The moon hung heavy in the night sky, a pale witness to the chaos unfolding beneath it.
I had never believed in monsters. Not the ones from fairy tales, not the ones whispered about in terrified voices. But as I lay on the cold stone floor, blood staining the hem of my dress, I realized just how wrong I had been.
He stood over me.
A shadow in a world of darkness. His eyes—crimson red—seemed to pierce right through me, like he could see every fear, every regret that had ever consumed me.
"You," he whispered, his voice a velvet promise of things I could neither name nor understand, "are mine now."
I wanted to scream, to fight, but the blood dripping from my wrist and the cold terror clawing at my throat kept me frozen in place. He wasn't a man. He was something far worse. Far more dangerous.
A vampire.
I had heard the rumors, of course. About the Vampire King, the immortal monster who ruled this cursed land with an iron fist. But like everyone else, I thought it was just a story. A myth to frighten children.
Now, I knew better.
He reached down, a hand as cold as the grave brushing against my cheek. His touch made my skin burn, but not with pain. It was something else... something that felt far too close to desire.
"No," I gasped, instinctively trying to pull away, but he only leaned in closer, his lips brushing against my ear.
"It's too late for no." His voice was low, an intoxicating promise of something terrible—and beautiful. "You belong to me now. You always have."
The sound of my heart echoed in my ears, a frantic rhythm that matched the panic swirling inside me. "No," I breathed again, trying to push him away, but my body refused to obey. It was as though some invisible force held me still, his presence a weight I couldn't escape.
"You should've known better than to resist, little one," he murmured, his voice dark and low. His fingers trailed along my jaw, the touch sending an unsettling shiver down my spine.
I didn't want to feel it, didn't want to crave it, but a part of me—deep within—was drawn to him. My instincts screamed at me to run, to fight, but my body betrayed me, trembling beneath his touch.
"You're no longer free," he continued, his eyes never leaving mine. "Not from me. Not ever again."
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. This is it. I'd heard the stories—of people who vanished without a trace, of the Vampires who took what they wanted and never gave anything back. I never thought I'd be one of them. I never thought it would be me.
The vampire's lips curled into a faint, wicked smile as if he could read my thoughts. "You look so afraid."
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to speak through the lump in my throat. "I'm not afraid of you."
He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent tremors through my chest. "Then you're more foolish than I thought." He leaned in closer, his fangs glinting in the moonlight.
Before I could react, his lips brushed against my neck—soft at first, then deeper, pressing against my skin like a brand. A sensation pulsed beneath his touch, sharp and sweet, drawing me in despite every instinct telling me to push him away.
"You're not just afraid," he whispered. "You want this. You crave it."
My breath hitched as the words settled in. My pulse raced faster now, my entire body aware of him in ways I couldn't control. A heat bloomed in my chest, curling into something darker, more dangerous.
No. No, this couldn't be happening. This couldn't be real.
I pulled away sharply, trying to escape the pull of his gaze, but he was already holding me—holding me down, a firm grip at the small of my back, keeping me from moving.
"You'll learn to stop resisting," he said, voice more certain than before. "The more you struggle, the harder it will be to accept the truth."
"What truth?" I managed to gasp, though I barely recognized my own voice, hoarse and shaky.
He leaned closer, his breath cool against my ear as he whispered, "That you are mine, and there's no escaping it."
night meant for terror becomes a promise for eternity when Kyra is claimed by the Vampire King. In a world of blood and shadows, can she survive the growing bond between them, or will she become his forever?"