{IRIS}

That morning, I woke up feelingoff.

There was a dull ache in my lower abdomen, a familiar, unwelcome discomfort that made me shift uncomfortably in the sheets.

I blinked, groggy, stretching my arms as I turned onto my side—

And then I saw it.

Thebed.

The stark contrast ofbloodagainst the crisp white sheets.

Myperiod.

Oh . . . shit.

My entire body went rigid, a rush of panic shooting through me.

And then—I heard it.

A low, gutturalgrowl.

I turned my head slowly, dread creeping up my spine.

And there, at the edge of the bed, stoodone of the maids.

Or at least—what wasleftof her sanity.

Herredeyes were locked onto me, wide and unblinking.

Saliva dripped from her parted lips, her chest rising and falling in heavy, ragged breaths. Purple veinscrawledacross her pale skin, her claws extending, her fangs flashing in the dim morning light.

I barely had time to process what was happening before shelunged.

"AhH!"

Ithrewmyself off the bed just in time, hitting the cold floor with a thud as her claws slashed through the air where I had just been.

"Sebastian!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "LORDVAL! ANYONE?! HELP!"

The maid let out a low, inhumansnarl, her body trembling violently as she took another step forward. Her crimson gazeflickedto the bloodstained sheets, then back to me, her hunger so tangible it sent a chill through my bones.

Oh my goddess.

Oh my goddess.

I wasn’t just dealing with amaid.

I was dealing with astarving vampire.

And I had justbledin front of her.

I scrambled backward, hands shaking as I grabbed the nearest pillow andthrew itat her. It hit her face with a softpoof.

She didn’t even flinch.

"Oh, comeon," I groaned.

I grabbed the bedside lamp next andhurledit.

Crash!

That got a reaction. She flinched—just for a second—but that second was all I needed.

I bolted.

I didn’t get far.

Before I could even make it to the door, shetackledme to the ground, her claws digging into my arms.

"Ah—!" Ikickedher, thrashing beneath her weight as shepinned me down, her lips parting, her breath hot against my throat.

THIS IS IT. THIS IS HOW I DIE.

"Enough."

The entire roomfroze.

A single word.

Spoken in a voice solow,sodangerous, that even the feral maidstopped breathing.

I felt it before I even saw him.

A shadow loomed over us, an overwhelming, suffocatingpresencethat sent a primal shudder through my bones.

And then—Val was there.

His silver eyesflashed, his expression a perfect, unreadable mask ofcontrol—but I couldfeelit.

Theragesimmering beneath his skin.

Withoneswift motion, he grabbed the maid by the throat andripped her off melike she weighed nothing.

She let out a strangled, gurgling sound, her bodyconvulsingin his grip.

"You dare to lose control in my house?" His voice was deathly quiet, but the weight of his fury was enough to send a chill down my spine.

The maid gasped, choking as Valtightenedhis hold.

Her red eyes rolled back.

And then—she went still.

Just like that, she turned to ashes.

Val exhaled, his grip loosening as the ashes blew by the cold air.

I pressed a trembling hand to my chest, my heart hammering.

Silence.

Then—

A slow turn of his head.

Val’s piercing silver gaze met mine.

My mouth went dry.

I was still sprawled on the floor, tangled in the sheets, looking very much like someone who had just barely avoided getting eaten.

His eyes flickered to thebloodstained bed.

And then—back to me.

Realization dawned in his gaze.

A muscle in his jaw twitched.

Iflushed.

Hard.

"I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Lord Val," I said quickly, holding the sheets in my hands like it was my lifeline.

Val pinched the bridge of his nose, inhaling deeply—only for his silver eyes to glow even brighter as the scent hit him.

Probably my blood.

His jaw tensed, and in an instant, he swiftly covered his nose, as if trying to block out the temptation.

"You bled," he muttered. "In a mansion full of vampires."

"I-I didn’t do it on purpose," I said weakly.

Sebastian finally entered the room, his expression stony as he took in the scene—the shattered lamp, the unconscious maid, the blood.

I watched as his face tensed, his expression briefly twisting in discomfort. His eyes darkened red, turning bloodshot, the crimson hue flickering like embers.

But then—he shut his eyes, his jaw tightening as his fingers clenched into fists, holding himself back with sheer force of will.

Val sighed, rubbing his temple. "Sebastian."

"Yes, my lord?" Sebastian asked, voice strained from controlling himself.

". . . Burn the sheets."

I groaned, dropping my head against the floor.

Kill me now.

I had never felt embarrassment like this before.

In mere seconds, Sebastian moved with the speed of lightning, grabbing the sheets and disappearing out the door.

Before I could even process what was happening, Lord Val swept me up effortlessly into his arms. His grip was firm yet careful, as though I were something delicate.

My breath hitched when he carried me into the bathroom, saying nothing as he placed me gently in the bathtub.

The cold porcelain sent a shiver through me, but before I could protest, he turned on the warm water, letting it rush around me in a comforting embrace.

"Stay here," he commanded, his voice strained in a way I had never heard before. His jaw was clenched, his sharp features even more defined under the flickering candlelight. "The water will mask the scent of your blood."

That’s when I noticed—he wasn’t breathing. His chest remained perfectly still, his lips pressed into a tight line. My heart pounded as realization sank in. He was restraining himself, battling against instincts that threatened to take over.