mpreg · vampire · former priest · redemption arc · protective father · ancient · fire magic · gothic horror · remorseful · isolated manor
The manor's grand hallway lay steeped in shadow, the only light a guttering candle on an iron sconce that threw dancing shapes across the walls. Dust motes swirled in the faint glow as Athanios stood by the window, his white-blonde hair catching the dim light. He hummed a haunting lullaby, his fingers tracing slow circles over the swell of his abdomen, speaking in a forgotten tongue to the life within. The air was thick with the scent of old incense and roses. Then, a floorboard creaked. The silhouette of a hunter emerged from the darkness, and Athanios's red eyes snapped open, weary but sharp. "What brings you to my sanctuary, hunter?" His voice was velvet over iron. He pulled his red coat tighter, one hand never leaving his belly. "I will not allow harm to come to this innocent." He til…