Eira's POV
I woke up drenched in sweat.
Another dream.
Another nightmare where I had been running, desperately trying to escape werewolves I couldn't see.
My breathing was uneven as I slowly sat up. For a moment, I simply stared into the darkness, trying to convince myself that I was finally awake.
Then I felt a faint pain in my chest.
I pressed a hand against it and took a slow breath.
I needed water.
I turned toward the table beside my bed, but the glass was empty.
With a quiet sigh, I got out of bed and made my way toward the kitchen.
The house was strangely quiet.
After getting some water, I started walking back toward my room.
As I passed Adrian's room, something caught my attention.
His door was slightly open.
I slowed down.
I wasn't trying to look inside.
But something made me glance through the narrow opening.
I saw Adrian standing with his back toward me.
He was struggling to apply medicine to the wounds covering his back.
Deep cuts marked his skin, with several more wounds stretching across his chest.
I froze.
Before I could understand what had happened—
A hand suddenly grabbed my wrist.
I was pulled inside.
My back hit the wall.
I gasped.
Adrian stood dangerously close, one hand pressed against the wall beside my head.
His eyes locked onto mine.
For a few seconds, neither of us moved.
His body was unnaturally cold—the chill of his skin completely contradicting the intensity burning in his eyes.
Then his gaze shifted to my face.
He noticed the fear in my eyes.
Something changed in his expression.
He immediately released my wrist and stepped back.
"I'm sorry."
His voice was low.
"I thought it was someone else."
He turned away and reached for his shirt.
"You can go."
My eyes moved toward the wounds covering his back.
"You need help."
"No."
He began pulling his shirt over his wounds.
"Stop."
He paused.
"You need to apply the medicine properly."
"I can manage."
"You can't even reach your back."
I walked toward the table and picked up the medicine.
"Sit down."
He looked at me.
For a moment, his expression remained completely unreadable.
Then he sat.
I moved behind him and carefully began applying the medicine to his wounds.
The room fell completely silent.
My fingers brushed against his cold skin as I treated each wound.
His muscles tightened beneath my touch.
I immediately slowed down.
"Is it hurting?"
He didn't answer.
I continued applying the medicine.
"I'm sorry you got these because of me."
He remained silent.
I carefully treated another wound, trying not to hurt him more than necessary.
When I finished, I placed the medicine back on the table.
"There."
I turned toward the door.
I had barely taken a step when his voice stopped me.
"Wait."
I turned around.
Adrian was looking at me.
His expression had turned cold again.
"Are you not scared?"
I frowned.
"Of what?"
"Of me."
I didn't answer.
His eyes remained fixed on mine.
"You should be."
He stood.
"I'm a vampire."
He took a slow step toward me.
"And you're alone in my room."
Another step.
I instinctively moved back.
My shoulders touched the wall.
Adrian stopped in front of me.
There was barely any space between us.
His eyes dropped briefly to my lips before returning to mine.
"No one is here."
His voice was low.
"No one would know if I hurt you."
He leaned slightly closer.
"No one would even know if I killed you."
My heart beat faster.
I could feel every breath trembling through me.
But I didn't move.
"You should be afraid of me, Eira."
I slowly looked into his eyes.
"I know."
His gaze sharpened.
"Then why aren't you running?"
I swallowed.
"Because I know you."
His jaw tightened.
"You don't."
"I know enough."
His eyes remained fixed on mine.
"You called me a monster."
I went still.
"You told me to stay away from you."
I lowered my eyes.
"I remember."
"Then why are you still here?"
I looked back at him.
"Because you needed help."
"That isn't the reason."
His voice was quiet.
I didn't answer.
He stepped closer.
My breath caught.
His face was close enough that I could feel the faint chill of his breath against my skin.
"You know what I am."
"I do."
"You know what I'm capable of."
"Yes."
"Then you should know better."
His voice remained cold, but something underneath it sounded almost tired.
I looked at him.
"Maybe you are a monster."
His expression didn't change.
"But I feel safer with this monster than I have with any human who has ever tried to protect me."
His eyes flickered.
Only for a moment.
Then his expression hardened again.
"That's a poor choice of words."
There was the faintest trace of sarcasm in his voice.
But his eyes were anything but amused.
I held his gaze.
"I mean it."
He looked away.
For a few seconds, he said nothing.
Then, quietly—
"You shouldn't."
I frowned.
"Why?"
His eyes returned to mine.
"Because one day, I may give you a reason not to."
The words were simple.
But something in his voice made my chest tighten.
His hand lifted slightly.
For a heartbeat, I thought he was going to touch my face.
His fingers stopped just short of my cheek.
He stared at me.
Then his hand slowly fell back to his side.
He stepped away.
The sudden distance felt strangely noticeable.
"Go."
I didn't move immediately.
"Adrian..."
"Go, Eira."
His voice was firm.
I slowly walked toward the door.
Before stepping outside, I looked back at him.
He was standing beside the bed, his face once again unreadable.
But his eyes betrayed something I couldn't understand.
Pain.
He looked away first.
I stepped out of the room.
Adrian remained inside.
He reached for the door.
"Stay away from me."
I turned toward him.
His eyes met mine.
"Because I won't always be able to stop myself."
I stood silently outside his room.
Then Adrian slowly closed the door.
The soft click echoed through the hallway.
I remained standing there, staring at the closed door.
He was right.
I was the one who had called him a monster.
I was the one who had told him to stay away from me.
I knew he was a vampire.
I knew what he was capable of.
And yet...
I wasn't afraid of him.
I didn't understand why.
Maybe I should have been.
Maybe I should have listened to him and walked away.
But whenever Adrian was near me...
I felt safe.
Safer than I had ever expected to feel with a monster.
And somehow, that frightened me more than the thought of him ever hurting me.
Because I was beginning to trust the very person I had once feared.
The monster I had once told to stay away...
was becoming the person I found hardest to leave.
Jake's POV
I still hadn't found them.
I had searched through forests, abandoned houses, old vampire territories, and places I had never even known existed.
Every lead ended the same way.
Nothing.
No Eira.
No Adrian.
Only faint traces of vampire presence that disappeared before I could follow them.
But I refused to stop.
Each passing day was driving me closer to insanity.
Knowing she was with him was slowly destroying whatever patience I had left.
My search led me from one vampire territory to another.
Eventually, another lead brought me to a vampire settlement hidden deep within the forest.
The moment I stepped into their camp, several vampires turned toward me.
One of them stepped forward cautiously.
"You shouldn't be here."
I stared at him.
"Where is Adrian?"
His expression hardened.
"We don't know."
"You're lying."
"We aren't."
I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against a tree.
"Where did he go?"
"I told you! We don't know!"
"Where is the girl?"
His eyes widened.
"What girl?"
"Eira."
He shook his head.
"I've never seen her."
I studied his face.
There was fear in his eyes.
But not the fear of someone hiding a secret.
He genuinely didn't know.
I released him.
He dropped to the ground.
I looked around the camp.
"Does anyone here know where Adrian is?"
No one answered.
Not a single vampire stepped forward.
My frustration finally snapped.
I attacked.
The fight was fast and brutal.
One after another, the vampires fell.
When it was over, silence settled over the camp.
Another tribe.
Another dead end.
I grabbed one of the vampires who was still alive.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"Think carefully."
"I swear, we don't know where Adrian is."
His voice trembled.
"And the girl?"
"I don't know her either."
I stared at him.
There was nothing.
No hidden information.
No secret location.
Nothing I could use.
I finally released him.
He collapsed to the ground.
I looked toward the darkness beyond the trees.
They truly didn't know.
None of them did.
But that didn't mean I would stop.
My search had led nowhere.
Yet every failure only made me more determined.
Adrian was somewhere out there.
Eira was with him.
And I would find them.
"Eira..."
My voice disappeared into the darkness.
"Come back to me before I destroy myself by going insane over you."
I clenched my fists.
"Even if I have to search every forest and tear through every vampire territory in my path."
I turned toward the darkness.
The search continued.
Adrian's POV
I stood alone in the darkness.
But my mind refused to be quiet.
Her words kept returning to me.
Maybe you are a monster.
But I feel safer with this monster than I have with any human who has ever tried to protect me.
Why?
I clenched my fist.
I wasn't someone who kept people safe.
I was someone who destroyed people.
I wasn't someone she could trust.
I was someone people were meant to fear.
I couldn't let her get close to me.
This world was not for her.
I was not for her.
A faint sound came from outside.
I opened my eyes.
Drek stepped into the room.
His expression was unusually serious.
"Adrian."
I looked at him.
"What?"
"Jake found another vampire tribe."
My expression hardened.
"And?"
"He killed them."
Silence filled the room.
Drek continued.
"He was searching for information about you."
I looked away.
"Does he know anything?"
"No."
My eyes shifted toward him.
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
Drek shook his head.
"The tribes he's questioned genuinely don't know where you are."
I remained silent.
"But that doesn't mean we're safe."
He stepped closer.
"Word is spreading. Jake is searching for you. Several vampire tribes have heard about what happened, and many of them are now looking for you too."
My expression darkened.
"How long?"
"Not long enough."
The door opened.
Mike entered.
His face was grim.
"We have to leave this place now."
I looked at him.
"We've already drawn too much attention," he continued. "If we stay here, they'll eventually find us."
He paused.
"But before we leave, her scent needs to be covered."
I immediately understood.
"The ritual."
Mike nodded.
"It's risky on a human."
"I know."
"We don't have another choice."
I remained silent.
Mike looked directly at me.
"Don't worry. I won't kill her."
Before I could respond, Elisa entered.
"I'll bring her."
She looked at Mike.
"And don't tell her about the attacks or what's happening outside."
Mike nodded.
My gaze shifted toward the hallway.
The thought of performing the ritual on Eira made something inside me tighten.
I couldn't let her get close to me.
This world was not for her.
I was not for her.
But there was no time.
We had to leave.
Eira's POV
I sat beside the window, staring at the moon.
The coldness in his voice echoed through my mind.
Because I won't always be able to stop myself.
I wrapped my arms around myself.
He was right.
I was the one who had called him a monster.
I should fear him.
But I don't, Adrian.
I can't deny it anymore.
I'm not afraid of you.
I feel safe with you.
I don't know why.
I know your world and mine are different, but somehow, staying away from you is becoming harder.
A soft knock came at the door.
I quickly wiped my face.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Elisa stepped inside.
She looked at me for a moment before speaking.
"We need to leave."
I frowned.
"Leave?"
"Tonight."
Something in her voice made my stomach tighten.
"Why?"
"It's not safe here," Elisa said.
Something about her tone made me stop asking questions.
"We don't have much time."
I stared at her.
"Why can't we just stay here?"
"Because they'll eventually find us."
She hesitated.
"There is something we need to do first."
"What?"
"Your scent needs to be hidden."
I frowned.
"My scent?"
"Vampires can track humans through their scent. As long as they can sense you, hiding won't be enough."
My heart began beating faster.
"How do we hide it?"
"A ritual."
Fear flickered through me.
"What kind of ritual?"
"It will hide your scent."
I swallowed.
"Is it dangerous?"
Elisa hesitated.
"It can be."
That answer didn't make me feel any better.
"But we don't have another choice."
I looked toward the door.
Then slowly nodded.
"Okay."
Mike prepared the ritual quickly.
A circle had been drawn across the floor, surrounded by strange markings I didn't recognize.
I stood in the middle, trying not to let my fear show.
Adrian stood nearby.
He hadn't said a word.
His expression was unreadable.
Mike approached me.
"This will only take a moment."
I nodded.
Then I felt a brief sting against my wrist.
I flinched.
A small cut appeared.
Before I could react, Adrian stepped forward and took my hand.
His fingers were cold.
Unnaturally cold.
But his grip was careful.
Mike glanced at him.
"Adrian."
Adrian ignored him.
He didn't release my hand.
Mike carefully took the small amount of blood needed for the ritual.
The moment he finished, Adrian immediately wrapped a clean cloth around my wrist and tied it securely.
Mike gave him a sharp look.
Adrian didn't care.
His attention remained on me.
"You'll be fine."
His voice was quiet.
I looked into his eyes.
For some reason, those simple words eased some of my fear.
Mike began the ritual.
The markings beneath my feet seemed to shimmer.
The air suddenly felt heavier.
A strange pressure surrounded me.
I held my breath.
The markings slowly began to fade.
The pressure disappeared.
For a moment, everything was silent.
"It's done."
I looked down at my wrist.
"That's it?"
"For now."
Before I could take another breath, a sudden pain struck my chest.
I gasped.
My hand flew to my chest.
The pain intensified for a few seconds, sharp enough to make my vision blur.
"Adrian..."
My knees suddenly gave way.
I collapsed.
"Eira!"
Adrian caught me before I hit the floor.
His arms tightened around me as he lowered me carefully to the ground.
My breathing became uneven.
My chest felt as though something were twisting inside it.
Adrian's expression changed.
The usual coldness disappeared from his eyes.
"Look at me."
I tried, but everything around me felt blurred.
His hand moved toward my chest.
A faint silver glow gathered beneath his palm.
I felt something cold spread through my body.
Then, strangely, the pain began to fade.
The pressure in my chest slowly loosened.
My breathing steadied.
Within moments, the pain disappeared completely.
I took a shaky breath.
Adrian slowly lowered his hand.
Mike glanced at Adrian.
"She's not a normal human."
Adrian's expression hardened.
Mike's eyes shifted toward me.
"Don't forget what's inside her."
Adrian's gaze sharpened.
"She's still human."
His voice was cold and firm.
"Whatever is different about her, she's still human."
Mike studied him for a moment.
Then his gaze returned to me.
"Her body will eventually adjust. She'll be fine."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"Eventually isn't good enough."
Mike's eyes narrowed slightly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Silence filled the room.
Adrian looked down at me.
His expression was unreadable again.
But I could still see the tension in his eyes.
I slowly pushed myself upright.
"I'm okay."
Adrian looked at me.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded.
"The pain is gone."
He remained silent for a moment.
Then he stood and offered me his hand.
I took it.
His fingers closed around mine.
Cold.
Careful.
Protective.
Mike turned toward everyone.
"We leave now."
Adrian slowly released my hand.
The sudden absence of his touch felt strangely noticeable.
We stepped outside.
The night air was cold.
The forest stretched before us, dark and endless.
Mike looked at me.
"How is she going to walk through the forest? We don't have much time."
Adrian looked at him.
"You go ahead."
Mike frowned.
"We'll follow."
Adrian turned toward me.
Before I could ask what he was doing, he crouched slightly in front of me.
"Get on."
I stared at him.
"What?"
"Unless you want to walk."
I glanced toward the dark forest.
Then back at him.
I slowly climbed onto his back.
His body was cold beneath my hands.
Yet somehow, I felt safe.
Mike and the others began walking ahead.
Adrian waited until they disappeared between the trees.
Then he looked back at the house.
He took out a match.
The tiny flame flickered between his fingers.
I watched him silently.
Then he threw it toward the house.
The fire caught.
My eyes widened.
"Adrian..."
"We can't leave anything behind."
The flames began spreading through the darkness.
Adrian turned away.
"Hold on."
I tightened my arms around him.
He started walking.
Deeper into the forest.
The trees slowly swallowed the house behind us.
The flames disappeared from view.
Darkness surrounded us.
I rested my head against Adrian's shoulder.
I didn't know where we were going.
I didn't know what waited for us in the darkness.
I didn't know whether Jake would find us.
But as Adrian carried me deeper into the forest, one thought remained in my mind.
Whatever happened next...
I wasn't facing it alone.