“You see, my precious little count? All of you pathetic worms crawl around thinking you’re safe from us. You think that us highborn vampires would not deign to dirty ourselves by stooping down to your level, but you’ve forgotten your history my dear. Perhaps it is best that I demonstrate just how much my blood screams for me to let go and then you’ll come to understand that, even more than your kind, vampires are one step away from jumping into the mud ourselves if it means we can finally just let loose.”

  -Mirela Amarei, moments before declaring the new patriarch of the Haiduc county

  “Come with me, I know a spot.”

  The Archduchess waved Dahlia along and the girl was more than happy to follow her lead. It didn’t take long, just a couple more minutes meandering through lush garden pathways until the two found a secluded stone bench, but all the way Dahlia watched. It was… odd, to try and read someone who wasn’t one of her parents, a tutor, or one of the mansion’s servants. The vampiress was undeniably different, yet it wasn’t hard to understand.

  Unlike what the girl expected from someone raised in high society, the Archduchess’ expressions were loud, for lack of a better term. It was to the extent that the girl wondered if the woman had intentionally undermined her own ability to conceal her emotions or if it stemmed from something else but, either way, it made no difference. At least in the moment, Dahlia was finding it incredibly charming.

  Soon enough though, she could tell the atmosphere was shifting as they sat beside each other. Cold night air chilled Dahlia through her dress’ thin fabric and she could feel a shiver run through her, only for a faint warmth to sooth her soon after as a suit jacket was draped over her shoulders.

  “I’d offer to keep you warm by being closer, but something tells me that might be a tad overwhelming for you.” The Vampiress’ eyes never lost their playful glint, even as she watched the faintest hints of Dahlia’s body language. After a moment and ensuring the girl seemed comfortable however, the vampiress took a deep breath, paused, and —seeming to catch herself in the act— cleared her throat. “Right, well then, where do we even start?”

  Dahlia eyed up the woman beside her and, unable to forget some of her earlier comments, just sighed.

  “No sense in dancing around the more awkward topics; I’d rather get them out of the way anyway. So…” She chewed on the words she wanted to say and frowned. There was so much she wanted to hope for, both for the sake of her own freedom and the sake of… new hopes she still refused to acknowledge. There was so much hope and she just couldn’t allow herself to enjoy it —to trust it— until she was certain it wasn’t false. “You said I drew you in. That my isolation made you want to reach out and that you enjoyed seeing me frightened. How am I supposed to trust you mean well? What am I supposed to make of that?”

  Valentina’s eyes had lost what made them so playful and a part of Dahlia felt broken and pained at the thought that she was the one to take it away, but she didn’t backpedal. The Archduchess may have lost that spark of joy but she was taking Dahlia seriously and, more than anything, the girl needed that.

  “Well, I did say I wasn’t expecting it to put me in a good light so pressing for answers is only fair… I feel like I’ve been pretty open about it though, all things considered: you’re my type. The circumstances surrounding that weren’t ideal but it doesn’t change anything, at least in my eyes.”

  Again the hope tugged at Dahlia. She was so eager to just take her at her word and move on — so desperate for something positive that she was one step away from eating out of the woman’s hand. All so she could keep having a taste of the need and desire and affirmation that she never believed she could ever have. And yet there was this deep-set, anxious, and hateful thing inside of her that refused to accept it.

  “Oh? And would your type happen to be damsels in distress? Or do you like how my isolation makes me more vulnerable? Well?!” She reeled herself back, trying to diffuse the sudden surge of fear and hating herself for how she couldn’t help but doubt and bite the hand that feeds. It was in her voice, her posture, her thoughts: this miasmic blight that wormed its way in and whispered words of loathing and panic. She hated how her thoughts tore at her sanity. She hated her own voice and how it came out raw and trembling and scared. Even with her original plans so close to actually working, she just couldn’t help but fail and self-sabotage like she always had.

  Deep down, a part of her could never truly rely on hope alone; not again and certainly not for something so tenuous and important. The tremors grew worse, the tips of her fingers going numb as her breathing grew unsteady. If she let herself hope —and oh how she yearned to— but if she did and everything went wrong again? If she failed again? She would never be able to believe in another chance. “What do you even want from me, Your Grace, because if I’m just something that caught your passing interest then I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint, I—”

  “Hey,” the Archduchess’ tone was soft, even as she leaned in and cut the girl off. Even her eyes, so animated and full of hunger just half a grain earlier, had softened as they took her in. “Dahlia. Let’s just slow down, alright? Nice and calm, no need to feel panicked and worried. I promise I’m not here to hurt or take advantage of you: you’re safe.”

  The woman paused, taking a deep breath and a moment to think over her next words before finally continuing.

  “You’re right to be worried: my actions have been somewhat… extreme, and you don’t know me. Everything I’ve said has been genuine though. You are… enticing. And I can’t explain it but it just makes me want to fucking pounce, I can’t help it.” Even as she talked about it, the vampiress’ whole body tensed as if wound to a point of breaking. It was only after another long breath that she continued, soft and quiet like before. “But that doesn’t mean my interest is purely impulsive; I’m… tired of how things are. I’ve chased impulses alone for long enough to be worn down by it all. So know that, while a part of me screams to pursue you, I’m not just speaking to you spontaneously. I want more — I need more— than something so shallow.”

  “And I just happen to fit what you’re looking for?” Her voice came out as a whisper: half doubt and half desperation.

  The Archduchess allowed herself a passing glance over the girl and Dahlia rapidly felt her face heat up as those eyes seemed to very much appreciate what they saw.

  “Oh, I assure you, you’re far more than anything I was hoping for.”

  The grin was back in her voice, taunting Dahlia even as the girl averted her gaze. Nevertheless, Dahlia could feel a piece of herself loosen; like a tensed muscle had ever-so-slightly relaxed for the first time she could remember. There was just the faintest smile as well, slipping past all her defences.

  “Oh good, and you’re an incorrigible flirt too.”

  “Considering the kind of reactions you’re giving me, you’ll have to excuse me if I have a bit of fun.”

  The Archduchess chuckled but, after another long and centering breath, her tone once again returned to being soft. It wasn’t forced per se, not in a way that was tense, but Dahlia could tell how the woman was intentionally pulling back and restraining a personality that desperately wanted to be free.

  “You’re worth flirting with; maybe that’s a better way of putting it considering how forceful the Carphopoulos kid was earlier. Everything about you makes me want to get carried away but I should probably be holding back more, so… let me try that again. Dahlia, the entirety of who you are, from your own beauty to every little mannerism you make, has enthralled me. I only hope to experience it more so I can bask in it and fall even deeper.”

  Dahlia couldn’t help it as her own smile grew. “And what happened to holding back, hmm? You’re practically waxing poetically to me; I’d say that’s coming on pretty strong, don’t you think?”

  “Oh, believe me,” the vampiress met the girl’s smile with a rakish grin of her own, “This is unbearably tame. I don’t think you appreciate just how much restraint I’m showing.”

  Ignoring instincts, as it turned out, was a struggle and as Dahlia stared deep into the woman’s eyes —irises like pools of blood in the moonlight— she felt both her rationality and her anxieties begin to slip. Blood pounded in her ears as her breath came heavy. The vampiress was taller than her, looming and hungry in a way that the girl couldn’t even fully process. But, even so, she knew she wanted —no— needed more. And so she listened to instinct, just a little bit, and let the words slip out, practically mumbled as she leaned closer to the woman’s warmth.

  “Holding back… I’m starting to think I don’t want you to.”

  There was a long drawn out moment where Dahlia could feel the tension in the air. Without thinking she had let herself slip, lured by her own needs and desperation far beyond what she’d ever expected and already she was regretting it, and yet… the Archduchess hadn’t taken advantage and leapt at the first opportunity given to her. In fact, the other woman was almost entirely silent, worrying her lip as she took the girl in. After another long moment though, the vampiress sighed.

  “You should probably avoid saying things like that, just as a heads up.” She looked away, running fingers through her hair as she took another deep breath, “That… took a lot more restraint that I think you realise. Let’s just… take it easy for now, yeah? Something tells me you’d regret it if I actually followed up on that invitation of yours so… yeah.”

  Instantly Dahlia could feel her own worries settle, soothed as fast as they started. There was something about the vampiress’ presence that she couldn’t quite place but, as they spent more time together, even over such a short course of time, the woman had begun to calm her in a way few things could. “Is it my turn to help sooth you? I can tell something’s making you nervous so maybe you need the distraction.”

  That was met with a huff, but the Archduchess didn’t immediately deny her.

  “I guess you could say I’m nervous, though I doubt it’s for what you think. I’m not—” she paused, mulling over her words for a moment but then just shrugged, “I’m not some pure maiden. Apparently you’ve been living under a rock and you not knowing about my rumours and reputation are major reasons I was interested in you to begin with, but keeping you entirely in the dark feels scummy. I’ve… gotten around, more or less —erring towards more, honestly— so it’s not like this is the first time I’ve chased someone but… fuck, it’s been over a decade since I last actually courted someone. I’m rusty at this and my instincts just keep screaming to make you mine and I just…”

  She took another deep breath and, like before, seemed to freeze up, only this time Dahlia noticed more. The breath seemed to centre her and help but the vampiress’ eyes dilated and her breath caught, only for the woman’s nerves to kick back into gear the moment after.

  “What’s up with that?”

  “Hmm? Which, my past, or…?”

  The girl waved that away, “No, that’s not a huge deal. I mean the breathing thing. You’re nervous, I get that, I don’t judge you on it, but you keep pausing after taking these deep breaths.”

  That was met with a toothy grin but the nervousness never quite left.

  “That’s a rough question to ask so early. The way you talked earlier, it sounded like you knew at least something about the Amarei family. I take it you know my bloodline as well then?”

  “Yeah, vampire; the longevity was half the appeal to me.”

  The Archduchess nodded, “Right, and it’s worth noting that due to my family’s resources, a head of a family would always have a fairly high bloodline purity. So… you can imagine how being ninety percent vampiric might have an effect on someone.”

  The girl furrowed her brow but ended up shaking her head.

  “Not really. I mean, wanting to suck blood I guess? Do you hate garlic? Do I smell like garlic?”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  The woman suppressed a snort but the smile slipped into her voice, “No, no you’re fine. And it’s worth noting that I’m fine with garlic anyways but that does tie in to the issue. Vampires have remarkably keen senses and that goes hand-in-hand with our more… instinct driven nature.” The vampiress’ eyes flickered to the nape of the girl’s neck, lingering for only half a wick before averting and focussing elsewhere. “I’d be lying if I didn't already find you beautiful just in passing but being close to you…”

  Dahlia raised an eyebrow, silently egging her to continue.

  “There’s no delicate way to say this: you smell good enough that I want to devour you.” She waved as Dahlia went to protest, already knowing what she’d say, “No, not your perfume — I couldn’t care less about that. I mean your natural scent. The air’s rich with it, mixing softly with everything else and it’s driving me wild. I keep taking deep breaths trying to stay level headed, but I’m only getting drunk off you all the more.”

  Dahlia felt a rush throughout her body and she saw now just how her own reactions affected the vampiress. How the woman seemed to pick up the fluctuations of her breath, how her eyes took her in like prey, and now the knowledge that each breath the vampiress took meant… well, it meant a lot of things and she tried not to think too hard about it for the moment. She took a shaky breath, hoping to push forward and keep talking but she couldn’t even focus as her thoughts kept looping back to what the vampiress said. Finally, it was Valentina who broke the silence again.

  “Well, at least I can tell that your reaction isn’t particularly negative. You’d be amazed how many women get skittish once I bring all of that up.” She grimaced, “Sorry, shouldn’t be talking about others right now. It's a force of habit, but I know it’s bad form. Considering how you haven’t bolted yet though… It’s only fair that I learn more about you, no? I mean, we’ve got all night but…”

  The girl hesitated but nodded. Opening up to anyone other than her plants felt like a tall order, but she knew that it would be foolish to stay tight-lipped now. After all, regardless of any attraction she might have had for the woman —and she would have been a fool to try and lie to herself about that— in the end she still wanted to use the Archduchess to escape her situation. She could hardly expect for that to work out if she kept her own secrets close to her chest but just the thought of talking about it was nervewracking.

  “Sure… What do you want to know?”

  She could feel the vampiress’ eyes look over her, taking in little minute details without saying a word. When the woman finally spoke, her voice was quiet yet there was a harshness hiding within it.

  “Tonight. You were looking for me and you were looking for help.” It wasn’t a question. “What’s got you so desperate that you’d try to ask for help from some random archduchess? Had it been one of the other archdukes or even been my mother rather than myself, it could have ended horrifically. It was…”

  “Stupid?”

  She smirked, “I was going to say naive but yeah, stupid works too. Suicidal is another word I’d use if I was feeling less generous.”

  The vampiress’ tone had lightened somewhat, but there was still an underlying intensity that had never left. Dahlia could practically feel her eyes boring into her, and yet as the girl went to answer, she felt her throat tighten. It had been so easy to focus on actionable things —on delaying the inevitable and focusing on escaping like she had planned— but now that it was brought up, she could feel the staggering sense of dread that threatened to rush back in and overwhelm her.

  “I just… I can’t. I can’t keep doing this.” She didn’t know when the tears started to form but she wiped them away as fast as she could, trying to take centering breaths all the while, but her throat just kept feeling tight no matter how much she tried to stop it. “You saw what they want from me. That my father would pawn me off to a lecherous child, just to line his pockets. Like— like I’m just some cattle or whore! Even if that falls through, every other option is worse than the last. And after tonight… Gods, he’ll be furious; I don’t even want to think—”

  Her words cut off as the Archduchess pulled her in, close and warm against her, and for a moment she felt her dread begin to slide away. Her breath had been fast and tight and she hadn’t even realised in the moment but, now that the panic was subsiding, she could recognize it for what it was.

  “Sorry, breaking down like that wasn’t exactly in my plans for tonight either.” She chuckled, trying to make a joke of it but unable to stop from berating herself internally. It felt like for every opportunity there was, she found a way to fuck it up and—

  A hand slightly ran through her hair, cupping the side of her head as the vampiress had her meet her eyes. The gesture was intimate, far closer than anything Dahlia had ever experienced but it did the trick, immediately grounding her and bringing her into the moment. Even as Dahlia’s own thoughts stabilised though, she could practically see the storm of emotion behind Valentina’s eyes. The woman spoke soft, seemingly restraining herself the very best she could, but the intensity never abated.

  “You don’t need to say another word. No matter what drove you to be so desperate, you won’t need to worry. As far as I’m concerned, you’re already one of mine, and I will do anything in order to keep what’s mine safe.”

  The words at the end were a possessive growl and Dahlia felt herself flush at the tone. She was scared of getting her hopes up, but every passing moment had her feeling more and more willing to let down the last of her guard. She knew that the vampiress was too forward. She knew things were going faster than they should and —despite all her denial— she knew she was falling harder for the woman than was reasonable, but gods damn it she had never once felt attraction or care like this and Dahlia didn’t have the power to resist it. She didn’t even know what to say but, frankly, the girl was just happy to relish the comfort she found in that moment.

  That was, of course, until someone cleared their throat right behind them and the girl nearly dumped out of her skin.

  For her part, Valentina’s eyes narrowed and she quickly turned ready to tell off whoever had interrupted them, yet the vampiress’ complaint fell short. Seeing her freeze, Dahlia craned her neck to look around and see who it was and nearly did a double take of her own.

  The girl who stood there looked like she couldn’t have been more than a teenager and yet everything about her screamed that she was far from normal. She was short, stick-thin, and, just from the vibrant pink hue of her skin, was visibly altered by her bloodline more than anyone Dahlia had ever seen. Long blonde hair was pulled back into an elaborate braid, tied and pinned with dozens of intricate hair ornaments all while exposing long knife-like ears covered in piercings. More eyecatching than everything else, however, was her eyes. There was no sclera, nor any pupil: only a marbled pattern of azure and gold filled them and, even without any lamplight, they shimmered and glittered like they each contained suns.

  With those features alone, Dahlia could tell that whoever this was was a monster, regardless of apparent age; no one could possess such a pure bloodline and not be a power unto themselves. The features were so distinctive that Dahlia was somewhat surprised she didn’t know which family the girl belonged to but, between being poorly studied on monsters as well as modern politics, all she could figure was that it was a fae of some variety. Regardless, bloodlines had never truly been the girl’s passion and she found herself much more enraptured by something else: her schema.

  The girl wasn’t dressed for a debutante and was instead seemingly armed for battle. She wore an ornate set of blue and gold scale mail along with a matching battle skirt and cape bearing the crest of the Kallisto Empire but, beyond that, every part of her was covered by accessories, jewellery, and piercings. It wasn’t even arranged in the way that nobles typically did to show off their wealth, it was just… absurdly excessive. Yet as Dahlia took it all in, she saw patterns: geometries and subtle recursive loops that made each ring matter and each piercing amplify the rest. They were the foundations of the most elaborate and intensive schema Dahlia had ever witnessed and she felt her mouth water at the sight of it.

  She couldn’t resist the impulse —she channeled mana into her eyes, took in the spectrum of the ambient mana in the air and then nearly blinded herself as the briefest glance at the girl was like staring straight at the sun. Almost instantly the Archduchess’ hand shot in front of her eyes and the absolutely terrifying girl snorted.

  “Are ye done gawking? Val, who’s the new fling?”

  “Don’t go calling her a fling within the first minute of meeting her, for fuck’s sake.”

  Again the girl scoffed and, even with her eyes still struggling to recover, Dahlia could feel her hackles rise as she kept talking. “Nah, A think i’ll dae whit A want. I’ll call a spade a spade, thanks. I’m ower old tae play along wi another one o yer worthless trysts.”

  The vampiress’ comforting hold on Dahlia tightened at the girl’s —no— at the woman’s words. She could practically feel how much the Archduchess was trying to restrain herself from lashing out at that moment.

  “Look, Esmé, I get what you’re saying but drop it. Let’s just skip to why you’re paying a visit to this backwater duchy rather than staying back at the capital.”

  “Uh huh,” the woman’s doubt saturated her words, and Dahlia was almost shocked at her own urge to lash out, though managed to bite her tongue. Still, now that her sight had largely recovered, she could see those alien eyes looking her over like a nuisance. “Whatever Val, we won’t be stayin long anyway; thare are signs o some organised movement within the Haugen March.”

  The vampiress scoffed, “Can’t Haugen just handle it? Her borders, her problem. She’d just complain if I do anything for her anyway.”

  “Stop bein laissez-faire wi yer governing; her borders are still yer responsibility. Besides, the Marquise is still oot on the northern front.” She cast another glance at Dahlia, scowling, but kept speaking. “I can’t promise anything, but this has a guid chance o bein a lead as well. Waitin around isn’t doin either o us any favours.”

  There was a pause and Dahlia could feel how the Archduchess had stiffened. Crimson eyes flickered to her and she could see the hesitation, yet soon enough the woman’s body sagged.

  “Fuck, fine. I’ll be ready in a minute, just give me some space. I’ll need to let Bessie know as well.”

  Esmé just waved a hand but still started taking a few steps away. “Knock yourself oot, juist be quick aboot it. An don’t worry aboot yer maid, I already told one o the duke’s staff tae pass on thon I’m stealin ye.”

  The vampiress sighed but seemed to relent as she turned all her attention back towards Dahlia. The woman’s playful undertone had long since been smothered and replaced by a deep-set fatigue.

  “Well… you heard the lady. Duty calls and all that.” Her expression was almost pained as she continued, “I know I said I would help you and keep you safe but…”

  It was a struggle but the girl managed to dredge up a smile. She thought she had taught herself long ago not to get greedy, yet it still hurt so much. “It’s ok Your Grace, I understand.”

  Immediately she could see how the Archduchess’ face grew tight, but the words that followed were soft.

  “No, sorry but I don’t think you do. I can tell well enough what you’re thinking but I’m not going to leave and just never come back. I’m not—” She swallowed, “I don’t want to be like that. Not in general if I can help it and certainly not with you. Just… give me some time, ok? A few days should be all it takes. I said I would help you and I have no plan to go back on that. I’ll come back for you, I promise.”

  Again Dahlia smiled and it wasn’t quite as forced as before, though there remained an underlying melancholy she couldn’t hide. “Just… don’t get my expectations up and not follow through, ok? I don’t think I’d be able to handle getting my hopes dashed like that.”

  “I won’t.”

  Dahlia could tell that she meant it, but even still she could feel tears threatening to well up. She felt like an idiot, really, letting herself get carried away so soon and so fast but she just couldn’t stop herself from aching for the promise of something better. There was still hope —so much hope— and yet now she needed to make it through everything else. Without even a word, the vampiress closed the space between them again and she relished how soothing it was to just have a hand run through her hair. It should have been far too forward and far too much affection considering how briefly they’d known each other and yet the girl leaned into it, desperate for the contact. Dahlia only hoped the woman wouldn’t notice how she still trembled as her nerves got to her.

  “In that case… please make it quick.” The smile was still strained but she managed to meet the vampiress’ eyes. “Considering everything that happened tonight, I’m starting to realise just how quickly things could go wrong and I… I don’t know what my parents will do but it might be best to assume I’m on a time limit.”

  The Archduchess’ tensed and Dahlia could practically see how the woman was second guessing herself —perhaps even considering something more drastic as her eyes drifted back toward the dance hall— but Dahlia reeled her in with a tone far firmer than she had before.

  “No. I don’t know what you were considering but it’s not worth it. I’ve managed until now so I’m sure I can handle a few more days. Just… like I said: if you want to help me, come back soon. I’ll be counting on you.”

  Still Valentina hesitated but it was Esmé who finally forced her to stop delaying.

  “Amarei, hurry up. I’ve given ye a moment but we’re i a time crunch. Besides, the girl telt ye tae get gang sae stop bein a twit.” Those inhuman eyes once again glanced at Dahlia and the girl practically broke into a cold sweat under the woman’s attention, only for Esmé to smirk. “An kid, ye seem tae know what’s best for ye, but keep yer head doun an don’t gae spreadin rumours, yeah? Guid girl.”

  Without even waiting for Dahlia to acknowledge her, the woman pivoted, casually kicked a foot in front of her, and the air shattered like a pane of glass. The sound echoed through the garden as fragments of what seemed like reality itself crumbled away, leaving a strange distorted silver image of a forest behind. And without a hint of hesitation the woman hopped into the fissure leaving Dahlia gaping.

  Finally having separated herself from Dahlia, the Archduchess wasn’t far behind as she made her way over and huffed as she casually glanced inside. Before hopping in though, she looked back one more time and gave the girl a rakish grin.

  “Alright, I’m sorry for everything getting cut short; I would have loved to have spent the rest of the night with you but I suppose we’ll just have to make up for it next time. And Dahlia?” She paused, watching carefully to make sure she had the girl’s full attention before having her grin widen all the more. “You are an absolute treat so you can be sure I’ll be rushing back as fast as I can. You don’t need to worry: I’ll be back so fast, you’ll hardly notice I was even gone.”

  The girl suppressed a laugh, not even noticing at what point her own smile formed. The Archduchess… she was almost painfully sincere, and she couldn’t help but find it endearing. Parting like this hurt, especially considering how close she had felt to everything going well, and yet all she could do was nod and wave the woman away.

  “Mn, I trust you. I’ll be waiting, Valentina.”

  Hearing that, Dahlia almost laughed at how delighted the vampiress was, and yet still the woman turned, stepped into the fissure in the air and, like a shattered mirror repairing itself in reverse, the fractured air pulled itself back together without leaving a single sign it was there a wick earlier.

  And just like that, she was gone.

  It's so sad to see her go so soon! She'll be back though, I promise! Also, as mentioned in the header in case you didn't see it, there's some artwork available on the Patreon if you're interested! I am, perhaps, a tad excitable...

  As for a worldbuilding discussion this week... there isn't much in this chapter that feels relevant? I'll discuss Esmé and her accent at a different time, don't worry, but for now I'd like to keep information of her under wraps. Perhaps, as a small replacement of phonetics or more specific worldbuilding, I'll provide some hints to those of you reading and trying to piece together disparate parts of the setting? This chapter includes —but perhaps not exclusively discusses— vampiric traits and unusual aspects. Vampires in this setting are... treated perhaps a tad unusually. Some traits you see in this chapter might align with your expectations while others don't: what is worth thinking on though is the implications of what a schema dedicated to controlling and manipulating vampirism might be. Similarly, Esmé's aspect is something I find really interesting and, while I'll neither confirm nor deny any theories, you might have some fun brainstorming what aspect she might have~

  Hehehehe, sorry, perhaps I have too much fun sometimes. Regardless, thank you for reading what I write: I love getting to share it and I hope you get to love it as much as I do.

  If you're enjoying what you see and want to read ahead, I do have a Patreon that will maintain eight chapters in advance of what is public. If that interests you, you can find a link to it

  And if you're interested in talking to me about the novel or if you'd like to join a community of other delightful readers, I'd be happy to see you over at my Discord. You can find the link

  And as always, I hope you're having a wonderful day!