Chapter 13: Leave Your Mark on Me

“Do you… want to go back to the castle with me? Or… stay in human society and start over?”

Noah ventured the second question cautiously.

No other vampire would likely ask a human’s opinion.

If Noah wanted, she could drag Luoyao back to the castle without hesitation.

But looking at this little dummy she’d spent days with, so fragile and pitiful, how could Noah force her?

She’d told Luoyao she was her first blood s*ave.

Facing Suyue, Noah had claimed, “I’ve never killed anyone”—a statement absurd for a vampire.

Yet it was true.

In her three hundred years as a vampire, Noah had never bonded or flirted with her prey.

Nor had she taken their lives.

She’d feed, then leave them in their homes.

When they woke, it was as if nothing happened.

But now, Noah found comfort in Luoyao’s company.

It was a life she’d never experienced.

Luoyao had rekindled the “humanity” Noah had nearly forgotten over three centuries.

Flirting, kissing, entwining body and soul, sleeping side by side…

All of it seemed to tell Noah:

Luoyao was special.

The most special girl in three hundred long years.

Noah felt a desire called “possession.”

She wanted to keep knowing Luoyao, to stay close.

Maybe, eventually… turn her into a vampire.

That unspoken “and you could be with me forever” wasn’t just persuasion.

If there were another way to be together eternally besides becoming a vampire, Noah would choose it without hesitation.

But first, she chose to respect Luoyao’s wishes.

“I…”

Luoyao pursed her lips, her heart torn.

How could she not cherish and sink into Noah’s tender care and soft words?

That sisterly warmth was something she’d never felt in either of her lives.

Luoyao never imagined finding solace in a vampire.

Yet Noah’s gentleness had slowly pried open her heart.

So… did she like Noah?

Luoyao didn’t want to admit it, couldn’t, wouldn’t dare.

She thought it was just admiration or awe for a superior being.

A feeling akin to “liking” born deep within.

To keep that feeling, she’d have to return to the vampire castle with Noah.

As a blood s*ave by her side.

She’d attend Huangwei’s classes, learning to serve vampires.

She’d watch her fellow humans waste away under vampire torment.

Luoyao felt… she couldn’t accept that life.

Deep down, she still craved human freedom.

Even if that freedom came with her innate loneliness.

Luoyao gripped her clothes tightly.

Her left wrist, strained from the effort, bled again, staining the bandage red.

Noah, seeing this, hurried to find something to stop the bleeding.

But Luoyao grabbed her wrist.

Noah admitted, in that moment, something soft in her heart stirred.

Was she… choosing to come with her?

Noah didn’t use her mind-reading.

It was pointless.

She wanted Luoyao’s answer spoken aloud.

“I’m sorry, Noah… I want to stay in human society.”

An unexpected answer.

Noah froze, unable to process it.

It felt like… being dumped by a girlfriend.

Bewilderment, helplessness, speechlessness.

Her mind spun, unable to focus on what to say next.

“Luoyao…”

“I can’t handle vampire life. I’d be a burden to you. I’m afraid of watching my fellow humans die one by one. And I’m more afraid… That I’d truly fall in love with you.’

Noah had said humans who loved vampires met tragic ends.

She didn’t specify what, but Luoyao assumed it was about lifespans.

Luoyao was soft-hearted.

Or maybe, used to being alone, she chose… retreat when faced with a forbidden love.

She lacked the courage to face the trials of a cross-species romance.

She and Noah, human and vampire, could only walk separate paths, never converging.

After a long silence, Noah gave a relieved smile.

“Okay, I understand.”

“I’m sorry…”

“No need to apologize. You did nothing wrong.”

Noah stood, patting Luoyao’s head. “I won’t bother you anymore.”

“It’s a shame we can’t continue this master-servant thing, but I’ll remember you, Luoyao. I’ll remember these four days with you.”

‘These four days were the happiest in my centuries.’

‘Brief, but fulfilling.’

“Noah…”

“I’ll leave tonight. But before I go, I’ll make you some meals for the next few days. Once you’re better, you can cook for yourself.”

‘Seriously, can you stop… being so good to me?’

Luoyao bit her lip, clutching the blanket.

She nodded slightly, her bangs hiding her eyes, tears welling.

She feared if Noah kept talking, she’d change her mind.

She wanted to live as a human but couldn’t let go of her feelings for Noah.

There was probably only one way.

“That day Huangwei wanted to mark my neck, know what I said?” Luoyao suddenly brought it up.

Noah shook her head.

“I won’t betray Noah.”

“Luoyao, you…” Noah’s pupils shrank, stunned.

“You say you won’t bother me, but that doesn’t mean other vampires won’t.”

Luoyao pulled back the blanket, tugging her collar down.

She revealed her slender, swan-like neck.

Beneath her delicate skin pulsed vibrant blood vessels, flowing with hot, fresh blood.

A supreme delicacy for vampires.

Her breathing quickened with nerves, but she met Noah’s eyes firmly.

She said, word by word, “A marked blood s*ave won’t be targeted by other vampires, right?”

“Noah, I only want to be your blood s*ave.”

“So, please… leave your mark on me.”