A few hours earlier
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After Maya had left with the handsome stranger, Anya sat in the VIP section of Blue Moon, her mind spinning in a whirlwind of emotions. She tried to smile and relax, but it was hard to keep the sadness at bay. Across from her, Axel Laurent, Maya's nephew and the ever-charming crown prince of the vampire realm, sat in his usual relaxed, casual posture. He was watching her, and it didn’t take long for Anya to feel the weight of his gaze.
“What?” she asked, her tone a little defensive as she caught his amused smirk.
Axel chuckled softly, his dark red eyes gleaming as he lazily leaned forward, taking her in with an appreciative look. Anya shifted in her seat, crossing her arms as if to protect herself from whatever teasing was about to come. She knew him too well, a
