Quest for Love and Blood

Chapter 16: Him

IVY'S POV

“Then get used to it, Luna.”

Those words did something to me.

Not because of the title—but because of the way he said it. Like it wasn’t about power. Or dominance. Or even destiny.

It was about *us*.

Me. Him.

What we already were, even if the rest of the world hadn’t caught up.

I rested my forehead against his. “Say it again.”

His hands slid up my back, slow and reverent. “You’re mine, Ivy Quinn.”

I grinned. “You skipped the Luna part.”

His mouth brushed my jaw. “I’ll whisper it later.”

“You’re impossible.”

“You climbed into my lap.”

I pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes. “Yeah… because you were being an emotionally repressed Alpha Vamp.”

He chuckled—low, deep, unguarded. “I can’t help it. You make me crazy.”

“Same.”

My fingers grazed the back of his neck, and I kissed him again. Softer now. Slower.

This time there wasn’t fire.

There was something else.

Something… terrifying.

Because I think I might’ve actually been *falling*.

When we finally broke apart, breathless and flushed, he helped me slide back into my seat. But his hand stayed in mine. Our fingers remained locked, like neither of us wanted to let go just yet.

We sat there in silence for a while. The windows fogged slightly from the heat between us. My head tilted toward him, eyes closed.

Then I heard it—his voice, softer than I’d ever heard it.

“I thought I was supposed to be the dangerous one.”

I opened my eyes. “You are.”

“No.” He looked at me. “You are.”

I smiled. “You scared?”

He gave me a look. “Of you? Terrified.”

That made me laugh. Really laugh. And gods, I needed that.

We drove the rest of the way in a comfortable quiet. Not the kind that begged to be filled—but the kind that only happens between two people who’ve already said what matters.

RAYMOND'S POV

The drive back to Hart Manor was quiet. But peaceful.

I kept glancing at her. She was glowing. Still flushed. Still mine.

When we walked in, Damien shot me a look that said everything. Jade raised a brow at Ivy, probably reading every little detail.

I let them have their fun. I didn’t care.

Because her fingers had lingered in mine the whole way home.

And that was all I needed.

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IVY'S POV

*Back at Hart Manor*

Jade was waiting for me near the stairs, sipping something glowing out of a wine glass. “You look like you just got devoured.”

“Ivy Quinn,” she said with mock seriousness, “you look like you were just emotionally wrecked, spiritually aligned, and physically *devoured*.”

“Jade.”

“I want details,” she said, grabbing my wrist and dragging me straight toward the east wing like I was being arrested for being too damn kissed. “Now.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

She raised a brow. “Your lips are swollen. Your hair is wrecked. You’re flushed. Don’t play dumb.”

Damien passed behind her, grinning. “Did our Alpha finally grow some fangs?”

“Don’t start,” I said, pushing past them.

Raymond just smirked and walked right by, completely unaffected. Show-off.

Jade followed me into the hall. “So… how was it?”

I turned slightly. “Hot.”

She squealed. “I *knew* the mating mark meant something!”

“Shut up,” I mumbled, cheeks warm.

She grabbed my arm. “So, are we calling you Luna now or do I get to keep calling you Drama Queen?”

I rolled my eyes. “Let’s stick with Ivy for now.”

But deep down, I wasn’t resisting the title as much as I used to.

Because maybe… just maybe… I was ready to be something more than what I thought I was.

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