Chapter 11: How to Court a Hunter

“Thank you.” Rosaline held her close. “I never expected to fall in love with anyone after she died. I gave up on living and simply existed to perform my duties as a de Clairmont and an inquisitor. Then you burst into my throne room and challenged me.” She pushed Diana away so she could look into her eyes. “Your eyes burned with passion, and your voice rang out to return color to my world. You had so thoroughly captivated me that I forgot to draw a sword to block your first attack.”

Diana looked away as Rosaline made her blush yet again. “That’s not fair…,” she muttered. A pang of jealousy hit her, even if she felt jealous of a woman who had passed years ago.

Rosaline gently caressed her cheek. “I won’t push you into anything that may make you uncomfortable, nor will I be so forward,” she promised.

“N-no! It’s fine! I just…, as I said, I’ve never been in a relationship before,” Diana assured her. She heard the sincerity in Rosaline’s voice, and she wanted to answer in kind. “I don’t know how relationships are supposed to work, or what I’m supposed to do.”

Her bashful voice and expression brought a tinge of pink to Rosaline’s cheeks. “Well, what do you want to do?”

Diana looked away. “I…don’t know.”

Gods, she is so cute. Rosaline put her finger under Diana’s chin to move her gaze back. “Really?” She leaned in just a little bit, enough to entice a nice reaction from her dear hunter. She heard the flustered girl’s heart race as she struggled to say something. “You’re such a pure maiden, my dear, sweet Diana.”

The hunter growled. She was tired of letting every little tease and comment unsettle her heart. She easily lifted Rosaline into her arms and carried her to the bed like the princess she might have actually been for all Diana knew.

Rosaline’s heart skipped a beat as Diana carried her to the bed. Diana’s change in demeanor both surprised and delighted her. The hunter unceremoniously pinned her to the bed and straddled her waist while holding her hands above her head. Diana looked down at the vampire, a predatory look boring into her soul.

Diana almost lost her composure when she saw Rosaline’s cheeks turn pink. She looked vulnerable beneath her. The hunter’s heart raced in her chest with excitement and anxiety. Her temper carried her to Rosaline’s bed, and now she didn’t know what to do next.

She relied on her training: when a hunter has their prey cornered and vulnerable, they press their attack until the mission is complete. Diana leaned down and planted a fierce kiss on her prey’s soft and inviting lips.

The hunter was a bit awkward with her kiss, but her passion more than made up for it. Rosaline returned the kiss with pure glee. She could obviously break free of Diana’s hold and even reverse their positions. However, she liked seeing Diana take control. She had been leading things since they met, and it was only fair to let the hunter take her natural place on top of her prey.

Diana pulled away and took deep breaths. She didn’t even realize that she was holding her breath. Her anger vanished, leaving only affection and desire.

Rosaline gave her a coy smile. “What will you do with me now? You have me at your mercy. I can’t possibly fight back against such a great vampire hunter~.”

Diana blushed, her anger returning. “Y-you damn cat in heat.”

Rosaline raised an eyebrow. “Says the woman who carried me to bed and pinned me down.”

Diana couldn’t offer a retort. “Well….” She took a deep breath. “Fine, I…might like you, but I want my first relationship to be, you know, normal.”

“Normal?” Rosaline was confused.

“You know, having dinner, dancing, before we even kiss. The normal order of things.”

“Oh, a human courtship,” Rosaline gathered.

“I am human,” Diana reminded her, an annoyed look masking her features.

Rosaline lightly chuckled and broke out of Diana’s hold as she sat up. She gently wrapped her arms around Diana’s waist as the hunter sat on her lap. “Very well, we’ll do things properly,” she agreed. “As much as we can. We may have gone out of order.”

“And whose fault is that?! Who seduces their assassin?!”

“What sort of assassin allows themselves to be seduced?”

Diana was at a loss yet again.

“When we arrive at Glendon, I’ll ask for your parents’ permission to court you,” Rosaline began, alarming Diana. “I’m holding a ball at my castle in two months. We may dance there as much as we like.”

“Wait, about my parents,” Diana began.

“Yes?”

“They’re hunters too, you see. I don’t know how they’ll react to, you know, their daughter being with a vampire.”

“Well, I certainly wouldn’t allow their opinion to stop me, but I understand your concerns. I’ll do my best to win them over.”

Diana smiled sweetly. “Thank you.” Rosaline leaned forward to kiss her. Diane intercepted her with a finger to her lips. “We’ve not even had dinner or danced yet,” she remarked in a coy tone.

“What a bold hunter I have to put her finger near a vampire’s mou-” Diana interrupted her by placing a finger on one of her razor-sharp fangs. She trusted Rosaline not to bite down, a trust that did not go unnoticed by the vampire.

Diana removed her finger and flashed the vampire a cute smile. Rosaline formed a predatory grin and held firmly onto Diana’s hips. “I will make you pay for that in the near future,” she swore. “I will rend the clothes from your body.” She traced a clawed finger along the hunter’s waist, sending chills through the hunter. “Then I will leave behind far more than playful nibbles.”

Her demeanor suddenly became more upbeat. “Until then, why don’t you and I make use of the kitchen? Cooking together is very much part of the normal order of things.”

Diana stepped back and off of Rosaline’s lap. “Sure. I haven’t cooked in a while.” She offered a hand and helped the vampire stand up.

“What do you typically cook?”

“Rations for when we’re on the road,” Diana answered simply.

Rosaline briefly chuckled and hooked her arm around Diana’s. “Come, I’ll teach you how to cook something that both fills the stomach and warms the soul.”

“Hey, I know how to cook!” Diana barked. “Why don’t you go back to doing…what were you doing before I came in here?”

“Drawing plans for a new development project in Colchester,” she replied. “Henry handles the day-to-day affairs while I oversee the major tasks.” She opened the door and pulled Diana along. “Come, I’ll teach you a recipe I learned while visiting Walzin Castle.” Rosaline closed the door behind them and led her date to the kitchen.