-Lucien Draven:
The scent of sizzling eggs and butter filled the kitchen, blending with the aroma of freshly baked bread. I stirred the pan absentmindedly, watching the yolks firm up, their golden color almost hypnotic in the soft morning light streaming through the castle windows.
Cooking had always been something of a ritual for me—one of the few things that grounded me and gave me a sense of normalcy.
In my father's court, food had been nothing more than blood, a necessity for survival for vampire. But here, in this place that was starting to feel like a home, breakfast was something else entirely.
A small pleasure. A quiet moment before the chaos of the day.
The sound of soft footsteps behind me pulled me from my thoughts. Before I could turn, warm lips pressed against my cheek.
"Good morning," Elara murmured against my skin before stepping past me to grab her plate.
