"I might not return tonight," George said as his wife came out to see him off.
Laura was naturally worried, but she understood the urgency of the matter. "There are plenty of other soldiers. Can’t they keep watch while you get some rest?"
Even so, understanding the severity of the situation did little to ease the concern weighing on her heart.
He had been outside all day, barely eating and hardly resting. She knew the entire task was under his command, but she did not want him pushing himself to the point of exhaustion merely because he felt responsible for seeing it through.
George turned toward her and gently cupped her cheek. His voice softened as he spoke.
"It isn’t often that Father is impressed by something I do. This should keep his mouth shut for a while. So let me see it through."
Laura let out a quiet sigh but did not press him any further.
"Just make sure you eat something," she said.
George nodded.
The two exchanged a brief kiss before Laura finally turned and walked back inside.
The others had already retired to their rooms for the evening.
Laura lingered for a moment, then decided she should take a bath before going to bed.
However, the moment she stepped into her room, the faint smile on her face vanished.
Her brows drew together as she stared ahead.
"What’s the meaning of this?" Laura demanded, staring at the man lounging on her bed with a smirk playing across his face.
Bran slowly rose to his feet.
"Do you know why a demon was spotted near our village, yet we failed to notice it?"
The question caught her off guard, but she maintained her scowl.
"Why does that concern me? Get out before I lose my patience."
"Because there is no High Priest in the city. If there had been one, not only that demon, but anything else lurking in the shadows would have been discovered."
Bran’s tone remained almost casual, his narrowed eyes fixed intently on Laura.
Her heart began to race.
Suspicion crept down her spine as she realized what he was implying. There was no way she could get caught now.
Not by this man.
She stepped closer, forcing herself to remain composed.
"I don’t care about High Priests or whatever nonsense you’re spouting. I do know that you’re intruding on my private space, and I won’t tolerate it."
Bran remained perfectly still, not a trace of nervousness crossing his face.
In the past, the mere edge in her voice would have been enough to make him back down.
Not anymore.
Instead, he simply shrugged.
"If you want to do this the hard way..."
His hand suddenly shot to his belt, drawing a knife in one swift motion.
Before Laura could react, Bran seized her and slammed her against the wall.
Her eyes widened.
She immediately drove both hands against his chest with all her strength, forcing him to stagger backward.
A sharp sting spread through her wrist, and the crimson streak glistening along his blade told her that something far more serious had just happened.
Bran grinned as he produced a small vial and carefully collected the thick droplets of blood.
"What’s the meaning of this?" Laura growled, clutching her wounded hand. Thankfully, he had not cut deeply enough to sever a vein, but that was hardly her concern.
Bran merely shrugged.
"I’m going to feed this to your beloved husband. I’ve heard it brings married couples closer."
Laura’s heart lurched.
"Utter bullshit. Don’t you dare give it to anyone."
Panic was beginning to rise within her. She had suppressed her powers for far too long, yet the potency of her blood remained unchanged.
And if Bran somehow managed to feed it to George...
No.
She could not let that happen.
"Give it to me. You’ll only end up making someone sick."
She lunged for the vial, but Bran easily sidestepped her and retreated toward the door.
"Well, since you’re so worried about your husband, perhaps I should take it to the church instead."
Laura’s breath caught.
No.
No, no, no.
Maybe consuming it would not cause any immediate harm, but a member of the Church would recognize her blood the moment they examined it.
Panic erupted in her mind.
Her suppressed power surged through her body, and in an instant, her speed doubled.
She crossed the room before Bran could react and slammed him against the wall.
Thud!
Bran groaned from the sudden impact. The increase in her speed and strength had caught him completely off guard, but his grip on the vial remained firm.
Laura snarled as she seized his wrists and pinned them against the wall.
"You are a fool for confronting me like this. No one in this world loves you enough to question me if I kill you right here."
Bran let out a brief chuckle despite the pain.
"Finally showing your true colors, eh?"
His knee suddenly drove into her stomach.
Laura’s grip loosened for a moment, and Bran seized the opportunity to wrench himself free.
"You can’t win against me," Laura said.
Her eyes began to glow a faint crimson, and the bloodlust radiating from her was so intense that Bran could feel his skin crawl.
[Host, you have not rested sufficiently to restore your Lumina. You will not be able to use your Demon Hunting Class for long.]
The warning was hardly necessary. Bran already knew.
Laura, however, did not.
"I’ve already hunted a demon before, so I’m confident I can at least put up a good fight against you."
He lowered his voice, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"I just need to make enough noise for the soldiers outside to come running. Then they’ll see exactly what my dear sister-in-law is capable of."
Laura’s expression tightened.
Demons were beings humanity could never forgive. No matter the circumstances, the moment her true nature was exposed, there would be no mercy.
She knew that.
Even her husband would not be able to protect her if the truth came to light.
If only he hadn’t stabbed her first.
For the first time, uncertainty flickered across her eyes.
"What exactly do you want from me?"
Bran’s lips stretched into a knowing grin.
"Now we’re talking."