Chapter 102
Stumbling without thinking, Meloni ended up in Cain’s arms.
At first, she just blinked, trying to process the situation. Then she realized he had wrapped his arm around her waist and tried to pull away.
“What… are you doing!”
“Shh, stay still.”
But Cain held her tighter, making it impossible for her to move. He was so strong that she couldn’t escape with her own strength.
As their lower bodies pressed together, Meloni’s body stiffened.
‘What… is happening right now?’
Just as she tried to get her brain to work again, Cain tilted her head to the side. When her pale nape was exposed, he licked a certain spot.
“…!”
She was startled, but only for a moment. She jabbed the tip of her umbrella at his abdomen.
“Ah, trying to shoot me?”
“Turn your head and talk.”
Deliberately, he bared his fangs slightly, as if to bite. The strange sensation made Meloni bite her lips tightly.
His hot breath kept brushing against her neck.
“You can’t shoot me, Mel.”
“Let go.”
“You keep struggling, so I can’t hear you. Listen carefully.”
Cain whispered into her ear as she slightly lifted her head.
“I’ll tell you what you forgot. What you promised me wasn’t an arm… it was your neck.”
“I just gave you blood! That should be enough.”
“No, it’s not enough. Promises must be kept.”
Before Meloni could say anything more…
Thrust—
The sensation of his fangs piercing her neck made her clench her lips tightly.
‘When will I ever get used to this?’
She had once forcibly promised that she would give him her neck whenever he wanted. But not now.
Not here, with other people around—Abel and Luxuria, no less.
‘They’re vampires too.’
What if they went berserk smelling her blood?
But that thought soon vanished as she unconsciously exhaled at the sound of blood being drawn near her ear.
“Cain, you better listen.”
She had never been held this tightly in his arms. That’s probably why all sorts of thoughts were running through her mind.
For instance, how surprisingly broad and warm his embrace was. Or that it felt… somewhat tender.
‘I know it’s ridiculous.’
Memories of the days she spent with Cain surfaced. And also the days she spent with the black snake as Lillith.
‘That’s the past. Just the past.’
Yet why did she feel a hint of affection?
As she looked at his jet-black hair, Meloni tilted her head slightly and gazed at the dense leaves above.
“I’ll return Luxuria later.”
As if displeased with that answer, his fangs sank deeper. It hurt a little, so she grabbed his hair tightly.
“Shut up and listen.”
The force of his bite lessened slightly.
‘He drinks for so long.’
She held back a sigh.
“I was planning to return her anyway. So just wait a little.”
A moment later, after drinking her fill, Cain withdrew his fangs.
Meloni stared at his face. Cain, wiping the blood from his lips with the back of his hand, met her gaze.
His pupils turned an unusually deep red as he drank her blood.
Licking the blood from his hand, he chuckled.
“Why would I have to do that?”
“Please.”
Meloni, proud and always reluctant to ask for anything, had never uttered that word lightly. But hearing it from her lips made Cain stop moving.
“Now… is not the time.”
“……”
“So, just wait.”
“Hm.”
Cain, licking his lips, narrowed his eyes. He seemed deep in thought for a moment, then twisted his mouth.
“Fine. But there’s a condition.”
“What is it?”
Cain’s gaze sharpened.
“Mel, you haven’t told me everything yet.”
“What I said earlier was all there is.”
“No.”
Cain was certain. The reply she had just given was too curt, and Meloni felt a pang in her chest.
‘How did he know?’
She had thought she explained everything just enough.
“There’s more, isn’t there?”
“……”
“Until you tell me, I’ll keep trying to get this.”
Cain gestured toward Luxuria. Luxuria quickly hid behind Abel.
Meloni realized it was impossible to persuade Cain any further. She had no choice but to stop here.
She nodded in agreement.
“Okay.”
“So you’ll tell me soon?”
“Yes. It’s a bit difficult right now… but I will.”
For now, they would compromise.
“When the time comes, I’ll tell you and return her.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to go with you.”
He said it as if reluctantly, but his tone didn’t sound that way. Oddly, it seemed a little pleased.
Meloni dismissed it as her imagination.
“I need your blood.”
Finally, Cain smiled.
“And I also need my other self.”
Abel, who had been listening from afar, clapped once.
“Well, well. The path ahead has been decided.”
Smiling, Abel approached the two of them and casually put his arm over their shoulders.
“We don’t have time, so let’s set our destination and leave immediately.”
“Let go.”
Cain’s face twisted in an instant as he swatted Abel’s arm away. It must have hurt, but Abel’s cheerful expression didn’t change.
“Who said you could act all friendly?”
“Cain’s always been the same, now as before.”
His hostility toward Abel remained unchanged. He was clearly boiling inside, seeing Abel acting close to Meloni.
Meloni, flustered by Abel’s words, jabbed his arm with her elbow.
“Watch your words, Abel.”
Abel lowered his arm and looked at Meloni.
Meanwhile, Luxuria, left alone, ran quickly to grab Meloni’s hand under Cain’s sharp gaze.
“Meloni.”
“Huh? Ah, you were scared. I’m sorry.”
Holding Luxuria’s hand, she looked at Abel.
“Meloni, where shall we go now?”
“Where else? There’s only one place we must go.”
Meloni’s expression turned cold.
“The Capital. Where Baron—the bastard—is.”
They had to deal with the remnants of darkness that threatened to cover the land.
“If everything’s decided, then move quickly.”
Cain moved between Abel and Meloni, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back.
In doing so, she lost Luxuria’s hand.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“You’re annoying.”
Cain’s annoyed tone squeezed Meloni’s hand tightly.
“Why him, and not me?”
“What…?”
“Why not me?”
At the sudden absurdity, Meloni opened her mouth.
‘When did I say no?’
She hadn’t refused. While thinking about various things for a moment, she frowned at Cain, who was holding her hand tightly.
“When did I say no?”
“You rejected me with your eyes.”
“More importantly, why do I have to hold your hand? Are you jealous?”
“I don’t know.”
She expected him to say no, but that was not the answer.
It was ridiculous, so she let out a bitter laugh.
“Cain, you said I’m just a blood supplier.”
“I don’t know.”
The same answer again. She raised her umbrella but couldn’t shoot him, stopping in her tracks.
Instead, she kicked Cain’s shin hard. He flinched in pain, and simultaneously, she felt her own thigh as if someone had kicked it.
“Ah.”
“Forgot? Mel, you’re my mate.”
“Really…”
Damn mate mark.
Now she understood why everyone dreaded it. Even when angry, she couldn’t do anything.
She glared at Cain, ignoring her aching leg. Yet he still held her hand tightly.
“At first, I came for your blood.”
Even if she waved her hand to signal him to let go, it was useless. The more she tried, the stronger his grip became.
It felt as if her hand would break.
Frustrated, Meloni wanted to scream, but she couldn’t.
‘Why is he acting like this?’
Cain’s sudden change in behavior left her unsure how to react.
‘And why do I like this?’
Absurd. To hide her feelings, she bit her lip lightly.
“That’s just a secondary reason.”
Cain lifted her hand he was holding.
“I also want to do this.”
Stepping closer, he pulled her hand and drew her into his embrace.
“And this isn’t so bad either.”
