When all was said and done, Merrick and Caralee offered Auralia a final, heartfelt thanks. Their gratitude was genuine, warm, touching even, the kind of thing that lingered in the heart long after the words themselves faded into the night air.
As they lingered near the dimming lights of the square, the group, feeling a growing fondness for their new acquaintances, asked lightly if they were staying nearby.
Merrick, ever courteous, dipped his head in a polite nod and replied, "We're staying at an inn on the outskirts of town."
The offer was made easily, a suggestion rather than a request: would they care to walk together until their paths naturally diverged? Merrick glanced toward Caralee, who gave a subtle, delighted smile, and agreed.
Together, they set off. The streets slowly grew quieter as they left the bustle behind them, the golden lamplight thinning to scattered pools of illumination along the winding road. The noise of the town faded, replaced by the gentle, rhythmic crunch of boots on cobbled stone. Buildings leaned away from each other, offering pockets of space, of cool darkness. Occasional trees reached their boughs out over the streets, dappling the path with shifting shadows.
As they walked further, the forest line grew visible—dark, almost sentient against the starlit sky. The inn stood just at its edge, a welcoming amber glow shining from its few small windows.
At last, at the boundary where their paths diverged, they stopped. Goodbyes were exchanged, warm and hopeful. There was even talk of perhaps meeting again the next day for brunch. Merrick offered a noncommittal but pleasant smile, saying it depended on whether any urgent messages awaited him by morning. If not, perhaps fate would be kind.
With that, the groups parted ways, each stepping into the deepening night.
Laughter drifted behind them.
"They were so nice," one of the girls said warmly, nudging her friend.
"And so gorgeous," another added with a giggle. "Merrick is handsome enough to be illegal."
Another voice chimed in, "And Caralee? She's… she's breathtaking. Honestly, I think they might be the most beautiful couple I've ever seen."
More laughter, sweet and light-hearted, floated into the night as they made their way to the inn.
Inside the inn's cheerful common room, Auralia clutched at her side suddenly.
"My clutch!" she gasped. Her friends turned, concern flashing across their faces.
"I swear you had it when we said goodbye," one of them said.
"I know," Auralia said, laughing lightly. "I must have dropped it outside. I'll just go back for it."
One of the girls frowned. "Don't go alone—take one of the guys."
"No, no," Auralia reassured, waving a hand. "It's just right outside. I'll be fine."
"You're sure?"
"Positive!" she said with a bright, careless smile. The others hesitated, but eventually nodded and headed upstairs, trusting her instincts.
Outside, the air was crisp and cool. The streets were emptier now, the silence profound. Auralia retraced her steps, scanning the ground. A glint of something pale caught her eye just around the corner.
She turned it—and froze.
Standing there, almost ghostly in the moonlight, was Caralee. In her outstretched hand, she held the missing clutch.
Auralia jumped, her heart pounding, but quickly laughed when she recognized her. "Oh my gosh, Cara! You startled me!"
"I'm so sorry," Caralee said, her voice soft as silk. "I saw you drop it. I wanted to return it to you."
Relief flooded Auralia. She stepped forward, smiling gratefully, and reached for the clutch. Caralee, smiling warmly, accepted her hug of thanks. But something was wrong. Something… off.
Caralee's embrace tightened subtly—firm, almost possessive. The world blurred around Auralia, spinning ever so slightly.
Before she could make sense of it, there was a rush of movement. She barely registered Merrick's presence, his strong arm slipping around both of them—then the dizzying sensation of being elsewhere.
When her feet touched the ground again, Auralia blinked against the sudden change. Trees surrounded them now. Dark, towering, whispering secrets in the breeze.
Confused, she turned in a slow circle.
"How... how did that happen?" she stammered. "Where are we?"
"In the woods," Caralee murmured sweetly, stepping closer.
Auralia instinctively backed away, only to feel the unyielding surface of a thick tree trunk at her back. She gasped as Caralee pressed her body flush against hers, trapping her effortlessly.
"What are you—" she began, but a finger pressed against her lips, silencing her.
"Ssshhh…" Caralee whispered, her breath warm against Auralia's face. A slow, almost predatory smile unfurled across her lips.
"You are so beautiful," she murmured. "Did you know that?"
Auralia, trembling, shook her head in stunned denial. Caralee clicked her tongue softly. "Tsk, tsk. No false modesty. We both know it, don't we?"
Blushing furiously, Auralia finally nodded. Caralee's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She brushed a finger slowly, almost reverently, down Auralia's cheek. The warmth of her touch rushed through Auralia's body, leaving a trail of molten need.
"Don't be afraid," Caralee soothed, wrapping her arms around her again, resting her face against Auralia's neck. "I'm not going to hurt you," she whispered.
She inhaled deeply, a shiver racing down Auralia's spine. "You smell... divine," Caralee sighed, her lips brushing feather-light kisses along the sensitive skin of her neck. Auralia gasped at the sensation. Her body sagged helplessly into Caralee's, pliant, trembling.
Caralee pulled back just slightly, their faces inches apart. Her lips parted, her gaze dropping to Auralia's mouth. With a soft, needy sound, Auralia closed the distance herself—crushing her lips into Caralee's with an urgency born of confusion and unbearable desire.
They kissed frantically, devouring one another, arms locking around necks, fingers tangling in hair. Auralia moaned into Caralee's mouth, hips bucking forward uncontrollably. Caralee responded instinctively, hiking up Auralia's skirt, sliding her knee up between trembling thighs.
Auralia whimpered, grinding desperately against Caralee's leg, chasing something she didn't fully understand but needed.
Caralee opened her eyes. Merrick was there—watching silently from the other side of the tree. She heard his voice inside her mind, calm, guiding.
"Let your instincts guide you, Cara. Let your fangs out. Lick the flesh—it will numb her. Your saliva carries the agent."
Caralee inhaled, drinking in Auralia's intoxicating scent.Their bodies writhed together, desperate, chaotic. Maintaining eye contact with Merrick, Caralee leaned in and languidly licked the delicate column of Auralia's neck.
Auralia moaned—a long, helpless sound of pleasure—and let her head fall back, offering more.
"Good girl," Merrick's voice praised. "Now find the vein. Sink your teeth in… gently."
Caralee tilted her head and bit down with careful precision.The skin parted with a soft pop, and instantly the taste of Auralia's blood filled her mouth—thick, sweet, electric.
It was beyond anything Caralee had ever imagined. Like honey mixed with starlight, warm velvet flooding her senses, igniting every nerve ending in a glorious explosion.
She swallowed slowly, savoring it, as instructed. Another gulp. Another rush of heaven crashing through her. Beneath her, Auralia clung tighter, moaning uncontrollably, grinding harder against Caralee's thigh, gasping her name.
"Enough, my love," Merrick whispered inside her mind. "Lick her wound. Let her release in gratitude."
Caralee obeyed. She licked the puncture clean, sealing the tiny wounds. Then she pressed hot kisses to Auralia's throat, tasting her sweet skin without drawing blood.
Her hands roamed lower—cupping a breast through the tight fabric of Auralia's bodice, squeezing gently, teasingly. Auralia shivered and arched into her, desperate.
Lower still, Caralee's hand slid to Auralia's round, perfect bottom. She gripped it firmly, pulling Auralia hard against her leg, grinding her against the pressure she so desperately needed.
"Oh, yes," Auralia sobbed, her hips pistoning feverishly.
Caralee moved with her, urging her higher and higher. Auralia moaned louder with each thrust, each grind. Her whole body tensed—shaking violently as the climax tore through her. She convulsed against Caralee, riding the waves of ecstasy, gasping her name like a prayer.
Finally, trembling, she sagged into Caralee's arms, utterly spent. Laughing breathlessly, she cupped Caralee's cheeks and pressed one final, lingering kiss to her lips. They kissed tenderly, lovingly, breathing each other in. Then Auralia buried her head in Caralee's shoulder—and, with a final soft sigh, fainted from pleasure and exhaustion.
Caralee caught her easily, cradling her close.
A smile curled Merrick's lips from the shadows.
Caralee kissed Auralia's forehead tenderly. "My sweet, beautiful flower," she whispered, her heart thrumming with newfound power, intoxicating and dangerously sweet. Tonight had been her first true taste of the hunt— and it was everything she had ever dreamed.