CRIMSON BLOOD : BLOODLORD'S EXCEPTION

Chapter 24 — CLOSER

Akame's POV

Something had changed between me and Alaric.

I didn't know when it started.

Maybe it was because I had been seeing him almost every morning. Maybe it was because we had started talking more instead of immediately fighting.

Or maybe I was simply getting too used to him.

And I hated that thought.

That morning, I found him sitting on the edge of a stone platform, looking at me with the same annoying smile.

"You're late."

I crossed my arms.

"It's five minutes."

"Five minutes is still late."

"You summoned me before sunrise."

He laughed.

"You complain every time."

"Because you keep doing it."

He looked at me for a moment.

"You look tired."

"Whose fault is that?"

"Mine?"

"Obviously."

He laughed again.

I tried not to smile.

I failed.

He noticed.

"You smiled."

My expression immediately became serious.

"No, I didn't."

"You did."

"You're imagining things."

"I'm a vampire. My eyes are better than yours."

I rolled my eyes.

"Annoying."

He stood up and walked closer.

"You say that a lot."

"Because you are."

He stopped in front of me.

"But you still come when I call."

I looked away.

"Because of the deal."

"Only because of the deal?"

I didn't answer.

Alaric smiled.

"I thought so."

"Don't assume things."

"Then tell me I'm wrong."

I looked at him.

"You're wrong."

He smiled.

"Liar."

I wanted to argue, but somehow I couldn't.

Instead, I held out my hand.

"Blood."

He looked at my hand.

Then he looked at me.

"Your neck."

I immediately pulled my hand back.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because last time you bit my neck without warning."

He laughed.

"You're still angry about that?"

"Yes."

He stepped closer.

"Fine. I'll ask this time."

I stared at him.

"Can I?"

For some reason, that simple question made me hesitate.

I eventually turned my head slightly.

"Fine."

He gently moved closer.

This time, he didn't grab me.

He waited.

When his fangs touched my skin, I closed my eyes.

It didn't feel as frightening as before.

When he finished, he pulled away carefully.

"Are you okay?"

I opened my eyes.

"I'm fine."

He looked at the small wound on my neck.

"You trust me more now."

I immediately frowned.

"Don't misunderstand."

"I'm not."

He smiled softly.

"But you do."

I didn't answer.

For some reason, I couldn't deny it.

Later, we sat together in one of the quiet rooms.

I had never stayed there without fighting him before.

Alaric was looking at me while I looked around the room.

"Why are you staring?" I asked.

"I'm trying to understand you."

I looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because you're strange."

"You're a vampire."

"Exactly."

I almost laughed.

"That's not an answer."

He leaned back.

"You're a hunter who hates vampires, yet you keep coming here."

"Because of the deal."

"And yet you talk to me."

I looked down.

"You're different from what I expected."

His expression changed.

"Different how?"

I thought for a moment.

"I thought you would only care about blood."

"At first, I did."

I looked at him.

"And now?"

He was quiet for a moment.

"Now I'm curious about you."

My heart skipped slightly.

I immediately looked away.

"That's still creepy."

He laughed.

"You really know how to ruin a moment."

"Good."

He smiled.

"There it is again."

"What?"

"That smile."

I touched my face.

"I'm not smiling."

"You are."

I turned away.

"Stop looking at me."

"Why?"

"Because you're annoying."

He laughed quietly.

For a while, we just sat there.

No fighting.

No threats.

No weapons.

Just silence.

And somehow, the silence wasn't uncomfortable anymore.

When it was time for me to leave, Alaric walked me toward the passage.

Before I left, he called my name.

"Akame."

I turned.

"What?"

He looked at me.

"Be careful."

I blinked.

"Why?"

"Because you're still a hunter."

I smiled faintly.

"And you're still a vampire."

He smiled back.

"I know."

I turned and walked away.

But this time, I looked back.

He was still standing there.

Watching me.

I didn't know what was happening to me.

I only knew that every time I left him, a small part of me wanted to turn around.

And that scared me more than any vampire ever had.

When I returned to the organization, everything looked normal.

The hunters were training.

Mira was helping injured recruits.

Jace was arguing with Demon over something stupid.

Riven was sharpening his sword.

I walked past them quietly.

But before I could enter my room, Master suddenly called me.

"Akame."

I stopped.

I turned around.

Master was staring at me.

His expression was calm, but his eyes were different.

He seemed to be trying to understand something.

"What's happening?"

I froze.

I didn't answer.

He looked at me for a few seconds.

"You did something, didn't you?"

I lowered my eyes.

I still didn't tell him.