We are monsters

Blood

Wren shook his head and shushed her, something dancing in his eyes that she couldn't quite figure out, but suddenly when his hand brushed against her cheek something in her stomach flipped.

He hadn't expected to be so bold himself but it almost seemed like he couldn't control his actions, silently he was leaning closer to her face and just as their noses brushed each other, he gained his voice back which was hoarse.

"May I?"

Blair had a feeling she knew what he was asking and part of her was hesitant, not even a few hours ago she had expressed that she wasn't ready for the relationship to develop so fast and that her heart was frozen. Yet, against all odds, her chest felt a familiar rhythm starting up and her voice despite being quiet was clear.

"Yes."

It was equally gentle as passionate, their lips meeting was like a warm bath after being in the rain. Perhaps from the outside, it would seem rather macabre for them to kiss surrounded by petals that were a threat and the body of a snake that meant harm, even more, that he was kissing her after just feeding.

But to them, it felt like time was too fast and not fast enough at the same time, slowly they pulled apart for Wren to catch his breath both their faces burning brightly.

"That was..."

Wren couldn't find the words, her lips were addictive and he instantly wanted to dive back into them but held back not wanting to push his luck or hurt Blair, he just kept his hand on her cheek stroking it with his thumb.

"Did you...not like it?"

He was going to protest loudly but instead stopped himself and spoke softer, moving his hand and rubbing his finger against her bottom lip.

"I don't want to rush you or upset you, I liked it very much."

"Thank you...I liked it too."

For a moment they sat and gazed at each other, perhaps both wanting to lean in once more but Wren got up and grabbed the petals and snake, clearing his throat.

"I'm gonna run to Alrick and show him this, wait for me?"

Blair didn't hesitate.

"Of course."

It seemed like forever till Wren returned with news from Alrick and it seemed that they would have to discuss what happened in depth in the morning, both of them were exhausted by now and quickly laid down beside each other with the small divider between them but as the silence between them grew Blair suddenly hummed,

"Wren? Do you think, perhaps...we could remove the divider?"

His head lifted slightly.

"Are you okay with that? I don't want to make you uncomfortable..."

Although he couldn't see her nod he felt it against the pillows and slowly pulled the divider away, prepared at any moment to return it if she changed her mind but Blair didn't, now lying facing each other both of them silently admired the other.

Wren lost himself in her intense gaze, almost drowning from the intensity. Blair however was trying hard to remove all thoughts and feelings of their kiss but with his face so close she found it almost impossible, she couldn't let go of it.

"This...arrangement between our families...maybe it's better than we both thought?"

And just like that the spell was broken, Blair immediately remembered what Alrick had mentioned earlier and lowered her eyes while her cheeks flushed.

"Wren...the marriage, the ceremony more specifically...vampires have a-"

Suddenly her face was pressed into his chest, his hand stroking her hair as Wren desperately tried to stop her from continuing her sentence. True he didn't understand all the complexities of vampires and everything that it involved, Blair was probably about to explain something important about a tradition they have that may or may not make them both uncomfortable and have to address sooner rather than later but he didn't want to hear it.

The magic that they felt less than a moment ago was what he wanted, no, craved. Since seeing Blair he felt conflicted emotions, she was gorgeous compared to all the beauty of the world then when he got to know her better the kindness and openness were what made her shine to him.

"Wren?"

He hummed just wanting to feel it for a bit longer, the feeling that fluttered from his chest when he was close to her.

"Yes?"

Despite calling for him and going to speak no words left her lips, instead after opening and closing her mouth for a minute Blair resigned from continuing and relaxed into his arms.

Wren was warm and it started to soothe her nerves, one moment her eyes were open and the next they fluttered and she fell into a deep sleep. Which when he noticed he thought about moving away to give her space not wanting to make her uncomfortable or anything even though it pained to even think about letting her go, but even when he started to slide back her grip on his chest stopped him.

It wasn't until he glanced down at her face when trying to move that Wren saw her eyebrows crinkled only smoothing out once more when holding her closely again.

A smile played on his lips as he softly kissed the top of her head, closing his own eyes and whispering against her hair,

"Sweet dreams, my raven bride."