Married To The Mad Vampire Lord

Thankfully, it wasn't raining today, which would help their journey for a while before the inevitable showers began, for in Nightbrook, hardly a day went by without the sky leaking rain.

Outside the castle, two royal carriages with golden designs stood parked at the bottom of the steps. Evenly, holding Angel in her arms, stood before one of them, while Rav was already there, positioned by the open door, looking decidedly unexcited and hard faced. He would not be acting as coachman for either carriage, as Rohan had provided men for that task. Instead, Rav was to ride inside with her, like a nobleman accompanying his wife.

He was dressed like a nobleman too. His shoulder-length hair had been trimmed and smoothed back neatly against his head, accentuating his high cheekbones and chiseled face, which was pale but unexpectedly more handsome than she remembered. His brown coat, fastened with gold buttons, gave the impression that he had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, at least to those who didn't know he was a man of lower social status. His expressionless face completed the illusion.

When Evenly came down with Angel, he barely acknowledged her, just gave a curt nod before looking away. She didn't mind in the slightest; she could live without speaking to him. Since the moment she had shouted for him to leave her room yesterday, she hadn't set eyes on him until now, as he had avoided her even while she had spent the evening in the kitchen with Belle and Gwen.

From what she had noticed, the man seemed to have a problem with children and didn't like them at all, for he kept avoiding Angel as well. The baby had smiled at him just now, but he had looked away, ignoring the adorable little grin and the waving of chubby hands that so clearly seemed to say he wanted to be carried by the man.

When Rav looked away, Angel's smile had fallen, and he had turned to Evenly with a sad look.

The more Rav avoided the baby, the more Evenly found herself disliking him. She had no idea how she was supposed to sit in the same carriage with him for such a long journey, but she told herself she would endure it. She had brought many books to read, which would help her pass the time, distract her mind, and let her pretend she was riding alone. Did he think she cared one bit whether he spoke to her or not? Let him rot in silence.

Not long after, Evenly noticed Rohan and Belle walking hand in hand down the steps, whispering to each other and smiling. Against her will, she felt a sharp tug of envy in her heart. If it weren't for how much these two clearly loved each other, and showed it even when others were present, Evenly might have believed there was no such thing as true love after what she had endured with her husband.

Some people were simply not born to have a soulmate, and she considered herself one of them, for she would never again allow herself to be hurt by a man.

Evenly managed a smile as Angel began to practically bounce in her arms upon spotting his parents coming down, both looking breathtakingly beautiful. The moment they reached the bottom of the steps, the baby leapt toward his father. If Rohan hadn't moved with his vampire speed, Evenly feared Angel would have hit the ground and hurt himself.

"How many times have I warned you about jumping like that, Max?" Rohan scolded gently, though his eyes were soft as he held his giggling son close, ruffling his hair.

Belle stepped toward Evenly while Rohan moved to exchange a few words with Rav, who stood gloomily to the side.

"You look lovely, Evenly," Belle complimented, taking in the black dress her friend wore, paired with her red hair falling in waves beneath a wide-brimmed hat. Even without makeup, she looked gorgeous and very girlish, even though Belle had discovered the lady was a few years older than she was.

"Oh, you flatter me so much, Lady Dagon. You look beautiful yourself," Evenly replied, blushing as they exchanged smiles.

"Is Aragonia a sunny land?" Evenly asked curiously, adjusting the hat on her head. She had brought several more hats, knowing her vampire skin could no longer tolerate the sun.

"Not always. It can get sunny sometimes, but most of the time it's cloudy, just like Nightbrook. But I would still suggest you keep your hat close at hand," Belle said, beaming at the thought of her homeland and the few people she missed there. Her excitement was so obvious that Evenly noticed it immediately.

"We'd better get going before we delay your reunion with your family any longer. I can tell you can't wait," Evenly remarked, not knowing the show of excitement was only a mask to hide the anxiety eating at her from within. If only Evenly knew how Belle's stomach turned queasy at the uncertain thoughts of what might await her there, she would not have suggested they hurry. Belle was nervous as ever but hid it well.

She was still spacing out when Evenly's voice cut through her thoughts, asking, "Are you riding with Angel?"

"Yes. Once we are almost there, you can have him in your carriage," Belle said, and Evenly smiled and took off her hat before she got into the carriage she would be sharing with Rav.

Soon, Rohan helped his wife and son into their own carriage. The interior was different and more advanced than the one they had ridden in on their wedding day. This one was larger, with softer seats and cushions, and more leg space.

Once they settled into it, with Rohan holding Angel on his lap, Belle took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly as the carriage began to move. Just like when they had been coming to Nightbrook after their wedding, no guards or soldiers escorted them, as it was believed Rohan was capable of handling any road mischiefs on his own.

Belle looked out the half-open window, staring at the scenery they passed to keep her mind from overthinking, while she listened to Angel and Rohan, who was feeding him blood. The wind that blew against her face was cold; it carried the scent of wet grass and soil. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, wishing with everything in her heart that her family would welcome her with open arms this time around.

If that happened, the possibility of being in any kind of trouble would be slim. But if they turned out not to have changed, if they would push her into danger without the slightest regard for her safety, then it would be hard for them, and they would have to walk on a very thin thread.

The carriage moved steadily away from the castle and out onto the open road, where Grimvale's dense trees loomed darkly on either side.

Silently, Rohan gripped his wife's hand where it rested on his thigh as he noticed how quiet she was and how troubled she looked, staring like that out the window. Wordlessly, she tightened her hold on his, then looked away from the window to turn to him with a smile.

"What are you thinking?" he asked softly, his eyes meeting her hazel ones.

"I don't think I can name just one particular thought," she mused with a small laugh. "Too many things are running through my mind, yet I can't seem to pin any of them down. But…" Her lips curved a little more. "I think I know one now."

"Tell me about it then," Rohan probed gently, intertwining their gloved fingers together.

"I remember our journey from Aragonia a year ago, after our wedding," she began. "Back then, I was so afraid of being in the same carriage with you that I couldn't even sit back and relax. I was so tired and sleepy, but I feared that if I closed my eyes for even a moment, you would suck my blood dry and get rid of me." She smiled as she said it, the memory so distant now it almost felt like it had happened a decade ago, such a vast contrast to what she felt now.

If anyone had told her then that she would grow so used to this man that nothing he did could frighten her anymore, she would have laughed in their face.

Rohan chuckled under his breath. "And I remember how adorably naïve you were. You jumped at every little movement I made. I knew you were afraid of me then, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I liked your fear. It was… amusing. Especially when I lied to you about a rogue hanging on the window and you leapt straight into my arms, trembling. Tsk, tsk."

Belle turned to him in utter disbelief. "It was a lie? There was no rogue hanging on the window?" she gasped, appalled. She had completely believed him, that there had been some rogue clinging to the carriage, ready to attack.

Now that she knew him better, she realized he had done it purely for his own wicked amusement.

Rohan's laugh was low at first, but when he saw the shocked look on her face, it deepened into warm, unrestrained mirth. Belle's hand balled into a small fist, and she thumped his arm. "You're devious! Do you have any idea how terrified I was?! I won't believe you again if you tell me there's a rogue!"

Her glare only made him laugh harder, his shoulders shaking, the sound deep and rich in his chest. It reverberated between them in the small space of the carriage, wrapping around her like a warm echo.

Belle bit the inside of her cheek to stop her own smile, but his laughter was too infectious. Her lips trembled, and before she could hold it in any longer, a laugh escaped her. "You are unbearable!" she said, swatting his arm again.

Now both of them were laughing, her at the memory of her own wide-eyed fear, and him at how easy it had been to frighten her back then.

Not knowing why they were laughing, their son also joined in the fun, laughing and hitting at his father just like Belle had done a moment ago.

"You little rascal, hitting your papa." Rohan roared with unsuppressed laughter at his son's playful hit.