CHAPTER 42: FORBIDDEN FRUIT

That damned vampire... Every part of me, but every single part, aches. At least the pain seems to be fading gradually.

Wait!

Pain? What pain, dammit?! I’m dead. The dead don’t feel pain.

"Ahhh... my head hurts so much."

"Leo? Leo! Thank goodness, you’re finally waking up."

I don’t know why I’m hearing Rebecca’s voice. I tried to open my eyes, but my eyelids weren’t obeying, as if ignoring my command. Still, when I managed to force them open, a woman with silvery white hair and beautiful blue eyes was lying in bed with me. She looked quite worried... No, she was shedding tears. That means she’s sad.

Whoever made such a beautiful woman upset, I hope that bastard rots in hell.

"Leo? Can you hear me?"

Wait... This woman isn’t just any woman. I mean, not any ordinary woman. This woman has huge breasts.

"Rebecca?"

As soon as Rebecca heard my response, she hugged me tightly. My hearing wasn’t fully back yet, but I could hear her sobbing in my embrace. Rebecca’s warm tears dripped onto my neck, her scent. That familiar mix of lavender and scorched magic, filling my nostrils. I tried to lift my arms, but my body felt like a pile of stones; every movement made my bones groan and my muscles rebel. I was dead, wasn’t I? That damned magic arrow had pierced my stomach. So why was I still breathing? Why this pain, this warmth... this life?

"Rebecca... what happened?" I mumbled, my voice hoarse and unfamiliar. My tongue was dry, as if I’d been thirsty for days.

She loosened her hug, bringing her face close to mine. Her eyes were swollen, her lashes wet, but there was a spark in those blue depths. Hope, or just a reflection? "Leo, you... I thought you were dead. When you took that arrow, everything stopped. But... but no, you survived. The magic didn’t tear you apart; it just... knocked you out. No, more than that. That power inside you, that demon god’s power or whatever it is, protected you."

My brain slowly started working again. I remembered: The vampire’s red arrow, time slowing down, Rebecca’s scream. And then darkness. But now here I was, in a bed, in a dimly lit room. Stone walls, an old lantern burning on the ceiling. An underground shelter in Argenholt? The city’s scent still lingered in my nose. Burnt flesh, blood, and destruction.

"The vampire?" I asked, trying to sit up. Pain spread from my back, and I groaned.

Rebecca placed her hand on my chest, gently pushing me back. "Shhh, rest. The vampire... he’s dead, Leo. When you took that arrow, everything changed. The magic exploded and knocked you down, but at the same time, his mana was nearly depleted. My rage... god, with that rage, I used my new technique that I’m not fully accustomed to yet: the first ability of *Heart of the Night*. The explosion... it was incredible. The vampire screamed and disintegrated, his body turning to black ash. He didn’t escape; he’s truly dead. The soldiers cleaned up the remaining Blood Knights, the city is in ruins but saved. Thanks to you... thanks to us."

Her words filled me with a wave of relief, but also astonishment. "Dead? Really? That bastard... is that it?" I mumbled, still unable to believe it. My body still ached, but with Rebecca’s hand on my chest, that warmth softened the pain. My eyes drifted to her face, those silvery hairs, blue eyes, the curve of her lips.

Snap out of it, Leo! Don’t ruin this beautiful moment.

Rebecca smiled, but her smile was tinged with sadness; she didn’t pull her hand away. "Yes, really. But you... why did you throw yourself in front like that, you fool? To save me? Again?" There was a tremble in her voice, her eyes lost in mine. I wanted to caress her cheek, but my arms were still heavy. Instead, I replied with a playful grin.

"What can I say? I couldn’t lose a beautiful woman like you. Besides, where would I rest my head without those soft breasts?"

Her face flushed, but she couldn’t help laughing, lightly tapping my chest but gently, without hurting.

"Leo! Even in this state, you’re still joking?" She trailed off, her gaze softening, her hand slowly sliding to my neck, her fingers running through my hair. In that moment, the room seemed dimmer, the lantern’s light illuminating her face like gold. Her scent intensified, wrapping around us like a blanket.

"Who said I was joking?" I said, my voice turning serious.

"You’ve always been by my side, Reb. Thank you for that." As the words spilled from my mouth, my heart raced.

In that moment, a storm raged inside me. That familiar, comforting bond, but beneath it lay something more... a forbidden shadow. We shared the same father, the same blood. In this world, among ancient noble families, such bonds were sometimes overlooked, even seen as fate; incest wasn’t necessarily a taboo, but it would still turn most people’s stomachs, feel wrong.

Yet, that look in her blue eyes, that touch... why was it so alluring?

In that dim room, under the flickering lantern light, her face glowed like an angel’s, but angels aren’t this earthly, this inviting. My eyes drifted to her lips; slightly parted, moist and soft. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, as if not the magic arrow but these gazes had pierced me. Pain? What pain? Every ache in my body melted away with her touch, replaced by a warm wave; that wave, fueling the storm within me.

"Leo..." she whispered, her voice soft like a breeze, but hiding a storm beneath. She didn’t pull her hand from my neck; instead, she drew closer, her breath brushing my face, mixed with lavender and magic, intoxicating.

"You don’t need to thank me. You... just being alive is enough. When I saw you lying on the ground, my heart stopped." Her words trembled, her blue eyes filling with tears, but these weren’t from pain; they stemmed from suppressed passion. As her fingers caressed my hair, her nails lightly grazed my skin, each touch igniting a spark inside me.

I held back, or tried to. In our world, among noble bloodlines, bonds between siblings were sometimes part of fate; a curse or blessing from the gods, who could say? But inside me, beyond that taboo, there was something pure: a scorching desire. I hadn’t thrown myself in front just to protect her; it was to love her, to possess her.

"Reb," I mumbled, my voice hoarse; I finally managed to lift my arms. The pain was gone now, replaced only by that warmth. My hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her toward me. Our bodies touched; her soft curves against my hard lines... a perfect fit.

Her eyes widened, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, her lips drew closer to mine, hesitating for a moment, an eternity. "Is this... wrong?" She whispered, her voice fragile but full of desire.

"No," I said firmly, plunging my fingers into her hair, drawing her even closer. And then, our lips met. It started slowly, gently, but quickly deepened. Her taste was sweet and fiery. Filled me as our tongues danced.

Her hands roamed my back, her nails digging into my skin; not painfully, but pleasurably. My body had come alive; whether from that demonic power or desire, I didn’t know, but every cell awakened.

Our embrace tightened; we rolled on the bed, me on top, her beneath. Her breasts pressed against my chest, our breaths mingling. "Leo... oh God," she moaned as she kissed my neck. My fingers began untying her dress’s laces slowly, each knot like a promise.

Her skin emerged, smooth and warm like moonlight. My eyes drank her in; her silvery hair disheveled, blue eyes half-closed, lips swollen. But then she suddenly pulled back and stopped me.

"Stop... Leo. This isn’t the time for this. You’re injured," she said, breathless.

I was panting, my lips still feeling the warmth of hers, but her words hit me like a bucket of cold water. My eyes, half-closed, opened as I looked at Rebecca’s face. Those blue eyes held a swirl of emotions: desire, worry, perhaps fear. Her hands were still on my back, but the pressure was light, as if she wanted to push me away but wasn’t sure.

"Reb..." I mumbled, my voice gravelly and reluctant. My body rebelled; that fiery wave still coursed through me, but now the remnants of pain were returning, as if her warning had awakened them. The wound in my stomach throbbed, the ache in my back spread. She was right, damn it. But in that moment, the wounds didn’t matter; only she did, the warmth of her skin, her scent...

I pulled back slowly, careful not to crush her. I tried to sit up in bed, but groaned. This time not from pleasure, but real pain. Rebecca sat up immediately, placing her hand on my chest, gently leaning me back against the pillow.

"See? You’re not fully healed yet. Your body still needs time." There was a motherly tenderness in her voice, but beneath it lay that fiery gaze. Something far from sibling-like. Her face was flushed, her hair tousled, her dress’s laces half-undone. Gods, how beautiful she looked.

I cursed myself inwardly. Idiot Leo, don’t rush. Don’t ruin this moment, I repeated to myself. But that touch, that kiss... there was no going back now. The forbidden line between us had been erased, or at least blurred.

"You’re right," I admitted, taking her hand. I intertwined my fingers with hers, holding tight. "But when I’m healed, we’ll finish what we started."

Her eyes softened, she squeezed my hand but looked away, perhaps from shame or from suppressing the same feelings. "Lie down" She leaned in, planting a soft kiss on my forehead sibling-like, but the touch of her lips was still electric. "Try to sleep. I’ll go tell the others that you’re awake."

"How are they?"

The room grew quiet, the lantern’s light flickering, casting shadows on the walls. Rebecca sat on the edge of the bed, not letting go of my hand, stroking my hair with the other.

"Annabel hasn’t slept properly since the day you were injured. And Willabelle seems fine. She’s taken over the county’s affairs for you and is handling everything smoothly. Woman’s intuition or whatever, but I can sense she was very worried about you too. And that healer woman Willabelle brought along worked day and night to heal you while you were unconscious. Don’t forget to thank her."

After taking a deep breath, she continued. "As for your son, on Annabel’s advice, he drew a picture for you. I put it over there," she said, pointing to the table by the door. "I should go now. We’ll talk when you’re better."

She smiled, opened the door, and left. The room fell silent, only the crackle of the lantern and distant city sounds from outside. And there I was, facing the reality of being alive in that silence. I guess that clown called the Grim Reaper failed to take my soul once again.

Thank God.