Thank You

-Lucien Draven:

The scent of sizzling eggs and butter filled the kitchen, blending with the aroma of freshly baked bread. I stirred the pan absentmindedly, watching the yolks firm up, their golden color almost hypnotic in the soft morning light streaming through the castle windows.

Cooking had always been something of a ritual for me—one of the few things that grounded me and gave me a sense of normalcy.

In my father's court, food had been nothing more than blood, a necessity for survival for vampire. But here, in this place that was starting to feel like a home, breakfast was something else entirely.

A small pleasure. A quiet moment before the chaos of the day.

The sound of soft footsteps behind me pulled me from my thoughts. Before I could turn, warm lips pressed against my cheek.

"Good morning," Elara murmured against my skin before stepping past me to grab her plate.