Hold me Like a Knife - Chapter 12: At the End of a Long Night

“You kiss me like that and believe I’d just let you go to bed?”

“I thought the blood would distract you, yeah.”

“Wretched woman,” he breathes, shaking his head. Are his pupils always this wide in the dark or is it the blood? She’s not sure.

“Oh, so you didn’t enjoy it? Then why are you here?”

“I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Liar,” she snorts, smiling. Halia takes a step closer as she speaks, watching the way his gaze traces every movement. His mouth is still curved in an almost smile as he appraises her, so she can’t help but break his line of thought by saying, “You’re so adorable when you’re thinking of what to say.”

Astarion had known the woman's face immediately - Thalia Dhune, the golden daughter of Baldur's Gate. The princess of the upper city. How many times had Cazador sent him after her - wanting to claim the socialite as a trophy to add to his awful collection? At least now he wouldn't have to go back to his master empty handed, should the tadpole situation not work out in his favor.

(or: what if the Dark Urge was a noble woman, perfect and popular, and her father's favorite fox in the henhouse. and of course, what if our dear vampire knew of her before the crash?)