Boaz’s jaw clenched. He glanced around and caught people watching them.
Not here.
Without another word, he grabbed Alexander’s hand and dragged him away, pulling him into the darkness beyond. He didn’t think about where he was going, he just needed to yell at him in private. And somehow, his feet carried him to the meadow.
“Wow…” Alexander’s voice broke the tension, filled with awe. He stepped forward. And only then did Boaz realize he was still holding his hand.
Boaz dropped it immediately.
Why did he keep doing that?
He rubbed his hands together, turning away, trying to shake off the strange feeling crawling up his arms.
“It looks better than my dreams,” Alexander said, moving ahead slowly. He walked into the meadow like he belonged there, his fingers brushing over the flowers glowing softly under the moonlight.
Boaz frowned, watching him.
Something about the way he moved, the way he smiled as he touched the petals, it caught Boaz off guard.
He looked… beautiful.
Boaz’s chest tightened.
He looked away quickly, something uneasy flickering through him.
“The air is even fresher than I imagined,” Alexander murmured, still exploring. He plucked a flower gently and brought it to his nose, inhaling deeply.
Boaz followed Alexander despite himself. “How can you dream about this place when you’ve never been here before?”
“I don’t know,” Alexander said. “But I dreamt it. I could feel the wind on my skin… smell the flowers.” He glanced around, his eyes glowing. “I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s… beautiful.”
“I thought your snow-covered mountains were more beautiful than my meadow,” Boaz said, looking around them.
“Your meadow?” Alexander repeated, one brow lifting.
“You know what I mean,” Boaz muttered, irritation slipping into his tone. He hated how easily the vampire could make him feel off-balance. “So, you admit it’s better than your mountains.”
Alexander didn’t answer. He just kept walking, brushing his fingers over the flowers as he passed.
Boaz smirked faintly. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
A strange, almost giddy feeling stirred in his chest at the small win.
“Oh… wow,” Alexander breathed, coming to a stop. Boaz stepped up beside him and followed his gaze.
Tiny lights blinked in the air around them, drifting lazily through the meadow.
“They’re fireflies,” Boaz said, reaching out and catching one gently in his hand. He held it out for Alexander to see, the soft glow pulsing between his fingers.
Alexander leaned in, his face glowing with wonder. He reached out carefully and touched the tiny creature.
His fingers brushed across Boaz’s palm.
Boaz’s breath hitched. Warmth spread through him instantly, sending a faint tingle up his arm. He bit the inside of his cheek, forcing himself to stay still.
“I’ve never seen them before,” Alexander said, his voice filled with awe.
“Have you lived in the mountains your whole life?” Boaz asked, his voice a little tight as he fought the urge to pull his hand away. He didn’t want Alexander to notice. Didn’t want him to see the effect he had on him.