Mackenzie's POV My heart pounded in my chest as I sprinted through the dense forest, the cold air burning my lungs. Every branch I passed seemed to claw at my skin, slowing me down, but I couldn’t afford to stop. Behind me, Donald’s furious voice rang out, each word laced with venom.“You can’t escape, Mackenzie! You think you’re clever, don’t you? But you’ll regret this!” How the freaking hell did I get myself involved with a psychopath.His shouts only made me push harder, my legs screaming in protest. Would I stop?No, never.I won't let him catch me again. I'm not that fragile.Fuck, shut it Mackenzie. You were human less than a month ago, they turned you into a vampire so you're weak.The ground was uneven, littered with roots and rocks that threatened to trip me at every step. I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t let him catch me. The taste of fear was sharp in my mouth, mingling with the metallic tang of blood from where I’d bitten my lip earlier.The trees blurred past as I ran, the
EMILIO'S POVI stared at my phone, the screen glowing in the dim light of my room. A text from Alex and Jake popped up ."Hey, Emilio. Follow us to Eternal tonight. Trust us, you won't regret it."My curiosity piqued, I hesitated for a moment. Eternal was the new club downtown, rumored to be exclusive and secretive. What were my friends getting themselves into?"It's not about regretting it. I have some projects to work on and—" I was trying to come up with an excuse but they were quick to notice it as another text came in while I was typing."No excuse would be accepted anyways." Alex and Jake were my closest friends. We'd been through thick and thin together. If they wanted me to follow them, I wouldn't question it.'Alright, guys. I'm in. Lead the way,' I typed back.Within minutes, they responded with the address."Come alone. There are a lot of girls and in your case, a lot of charming dudes." A shiver ran down my spine. A smile lingered on my face for a bit as I chuckled to
Emilio's POVIt's been over a week since that unforgettable night at Eternal. The kiss with Lucas still lingers on my lips, haunting me like a ghost. Every waking moment, I'm consumed by thoughts of him.His piercing blue eyes.His chiseled features.His addictive smile.That kiss... It was like the world had come to a standstill. Time froze, leaving only Lucas and me, lost in the intensity of our connection.But then, chaos erupted. The vampire scare, the frantic exit... And Lucas vanished.I've tried reaching out, scouring social media, asking around. Nothing.It's as if he never existed.Yet, the memory of our kiss refuses to fade. I relive it every night, my dreams filled with visions of Lucas's lips, his touch, his whispered words."Forever starts now."Was it just a fleeting moment of madness? Or did we truly connect?My friends try to distract me, but even their jokes and antics can't shake off this longing.Another day, another design project, but my mind is elsewhere. Lucas
Emilio's POV I take Lucas's hand, leading him to my house in silence. Inside, the familiar surroundings seem to shrink with his presence."Where have you been?" I demand, turning to face him.Lucas's gaze wanders around my living room, lingering on scattered design books and art supplies."Busy," he replies, his voice cryptic.I fold my arms, eyes narrowing. "Busy isn't an answer, Lucas."His smile resurfaces, but I sense a hint of unease."I had matters to attend to," he elaborates."Matters?" I press my tone firm.Lucas's eyes lock onto mine, their intensity making my heart skip a beat."Emilio, I—" he begins.The doorbell interrupts, shattering the moment."I'll get it," I mutter.I saw a box and instantly knew the delivery man dropped the items I ordered for last week."Who?" He asked."A dispatch rider." I replied. I don't care what I said.Lucas's eyes linger on the door, his expression unreadable."I should go," he says. But I'm not ready to let him disappear again. Not yet, n
Lucas's POVWhat would I say about humans? Weak, fragile and reckless things.But yet, I fell for one. The same species of being that wiped my whole family. I watched them slaughter my mom and she was just 6 months pregnant. They killed my sister and cut her parts by parts in my presence.I was just twelve years old when I ran away. In their words, they were called 'The vampire hunters.'I hated them, every single thing about them. I had swore to take down the man that murdered my family. I would wipe his family from generations.I wasn't a fool who would go about killing all humans because a particular maniac decided to wipe my family but that didn't stop me from turning as many as I can.I turned them.Compelled them.And used them for my personal gain.But with Emilio, everything seemed different and foreign.As I gazed at the blood seeping from Emilio's cut hand, I couldn't tear my eyes away. The hunger pangs hit me suddenly, and my stomach growled with an otherworldly craving.
Lucas's POVI stepped out of Emilio's house, wrapping my coat tightly around me. The sun's rays were harsh, and I couldn't risk exposure. I covered my face, neck, and hands, protecting my pale skin.As I walked downtown, my thoughts drifted to Emilio. Would the sun affect him too? I worried about his safety, but then I remembered – he hadn't fully turned yet. He was still in limbo, caught between human and vampire.The city streets blurred together as I hurried to my apartment. I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Emilio's transformation weighed heavily on my mind.Finally, I reached my apartment and shed my protective layers. Exhaustion hit me, and I collapsed onto the couch, letting out a deep sigh.Just as I closed my eyes, my phone buzzed. Vikram's name flashed on the screen. I hesitated for a moment before answering."Hey, Vikram," I said, trying to sound casual."Lucas, we have a problem," Vikram's serious voice greeted. His tone sent a shiver down my spine."What's going on?
Emilio's POV This morning had been a disaster from the start. Lucas and I didn't start up in a good way due to the fact that he annoyed me the previous day. I felt like a stupid person to be in love with a vampire. Weird right, but I can't help it. I didn't see the point in texting him to say I was heading out. He'd probably just ignore me or send a curt reply. But as I grabbed my keys and headed for the door from my office, my mind began to wander. I couldn't shake the memory of our first kiss, the way Lucas's lips had felt against mine. And that night... oh, that night. The way our bodies had moved together, the way Lucas had made me feel. My chest tightened, a mix of emotions swirling inside me. I hated how Lucas pushed my buttons, how he knew exactly how to get under my skin. But at the same time... I loved him. I loved the way he made me feel alive. I sighed, frustration and desire warring within me. Why did it have to be Lucas, of all people? Someone who drove me c
Emilio's POV As the figure emerged from the shadows, Lucas's reflexes kicked in. He pushed me behind him, his body shielding mine."Run," he growled, his eyes fixed on the mysterious figure.My heart racing, I hesitated for a split second before obeying. Lucas's protective instincts kicked in, and I trusted him.We sprinted through the house, Lucas expertly navigating the darkness. The figure gave chase, its footsteps echoing through the empty halls.We burst through the front door, and Lucas swiftly guided me toward his car."Get in," he ordered, opening the passenger door.I dove inside, my mind reeling with questions.Who was that figure? What did they want?Lucas slid into the driver's seat, starting the engine with a roar."Hold on," he warned, peeling out of the driveway.As we sped away from my family's house, I turned to Lucas."What just happened?" I demanded.Lucas's gaze flicked between the road and the rearview mirror."We'll talk about it later," he promised. "First, we
Mackenzie's POV My heart pounded in my chest as I sprinted through the dense forest, the cold air burning my lungs. Every branch I passed seemed to claw at my skin, slowing me down, but I couldn’t afford to stop. Behind me, Donald’s furious voice rang out, each word laced with venom.“You can’t escape, Mackenzie! You think you’re clever, don’t you? But you’ll regret this!” How the freaking hell did I get myself involved with a psychopath.His shouts only made me push harder, my legs screaming in protest. Would I stop?No, never.I won't let him catch me again. I'm not that fragile.Fuck, shut it Mackenzie. You were human less than a month ago, they turned you into a vampire so you're weak.The ground was uneven, littered with roots and rocks that threatened to trip me at every step. I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t let him catch me. The taste of fear was sharp in my mouth, mingling with the metallic tang of blood from where I’d bitten my lip earlier.The trees blurred past as I ran, the
Mackenzie's POV My heart raced as the car bumped along the uneven dirt road, jostling me against the unforgiving seat. The coarse rope around my wrists bit into my skin, and the blindfold over my eyes only made the fear worse.Every sound—the crunch of gravel, the hum of the engine, the eerie silence of the surrounding forest—seemed louder in the dark. I had no idea where Donald was taking me, but I knew it wasn’t anywhere good.When the car screeched to a stop, my stomach twisted. The door flung open, and before I could brace myself, Donald yanked me out. My bare feet hit the rough ground, and I stumbled, the jagged rocks scraping against my skin. Pain shot through my knees as I tried to regain my balance, but he didn’t care. He just grabbed my arm, his grip bruising, and started dragging me forward.“Where are you taking me?” I demanded, my voice trembling but laced with defiance.The slap came out of nowhere, stinging my cheek and snapping my head to the side. My skin burned whe
Emilio’s POV“Lucas, this doesn’t make sense!” I said, pacing back and forth in the room. My hands were shaking, and I couldn’t think straight. “Why would your dad just grab Mackenzie like that? She was terrified!”Lucas stood near the window, his arms crossed. He looked calm, but I knew him well enough to see the tension in his jaw. “I don’t know, Emilio. He didn’t say anything to me about it.”“Didn’t say anything?” I stopped pacing and turned to him. “You’re telling me your father drags Mackenzie out of here, and you have no clue why?”He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yes. That’s what I’m saying.”“Unbelievable,” I muttered under my breath. My fists clenched at my sides as the memory of Mackenzie’s pleading voice echoed in my mind. She’d been so scared, and I hadn’t done anything to stop it.“Look,” Lucas said, stepping closer. “I’ll talk to him. I’ll find out what’s going on.”“Talk to him?” I scoffed. “That’s your solution? What about stopping him? What about doing somet
Lucas's POV The loud bang made us all jump. My fork froze in mid-air as I turned toward the door, my heart skipping a beat. Standing there, without knocking or any warning, was someone I hadn’t seen in a long time.His sharp eyes scanned the room before landing on Mackenzie. He didn’t say hello or offer any kind of explanation. Instead, his voice cut through the air like a knife: "You didn’t think you could hide forever, did you?"Mackenzie’s face turned pale, her eyes wide with fear. Her fork slipped from her hand, hitting the plate with a loud clatter. I could feel the tension building in the room, heavy and suffocating. My chest tightened as I pushed back my chair and stood up. Emilio stood up too, moving quickly to my side."What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice firm but edged with anger. "You can’t just barge in like this.""This isn’t your house, Lucas. I don’t need permission to walk in." He turned to me, a smirk forming on his face. It was a cold, calculated look,
Mackenzie’s POVI sat on the couch, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, the leather of the book burning against my fingers.How do I spill?I feel so scared because what if they turn out wanting to kill me too?I was trying to steady myself, but my mind kept racing, my heart pounding as though it were trying to break free from my chest. Lucas and Emilio were in front of me, their eyes filled with that same concern, that same confusion. They didn’t fully understand what I was telling them, but I could see that they were trying. Trying to process everything. Trying to make sense of what I had just uncovered.Lucas was the first to speak, his voice soft but steady. "Mackenzie, what exactly are you saying? You... you have Elyrian Blood?" His tone carried the weight of disbelief and confusion, but there was a thread of urgency underneath it, like he knew something big was about to be revealed.I swallowed hard. This was it. This was the truth that had been buried deep inside me, the th
Lucas’s POV"What the heck!?" Mackenzie's voice cut through the air, shaky but loud enough to make us freeze. Emilio and I immediately pulled apart, our heads snapping toward her direction. My heart was racing, not from what we were doing moments ago, but from the sheer embarrassment of being caught in such an intimate moment. She was leaning against the doorway, looking pale and weak, but the shock on her face was unmistakable. Her eyes darted between the two of us, taking in the disheveled state we were in. "Uh…" I started, but no words came out. "Are you two…?" she trailed off, pointing at us as if she couldn’t even say the words. Emilio, still shirtless and visibly uncomfortable, cleared his throat. "Yeah. We are," he said simply, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. Her mouth fell open, and for a moment, she looked like she didn’t know what to say. Then, as if she had recovered from her initial shock, her expression shifted to something I couldn’t quite p
Emilio's POV Lucas’s living room was dimly lit, the shadows of the evening settling around us as we sat on the couch.Mackenzie was so weak and Lucas used the first aid kit in his house to treat her wound and made sure she was okay.Luckily, her wounds were not deep, she didn't have deep cuts, just slight bruises and marks that looked like she was flogged.Mackenzie had just fallen asleep, her breathing steady and even. I could still feel the exhaustion in my bones, but the urgency of our conversation kept me alert.“We can’t keep her here for too long,” Lucas said, his voice low but firm. “If my father finds out, he’ll come straight here.”I nodded, my fingers absently tracing the hem of my shirt. “And if Vikram hears about this, he’ll waste no time sending someone. She’s not safe anywhere right now.”Lucas leaned back, his jaw tightening. “Then we make her safe. I’ll call Victor and get more security around the house. Every entrance, every window—covered.”“That’s a start,” I said,
Lucas's POV The alarms screamed in the background, a sharp reminder that we were running out of time. My feet slapped against the cold floor as I pushed myself forward. I shouted back, desperate to keep us moving.“Emilio, come on! We have less than two minutes!”“Wait!” Emilio called out, suddenly stopping in his tracks. “Did you hear that?”I groaned, my frustration spilling over. “Hear what? All I can hear are the alarms telling us we’re about to blow up!” This whole thing is messed up.I looked head of me and caught if glimpse of Red, he was walking to the other end of the building.He ignored me and tilted his head, focusing. “No, there’s someone. Someone’s calling for help.”“We don’t have time for this!” I yelled, grabbing his arm to pull him along. “If we don’t move now, we’re dead!”He pulled away from me, his eyes locked on something I couldn’t see. “I’m not leaving whoever is there behind! It might be Mackenzie.” he said firmly, and before I could argue, he took off in th
Lucas's POV When Emilio and I got to the warehouse, it felt strange right away. I held Emilio's hand. Not because I was scared but because I feared for his safety.I know he cares a lot about Mackenzie that's the reason why he came.The air was cold and smelled weird, like wet cement and dust. Everything around us was quiet—too quiet. There were no birds singing, no cars passing by, and no wind blowing. It was like the whole place was holding its breath, waiting for something. It made my skin crawl. More silent than a cemetery I must say.I looked over at Emilio. He was walking slowly, his eyes darting everywhere like he was trying to catch something moving in the shadows. “Do you feel that?” I asked him, my voice was low so it wouldn’t echo too much.He nodded, his face serious and a little pale. “Yeah,” he said. “It feels like something bad is about to happen. I think we’re walking into a trap.”Hearing him say that made my stomach twist. I already felt uneasy, but now I felt lik