A Game Of Chess With A Vampire
Chapter 365: Is It Because Of Me?

Chapter 365: Is It Because Of Me?

Never would Avelina have thought that a simple mating mark carried that much.

"What?" Draven beamed, not sure why she was gazing quietly at him.

The side of Avelina’s lip curled into a smile, and she leaned in, pressing her soft lips against his. Draven raised his brow in a bit of surprise and tangled his fingers in her wet hair, pulling her even closer to him.

...

"You know...I look like someone with some kind of disease!" Avelina lifted her eyes, saying to Draven, who was buttoning up his big shirt that he helped her into. "How did you even leave so many hickeys? How much did you bite me? Are you some kind of dog? Were you going to eat me or something?"

Draven burst into laughter, halting buttoning up the shirt. "I would, if I could. But then if I ate you, I would be lonely, and I would miss you."

"Also, they look very pretty on you." He blew on the strands of her hair that poked funnily above her left eye. "Have you seen the lily of the valley before?"

Avelina wrinkled her forehead. "Lily of the...Valley?"

"Yes. It’s a type of flower with a sweet scent, and it’s very beautiful." Draven nodded. "You are beautiful, like the lily of the valley. And these hickeys look like petals on your body. I like them, especially this one right here." He tapped the curve between her neck and shoulder.

"Perhaps, I will give you more right there."

Avelina blinked, her cheeks gradually turning a furious shade of red. She immediately whipped her head, looking to her side. "Don’t just casually s-s-say things like that."

"Why?" Draven palmed her cheek, turning her face to have her look at him. "You often turn quite red when I say certain things to you. Are you perhaps shy? Is this what they call being shy?"

Avelina laughed awkwardly to herself. "S-shy? Why would I be shy?" She shrugged, darting her eyes around, unwilling to hold eye contact with him.

"You really suck at lying." Draven patted her head, standing up from the bed.

Avelina glared at him. "What do you mean by that?"

"You’re a bad liar." Draven laughed, lifting her from the bed. He walked to the table, sat down with her on his lap, and turned the hair dryer on.

"Draven," Avelina called, her tone low.

Draven grabbed a chunk of her hair to dry it. "Yes?"

"Are we returning to the royal mansion today?" Avelina asked.

Draven stopped what he was doing and tilted her head by her chin, glancing into her eyes. "Do you want us to?"

"No." Avelina didn’t hesitate with her response. Her brows crumpled, seeming completely against the idea. "If it is possible, I wouldn’t want us to return there ever, but knowing we will have to, I just want to know when."

Draven was quiet for a little while before speaking up. "We will stay here for as long as will be okay for you. Once you feel much better, we will return. Is that alright?"

Avelina beamed, nodding. "Yes."

Draven turned the dryer back on and continued drying her hair.

Avelina lifted her eyes, glancing at herself in the small mirror on the table. She really did look so small close to Draven. It was the fault of her petite nature, after all. But her thoughts slowly drifted to Draven’s late wife, and her expression drowned.

Yes...her...

She tightened her grip, lowering her head to avoid coming into eye contact with Draven through the mirror.

Draven could feel the sudden change in her mood, so he stopped what he was doing, tipping his head to get a glimpse of her face. "Avelina, why have your emotions suddenly changed? You feel...sad? Why?"

Avelina immediately put on a wide smile on her face, hoping to bely her emotions. "No, no, no, I’m fine! Nothing is wrong." She frantically waved her hands at him.

Draven frowned at her. "I can’t understand all the emotions you feel, Avelina, but I can feel when you are sad. And you are sad right now, so what is it? Tell me." He stared intently at her, unwilling to let it slide.

Avelina eventually gave in, sighing. She began to fidget with her fingers. "Well, you want to revive your late wife, right?"

Draven nodded. "Yes. Is something wrong?"

"When you do, what will happen to us? Will you go back to her, and will I be—"

"What?" Draven lifted his finger, flicking her forehead. "Of course not!" He wrapped his arms around her, embracing her warmly. "I love you, and you are mine. I am not bringing her back so that she can be with me again; that was not my intention even from day one. I am only going to bring her back so that she can have the life she’s always wanted."

"Oh...?" Avelina scratched the back of her neck, having realized that she thought too far into things. She chuckled softly, taking a deep breath.

Draven kissed the mark on her neck and stood up from the chair with her in his arms. Avelina wrapped her legs around his waist and circled her arms around his neck.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

Avelina threw her head back, groaning. "You can’t imagine!"

"Maybe this was why you passed out last night," Draven teased.

Avelina pulled harshly on his cheeks, scowling. "Don’t say that!" She buried her face into the crook of his neck, relaxing in his arms.

They proceeded downstairs to the last floor and walked to the kitchen. Avelina, who was glancing around, furrowed her brows. She pulled her head back, glimpsing Draven’s face.

"Where are your maids? It’s so quiet...here?"

"They are gone. I gave them days off," Draven responded.

Avelina raised an eyebrow. "Why? Is it because of me?"

Draven nodded. "Yes. Like I told you, no one must know about your situation."

Avelina slightly nodded, reluctantly resting her head on his shoulder. Was everything going to be fine? From the looks of things, Draven turning her seems to be a really big deal.