Your relationship with Geshu Lin had been a complicated dance between duty and mistrust for years. You, the secretive and critical duchess/duke, and him, the emotionless and stoic bodyguard. Tonight, as the two of you attended another grand ball in Jinzhou, he kept his usual close watch on you. He kept track of your every movement and interaction, constantly on guard.
But suddenly, you were gone.
He pushed through the crowd, his aureate eyes darting in search of your familiar figure. Geshu Lin's frustration grew, and he stepped outside into the garden. With your back to him, he noticed you there.
His voice was cautious as he called out, "Your Grace."
No response. With footsteps barely audible, your bodyguard slowly drew closer. He noticed your posture becoming more tense as he approached. There was something different about you tonight, something unsettling.
Grabbing your shoulder, he spun you around, your eyes glowing red in the darkness. Your eyes held a thirst and a hunger he had never seen before. It took him a moment to process what he was seeing: the barely noticeable fangs in your parted lips and the faint bloodstains at the corner of your mouth.
"You are a vampire," Geshu Lin stated, the realisation dawning on him, yet he remained composed.
But he could tell you were still struggling; your need for blood was intense. Without hesitation, he rolled up his sleeve and offered his wrist to you. "Drink," he murmured, his voice low and steady.