"I love you, Jacob," she whispers.

The words hit me square in the chest. I brush my thumb across her cheek. "I love you too."

Aleena props herself up slightly. "I need to take the pill that fakes pregnancy. Just in case anyone asks questions about my virginity when we visit my family."

She waves her hand in a graceful motion. A small round blue pill materializes in her palm, glowing faintly. She pops it into her mouth, swallows smoothly, and swings her legs off the bed. I watch her stand, completely naked. Her curvy figure sways with every step as she walks toward the bathroom—hips rolling, ass perfectly shaped, long hair cascading down her back. The urge to grab her from behind stirs inside me again, but I push it down for now.

I throw the duvet aside and follow her. The bathroom feels luxurious, with polished tiles, a spacious shower stall, and soft lighting. Steam rises quickly once I turn on the water. Aleena steps beneath the spray first. I join her, sliding the glass door shut behind us. Hot water cascades over our bodies. I grab the soap and run my hands over her shoulders, down her arms, across her chest and waist. She leans back against me, letting me wash her. My fingers trace every curve while she sighs softly. She turns and returns the favor, her slick hands gliding over my chest, my stomach, and lower. We kiss beneath the water, slow and lingering, our bodies pressed together. The heat, the steam, and her touch make everything feel intimate and right. We take our time. I hold her close, savoring the way she fits against me until the water begins to cool.

We dry off with thick towels and return to the bedroom. I feel refreshed, my muscles loose from the shower. Aleena looks radiant, her skin glowing and her hair damp and tousled.

A sharp knock sounds at the door.

I quickly pull on a pair of pants and open it. Pico stands there, ears perked and eyes bright with mischief. She steps inside without waiting for an invitation and glances between Aleena and me.

"I could hear you two going at it last night," she says cheerfully. "Aleena was really loud."

Aleena’s face turns bright red. She clutches the towel tighter around herself. "Was I really that loud?" she asks, sounding embarrassed.

I grin and pull her against my side. "I don’t mind at all. I love hearing your moans. They drive me crazy in the best way."

Pico giggles. Her ears flutter happily at the playful tension in the room. Aleena shakes her head but smiles despite the blush. We dress quickly—putting on fresh clothes from our bags feels great after yesterday’s travels. I make sure everything is packed before we head downstairs to check out.

At the reception desk, the same half-demon receptionist with the tattoos handles our departure. I settle the final details while Aleena and Pico wait nearby. The lobby looks just as impressive in daylight, sunlight pouring through the tall windows onto the marble floors.

We step outside into the bright morning of Garegror. The tiled roads gleam beneath the sun. Streetlights stand silent now, and people already move about their day. The air carries the fresh scent of flowers and baked bread from a nearby vendor.

I slide into the driver’s seat while Aleena settles beside me and Pico climbs into the back. The car doors click shut. I press a button on the dashboard, and the vehicle hums to life. With a smooth pull on the controls, I activate flight mode. The tires lift off the tiled road, and we rise steadily into the air. Wind rushes past the windows as I bank gently and follow Aleena’s directions. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Head northwest," she says, her voice calm but carrying a hint of nostalgia.

We soar over Garegror’s outskirts. Buildings shrink beneath us. I keep the car steady, the flight smooth and exhilarating. Less than half an hour passes before the landscape begins to change. Aleena points ahead.

"This is Ethoestan. The country where I was born."

I glance at her. "Before going to the academy in Luladel?"

She nods. "I refused to return home after graduation."

I look down through the windshield. Lush greenery blankets everything, exactly as I expect from high-elf territory. Trees and plants fill every available space—no barren patches, no stark stone dominating the view. Houses and buildings blend seamlessly with the foliage, vines climbing walls and flowers blooming across rooftops. Massive trees tower over the land, their trunks thick and ancient, branches spreading wide like protective arms. Many of them are hundreds of years old. The elves clearly nurture their forests, because the timber supply here dwarfs anything they could ever consume.

We approach a small town. I reduce altitude and prepare to descend. The place looks quiet and less developed than the city, but peaceful.

"Descend here," Aleena instructs.

I ease the car downward and switch it back to ground mode on a wide street. The tires touch down softly. I drive slowly, taking in the sights. Many houses rise from the hearts of enormous trees, with elegant staircases spiraling around the trunks. It creates the perfect illusion of a grand storybook home while using only the footprint of a simple bungalow. Some trees even support two stacked homes, their levels connected by graceful bridges and stairs. The architecture celebrates the living wood instead of fighting against it.

Aleena suddenly points ahead. "Turn into that courtyard."

I steer the car through a wide entrance. Dense trees and vibrant plants line the path, their leaves rustling in the breeze. A straight road cuts through the greenery. I drive forward slowly, curiosity building. How does her parents’ house sit on such expansive grounds? The foliage gradually parts, and a large bungalow comes into view.

Crafted from fine brown wood, the structure looks both sturdy and beautiful. Intricate carvings adorn the beams and frames. Warm light glows through multiple windows. I pull the car to a gentle stop in the clearing before the house.

Just outside the balcony, a woman stands with her back to us. She wears a flowing lilac gown beneath a brown leather jacket. She bends slightly, watering a patch of colorful flowers near the balcony entrance. Her movements carry a natural grace.

I park the car smoothly near the house. Before I can even shut off the engine, Aleena suddenly shouts, "Mom!" pure joy ringing through her voice. She flings the door open and sprints toward the woman in the garden.

The woman turns around just in time. Aleena jumps straight into her arms. The watering can falls to the ground as the woman catches her daughter and hugs her tightly.

"Aleena!" she cries, her voice filled with shock and happiness.

From inside the car, I get a clear look at her face. She looks almost exactly like Aleena—the same beautiful brown hair, the same elegant features—except for a small, delicate mole beside her nose and a more mature, refined expression. She seems slightly taller than Aleena, standing around five feet compared to Aleena’s 4’11". Her figure is fuller and more womanly, with wider hips and noticeably larger breasts pressing against her simple gardening dress.

Compared to Aleena, her mother has wider hips and a fuller figure. I can’t tell exactly how old she is because elves age incredibly slowly and can live for hundreds, even thousands, of years. By human standards, though, she looks like she’s in her early thirties. Aleena will probably grow into a similar mature beauty someday.

I step out of the car alongside Pico, who looks strangely composed and calm, her tail held perfectly still. I have to admit, Pico usually acts intentionally cute and innocent around me just to earn extra pets and attention. Seeing her professional side now is almost jarring.

As Pico and I walk closer, Aleena’s mom finally notices us. Her eyes widen dramatically when they settle on my tall frame. I can clearly see the surprise on her face when she realizes I’m a vampire. Her grip on Aleena tightens briefly.

Aleena quickly walks back to me and hooks her arm around mine possessively. "Mom, this is Jacob. He’s my fiancé."

I bow my head politely. "It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Jacob, and this is Pico, my assistant."

Pico bows respectfully beside me. "It’s an honor to meet you."

Aleena’s mom stutters for a moment, clearly caught off guard.

"You... you are all welcome here. My name is Tiriana Fenagors."

She forces a bright smile, but I catch her glancing at me from the corner of her eye, probably wondering how her daughter ended up engaged to a vampire.

She gestures toward the house. "Please, come inside. You must be tired from the journey."

I nod and follow her, keeping Aleena close by my side. Pico trails behind us quietly, carrying her small box of luggage.

We step into the house. The interior feels warm and welcoming, filled with the scent of fresh flowers and herbs. Tiriana leads us to a comfortable sitting area and gestures for us to sit.

"I’ll prepare some tea," she says, still glancing at me occasionally with a mixture of curiosity and lingering surprise.

===

[A/N: I tried using AI to edit my Chapters, but I think it kept messing up my writing style. My editor is currently on holiday, so I’ll stop using AI for editing. That means Chapter releases will be a bit slower for now.]