Married To The Mad Vampire Lord

Their journey back to Nightbrook took a bit longer than Belle had thought it would, despite how fast Rohan flew, at a speed that made breathing in the horizon hard and harsh. The wind beat so fiercely against her face that she couldn't breathe, and even though she tried to hide her face, it was impossible to take a soothing breath this high up.

As if sensing her discomfort, he would stop on top of any mountain or tall tree to allow her to breathe, and then he would resume. Only, whenever he resumed, he flew lower than before to help her breathe more easily. They hadn't spoken since the journey began, and she doubted she would even hear him through the howling wind in her ears.

Just like her, she could tell Angel was uncomfortable too, as he kept whimpering softly. Because of that, Rohan had to slow his movement and fly even lower, staying just above the trees, sometimes almost touching the ground.

Belle wanted to admire the scenery, but she dared not move recklessly for fear of being thrown off. Not that she thought Rohan would let her fall, but with him carrying two people up in the sky, she didn't want to risk causing an accident. So she kept her head buried, tucked against him and her son, who at some point began to move restlessly, as if he wanted to push up from the sling he was secured in to look around.

She thought she heard Rohan warning him a few times to stay still, and while he seemed to listen, he didn't stop his soft whimpering.

It seemed the cottage had been nestled far deeper away from civilization than she had thought. Or perhaps Rohan was flying in a direction that deliberately avoided towns and people, especially since he had to fly low so they could breathe. Either way, she didn't think they had passed anywhere that resembled a town, or even a place where people lived.

The sun had started to set, but soon the sky gave way to night, filled with winking stars and a soft crescent moon. She couldn't help but admire the beauty of the night sky. She couldn't look below, but she could look up. The twinkling stars reminded her of how Rohan's and Angel's eyes shimmered when they caught the light, it always reminded her of a night sky scattered with stars. The thought made her smile, despite her exhaustion and her eagerness for the journey to end.

It was a complete miracle that she didn't pass out from discomfort by the time she finally sensed the thick air of Nightbrook and saw the gloomy sky, where neither stars nor moon were in sight. Drizzling rain fell, hitting her face and soaking them.

She couldn't help but wonder, if she was this exhausted, how must the man carrying them feel? But if Rohan was tired, he made no indication of it. He held her firm and strong and moved just the same as he had for the past several hours.

She could barely feel any of her limbs.

At first, she had been too emotional to think, but hours into the journey, her head had cleared enough for her to start wishing it would end, for them to reach the castle, even though she wasn't looking forward to living there again.

Then, finally, she felt him descending toward the castle grounds.

It was already well into the night. And along with the sound of rain patting and falling, Angel's cries of discomfort filled the air as Rohan landed steadily on the ground.

Rav and Gwen could be seen standing at the front door. They held lamps and umbrellas, as if they had been waiting for them, to welcome them back.

As Rohan gently lowered Belle to her feet, he called out to Rav through their mind link, who still stood in place with Gwen, not having noticed them yet in the darkness. He ordered him to get towels, as Belle had started shivering from the cold rain that had soaked her to the skin.

She almost swayed, but Rohan wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her.

"You all right, love?" he whispered softly, knowing, of course, that she wasn't. Not after being in the rain for so many hours. He didn't feel the cold, but he knew her body was different from his.

Belle nodded. "Yes," she assured him quickly, then turned to get their son, who was crying and clearly uncomfortable, from his father's arms.

Rohan pulled him out from the sling, and Angel looked around them with cautious eyes before reaching for Belle. The moment he noticed Rav and Gwen approaching from the front steps with lamps, umbrellas, and towels in hand, he clung tightly to her neck and began to whimper softly, a clear sign he was about to cry again.

Just like the baby, Belle was so exhausted she could barely wait to go inside and get out of the cold. Her legs felt like they no longer belonged to her. They were received by Rav and Gwen, who bowed while welcoming them.

She couldn't believe she was back here after months of being away, and though she wanted to survey the grounds, the rain and the darkness of night did not allow that.

Clutching Angel to her chest, she felt Rohan wrap them both in a warm towel before ushering her toward the entrance, his arm still possessively around her waist.

The moment the front door opened with a creak, and they were enveloped in the warm, familiar interior of the castle, Angel began to hiccup, a cry rising in his throat. Belle's first thought was to take him inside quickly and get him out of the drenched clothes that must be causing him discomfort, before those cries turned loud and alarming.

"Welcome back, Lady Dagon," Evenly greeted softly as they stepped through the door. She had been standing quietly by the side, waiting to receive them.

Nonetheless, Angel's fussing and his attempts to wriggle free from her arms made it difficult for Belle to properly respond to Evenly's greeting. Still, she managed a small smile and offered a few polite words of acknowledgment to the vampiress, who was as warm toward her as she remembered before the hunt, looking more like herself, as though what had happened in Bimmerville had never truly occurred.

But the moment she noticed Rohan walk in, after removing his wet coat by the door to hand to Rav, the warmth in her expression faded. Evenly quickly stepped back, her gaze shifting warily toward him as though the devil himself had just walked in through the door. Her already pale complexion seemed to grow even paler.