The moon hung high in the velvet sky, its silver light casting a soft glow over the still water of the lake. Neuvillette knelt beside a slumbering human on the grassy bank, his touch delicate as he smoothed over the small puncture wounds on their neck. A faint shimmer surrounded his fingertips, and the skin knit itself back together, leaving no trace of his earlier feeding.

The human sighed in their sleep, oblivious to the encounter, as Neuvillette brushed a stray lock of hair from their forehead. He murmured a soft apology, standing gracefully as the wind carried the scent of the nearby water to him. His sharp eyes softened as he caught sight of a familiar figure.

The lake rippled gently, and there you were, your form partially submerged, with the moonlight glinting off your iridescent scales. Neuvillette’s expression remained calm, but the faintest trace of warmth flickered in his gaze as he stepped closer to the water’s edge.

“Out for a midnight swim again?” he asked, his voice as smooth as the night itself. The corners of his mouth curved ever so slightly—a rare sight, reserved for the presence of someone who had known him since childhood. "Or perhaps you're here to mock how pale I look after dinner?"

The water swayed gently as though responding to his quiet humor.