Midnight Surrender-Chapter 86 Hero and Villain (AVOT)

Daisy lay nestled in Rhain’s embrace, the golden rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Despite the morning’s brightness, they lingered in bed, basking in the afterglow of their passionate night. Daisy felt the pleasant ache in her body, a tangible reminder of their intense intimacy, but it was a sensation she welcomed without reservation.

Rhain’s gentle caresses on her neck soothed the lingering soreness from their rough play, his touch a healing balm against her sore neck. She relished the tenderness of his ministrations, no longer ashamed to admit how much she had enjoyed every moment of their shared passion.

"Are the children awake?" she murmured, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them.

"Yes. Your mother is taking care of them," Rhain replied, his voice a soft rumble that resonated with contentment.

The household had come alive again, with the servants reinstated to provide for their needs, ensuring the children lacked nothing in their new home.

"I should prepare for work now," Rhain announced, the spell of their intimacy reluctantly broken. As he distanced himself, Daisy felt a chill from the loss of his warmth, a silent protest forming in her throat.

He responded with a smile, light and affectionate, pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose. "I need to feed all of you as well," he reminded.

"I know," Daisy conceded, watching him with a mixture of admiration and a touch of melancholy as he dressed with his usual swift precision.

Wrapped in her robe, she followed him to bid farewell, but they were both taken aback by the unexpected scene outside. Helena was seated, sipping tea with Lysander, while Lucas and Lily were nearby, seemingly at ease as they enjoyed the biscuits Helena had prepared.

Rhain paused, his expression tightening at the sight of his father. The air thickened with unspoken words, their bond still not mended yet after the betrayal.

Lysander stood, acknowledging Daisy with a formal nod before turning his attention to Rhain. "I see you are on your way to work," he stated, "I thought I could escort you."

Daisy appreciated Lysander’s efforts to mend his relationship with Rhain, but this was the first time he had visited since Lucas and Lily’s arrival. Despite his imposing, unsettling aura, she was relieved to see that the children seemed at ease in his presence. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

As Rhain moved to depart, Lysander paused, turning towards Helena with a gesture of gratitude. "Thank you for the tea and lovely biscuits," he offered. His farewell to the children, "I’ll see you again, little ones," was met with wary curiosity and a small nod of farewell.

Later, as Daisy read them a story, Lily’s innocent remark about the resemblance between the story’s villain and Lysander caught her off guard. The comparison was unexpected yet strangely fitting, painting Lysander as a figure of dark power, much like the sorcerer in the tale.

"Why did he thank her for the biscuits? He didn’t even eat them," Lily pondered aloud.

Daisy offered a gentle smile, understanding the confusion behind Lily’s question. "I believe he was simply being polite," she explained, hoping to assuage any lingering doubts.

"Rhain doesn’t eat biscuits either," Lily pointed out, her brow furrowing in contemplation.

Daisy chuckled softly at Lily’s observation. "No, he doesn’t."

A thoughtful silence fell over them before Lily asked another question, her voice barely above a whisper. "When will he get hungry again?"

Daisy’s heart clenched at the underlying worry in Lily’s words, realizing that the children were waiting for a recurrence of the unsettling incident they had witnessed. She reached out to reassure her, her touch gentle yet comforting. "Well, he feeds regularly, but not as often as we do," she explained softly, hoping to alleviate any fears.

"Does he only feed on bad people? Like the hero," Lily continued, her innocent curiosity prompting Daisy to pause and consider her response carefully.

"Mostly," Daisy replied, her thoughts drifting to Rhain’s unwavering commitment to protect those he cared about, even in his weakest moments. "The hero has his own struggles, but his goal is to protect his people." She gently tucked a dark strand of hair behind Lily’s ear, "And you are his people now. His family."

Lily’s eyes sparkled, while Lucas’s expression held a deeper understanding. Though he remained guarded, Daisy noticed a subtle softening in his demeanor.

Following their conversation, both Lily and Lucas seemed visibly more at ease within the family. They were even visibly sad when Helena announced that she would be returning back home one night.

"Don’t be sad," Helena reassured them, wrapping them in a comforting embrace. "I will visit often, and you can come and stay with me too."

In the days leading up to her departure, Helena busied herself baking biscuits for the children, filling the house with the comforting aroma of home. Tiberius arrived to escort her back, but Daisy sensed there were more future arrangements between them. She was pleased to see her mother finally accepting Tiberius into her life, finding solace in the companionship he offered.

Kissing Lucas and Lily goodbye and assuring them one last time that they would be seeing each other often, Helena got into the carriage before it rolled away. Daisy could feel the hint of sadness in the air before Rhain abruptly cut them off.

"Alright!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "I will count to thirty, and then it’s time to hide. The last one found will have their feet tickled."

Lily and Lucas eagerly anticipated the game, their excitement palpable as they prepared to dart off and find hiding spots as soon as Rhain began counting. Daisy joined in, playing along as if Rhain couldn’t hear their every breath.

Rhain, however, knew just how to make the game thrilling for them, prowling through the mansion with a playful menace, letting them slip away before giving them a good fright now and then.

He caused the atmosphere to shift, the mansion taking on a slightly eerie aura that tingled with anticipation. Lily and Lucas sensed it too, the thrill of the game intensifying as they darted from one hiding spot to another.

Despite the slight edge of spookiness, Rhain’s presence infused the night with excitement, keeping them on their toes until exhaustion finally overtook them, and they drifted off to sleep with smiles on their faces, the day’s adventures still fresh in their minds.