( Max and Anna's POV )
Max entered Anna's chambers with the intention of discussing the upcoming wedding between himself and Asiva, but the moment he entered her room he became speechless by the ambience of it.
The room was imbued with a soft, ethereal glow emanating from enchanted lanterns that lined the walls.
There were hints of her elven heritage—delicate tapestries depicting the forests of her homeland hang alongside more modern artefacts from Dombivli.
The gentle scent of roses wafted from an elegant vase on a mahogany table, adding to the intimate atmosphere, as it was clear to Max that Anna made an effort to create a soothing yet intimate ambiance.
Anna herself stood by the window, the sheer curtains adding a mystique to her silhouette.
Anna wore an emerald gown made from a flowing material that caught the light every time she moved, making her appear almost ethereal.
The colour not only complemented her eyes but also highlighted her elfin features—pointed ears, high cheekbones, and an ethereal elegance.
The dress was modest but cut in a way that subtly emphasised her form, adding a level of allure Max has never associated with her before.
"Anna?" Max began, slightly puzzled.
She turned to face him, " Max," she said softly, her voice holding a note of vulnerability. " Thankyou for coming "
Max tried to maintain his composure, his voice cracking slightly as he asked " We're discussing the wedding, right? " As he attempted to steer the conversation in the right direction, however, it was to no avail.
Anna stepped closer, her fingers lightly brushing his arm. "Yes, but first, there's something I've wanted to say."
Max felt a shiver, partly from her touch and partly from the change in her demeanour. The closeness, the ambiance — something was amiss.
"Anna?"
Max was not blind, he had noticed the awkwardness between them when he returned to Dombivli a couple days ago and he had also noticed her intentions today.
Her green eyes were filled with a combination of hope and vulnerability, making her normally confident demeanour appear more tender.
Her smile was softer, more intimate, and her whole face seems to be an open book of emotions she's long kept hidden. This made her both familiar and new in Max's eyes.
Upon seeing Anna and the room, Max's senses sharpened due to his vampiric nature and went into overdrive.
Anna had undoubtedly placed wine mixed with blood somewhere in the room as besides the rosy smell he did catch a whiff of blood that smelled sweet and delicious.
His pupils dilated, drinking in the details. The scent of blood, mixed with Anna's own natural fragrance, invaded his nostrils, creating a heady mix that sent a shiver down his spine.
A warm flush rose to his face as he felt a feeling of magnetic pull, a physical attraction towards Anna that he had either never felt before or never allowed himself to recognize.
' She wants to seduce me…. But why? ' Max thought as his eyes danced between her soft mounds and her milky white skin as his own dark knight rose uncomfortably in his pants.
Anna, who also noticed Max's eyes going all over her, took a deep breath, as she confessed "I love you, Max. Not just as a friend, but as a woman loves a man.
I did not realise this until recently but I've been in love with you since a long time.
I want to be more than just friends with you going forward and I know it's impossible to change our relationship overnight, but I request you to give me a chance to prove the strength behind my feelings and not push me away. "
Max's heart raced. The weight of her words, the tension in the room — it was suffocating. As a primordial vampire and a god, his heightened senses picked up on every nuance: the scent of her pheromones, the warmth of her proximity, and the palpable desire in her eyes.
"And I know you feel something too," Anna continued, her voice dropping to a whisper as she inched closer, her hand dangerously stroking his nether regions in a move so bold and indecent that Max would never associate it with Anna.
For a moment a soft moan escaped Max's mouth as he felt blood rushing towards his nether regions in preparation of the act to be committed.
The very essence of the room seemed to change as Max grappled with his emotions. Yes, he felt an undeniable attraction, a pull he hadn't noticed before, as a man how could he not?
A beautiful elven princess had just confessed his love for him and wanted to go to bed with him, of course he wouldn't say no…
But there was also the image of Asiva in the back of his mind, her pregnant, glowing visage, that was full of life.
He stepped back, creating a slight gap between them. "Anna, this isn't the time. Asiva —"
Anna cut him off, "I know about Asiva, and I respect her. But can't there be a place for me too? You've seen how our universe works. Your brother has two wives, why can't you?
I'll ofcourse be like a sister to her and a mother to her children "
His mind raced, this did sound like a decent proposal.
His brother had a harem? Why could he not?
However, just as he began thinking about ways to justify his relationship with Anna, he also realised that he was being a douche and a horny dog and that Asiva deserved better.
Caught between his arousal and loyalty, Max took a deep breath. "Anna, I won't lie. This is... unexpected. I need time to think."
Anna's expression held a mix of hope and disappointment. She nodded, her elf ears twitching slightly. "All I ask is for a chance, Max. To show you this new side of my love."
As Max left her chambers with the weight of Anna's confession pressing down on him. He knew he had to talk to Asiva. But the question was how would he even begin?
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/// A/N - Team Anna fans, this one is for you ///