"Sure, but I don't think we have that kind of connection yet. It would be really awkward." Seamus answered honestly.

He was not even confident about that answer because this woman was strange in every possible way.

'What a waste of a face,' he thought.

"Connection?" Aconite suddenly stood up and walked toward him.

Before he could react, she lowered herself onto his lap, making the table shake. Her hands settled around his neck as she studied him closely.

"Is this enough? Should I kiss you? What does kissing taste like?" She tilted her head, waiting.

Seamus stayed perfectly still as her chest smothered half his face, and only after a second did he manage to lift his head enough to breathe.

"I don't think it tastes like anything. It's different if you love the person," he said.

His hands rested on her waist, and she trembled slightly at the contact.

"I cannot know unless I try," she murmured, cupping his cheeks before pressing her mouth to his.

The kiss was awkward. Her golden eyes remained wide open, staring straight at him while he squeezed his own eyes shut in panic.

Her lips tasted strangely sweet, almost like nectar, but they made his mouth go numb.

Before he could figure out why, Madeline's voice floated over the table.

"Careful. If you kiss her too long, you'll lose all movement in your face."

Seamus quickly pushed Aconite back and snapped toward Madeline. "What?!"

Madeline shrugged. "You never heard of aconite? Wolf's bane? Beautiful flower, very poisonous."

She grinned while Seamus looked back at Aconite. Her eyes were blank again, almost doll-like as if she just started day dreaming.

"You should have told me earlier!" he shouted.

"You wouldn't touch her if I did," Madeline replied. "Though, I think she has a way for you not to be influenced by the toxin."

"Just have sex with her, Seamus. There are so many rumors about her that even vampires get scared. She doesn't know how to socialize and is always trapped in her own head. She's lonely."

"And since when do you care?" he asked, raising a brow.

Madeline leaned back in her chair. "If you met another Crimson Nectar, wouldn't you want to be friends with them?"

"Aconite is not arrogant or cruel. She's one of the few Emblems I can actually talk to. There's another one, but let's not bring him up."

Seamus rubbed his face. "So what do I do? Have sex with her now?"

Madeline laughed softly. "You'll need her when you visit the Vampire Hunter Association. She can help you there."

She stood and dusted her skirt. "As for sex, I'll let you decide."

With that, she left the forest, abandoning him with the airheaded goddess beside him.

Aconite's eyes brightened again as she focused on him. "So what do we do, Seamus?" she asked gently.

"I'm tired from the long journey. Let's wait until we have some kind of connection."

Aconite nodded. She did not argue or question him. Instead, she showed him the way out of the forest and followed quietly beside him.

She stayed with him all the way back to his room and even lay beside him while he settled into bed.

She watched him with curious eyes, like she was studying a creature she had never seen before.

"I just need to close my eyes and enjoy doing nothing to sleep, right?" she asked.

"Yes. Do Emblems not sleep?"

She shook her head. "Some of my friends sleep, and then the world turns upside down. There are Covenants that hate their Emblems and kill them when they are vulnerable."

She spoke calmly but her gaze drifted toward the window. "Though that happened thousands of years ago."

"I don't think anyone in Draemir would do that to you," Seamus said. "You're safe here."

"That is true. They are like my adorable children. Dahlia said humans are interesting creatures," she said quietly. Her golden eyes glowed softly in the dark.

The room fell into a still silence. Seamus took a slow breath. She was odd, unpredictable, and a little terrifying, but she was also breathtaking. In the darkness she looked almost otherworldly.

He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer. "This is how humans sleep. It's warm and comfortable."

Aconite relaxed into him. "You are right," she whispered.

The warmth between them settled. Seamus drifted off, deeper and calmer than usual, with a golden-eyed airhead curled against him like a strange, beautiful guardian.

***

Morning light crept into the room as the maid pushed the windows open. Seamus blinked awake while she politely asked if he wanted a bath prepared.

He nodded without thinking, still half asleep, and only when his mind finally cleared did he register the warmth beside him.

A soft weight rested near his shoulder. Acote was curled on her side, still deep in sleep. Her pink lips were slightly parted and her pale features were completely relaxed.

Her long golden hair had spilled across the bed in a bright, tangled river. She stirred a little and her golden eyes fluttered open.

"Mmm… I slept well," she murmured and pushed herself upright.

Her loose dress slipped down enough for him to see the soft curve of her chest.

He sighed and helped her adjust her clothes, trying not to think too hard about the absurdity of his new life.

The moment his hands left the fabric, his door flew open.

"Morning, Seamu—" Diane froze midstep. Her jaw dropped. "What are you doing? And who is this ridiculously pretty woman in your bed?"

Seamus nearly tripped over himself getting to her.

"Diane, relax. She is the Draemir Emblem of Enigma."

Diane stared at him like he had lost his mind.

"No, she is not. The Draemir Emblem is poisonous and has no face. Do you think I am stupid?"

Acote stood up and gave a polite little wave.

"Hello. I really am the Emblem of Enigma. You can ask Madeline. And you must be Diane Velstrath."

Diane slapped her hand away without hesitation.

"Do not touch me. I cannot believe you are adding harem members this fast. We have been here less than a day. And she is gorgeous, which is even worse."

Seamus held her shoulders before she escalated further.

"Madeline introduced us. Please breathe."

"I am breathing! Stop distracting my anger!" Diane snapped.

A voice drifted in from the hallway.

"What is all this noise?"

Isolde entered the room with a leisurely grin. She took one look at Acote, then at Seamus, then at Diane clinging to him.

"Oh. A new harem member. Wonderful." She stepped closer with amused approval.

"Have you started arranging a schedule yet? Feeding, intimacy, general attention. You are collecting quite the group. One of us will probably have to be removed at this rate."

Seamus glared at her with the tired soul of a man who woke up into a nightmare he did not order.

Diane clung tighter. "He needs to spend more time with me. This is insane."

"You already spend the most time with him," Isolde said. "You share a college. You should give everyone else space. I think you can reduce your hours."

"That does not make sense," Diane shot back.

Seamus lifted both hands. "Everyone, stop. No one is in a harem. You are your own people. Please do not make this into something it is not."

They both stared at him.

"That's bullshit, Seamus," they said together.

His head throbbed instantly.

"Seamus, you need to get rid of her."

Diane jabbed a finger at Aconite, who simply tilted her head like she was trying to puzzle out what the accusation even meant.

"No one is getting rid of anyone. There are only five of you. I can handle it."

Seamus rubbed his forehead. "And I am taking care of Aconite. She is sort of like a pet."

Diane recoiled. "That is disgusting. Is that what you like? Some kind of pet play?"

"No. That is not what I meant." He gestured helplessly at Aconite.

"Look at her. Do you think her brain cells are working together to build a single thought?"

They turn to Aconite who was just smiling with empty eyes. Her mind wasn't even there.

Before Diane could argue again, Seamus spotted Fleur walking past his open door.

"Fleur. Help me identify this woman."

Fleur paused with a slow, sleepy blink. She turned her head toward the chaos in his room, then walked inside with the resigned expression of someone who regretted waking up at all.

"What is she doing in here? Why are you not dead yet?"

She reached out without hesitation and pinched Aconite's cheek.

"Go back to your domain. You will poison them."

Aconite smiled. "I can control my poison well. They are fine. I slept with Seamus too."

Seamus threw both hands in the air. "See? She is the Emblem of Enigma. Why is it so hard to believe?"

Diane stared at Aconite with her mouth slightly open.

"Wait. Seriously? I thought you just looked like a monster because of the rumors." She put her hands on her hips.

"But you still cannot let her be part of your harem."

"How bad are the rumors?" Seamus asked.

"And she is not part of anything. She is like a pet. Or a sister who keeps following me and needs looking after."

"Really bad," Diane replied. "Also, I am your stepsister and you still sleep with me."

"Ew." Fleur gave Seamus a disgusted look. "That is gross."

Seamus groaned and pushed them all toward the door.

"You know what, get out of my room. All of you. You are too loud and it is too early for this."

"Seamus, how about the schedule for us—" Isolde started from the hallway.

He shut the door in her face before she could finish.

Silence filled the room at last. Seamus leaned against the door with a long sigh.

"Damn. They are all insane."

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