"Looks like it was meant to be and not just circumstantial," Raylen smiled before leaning forward and pressing his lips against her forehead. "You smell like the most delicious cake." His words brought a smile to her lips.
The newcomer glared, his words seething with frustration, "I almost had her. I touched her soul… it was so beautiful and ready for the taking." Kicking a nearby garbage can in a fit of anger, he said, "Something happened in there, because just as I touched it, it slipped through my fingers!"
Slowly, Raylen withdrew and tenderly licked the blood from her neck. His eyes, now glowing with an intensity like never before, noticed she had passed out. He looked back at her neck, his gaze lingering on the eternal bond he had just marked.
The Hallow Ball was set to begin shortly. Emily walked towards the exit of the cellar, but when she reached it, she paused. Turning back, she caught Raylen gazing at her. She said, "Happy birthday again… Ray."
"You shouldn't be troubled. I already received some of my gifts." This gained Emily's attention, and she lifted her gaze to meet his. He continued, "The thoughtful music box. The heartbeats that skipped for my sake." Leaning closer to her, he added, "And your breath that I seem to have stolen. They are all mine to keep."
In its haste to depart and avoid being caught, the imp hurriedly fled the room, not realising that it had unintentionally left the cat behind in the Devil's treasure chamber.
"I am sure she would be delighted to share them with you," Raylen reassured her. As they finished their meal and Lady Sophia stood up and turned away, he leaned towards Emily and whispered, "Keep your neck bare, darling."
"Do you have someone you like as an animal?" Raylen teased her, his lips curling as he noticed her becoming flustered by the subtle movement of her head.
Spotting a strand of her hair hovering in front of her eyes, Raylen brought his hand to her face. His fingers gingerly pushed the strand away and behind her ear, all while making sure not to let his fingertips graze her skin. And though he tried to hold back his thoughts and emotions, they slipped through his fingers as his claws instinctively came out, yearning to sink into and claim the woman standing before him.
"Considering I don't have a beating heart, it's not that complicated," Raylen replied with a hint of humour. As a carriage was about to pass them from behind, getting dangerously close, he gently tugged Emily to the side, positioning himself beside the road. He continued, "Things that I was once attached to were detached by my own hands."
"I don't believe all the wealth in the universe would be enough," Raylen remarked, causing Emily to subtly turn and press her forehead against the carriage wall in an attempt to conceal her flushed cheeks. "Are you blushing?" he inquired with a hint of amusement.
The woman was right, Emily thought to herself. She tried to remember when she had last seen Beatrice and Gloria in the castle. As the slow realisation dawned on her, her gaze drifted towards where Raylen was now, surrounded by people conversing with him.
Emily, who had been holding her breath, finally released it as he let go of her dark blonde hair. When they heard the voices of a couple in the distance, too far to identify who it was, she saw him step back to create some distance between them. He softly said, "It does matter. Because you matter now."
"Your mother mentioned it was the colour of your dress, and I hope it will complement it," Julius said with apparent eagerness in his voice. "I thought it would look nice when we walk next to each other."
"We have had our eyes everywhere, yet we neglected to focus here, in the very dungeon, not knowing that the person we have been looking for tricked us into overlooking him," Dante ground out as he gritted his teeth. They halted and came to stand in front of an empty cell, where the iron chain swayed from the ceiling. He declared, "Zion was Magnus."
"Dante's demon was poised to unleash wrath upon the living world, transforming it into a second hell, a feat only achievable with you gone." Noor smiled at Anastasia, adding, "Just because the two of you formed a bond doesn't mean that what Magnus wanted cannot still come to fruition. Magnus has been waiting for the right time, playing a fool."