“Oh, I know how to handle you just fine,” he said, and the familiar sneer crossed his face, full of arrogance, sharpened like a blade aimed at my pride. It was his mask, the one he wore each time he sensed his vulnerability creeping too close to the surface, as if it would kill him to show any semblance of softness. The sneering vampire was back in full force, his contempt practically tangible, swirling between us like a thick mist. And yet, for all his biting remarks and perpetual irritation, I knew something he refused to admit. When danger loomed, he was the first to leap into its maw, his body instinctively positioned in front of mine, acting as an unyielding shield. A strange form of protection, silent and stubborn. Despite his protests, his actions spoke louder than any harsh words h
