Chapter 22

Sarah instinctively hid behind Emil, not wanting the members of the Nine Jade Guild to see her. It was no wonder they were so conspicuous, with the top-tier mages, the last remaining Earth Spirits, and the fearsome vampires naturally exuding an oppressive aura.

Noticing the girl shrinking behind him, Emil lazily curled his lips. "It's a meeting, not a party. Why make it look like a circus? Fairies just love this kind of show."

"I need to speak with the Prime Minister of the Okete tribe. You and Miss Derlin stay here. Qinglian, you stay with them."

After giving his instructions, Alexander turned and walked into the crowded group of fairies.

Emil pulled Sarah to a quieter corner. He then released her hand, put some distance between them, and stood beside her without saying a word.

She had lost interest in the lively gathering, gazing at his calm profile that revealed no emotions. He always loved to chat with her, teasing her serious demeanor. She had grown accustomed to their constant interactions, and his sudden coldness made her uncomfortable.

She tried to comfort herself, thinking that ending things might not be so bad. She had utterly failed with him and could no longer face her people. At least she could stop their relationship from entangling any further. As for the moments they shared and her fleeting, crazy thought from last night to abandon everything and stay by his side, she would bury them deep in her heart where no one could find them...

Suddenly, Emil spoke a few words to a fairy distributing food and brought back a drink. He stared at the pink liquid in the cup, sniffed it near the rim, and took a slow sip.

She had noticed the chocolate Alexander had offered her appearing in her room last night, and tonight, when she woke up, the plate was empty. No one else had access to their room, but seeing it with her own eyes now, she had to believe—he was really eating.

Why? Was it because he couldn't withstand the hunger and started trying regular food? Or was it related to the medications he was taking? In recent days, his body had lost its usual coldness and had a bit of warmth, also due to the medication?

As she pondered the connection, Emil suddenly turned his head. She couldn't avoid his gaze and stared blankly back at him.

He looked at her silently; she was puzzled, not understanding why he was staring at her without looking away.

His lips curved into a satisfied smile. "This time, there's no bartender around me."

She was stunned.

He drank half of the beverage and then abruptly pressed his lips to hers.

With his invading tongue, the cool, sweet liquid flowed into her mouth. She didn't understand his sudden passion but responded naturally. His kiss was seductive and enticing, as if they were not in public but in bed... Wait, there were people all around them!

Sarah quickly pushed him away, glancing at Qinglian, who was staring at them intently. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she angrily scolded the shameless man, "What are you doing? Don't forget we're in public!"

"I couldn't help it; I wanted to kiss you." Emil smiled roguishly. Even the unease in his heart was dispelled by the kiss. She still responded to his kiss and didn't reject him.

"You really hurt my feelings last night. I planned to ignore you for a few days to make you anxious, but I couldn't hold out any longer. I just wanted to talk to you." He lovingly traced her cheek with his finger, sighed, "Looks like you've got me wrapped around your finger."

"You're too noisy. A little quiet wouldn't hurt." Her eyes showed a faint joy, though she still refused to soften her words. His initiative to break the ice relieved her.

He smiled at her words, now able to face her contradictions with ease. He shook the glass in his hand, "That fairy said this is a drink made from nectar. What does it taste like?"

"Nectar is, of course, sweet." Could he not taste it?

He suddenly realized, "So this is what sweetness tastes like. I tasted this long ago but had forgotten what it was called."

"Why did you start eating regular food?" Watching him happily finish the drink, it was clear he enjoyed the new taste.

"Because I'm hungry." He answered matter-of-factly, pecking her cheek and whispering flirtatiously in her ear, "But I still prefer your taste."

"Wait..." His hand on her waist started to move, making her cheeks flush again. Just as she was about to push him away, he bit her earlobe and said, "Look to your right."

Sarah looked to the right as instructed, her eyes naturally falling on a cleared corner—where three people stood, two men and one woman. Their skin was smooth and pale as plaster, the men handsome, the woman beautiful, all with expressionless faces, making their exquisite features look like false masks. In those three delicate faces, a pair of crystal-clear jade eyes burned with an inhuman glow.

Sarah's palm broke into a nervous sweat. Were they what she thought they were? If so, no wonder the fairies were avoiding that corner...

"Vampires—humans cursed for their sins, deprived of the right to die, forever wandering the earth without rest. Forgotten by reincarnation and the gods, time has no effect on them. They live by night, sustaining themselves on blood. The living fear them, and ghosts revere them as guides for the dead but dare not approach them." Emil's poetic voice confirmed her suspicions.

They were indeed vampires. Sarah's confusion deepened. "Why are they here? With fairies, dragons, and guild members present, how could they let them in?"

Vampires were considered the most corrupt and vile beings, shunned by all races. Humans particularly loathed them, and the Nine Jade Guild prided itself as the first line of defense against such creatures. If they saw these three, they wouldn't ignore them.

She was about to look for the guild mages when she saw the guild leader and four others approaching the vampires.

The three vampires neither fled nor showed any wariness, watching as the five mages approached.

The guild leader took out a box, which the female vampire accepted, handing over a stack of documents in return. The two parties began to converse, occasionally joined by others.

"Does this peaceful scene surprise you?" Emil teased, watching Sarah's astonishment.