Claire continued desperately trying to speak to him, as she hurried to wipe away his blood as well. “I can’t hear you, Claire,” he told her shakily, knowing her lips were moving, but not able to perceive any sound at all. “Or anything else,” he added, trying very hard to hide his own fear in that moment, it being such a very strange thing for him to feel at all, after so many long years alive.

“What it this?” she turned back to Kirielle, biting back much less happier tears this time.

“It should only be temporary! I swear!” Kirielle exclaimed, nearly as upset as Claire as she looked over at Sean apologetically, and with a bit of her own fear as well. Regardless of who her clan had been, Sean had always been her Prince, and she had literally drew his very blood with only the sound of her voice.

“Should be?” Claire repeated, her own desperation and fear sharpening her tone.

“When I had to use it to bring Lucian back, it only lasted an hour, or so, I think. I was so scared I had really hurt him, I didn’t really look at the time. But it did come back, I promise, Claire,” she told her with a slight sniffle. She then looked past Claire at where Sean was still watching the two of them trying to determine what they were saying at all. “What do you think he’ll do to me?” she couldn’t help whispering as she dropped her eyes to the floor beneath their seats.

“Kir’...” Claire just shook her head as she turned in her seat between them to face Sean once again, gently cupping his face in her hands. She then had another thought occur to her as she looked into his eyes, thinking the next sentence as she spoke it, “Can you still hear our thoughts, Sean?” she whispered.

Kirielle looked up hopefully at the sound of Claire’s question. But his only response was to shake his head still seemingly unaware of anything she was saying, or apparently thinking as well. In any other situation, Claire may have even been relieved that he apparently could no longer read her thoughts, it having been such a point of contention between them in the past. But if this was the cost? She shook her head as she looked down then as well.

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When Claire and Sean arrived back at their estate that night, she quickly rushed him to their chambers, waving away anyone trying to get his attention upon his return home that particular evening. Once they reached their bedroom, she leaned back against the door, locking it behind them with a sigh of relief.

The last thing either of them needed was anyone else knowing what had happened to their Prince. Especially considering how young the Kindred who had caused his current state actually was. And if it were indeed temporary, as Kirielle had suggested, the issue would hopefully be resolved before anyone was the wiser.

Sean took a seat on the edge of the bed, running his hands through those beautiful long reddish blonde locks, the way he had always done any time anything was bothering him. Claire couldn’t help a slight smile back at him upon witnessing the tiniest moment that proved he had not completely changed from that man she fell in love with over three hundred years ago, after all.

Taking a moment to push past that moment of nostalgia she also seemed to be experiencing that night, she moved to take a seat next to him. Claire gently placed a hand over his knee, which caused him to look over at her with a sad smile. He then placed his hand over her own, interlocking their fingers in gratitude for her being there next to him again that night.

She smiled back up at the touch, their eyes meeting one another’s again. And for the first time in ages, she could hold his gaze with no fear of him invading her mind. That was when she realized exactly how much she truly had missed looking into his eyes, and seeing that love he still seemed to have for her, despite the trepidation her eyes were usually filled with any time she was close to him anymore. Though there was now no longer a reason for her to have that fear, at least for one night.

Letting out a shaky sigh at that realization, she moved closer, placing her mouth over his. For once she could just be there in that moment with him without all the anxiety his presence usually brought with it. And she had to admit that there was something else she truly missed as well.

On that thought, she pulled herself onto his lap, wrapping her arms around him as the kiss only deepened. Sean was understandably shocked by her sudden show of affection, but also overjoyed by it, and easily returned her kisses. Before long, their skin heated to each other’s touch and their hands pulled away each other’s clothing as they now found themselves laying atop the bed together, wrapped in nothing but each other’s arms.

Though Sean was unable to hear their mutual moans of pleasure as they made love, it did nothing to cool the passion the two of them did still hold for one another. It somehow felt even stronger to Claire that night, as it was the first time in so very long that she could let him make love to her again, without all her worries about him seeing into her head always dulling and overshadowing the pleasure he was giving her, and all the love the two still shared, despite it all.

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In that final second as Sean was about to bring her to her climax, he once again looked down at her, shaking with ecstasy at his touch. He took a moment to just revel in the fact that he was truly still in love with her after over three hundred years, despite all the turmoil that came with it. And he knew that it would truly end him if that prophecy did finally come to pass after so very long fearing that it would. Right then, he needed to cement his love for her so she would know he did indeed truly still feel it.

On that thought, he thrust into her once more, and simultaneously sunk his fangs deeply into her, causing them both to then drown in the most intense pleasure that creatures such as them could ever honestly make one another feel. And then they collapsed together, joined as closely as they could possibly be once again, and for the first time in way too long.

Neither of them were honestly aware of how much time had passed since Sean collapsed above her, still licking her blood from his lips. But they held each other into the night, for once only being there with each other, instead of all the other distractions they usually each filled their endless nights with.

Even after removing himself from her body, Sean and Claire still lay close together, wrapped in each other’s arms as the sunset slowly approached outside that room that had become their entire world that night.

Cuddling even closer to him, burying her face against his chest, and sensing that the sunrise was soon coming, Claire couldn’t help murmuring, “I love you so much, Sean.”

Sean then looked down at her with a sigh of a hundred different kinds of relief. He then responded to the words he was finally able to hear passing her lips again, “I love you too.”

Claire’s head shot up as both of them shared a look of pure joy at the crisis of the moment having passed, as well as in regards to a few other things that had occurred that night. Not even stopping to allow herself to remember that with his hearing, would also return Sean’s other abilities, Claire moved to give him another long kiss before the sunrise came, forcing them to drift off, still tightly wrapped in each other’s arms.

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The next night, Claire was seated at her club’s bar, nursing one of those ‘special’ drinks her bartender set aside for certain clientele. As she waited for the opening number of the show to start, she felt arms encircling her waist from behind and a gentle kiss upon the back of her head.

“Allow me to offer my sincere apologies for my absence last night.”

Lucian’s crisp British accent greeted her, dripping as much charm as always. He then spun the stool around slowly so that she was now facing him. This allowed him to then lean down to place a soft kiss over her lips.

“And apologies for that... situation afterwards. Kirielle was beside herself when she came home,” he added as he gave Claire’s hand a soft squeeze. “She was nearly convinced Sean would be delivering her straight to the gallows afterwards. And I’m pretty sure he stopped using those quite a few years ago at least,” he added in a slightly teasing manner.

“I know, she was still upset when she got here tonight.” Claire stated sadly. “I assured her that Sean wasn’t going to be calling any sort of blood hunt on her. I mean, we both know her intentions were good,” Claire assured.

Lucian then moved to take a seat in the stool next to her, signaling the bartender for his own drink. “So, is it true then?” he asked Claire as he received his drink.

“Is what true?”

He then leaned closer to Claire, speaking furtively, “That you can actually do something that our all-powerful Prince cannot anymore?”

“Pardon?” she asked with a questioning look.

Dropping his voice further, moving his lips next to her ear, “True that he can no longer hear thoughts either, and you can?”

Claire scoffed, surprised by his question. Then again, it was quite the surprising revelation for her the previous night too. But she had her own reasons for hating that ability of Sean’s. The rest of their society most often just assumed the Prince would have such a talent anyway.

“Thankfully it was temporary, like when she had accidentally caused that issue for you. He got his hearing back shortly before dawn. Which is probably another reason he’s not going to demand any kind of retribution,” Claire added.

Lucian moved back, keeping his expression blank then, “So his hearing is back. Completely?” he added more quietly.

“Seems so. I thought of like five numbers and he ‘guessed’ them all, just to test it,” she sighed softly.

Lucian sighed again as he took a large swig of his drink. “Cheers then. All is well I suppose,” he stated with a tinge of insincerity.

Not that Claire could blame Lucian for that reaction, considering she also was not keen on the idea of anyone being able to see inside her head. Most people never were, except perhaps Sean’s... and Lucian’s magical ex-paramour.

But before she could say more, Lucian continued, “So, Sean’s really not upset by the fact that such a young... one of us,” he settled on, “could actually cause he of all people actual physical pain? Like I said, she was quite convinced he would be.”

Claire shook her head as she looked down, “Well, he’s not thrilled about it. But he knows she was actually trying to help, not harm. I guess he assumes that maybe one day her skills may prove useful to him as well.”

“I suppose that would be a politician’s take on the matter, wouldn’t it?” Lucian responded with a slight scoff. “Not that I don’t appreciate his leniency toward Kirielle in this matter. He already expects the worst from me most nights I’m sure,” he grumbled as he took another drink.

Claire let out a slightly awkward laugh. “I really doubt that you’re even on his mind much at all anymore. After all, no one’s heard hide nor hair from your horrid sire in ages.” Though her assurance only caused Lucian to look away quickly. Thankfully though, that was when the curtain went up and the night’s show began.