Adrian appeared at my bedroom door the next morning, greeting me with a shy but heart-stopping smile. I had just showered and dressed, and I took him in with surprise.

“I’m here to take you on our date. It's not far," he said, extending his hand.

Smiling, I took it, and that familiar rush of heat filled me at his touch. Without a word, he led me out of my suite of rooms and down the winding staircase. We made our way down the long hallway until we reached a set of double doors. He pushed them open, gesturing for me to follow him inside.

I entered . . . and gasped. The room was a library. And not a small study-like library, but a massive three-story library, stuffed to the brim with books. The bright morning sun shone in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, giving it an almost magical glow.

“This is amazing,” I whispered, taking it all in. “I feel like Belle in Beauty and the Beast.”

Adrian frowned, confusion marring his handsome features. I shook my head; of course he wouldn't be familiar with a human fairy tale. “In the human world, it’s a story about a—never mind,” I said awkwardly. “How come you guys didn’t show me this room on the tour?”

"I told them I wanted to take you here for our date; they agreed to keep it a surprise,” Adrian said. “Ever since I found out you were planning to work in a museum in your world, I thought about having this library turned into a museum for the nearby townspeople. The history of Velar is all here in these books.”

I looked at him, my eyes brimming with tears. But he misinterpreted them, stepping forward to rest his hands on my shoulders.

“If you choose so, of course,” he said quickly.

“No, I’m not upset,” I said, blinking back my tears. “It’s just—this is so thoughtful.”

Adrian’s shoulders sank with relief.

“You like it?”

"That's a joke, right?" I asked in disbelief. "I love it. It’s amazing. I can see myself spending a lot of time here.“

Adrian’s smile widened, his amber eyes lighting up.

“We would like that, Liana,” he murmured. “Very much.”

The door swung open, and a smiling Berenzi brought in a tray of breakfast heaped with breads, juice and fruit.

We sat down at a breakfast table that sat in the center of the library. Berenzi left us alone, and Adrian told me he was from Sofai, a small town in the Voznes region.

"I'm the youngest of four brothers. They were fighters, but I just wanted to bury myself in books. I’m not as adventurous as Gabriel, Xavier and Noel,” he admitted. “I never would lave left Velar to travel to the human world on my own. I only did it to see you.”

I smiled, my heart fluttering at his words.

“You are welcome to bury your head in books,” I said. “I’ll be right there with you.” Looking around the library, I shook my head. “I wouldn’t know where to begin.”

But Adrian’s smile faded.

“I’ve had to put all my reading aside for the time being,” he said. “There are . . . dangers we need to attend to.”

His eyes darkened, and he looked troubled. I put down my croissant, leaning forward.

"When I came to dinner last night, you were all discussing something," I said. "What was it?"

Adrian’s face flamed, and he lowered his gaze.

"Adrian—“

“It’s not—it’s best if we don’t discuss all that now,” he said, giving me a beseeching look. “Xavier and Gabriel had their alone time with you. Can I have my time as well?"

Taking in the visible tension on his face, I softened. I would get answers out of them, but now was not the time.

"Of course," I agreed.

Adrian’s smile returned. He reached out and took my hand. We stood, and he guided me to the back of the library. There, tucked into the base of one window, was a small reading nook.

“Your own private reading area,” Adrian said, “for when you want to get away from your annoying mates.”

"You don't annoy me," I said. “You guys might get tired of me, though.”

I was still finding it hard to believe they were so enamored of me. Adrian frowned.

“That will never happen,” he said, reaching out to trace my lips with his fingertips. “I assure you.”

His eyes filled with a raw hunger, and desire of my own circled through me. My eyes dropped from his golden eyes to his full lips, and my breath hitched in my throat. Would I ever get used to their beauty?

"Liana," he rasped. He reached down to clasp the sides of my face, tilting it up to his. Even now, a faint blush stained his cheeks. I’d forgotten how shy he was compared to the others. “May I kiss you?”

"Please," I begged.

His lips descended to mine. Our kiss was fervent; his tongue probing the depths of my mouth with intensity. He moaned, pressing me close to his body. My heart hammered so wildly it was all I could hear; and his kiss consumed all my senses.

When he pulled back, he studied me, still looking shy.

"How was that?"

"Amazing," I said, smiling

“That—that was the first time I’ve done that,” he said, a blush again staining his cheeks.

I studied him in disbelief.

“That’s the first time you’ve kissed someone?”

"I knew a mate would be chosen for me,” he said, looking a little defensive. “I was always shy amongst other female vampires and fae. I wanted to wait. And when I learned I was mated to you—you were all I could think about.”

"Oh, Adrian," I whispered, a ripple of possessive pride flowing through me. He was beautiful, kind . . . and all mine.

Our lips met again. This kiss lasted longer, and when we broke apart to breathe, I took his hand and settled him down into the reading nook with me. In between kisses, Adrian told me more about his life; his lack of closeness with his brothers, his deep friendship with my other mates.

I was disappointed when our date came to an end; he had matters to attend to in the capital with the others. I resisted asking him exactly what matters they had to attend to. Instead, I decided to use my free time to practice using my magic with Nya.

To my delight, this time I could actually perform some magic with Nya’s guidance. I watched in amazement as a thread of light flowed from my hands. I wanted to do more, but she shook her head.

“We should take it slow, let your body get used to it,” Nya said. “And then we can get to the more advanced magic.”

Back in my room, I stepped out onto the balcony, taking in the gleaming grass fields, the waters of the emerald river snaking through the land, and the massive sun hovering in the sky. It was so beautiful here. And . . . I was falling for the vampires. The thought of leaving them behind and returning to my lonely life back in my world made my heart clench in protest. But I needed to know what they were hiding before I committed myself. If they refused to fully let me in . . .

I didn't let myself complete the thought.

* * *

My plan was to confront them at dinner, but to my surprise, Noel came alone to my bedroom at dinnertime.

“I thought a moonlit dinner on the river would be ideal for our date, cherie,” Noel said.

“I’d like that,” I said, smiling. I was both disappointed and relieved to postpone my planned confrontation with my mates.

Noel placed his arm around my waist, pulling me close to his tall and muscular body. I had to keep my breathing steady; a scorching heat filled my body at his nearness.

“I missed you today, cherie,” he murmured, his lips close to my ear.

“I missed you too,” I replied. I had missed all of them . . . intensely so. “And why do you keep using the French phrasing?” I asked, amused. “There’s no need for the charade. I know you’re not from my world.”

“It stuck,” he said, as he led me outside to a waiting horse. “Besides, it’s a perfect phrase. I think of you as my darling.”

I flushed as his silver eyes met mine. He climbed onto the horse behind me, pulling me close as we rode together out of the gates.

I thought we were going to the docks, but instead we rode parallel to the river until we arrived at a boat. It was a larger gondola-style version of the boat Berenzi had picked us up in; there was a table placed in its center, already heaped with food. Adan, the young boatman who had greeted us when I first arrived at the estate, helped us onto the boat, untying it from the dock as we settled in.

“Do we need to steer?” I asked nervously, as the boat drifted on its own away from the dock.

“I had Nya infuse it with a Locator spell,” Noel said. “It'll steer us back to the dock when we’re ready.”

I shook my head in amazement. I’d underestimated what magic could do in this world.

We tucked into our meal of grilled wild fish and vegetables as Noel told me about his travels all over Velar—and my world. He’d grown up in the Stryiza region, a region dominated by fae. His family was the polar opposite of Gabriel’s; they were friends with many fae families and were delighted when they learned he was to be mated with me. It was surprisingly refreshing to hear, and I felt myself relax.

“Why do you travel so much?” I asked. “Usually people who travel much aren’t crazy about where they're from.”

“I love my home . . . but I’ve always been restless. I only felt the need to stay in one place once I learned of our mating bond. But I would love to take you to explore more of Velar,” he said.

When we finished eating, I stood up, looking up to take in the multitude of stars blanketing the night sky. I inhaled the sweet-smelling air and closed my eyes. When I opened them, Noel stood before me, his silver eyes filled with desire.

“You’re beautiful, Liana,” he murmured, before pressing his lips to mine. Our kiss was slow but passionate, and when we broke apart, I was breathless with need. He pressed his forehead to mine. “We will give you as much time as you need to decide, Liana . . . but I ache for you. We all do.”

“And I you,” I whispered.

We continued to kiss as the boat drifted back to shore. To my surprise, it wasn’t Adan who was waiting by the shore for us. It was Adrian, Xavier and Gabriel. Their bodies were rigid with tension, their faces filled with worry.

“What? What is it?” I asked, as Noel helped me off of the boat.

“It’s the Superior Council,” Gabriel replied, his expression grim. “They’ve summoned you to the capital, Liana.”