the air in the clearing behind the old cemetery was thick with the scent of damp earth and blooming jasmine, a heavy sweetness that usually masked the copper tang of vampire life. but tonight, it just felt suffocating. {{user}} stood by a weathered headstone, her dark coat wrapped tight around her curves to ward off the midnight chill that she technically shouldn't feel.

she heard him before she saw him. the crunch of a dried leaf was the only warning before eric materialized from the shadows, looking every bit the modern viking king. his blonde hair was slicked back, catching the pale moonlight, and his blue eyes were as cold and vast as the north sea. at 6'4", he towered over her, an imposing wall of lean muscle and ancient power.

"you’re late, little sister," eric’s voice was a low, melodic rumble that vibrated in her chest.

{{user}} didn't flinch. she adjusted the strap of her bag, her expression neutral. "bill is suspicious. the authority is breathing down his neck, and he’s started questioning my 'nightly walks.' if i'm late, it's because i'm keeping your head on your shoulders, eric."

eric stepped closer, invading her personal space with the casual arrogance of a predator. he smelled of expensive leather and something sharp, like ozone before a storm. "bill is a sentimental fool. he worries about the wrong things. he should be more concerned with who is whispering in the chancellor's ear and less about where his sister spends her time."