CHAPTER THIRTY-Six

Standing alone at the window, Rohan gazed down at the garden, a bottle of wine in one hand, his brows furrowed. He examined his elongated fingers, lost in thought.

With a deep sigh, he reflected on his conversation with Avery. Her rejection of his offer had rendered his efforts futile. He had believed she reciprocated his feelings at the party, where she had opened up to him, leaving him convinced that she felt something for him.

Alas, he had been mistaken, and it had made him appear foolish. As he drank from the bottle, he disregarded the liquid staining him and the pristine floor. Luckily, being a vampire prevented him from becoming lightheaded and acting out inappropriately.

He only savored the bitter taste of the alcohol, which surprisingly wasn't unpleasant. It had a slightly sour flavor with a sweet aftertaste. Chuckling to himself, he questioned his sanity while fixating on the bottle.

"What am I doing?" he wondered aloud, shaking his head bitterly, refusing to accept that he w