See You In Hell

Warm Blood

Giveon kept his promise.

When he entered the dining hall, Ivanna was already seated at the table, quietly picking at her meal. The moment she noticed him, she straightened in her seat.

She still wasn't completely comfortable around him.

There was something about Giveon that made it difficult to forget what he was. The entire kingdom feared him. Stories about his blood, his strength, and the darkness surrounding his existence had followed her long before she ever became his wife.

Yet here he was, walking toward her with an expression that was surprisingly calm.

"Good evening," he said.

Ivanna lowered her eyes. "Good evening."

Giveon pulled out the chair beside her instead of sitting across from her.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Giveon reached for the serving dish and placed some food onto her plate.

Ivanna glanced at him in surprise.

Before she could say anything, he picked up a small portion with his fork and held it toward her.

Her eyes widened.

"You can eat," he said simply.

Ivanna stared at the fork.

He was going to feed her?

She hesitated for a moment before slowly opening her mouth.

Giveon fed her.

The simple gesture left her more confused than frightened.

She had expected many things from her husband.

Coldness.

Distance.

Perhaps even cruelty.

But not this.

"You don't have to do that," she murmured.

"I know."

He offered her another bite.

Ivanna reluctantly accepted it.

A tiny smile threatened the corners of her lips, but she quickly hid it.

They continued eating, and slowly, the tension between them began to disappear.

"So," Giveon said after a while, "how have you found the castle?"

Ivanna looked around the enormous dining hall.

"It's... beautiful."

"Only beautiful?"

She glanced at him.

"It's intimidating."

A faint amusement appeared in his eyes.

"I suppose it would be."

Ivanna took a sip of her drink.

"Does everyone in the kingdom live like this?"

"No."

"Then how do they live?"

Giveon began telling her about the villages surrounding the castle, the markets, the farms, and the towns beyond the palace walls.

Ivanna listened with genuine interest.

"There are places beyond the castle I'd like to see," she admitted.

Giveon looked at her.

"You will."

Her eyes brightened.

"I will?"

"I'll take you myself."

Ivanna stared at him.

"When?"

"When you're ready."

A smile finally appeared on her face.

"I'd like that."

Giveon watched the happiness spread across her features.

He found himself enjoying the sight more than he expected.

After dinner, Giveon stood.

"Come."

Ivanna looked up at him.

"Where?"

"I want to show you something."

He extended his hand.

After a moment of hesitation, she placed hers in his.

His fingers closed gently around hers.

Instead of leading her toward the castle, he took her outside.

The garden stretched endlessly before them, illuminated by the warm orange glow of the setting sun.

Ivanna's eyes widened.

She had seen the garden before from her windows, but never like this.

Flowers of different colors covered the paths, fountains sparkled beneath the fading sunlight, and tall trees surrounded the garden like silent guardians.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

Giveon looked at her instead of the garden.

"I'm glad you like it."

They began walking slowly.

Ivanna became increasingly aware of his hand holding hers.

His skin was warm.

Soft.

Almost surprisingly human.

She glanced down at their joined hands.

Something had been bothering her.

"Giveon?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"You can ask me anything."

Ivanna hesitated.

"I thought vampires were cold."

Giveon looked at her.

"What makes you think that?"

"I've heard that vampires have cold blood. That their skin is always cold."

He was silent for a moment.

"My blood is different."

"Because you're half-human?"

"Partly."

Ivanna looked at him curiously.

"My body doesn't function exactly like either species," he explained. "There are things about me that even I don't completely understand."

She studied his face.

"And that's why you're warm?"

"Yes."

Ivanna nodded slowly.

For some reason, knowing that made him seem a little less frightening.

They continued walking beneath the fading sunlight.

Ivanna stole another glance at him.

And this time, she didn't look away quickly enough.

Giveon's dark hair had become slightly tousled from the evening breeze. His grey eyes seemed almost dull beneath the sunset, yet there was something strangely captivating about them.

His jaw was sharp.

His features were impossibly handsome.

And for the first time, Ivanna allowed herself to look at him not as the terrifying prince everyone warned her about...

But as her husband.

Her cheeks warmed.

She quickly looked away.

Why was she thinking about him like this?

Her eyes drifted briefly toward his lips.

What would it feel like to have those soft lips against hers?

The thought alone made her blush furiously.

She lowered her head, hoping he hadn't noticed.

Unfortunately for her, Giveon noticed everything.

Especially the sudden change in her heartbeat.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

It had become so fast and uneven that he could hear it clearly.

He glanced at her.

Ivanna's face was bright red.

A small crease appeared between his brows.

What was she thinking about?

He decided not to ask.

For some reason, he liked walking beside her.

There was a strange peace in it.

With Ivanna, he didn't feel like the feared prince everyone expected him to be.

He simply felt like Giveon.

And, judging by the softness in her expression, perhaps she felt safe with him too.

But then his thoughts returned to the council meeting.

His brothers.

The war.

The spies.

The danger that was slowly approaching his kingdom.

His expression darkened.

He couldn't keep this from her.

He had promised himself he wouldn't rush her into anything.

But she deserved to know.

Especially if the danger reached the castle.

Giveon slowed his steps.

Ivanna noticed.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

He looked toward a bench beneath a large flowering tree.

"Come."

They walked toward it.

Giveon sat first, and Ivanna sat beside him.

For a few seconds, he said nothing.

The peaceful sounds of the garden suddenly felt distant.

Ivanna turned toward him.

"Giveon?"

He looked at her.

"There is something I need to tell you."

Her smile disappeared.

"What is it?"

He took a slow breath.

For the first time that evening, Ivanna saw something she rarely saw in him.

Concern.

His grey eyes met hers.

"I didn't want to tell you too soon."

"Tell me what?"

Giveon looked toward the fading sun before returning his gaze to her.

"There is a war coming."

Ivanna's heart stopped.

"A... war?"

He nodded.

"My brothers are preparing to move against me."

Her eyes widened.

"Your brothers?"

"Yes."

She stared at him, suddenly remembering the uneasiness she had sensed around the castle.

Giveon's voice remained calm, but his expression had grown serious.

"The council received information from our spies. My brothers are planning to join forces."

Ivanna swallowed.

"Against you?"

"Against me."

"And what does that mean for the kingdom?"

Giveon was silent for a moment.

Then he reached for her hand again.

"It means I may have to leave the castle."

Ivanna's fingers tightened around his.

"And if you leave?"

His eyes remained fixed on hers.

"Then I will be going to war."

The words settled heavily between them.

Ivanna didn't know what to say.

She had only just begun feeling safe around him.

And now she was being reminded that the man sitting beside her was not simply her husband.

He was a prince.

A feared one.

And somewhere beyond the walls of the castle, his enemies were preparing for bloodshed.

Giveon watched the fear slowly return to her eyes.

He squeezed her hand gently.

"But there is something you need to understand, Ivanna."

She looked at him.

"What?"

"No matter what happens..."

His voice softened.

"I will make sure you are safe."

Ivanna stared at him, her heart pounding for an entirely different reason now.

For the first time, she realized that perhaps the man everyone feared...

Was the very person she could trust most.