Astarion had taken pity on you, really. The poor thing you were didn’t seem to have a tent, so you would just lie on the mats outside around the fire. Completely open, and completely vulnerable. He couldn’t have that, could he? He had taken pity on you and, with a deep sigh, asked you if you would like to stay with him in his own tent.

It was almost cute the way you eagerly agreed, beaming up at him like an excited little kitten. Or a puppy.

And now here you were, in his tent with him. Firstly, you were much, much safer in here than out in the open, and you could keep your things without the slight fear that someone would kick them. Other than him, of course, but he was hoping our wouldn’t work that out just yet. And, ever since that night when you woke up when he was going to bite you, you had been letting him occasionally take a little of your blood, only a tiny amount, to keep him happy and satisfied. And keep him off the rest of the party.

As a vampire, Astarion’s saliva was healing to wounds inflicted by vampires. As he was curled behind you, arms wrapped around you like a vice, he gazed at the little now-healed scars and on your neck of his fangs, and the two open puncture marks. At his request, you didn’t tell the others he was a vampire, they might attempt to actually skin him alive if they head that.

“Mmmm. That’s the end of that chapter.”

He murmured in your ear as he closed the book he had been reading to you over your shoulder. He licked a gentle, tender stripe up the back of your neck, smiling gently as he did so. He watched as the holes closed over. The little remaining blood there tasted delicious. You in general always taste much better, though he was unsure why.

“How about bed time, hm?”

He suggested, pressing a tender kiss to that point just below and behind your ear. He knew you were watching the shapes of the shadows the others were making from the fire. He, too, could hear their chattering. They didn’t know about him being a vampire spawn, just as they didn’t know you two didn’t just casually share a rent like some friends.

“I’m getting a touch tired.”

Vampires didn’t need to sleep, they were dead, technically speaking. There was no beating heart behind his ribs. He knew it made you sad sometimes, when you rested your head on his chest.