BXBX NOVEL Chapter 260: A masterpiece
Now, for the first time, she found herself drawn to the opposite sex. For the first time, she felt these conflicting emotions that were entirely foreign to her usual self.
In fact, when she spoke to Scarlet about finding a husband, she hadn\'t been entirely honest. She had once "married" a vampire noble, but only because he seemed the "best option" at the time—a notion that had proven utterly wrong. The man couldn\'t even take his eyes off her mother, which led Cassandra to eliminate him with a single blow, deeming him useless.
For vampires, the concept of marriage was loose; simply being close to another could be considered equivalent to being wed. There were no grand traditions like white dresses or ceremonies before a priest.
Now, as an 800-year-old vampire, Cassandra had never truly experienced love—at least, that\'s what she thought. Yet, here she was, her heart wrestling with new feelings and her mind occupied by thoughts of someone who stirred emotions she didn\'t know she could feel.
Her sister Daniela\'s teasing words echoed in her mind repeatedly, adding to the growing weight in her chest and the expectations she now carried.
Finally, she reached the hot springs.
Cassandra stepped carefully across the damp stones lining the path to the springs. The air was dense and warm, heavy with the scent of minerals and steam. A light mist hovered over the water, partially obscuring the surroundings but leaving enough visibility for the crystal-clear pools to reflect the moonlight like liquid mirrors. The constant bubbling of the water mingled with the gentle rustle of leaves, creating a soothing, almost hypnotic melody.
The springs were enclosed by irregular stones, some covered in patches of moss, and thick shrubs that formed a natural barrier, giving the place a sense of seclusion. Towering trees surrounded the area, their canopies nearly sealing the sky above, with just enough gaps for the silvery moonlight to spill onto the scene.
Beside one of the largest pools of steaming water stood a small wooden structure—simple yet discreet—that served as a changing space. Cassandra walked toward it, pushing open the wooden door with a faint creak. Inside, the room was dimly lit by the soft glow of an oil lantern hanging from a hook on the wall. The flickering flame cast dancing shadows that added an intimate air to the space.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady the tumult within her, which echoed in the rapid rhythm of her undead heart.
With deliberate care, she began removing her clothes.
First, the long black coat she always wore, heavy and commanding, slid off her shoulders and pooled on the floor like an abandoned shadow. Next, her corset and skirt, which she untied with hands that hesitated slightly. Finally, she stood completely bare.
For a moment, she stilled, allowing herself to feel the strange vulnerability of standing there without her usual attire. The warm air of the cabin caressed her pale skin, while the steam from the springs seemed to drift through the small window, wrapping around her like an ethereal embrace.
She picked up a white cloth, neatly folded on one of the benches, and wrapped it around her body. The fabric was thin, almost translucent, but soft as silk. It clung to her curves, draping gracefully over her shoulders and wrapping her like a veil. Each movement caused the fabric to brush against her skin, accentuating the delicate contours of her sculpted figure. Her chest pressed against the cloth, her waist hugged by it, and it fell over her hips in a way that highlighted her form.
\'I\'m going to regret this...\' she thought.
As she stepped out of the cabin, the warmth of the springs welcomed her like a silent invitation.
The moon hung high in the sky, its light now illuminating her figure with an almost celestial glow. The white cloth stood out against the surrounding shadows as she descended the stone steps toward the water, her bare feet touching the cool surface of the rock before dipping into the comforting warmth of the springs.
Finally, her gaze landed on the man she had sought.
Strax was lounging in the water, his eyes closed in serene relaxation, his wet hair spread out and clinging to his shoulders.
Her first glimpse was of his body—something she had never fully seen before. During training, he always wore his signature black shirt, which concealed his physique. Now, however... she couldn\'t help but sigh as her eyes traced the defined muscles of his chest and arms.
\'He\'s... handsome... How did I not notice this before?\' she wondered.
For a moment, she felt the overwhelming urge to flee, but something stronger held her in place. Perhaps it was curiosity—or perhaps it was the feeling she had been trying so hard to suppress. Her heart raced again, and before she realized it, she had taken another step closer to the water.
Strax, as if sensing her presence, opened his eyes slowly. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the light and the steam, before his gaze locked on hers. A lazy, charming smile played across his lips.
"Well, well... I wasn\'t expecting such esteemed company," he said, his voice low and husky, perfectly suited to the atmosphere. "To what do I owe the honor, Lady Cassandra?" he teased.
Cassandra tried to maintain her composure, but she felt her cheeks heat up. "Don\'t flatter yourself, Strax. I\'m just here... to take a bath. Nothing more."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Ah, of course. Pure coincidence, then? Doesn\'t seem like you were the one who sent me here in the first place…"
She crossed her arms over the cloth that still covered her body, striving for indifference. "It\'s a shared space, isn\'t it? I\'m not going to let you monopolize the hot springs." She huffed before muttering under her breath, "...And you did invite me to join you..."
She spoke so softly that she thought he might not hear, but Strax\'s sharp ears caught her words clearly, and his smirk widened.
Strax tilted his head, still smiling. "I\'d never turn my guest away. In fact..." He extended an arm, gesturing invitingly. "Feel free to sit right here beside me." His tone was playful, and his eyes lingered shamelessly, taking in Cassandra\'s strikingly alluring figure now in full view.
"You\'re pushing your luck…" she said, her voice slightly nervous. She was tired of these games. Yet, without realizing it, she had already started moving closer, stopping just a few steps from where he was seated at the edge of the water.
"I\'m very good at pushing my luck, especially when it comes to things I want," he said casually, tilting his head to the side with that infuriatingly cocky smile, as if designed to provoke her.
"Ah~" She let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling her eyes in an attempt to mask her growing unease. "You clearly need a reality check. Resisting you is ridiculously easy." Her voice dripped with sarcasm, but the way her fingers gripped the cloth covering her body told a different story.
"If it\'s so easy, then why are you so nervous, Cassandra?" he asked, leaning forward slightly, as if to test her limits.
Her eyes widened, and her arms instinctively crossed over her chest, pushing her breasts forward in a reflex of self-preservation. "I am not nervous!" she snapped, her voice a little too loud, which only made Strax chuckle.
"Of course not," he replied, his voice dripping with mockery. "The blush on your face is just because of the heat, right? It must be very warm in here…"
Cassandra pressed her lips into a thin line, trying desperately to ignore the growing warmth in her cheeks.
Deciding to stop engaging him, she finally stepped into the water with firm strides and sat down, keeping a bit of distance between them. However, the cloth clinging to her body became even more revealing as the water soaked through, accentuating her curves with uncomfortable precision.
Strax kept his gaze fixed on her, his amusement evident—and his appreciation for her beauty even more so.
Cassandra sat with rigid posture, her hands resting on the edge of the pool, fingers gripping the cold stone as if it could anchor her amidst the whirlwind of emotions she felt. Strax watched her intently, his gaze shifting between playful provocation and something deeper, almost curious. The dense steam surrounding them seemed to amplify the tension between them, making the silence almost tangible.
"You know, you didn\'t have to come," he said, his voice low and tinged with something Cassandra couldn\'t immediately place. "You could\'ve easily ignored me."
"I already told you, I came because I wanted to," she replied, her voice firmer than she expected. She didn\'t look at him, but she could feel the weight of his gaze on her. "And don\'t make me repeat myself."
Strax chuckled softly, but there was no mockery in the sound. He moved closer, the water rippling gently around him. "So, you wanted to. That\'s... interesting."
She finally turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. "Interesting why?"
"Because you usually only do what you want, Cassandra. And that rarely involves tolerating me." He tilted his head, his challenging smile still present, but there was a sincerity in his tone that caught her off guard.
Cassandra opened her mouth to respond, but the words seemed to escape her. He was closer now, and the steam around them wasn\'t enough to mask the intensity of his gaze. She could see every detail of his face — the subtle lines near his eyes, the curve of his smile, which now seemed less teasing and more genuine.
"You love making things complicated, don\'t you?" she murmured, her voice coming out almost as a whisper.
"Not as much as you do," he shot back, leaning in a little more.
The distance between them closed, and Cassandra felt her heart pounding in her chest, threatening to explode at any moment. He was too close, and she knew she should push him away. But, for some reason, she couldn\'t.
"Strax…" she began, but the word died on her lips as he raised his hand, his fingers gently brushing away a wet strand of hair that clung to her face.
"You\'re fascinating," he said, his voice so low it felt like a secret meant only for her. "Always so strong, so in control. But right now… you seem so human."
"I\'m not human," she whispered, but her voice faltered, sounding more like a confession than a correction.
"No," he agreed, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw with a delicate touch. "You\'re so much more than that."
Before she could process his words, he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against hers. It was a soft touch at first, almost hesitant, as though he was waiting for her reaction. Cassandra froze for a moment, her mind a whirlwind, but then something inside her gave way.
She closed her eyes and kissed him back, her hands instinctively moving to rest on his shoulders. The thin cloth covering her slipped slightly with the movement, but she didn\'t notice, lost in the moment. The kiss deepened, growing more intense, and a wave of warmth swept through her body, unlike anything she had ever felt before.
Strax pulled her closer, his hands firm on her waist as the steam around them seemed to thicken, enveloping them like a shroud. For a fleeting moment, nothing else existed—just the feel of his touch, the taste of his lips, and the soft sound of their mingled breaths.
When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless. Cassandra opened her eyes, meeting his gaze, which was now more serious but still held that playful glint.
"That was…" she began, but once again, the words slipped away. Her usually sharp and articulate mind failed to form a coherent sentence.
"Unexpected?" he suggested, his smile softening. "Come on, stop pretending to be so difficult."
She shook her head, trying to regain control. But then, she gave in completely. "Screw it," she said, and lunged at him, climbing onto his lap.
"Now that\'s more like it," Strax said, his voice filled with approval as Cassandra\'s bare chest came fully into view, completely exposed before him.
"A masterpiece," he murmured, his gaze fixated on her with a mixture of admiration and desire.