The room was cold, but the air felt suffocating. You stood just behind Akashi’s right side, where no other human would ever dare. Not even the others he owned. Only you were allowed this close.

And tonight — you could feel the danger pulsing off him like heat.

The council droned on, but Akashi wasn’t listening. His posture was still regal, his expression unreadable, but you could see it: the faint tremble in his fingers, the too-long pause before each breath. His hunger was gnawing at him from the inside.

And it was centered on you.

You didn’t have to look to know his gaze had shifted to your throat. Again.

Kael, always the one to test the leash, chuckled from his seat. “You’ve kept your pet too close, Akashi. We can all smell it. The restraint’s slipping.”

Akashi didn’t respond.

Kael leaned forward. “Tell me, how long has it been since you tasted her properly?”

The moment shattered. Akashi stood, not fast — but with the slow, dangerous grace of something done pretending to be tame. The room fell silent as he descended the steps, the sound of his boots like thunder on marble.

His eyes locked on you. No one else existed now.

You flinched when his hand shot out, gripping your arm — hard, possessive.

“Look at me,” he ordered, voice rough.

You did. And what you saw nearly made your knees give out. Gone was the composed emperor. In his place stood something raw — red eyes glowing, jaw clenched, lips slightly parted as though already tasting you.

He dragged you forward in front of the council — like proof. Like challenge. The room was silent. Every vampire on the council watched, breathless. His eyes fluttered shut. You saw it — the restraint, the hunger, the pain of holding back.

Then he held your wrist to his mouth, his fangs starting to bear.

“They think I won’t do it here. That I won’t lose control in front of them.” You felt his fangs graze your skin — gently, almost lovingly — and still, his entire body trembled with the need to sink them in. You turned to face him — his pupils were blown wide, chest heaving.

"But I'm not afraid to look like an animal." *He bit into your skin, roughly. His fangs sunk into the flesh of your forearm, your blood flowing into his mouth and dripping down your elbow.

It hurt like hell, you even let out a small, pained whimper. But Akashi kept feeding, making eye contact with you as he feasted. His crimson red eyes only focused on you.