A Game Of Chess With A Vampire
Chapter 270: Why Is He...Happy?

Chapter 270: Why Is He...Happy?

Avelina lifted her eyes and looked into his.

"I’m sorry," she apologized.

Draven took a deep breath, composing himself. He gently wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. He buried his face in her neck, exhaling softly and shutting his eyes.

"You are married to me, Avelina. You are mine for now, no one else’s."

He pulled his head back to look at her face, and as he spoke, his eyes couldn’t help but lock on her reddish plump lips.

"I don’t know what is wrong with me, Avelina, but I do not want to see you with another man." He breathed heavily. "I have never felt this way before. It makes me feel like I am going insane. I hate this feeling so much because it caused me to almost get violent," he whispered to her, tenderly caressing her lower lip.

Avelina swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on his thumb that was grazing her lip. She lifted her pupils and gazed into his reddish orbs. Slowly and steadily, she could feel their faces drawing closer to each other.

They knew what was about to happen, but they could not stop themselves. All it would take was for them to move an inch closer, but Draven, however, came to a sudden stop.

No! He mustn’t, or else he could cause them to become distant again. The last time he tried, Avelina pulled away from him the next morning.

He really wanted to feel her lips and just have her locked in his arms for a little while. It was not a want, but it was a need!

Hesitantly, he pulled away with his lips softly parted and turned to have his back facing her. "I am sorry for the way I behaved. Forgive me."

Avelina looked at him, her lashes flickering in heavy disappointment. She asked in a hushed tone, "Why did you stop?"

"What?" Draven glanced at her.

But Avelina quickly shook her head. "Never mind."

"No, tell me, what is it? I didn’t hear you—"

"It is nothing." Avelina shook her head, smiling. "Shall we dance then? You want to, don’t you?"

Draven gazed at her for a few moments. He could tell that even if he asked over and over again, she would not tell him, so he simply nodded. "Yes. I should be able to dance with my wife before anyone else gets the privilege to do so. Edward was a mistake." He grabbed her hand, and together, they left to return to the dance room.

They met on the dance floor. The guests gathered around to watch them, including Ryan, Lumian, Lestat, and Old Master Lenort, who relaxed comfortably on his golden seat, his brows crumpled.

He observed, wearing a confused look mixed with skepticism. One could tell he was pondering deeply about something.

Draven and Avelina held each other close with her right arm and his left arm extended. They waltzed, gliding around the edge of the dance floor, moving with quick, light steps to the beat of the music.

Aurora watched, slightly smiling at herself. She held a look of joy, and one could tell that she wanted to be on the dance floor too. She bit her lip and glanced over at Lumian.

She was not sure if she should, but regardless, she stood up from her seat, walked past Natasha and Liliana, and over to Lumian. She extended out her hand, smirking at him.

"Shall we dance?"

Lumian lifted his eyes to glimpse her.

"You want to dance?" he asked.

Aurora nodded. "With you, yes, of course."

Lumian cackled softly to himself and stood up from his chair. He gently took hold of his wife’s hand and led her down to the dance floor.

Other couples joined them, forming a circle that moved around the checkered dance floor.

The atmosphere slowed. Draven and Avelina locked eyes as they turned around on the dance floor. They gazed at one another with intent, yearning eyes.

Natasha watched with an emotionless face. She looked over at Ryan and averted her gaze. Her lips were parted a bit. She wanted to dance, yes, but she was aware that Ryan would be against it. He loved to be close to his father and to get in his favor.

Old Master Lenort, who was seriously observing, deeply frowned.

"Do you see what I see?" he questioned.

Ryan looked at him. "What might you mean, father?"

"Look at him." Old Master Lenort pointed at Draven. "He looks...happy."

Ryan immediately shifted his attention to Draven and deeply glowered.

"He...does."

"Why is he happy?" Old Master Lenort questioned

"I have never seen him happy before, nor have I ever seen him smile, at least not in this manner. What is going on? What is the cause of it?" His tone was filled with nothing but bitterness.

Ryan rapidly blinked his eyes. He responded, "I believe it is because of...her."

"What?" Old Master Lenort peered at Avelina.

"That is not possible. She cannot possibly make him happy!" He shook his head. "She’s human, Ryan, and even if she wasn’t, she still cannot make him happy. If his late wife couldn’t, you think a mere human could? What does she have? She isn’t better than his late wife." He scoffed, doubtful.

"But father." Ryan pointed at Draven. "Look at his eyes."

Old Master Lenort followed the line of his gaze to where he was pointing. He asked, "What about his eyes?"

"The way he is looking at her," Ryan said. "It is the way you look at someone you love."

"I dare not say, but...I believe he is... in love with her." Even though he said it, his expression gave a hint of his skepticism.

"Impossible!" Old Master Lenort immediately disagreed.

Ryan glanced at him. "Why so, father?"

"Because that boy is incapable of loving anyone. He couldn’t even feel love for his own mother or his late wife, and you think he would love a mere human. A human at that! Will you listen to yourself, Ryan?" Old Master Lenort glared at him.

Ryan nervously fluttered his eyes. "But what I see is—"

"Say no more!" Old Master Lenort shut him up. His expression was one of disgust and disdain. He could never imagine Draven falling in love, lest he witness it.