. Alistair ignored it, "However, you are just too tempting. I will not punish you for your," he paused, taking a deep breath, containing his rising anger, "aberration. I believe what I did last night makes up for it. For now," his gaze turned hard now, "In the future, if you put a single toe out of line, I will not hesitate to punish you severely. Am I understood?"

Meekly, Persephone nodded, scared of what that meant. Scared of why she was eerily calm, and scared most of the man in front of her.

"Good," he pulled her back to his chest, this time, her front against his bare torso, tucking her head under his chin, "I do believe I have some explaining to do from last night."

A/n: sorry for the kinda short chapter but I figured I'd update before I leave for camp. Meaning I may not update for the next two weeks while at camp, sorry!!!

I'll try to make the next chapter longer.