Page 80 of Sweet Venom

The room was everything I didn’t know I needed. The walls were a deep burgundy, rich and bold with an air of elegance. The four-poster bed was enormous, the kind that could fit a dozen people with black satin sheets. Dark wood furniture gave the room a classic, timeless feel, yet it still managed to look sleek and modern. The marble floors gleamed, almost like a mirror.

Shelves lined the walls, stacked with books—each one carefully chosen, as if they held secrets waiting to be discovered.

And then, there was the view. The bay windows opened up to a rose garden, the flowers still blooming under the moonlight. The soft glow from the moon made everything look magical. I stood there for a while, taking it all in, not sure how to describe the feeling—maybe just awe. It was peaceful, calm, like this place was meant for me.

I took a deep breath, trying to take in the overwhelming beauty of the space. This is insane, I thought. I never, in a million years, would’ve imagined ending up here—at a place like this,with Azariel. It didn’t seem like him at all. And yet, here we were.

Being here felt like stepping into another realm, one that made me want to stay forever.

Which was dangerous.

I was pulled from my thoughts by a soft little meow.

Prince.

I turned to see my cat perched on a chair by the window, his almost-white eyes glinting in the dim light. He looked as dignified as ever, his fluffy tail swishing back and forth as if he approved of the manor and liked it more than our cozy little apartment.

“Feels like home to you too, huh, furry demon?” I muttered, sitting down on the bed and patting the space next to me. “I mean, look at this room. It’s like something out of a modern vampire movie. Did your room in hell look like this one too?”

Prince blinked lazily at me, as if he were above my insults wrapped in sarcastic conversation. But then he hopped onto the bed, circling me as though he were a tiny, furry king claiming his domain. When he curled up beside me, I stroked his soft fur. I do love my cat—dearly. And I truly believe he loves me too, deep, deep down. If he didn’t care for me at least a little, he would’ve found a way to murder me in my sleep by now.

“You know,” I continued, my voice quieter now as I let my thoughts slip out. “Azariel... I don’t understand him. He’s all icy and impossible to figure out. But then he does things like... this. Things like today. And it’s like he’s not even the same person. I don’t know what’s happening. What do you think?”

Prince responded with a single, disinterested meow. He stretched out beside me, curling into a perfect ball and closing his eyes. Of course, he couldn’t care less.

I sighed, leaning back against the soft pillows. “This feels like I’m dreaming it all…”

Prince shot me a quick, dismissive glance, as if silently judging me. I rolled my eyes when he turned away. Then, fed up with his bitchiness, I got up from the bed, walked to the window, and sat down.

A storm was coming.

Lightning cracked across the sky, illuminating the large garden below. Soon after, rain began to fall. The sound was calming—its steady rhythm pulling me into a trance as I stared out the window. There was something about thunderstorms I absolutely loved. Maybe it was the raw, dangerous energy or maybe it was the way the sky looked when it raged: beautiful and terrifying all at once. Just like Azariel.

But as I sat there, watching the storm and listening to the howling wind, I felt a sudden urge to see more. I knew sleep wouldn’t come, even though I was exhausted from the day.

Snooping around Azariel’s home probably wasn’t the most moral thing to do as a guest, but it wasn’t like he had told me not to. And this place… it was magnificent. I knew there had to be more to it than what he’d shown me so far.

Do it…

With a quiet sigh, I stood up and glanced at Prince. He was already fast asleep. Good. He needed his beauty sleep—otherwise, he’d be even more of an asshole tomorrow. And nobody wanted to deal with that.

I crept out of the room, not knowing where I was going or what I was even looking for—maybe something that would reveal what was on Azariel’s mind... and maybe his heart. I needed clues. Anything to help me understand how this place fits into the story. Into our story.

But what I found was something I never could have anticipated.

I rounded a corner and came face-to-face with an enormous, arched black wooden door. Intrigued, I pushed it open—only to find a room that took my breath away.

A library. But not just a library.

It was massively larger than any library I’d ever seen. The high ceilings were lined with dark wooden beams, and the shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, covering every inch of the room. Each one was filled with thick, heavy volumes that looked brand new.

There was something about this room that felt like it was calling out to me.

It was beautiful, gothic, and timeless... just like the rest of the manor.

Wanting to see more of it, I stepped inside, my heart racing as I took in the sight of it all. The room was a perfect blend of old-world charm and quiet and modern majesty. The walls were lined with black bookshelves, stacked with rows of books that seemed to go on forever. The air smelled like dust and leather, mixed with the faintest hint of vanilla.

I loved vanilla and the smell of old books.

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