"Let me belong to you," she whispered, voice low and trembling, "not just in words—but in blood."
Asher didn't hesitate. His lips grazed her skin—and then, he bit.
A sharp gasp escaped Catherine's mouth, half-shock, half-ecstasy. Her knees buckled slightly as she gripped his shoulders for support. She wasn't afraid. She didn't resist. The mark of his bite shimmered faintly with ancestral power, threads of soul and blood entwining with hers.
He was no ordinary vampire.
He was the Sanguine Supreme, a Progenitor in truth—capable of extending his bloodline's essence to others. It was a power rooted in ancient lineage, deeper than mere turning. It meant she would forever be bound to him—not as a servant, but as family.
He had done this before.
First with Veyra, when she awakened her Bloodroot Bloom and swore herself to his path.
Then with Valeris—who had once asked what it would feel like to walk as a true vampire. Asher had shown her, if only for a few weeks, before she returned to her divine dragon form. But even now, his blood still lived within her.
The last living soul from the Dark Spine Realm. Once his follower, once his blade—and now, part of his family.
She leaned into him, eyes hazy but smiling. "I felt it… your blood. Your will. It's overwhelming."
"You're mine now," Asher said quietly, his hand still cradling her waist.
"I always was," she replied.
Catherine barely had time to steady her breath before Asher gently picked her up in his arms.
He held her with ease, his strong arms wrapping around her like it was the most natural thing in the world. Her hands clung to his robe, and she didn't look away as he carried her through the quiet hallways of the mansion. They didn't say anything. They didn't need to.
There was a quiet warmth between them—not just desire, but years of memories, pain, and the bond they had always shared, even when apart.
He opened the door to a room near the end of the estate. It was simple, clean, and untouched—his personal space, where few had stepped. A place full of old memories, now made new with her presence.
Asher gently laid Catherine down on the bed, the soft sheets cool beneath her. She looked up at him, her chest rising and falling a little faster. He hovered above her, his eyes not cold or guarded—but soft and focused only on her.
"I never forgot you," he said quietly.
She reached up and touched his cheek, her fingers trembling just a little. "Then show me I wasn't wrong to wait."
He leaned down, resting his forehead against hers. "You weren't."
Their lips met slowly. It wasn't rushed. It wasn't wild. It was steady and deep. A kiss that said everything they hadn't spoken in all those years.
Catherine wrapped her arms around him as he lowered himself beside her. His hands moved over her waist and back, pulling her closer, and she didn't resist. She kissed him back, feeling the heat of his body, the way his breathing changed when her fingers brushed his skin. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she felt safe.
Asher was gentle but firm. Each movement was careful, yet full of meaning. He didn't need to rush—he wanted her to feel it too. The comfort. The closeness. The way he saw her not as a servant, not as a follower, but as someone he cherished.
The night passed in silence broken only by quiet breaths and whispered names.
By the time the sun began to rise and soft light slipped through the curtains, Catherine lay curled beside him, her head resting on his chest. One of his arms was wrapped around her, their fingers still intertwined. She listened to his heartbeat—slow, steady, and strong.
And for the first time in a long time, she felt like she belonged somewhere.
Update from Novel~Fire. (n)et
And she didn't want to be anywhere else.
Thinking she closed her eyes and fell asleep, while after some time Asher woke up, looking at sleeping Catherine he silenly slipped out of bed without disturbing her.
The door clicked softly behind him as Asher stepped out of the bedroom.
He ran a hand through his hair, still slightly tousled from the night. The hallway was quiet, the morning sun spilling in through tall windows. The whole mansion felt peaceful, almost too peaceful after everything he'd been through.
He walked down to the living room—and found Emily already there.
She was seated comfortably on the couch with a steaming cup of tea in her hands. The moment she spotted him, her lips curved into a knowing smile. That old teasing glint sparkled in her eyes, the same one she used to have when he was just a boy sneaking sweets before dinner.
"Well, well," she said, raising an eyebrow. "The young master finally emerges. Slept well?"
Asher narrowed his eyes slightly. "Don't start."
"I didn't say anything," Emily said, far too innocently. She took a sip of her tea. "But I'm told a proper night's rest does wonders for one's… clarity."
He sighed, walking past her toward the small side table where a pitcher of water sat. "Emily…"
"Yes, Asher?" she asked sweetly, her eyes never leaving him.
He turned, giving her a look. "Why do I feel like you've gotten so much naughtier with age?"
Emily laughed—a full, rich sound. "Oh dear. You've been away too long if you only just noticed."
He shook his head, but couldn't hold back a smile. "You really haven't changed."
"And neither have you," she said warmly. "Still pretending you're all serious and composed when half the mansion knows you weren't alone last night."
Asher's smile faded into a light groan as he rubbed his temple. "I should've known better than to think I could hide anything from you."
"You can't," Emily said proudly. "And besides… I'm glad you're finally letting yourself feel things again."
There was a pause. A soft one.
Then she added, more gently, "You deserve to be happy, Asher. We all want that for you."
He nodded slowly. "with all of you, how can I not be happy?"
"I know," she said, standing and patting his arm as she passed. "That's enough for now."
Then, as she reached the doorway, she paused and glanced over her shoulder.