The Villains Must Win-Chapter 275: Vampire Hunt 35

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn’t awkward—it was full, heavy with the weight of what had just passed between them.

Selis knew she should say something—maybe a joke, maybe a question—but instead, she let herself sink into the moment, into the rare stillness that came after a storm.

Selis didn’t remember the exact moment she’d drifted off—only the lingering warmth of his body, the faint ache at her neck, and the delicious exhaustion that pulled her under.

When she woke, it was already the next day. The air in the chamber was cool, and though it was still dark beyond the windows, she could sense the first hints of morning. Her lashes fluttered open, and the first thing she noticed was the faint rustle of cloth.

Lucian stood at the cave entrance, already dressed in full attire. His coat hung perfectly on his tall frame, boots polished, hair neat as if nothing from last night had happened at all.

She glanced down and saw that the blankets were still tucked around her—covering her bare skin with meticulous care.

A small, sleepy smile touched her lips. He covered me?

"Lucian?" she murmured with a yawn, her voice thick with drowsiness.

He didn’t turn to look at her. "We should move. The others are waiting for us," he said, voice clipped and cool—back to the old Lucian she knew.

Selis blinked at him, the faint hope in her chest faltering.

So that’s it?

Last night’s tenderness . . . the warmth in his eyes . . . maybe it really was just wishful thinking on her part.

Still, Selis had never been one to sulk for long. She tossed the blanket aside and stood, unabashedly naked, crossing the distance between them.

Her bare feet made no sound against the cold stone floor until she pressed herself against his back, arms looping around his waist, full chests moulded against his back.

"Lucian," she cooed, letting her voice drip with mischief, "how about another round?"

Her breasts pressed against him with deliberate intent, and she felt, rather than saw, the way his body went completely still.

For one heartbeat, she thought she’d gotten through that icy armor again—until he turned.

His amber eyes swept over her once, and his expression hardened into a frown. Without hesitation, he caught her wrists and gently, but firmly, pried her arms away.

"Stop messing around," he said, his tone as sharp as a blade. "Get dressed. We’re leaving."

He turned from her, walking out of the cave.

Selis pouted behind him, hands on her hips. Was she supposed to wait until he was starving again or half-dead before he decided to be soft with her?

The strong, commanding Lucian had his charm . . . but she wouldn’t mind seeing the other side of him again.

She was still debating her odds when he suddenly stopped mid-step and glanced over his shoulder.

"Wait until we rendezvous with the others," he said, his voice low.

Selis froze, blinking. Did I just hear that right? Then her lips parted in a slow, delighted grin.

"So . . ." she laughed softly, eyes glinting with triumph, "that means we’re definitely doing it in the inn, right?"

His jaw tightened. "Shut up and get dressed."

She gave a mock salute. "Yes, captain!"

The sparkle in her eyes lingered as she pulled on her clothes, her heart beating a little faster than before.

For all his coldness, she knew she’d caught a crack in that armor—and she intended to make it wider.

====

Selis and Lucian arrived at the rendezvous city with the others just as the sun dipped behind the jagged rooftops.

The air was thick with noise—vendors shouting their last bargains, horses clattering down cobblestone streets, and the smell of roasted meat drifting from taverns.

After days of mud, blood, and swamp stench, the city felt like a different world entirely.

But rest wasn’t the first thing on their agenda. No, it was back to strategizing—the same old grim business of how to hunt down the next nest of vampires.

The group gathered in a rented hall above the inn. Maps and scrolls cluttered the table, lit by flickering candles that cast long shadows on their tired faces.

The atmosphere was tense, though it didn’t take long for Tess to break it with her usual sharp tongue.

"You," Tessa snapped, her glare fixed on Selis as though she were a rival rather than a comrade. "Why are you always glued to the Captain’s side?"

The room went still, a few heads turning to watch.

Selis only lifted her hand to her lips and laughed softly behind her palm, her eyes glinting like she’d been waiting for this moment. "Do you really want to know?" Her voice dripped with playful teasing. "You might cry if you find out."

Tessa faltered, color rushing to her cheeks. "C-cry? What do you mean by that? What did you do?"

Selis leaned back in her chair, utterly unbothered, her mischievous grin widening. She turned to Lucian with mock sweetness. "Captain, she said she wants to know what we’ve done."

Lucian pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long, weary sigh. "Stop it, you two. We’ve got enough problems without this nonsense."

The room chuckled nervously, the tension broken, but Tessa’s face was still crimson.

Selis, satisfied, stuck her tongue out like a child who’d won a petty game. Tess nearly lunged across the table, her fists tightening, but held herself back, trembling with suppressed frustration.

When the meeting adjourned, the group finally allowed themselves a breath of relief. They secured rooms at the inn, gathered their supplies, and made arrangements to return to the capital to report and receive their new mission.

For the first time in weeks, Selis had a room to herself. No campfire smoke, no swamp stench, no soldiers snoring at her side—just a quiet bed and the faint hum of the city below. She practically threw herself onto the mattress, bouncing once before sprawling across it like a cat.

"Finally," she muttered into the pillow, her voice muffled. "A real bed. No blood, no mud, no screaming monsters."