Erich arrived at the university entrance, the student crowds parting around him. The girls stared, a mixture of admiration and practiced familiarity on their faces—they all knew him, the enigmatic chairman of Bennett Holdings. Erich barely registered them. His eyes were fixed on the flow of students, his heart thrumming with anticipation for Bettina.
She finally emerged, beautiful and vital in her university attire. Her eyes lit up when she spotted Erich standing by the car, and a surprised smile broke across her face.
"Erich, what are you doing here?" she asked, pleased and slightly breathless.
A genuine smile spread across Erich's face, a rare sight that made his own heart swell. "I just felt like taking a drive," he said, opening the door for her. "I thought I'd pick you up myself."
As Bettina slid into the passenger seat, her friends watched, mouths agape. "Girl, who is that?" one of them gasped, fanning herself dramatically. Bettina laughed, feeling a rush of excitement and happiness as the expensive sedan pulled away from the curb.
Once on the road, Bettina watched Erich. She noticed how the skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled when he concentrated on the traffic, and she felt a nervous flutter in her chest. She wondered if, just maybe, there was a deeper meaning to their relationship than she had believed.
Erich couldn't help but steal quick, lingering glances at her profile. With her presence beside him, an impossible sense of calm washed over him—a simple, human peace he hadn't known in centuries. When Bettina, sensing his gaze, she turned and caught his eyes, Erich quickly looked away, trying to play it cool.
"Erich," Bettina broke the strained silence, her voice soft with curiosity. "Can I ask you something?"
Erich nodded, his eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead. "What is it, Bettina?"
She hesitated. "I was just wondering... why did you pick me up? Frank was supposed to be here."
Erich's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his mind racing for an explanation. "I told you, I felt like driving."
Bettina looked at him skeptically. "You never take a drive, Erich. You're not one for small talk. What's going on?"
Erich's eyes flashed with a hint of warning, but he instantly suppressed it. "Nothing is going on, Bettina. I just wanted to spend some time with you."
The air in the car thickened, the silence now a palpable pressure. Bettina sensed the evasion in his words. Erich's gaze flickered toward her, intense and compelling. "Let's just enjoy the drive, shall we?" he said, his voice low and smooth.
Bettina's eyes narrowed slightly, but she decided to drop the subject. Instead, she turned to look out the window, watching the vibrant cityscape gradually give way to more rural scenery.
As they approached the house, Erich's mind was elsewhere—on Bettina, on his intense need to protect her. When they stepped into the living room, Bettina's attention was immediately drawn to a man standing there. He was as tall as Erich, with sharp, chiseled features and piercing blue eyes that held an unnerving sparkle.
Erich's expression immediately hardened. "Bettina, this is our guest," he introduced him, his voice clipped and neutral.
The man nodded politely, a charming smile on his face. "Nice to meet you, Bettina," he said, his voice deep and smooth. Bettina felt a shiver of awe as she returned the smile.
But Erich's next words abruptly shattered the moment. "Bettina, please go to your room. Your lunch will be brought up. You should stay in your room and study; I need to talk to our guest."
Bettina nodded, accepting the dismissal with a pang of disappointment. Erich's face was firm, and she knew better than to argue. "Okay," she said, turning to leave. As she walked away, she glanced back. The guest was watching her with an unreadable, intense gaze that sent a definite shiver down her spine.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Erich whirled on his brother, Arnold. The air in the room became heavy with years of familial tension.
"Erich, I was sent by Mother and Father," Arnold said, his voice low and serious. "They're warning you. You are playing with fire getting involved with this human, Bettina."
Erich's expression turned to ice, his eyes narrowing. "What business is it of theirs? They broke the ancient laws themselves. Grandfather broke them. Why should I be any different?" his voice dripped with disdain.
Arnold sighed, his eyes pleading. "You know it's not just their business. It's the law, Erich. They were supernaturals consorting with other supernaturals. But Bettina is human. She is weak to be by your side, and you are next in line for the throne. You know it's forbidden to have a relationship with a human."
Erich's jaw clenched, his fists balling at his side. "I am not afraid of them. I can protectmyself."
Arnold's voice rose in urgency. "You're not just thinking about yourself! You're thinking about Bettina. Do you want to put her in danger? You know the consequences when the High Council gets involved."
Erich's cold mask faltered for a moment, his eyes flashing with raw concern for her safety. But he quickly regained his composure. "I will handle it, Arnold. You can tell Mother and Father that I am not going to stop."
Arnold's shoulders slumped, his face etched with worry. "Erich, please. Don't do this." The warning hung between them, a desperate plea. Though Erich was clearly not going to back down, Arnold's words had successfully planted a sharp, cold seed of doubt in his mind about Bettina's fate.