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
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
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 POV "Do you think this road will take us anywhere?" Lucas asked, his hands steady on the steering wheel. I didn't answer right away. My mind wasn't focused on his question or the road ahead. Instead, my ears tuned into the music playing softly from the car speakers. The sultry melody teased the edges of my thoughts, and the singer's low voice carried lyrics that made my chest feel warm. “Can’t help falling into your fire, want to stay here forever, burning in desire,” the singer crooned. My fingers twitched against my thigh as I let the words soak into me. I stole a glance at Lucas. His jaw was relaxed, his mouth curved in a small smile as if he wasn’t aware of the heat simmering in the air. Was he playing this on purpose? My gaze lingered a second too long. His fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel, his thumb keeping time with the beat. My lips twitched into a smirk. Lucas could play oblivious all he wanted, but there was no way he didn’t know what this so
Emilio's POV I shifted MacKenzie’s limp body in my arms, her head resting against my chest as her shallow breaths tickled my collarbone. The car was parked just a few feet away, but Lucas stood in front of it, arms crossed and eyes sharp as a blade.“Lucas, open the door,” I said, my voice low but firm. I didn’t have time for whatever he was about to start.Lucas didn’t move. “We need to talk, Emilio.”“Not now,” I snapped, trying to step around him, but he blocked me.“No,” he said, his voice hardening. “Now. This can’t keep happening.”“Lucas, I swear, if you don’t get out of the way—”“You’ll what? Keep avoiding this conversation? Pretend like we’re not running in circles trying to protect her from her own messes?” He gestured sharply toward MacKenzie, who stirred slightly in my arms.“Stop it,” I said through gritted teeth. “She’s hurt. She needs help, not your lectures.”MacKenzie’s voice, weak but laced with venom, broke through before Lucas could respond. “Why don’t you just s
Mackenzie's POV I sat on the edge of the bed, my heart pounding so loudly it drowned out every other sound in the room. Lucas’s words echoed in my mind, sharp and cutting like broken glass.“Why do you have to be so useless? You’re just slowing us down.”The words had stung, lodging themselves deep in my chest. My fists clenched in my lap, and my stomach churned with a sickening mix of anger and sadness. I’d never felt so small. So unwanted. I kept my eyes fixed on the floor, but no matter how hard I tried to block them out, his words kept looping in my head. Each time, they cut a little deeper.Lucas didn’t even care that I’d overheard. Maybe he wanted me to. The thought made my throat tighten, and a lump of emotion threatened to rise, but I swallowed it down. Crying wouldn’t fix anything.When Emilio dropped me in the room and walked out without a word, I watched the door close behind him. The click of the lock felt like a final judgment, trapping me in this place where I didn’t
Lucas’s POV“Lucas, you need to listen to me.” Victor’s voice crackled through the phone, heavy with urgency. I gripped the phone tighter, the blood draining from my face. “What’s going on, Victor?”“It’s your father,” he said, his voice grim. “He killed Mackenzie.”My heart stopped, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. “What? What do you mean, he killed her? Why?”“I don’t have all the details yet, but it looks like a sacrifice. Your father, Donald… he’s gone too far this time.”A wave of rage and disbelief washed over me, so strong it nearly knocked me off my feet. “A sacrifice?” I repeated, my voice cracking. “What the hell are you talking about? He’s lost his mind.”“I’m telling you, it’s bad. He’s not even answering his phone. It’s like he doesn’t care anymore. I’m trying to get more information, but things are moving fast. This could change everything. Emilio… this is going to tear him apart.”I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to calm the storm in my head. “I know it wil
Emilio’s POVThe clearing was quiet, unbearably quiet. The only sounds were the faint rustling of the trees and the occasional distant call of some nocturnal creature. I stood there, unmoving, staring at the fresh mound of dirt. The moonlight poured down, pale and cold, illuminating the spot where my daughter now lay. Mackenzie. My Mackenzie. I had dug the grave myself. It felt like the only thing I could do for her now. The earth had been stubborn, as if the forest itself didn’t want to accept her. My hands were still dirty from the task, the skiYn raw and blistered, but I didn’t care. She was gone, and none of it mattered anymore. Her body was beneath the soil now, wrapped in the silver gown she had been wearing when I found her. I had carried her here in my arms, cradling her like I used to when she was small. She felt so light, too light, as though death had taken even her weight away. I knelt beside the grave, my legs giving out beneath me. The ground was cold and damp,
EPILOGUE Lucas's POV Two years had passed. Two years since the war ended. Since the city had been rebuilt. Since humans and vampires had learned, slowly but surely, to coexist. And through it all, Emilio and I had remained together. Our love had endured battles, bloodshed, and fear. It had survived the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future. We had chosen each other—again and again—until there was no doubt left. Today, under the soft glow of the evening sun, we would make that choice one more time. The ceremony was held in the heart of the city, in a grand, open courtyard surrounded by the people who had become our family. Humans and vampires alike sat together, watching as Emilio and I stood beneath a beautifully decorated arch, our hands entwined. Mariah and Xena sat in the front row, their smiles wide. Irene, despite everything, standing at the back with her arms crossed but an expression that was… softer than usual. Emilio’s old vampire allies were pres
FINALE Lucas's POV The phone rang again. I barely had time to process everything from before when another call came in. Emilio glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. We were still sitting on the couch, our bodies close, but the warmth from earlier had faded. Something about this call felt different. I answered. "Lucas." A deep voice responded. "Mr. Newcastle, this is John Carter. I’m with the government." That made me sit up straighter. Emilio noticed and watched me closely. "The government?" I repeated, my grip tightening on the phone. "Yes," John said. "I’m sure you know the city is in ruins. The battle left many without homes, and the people needed stability. We’ve been observing you and Emilio. You both fought to protect this place, and we need your help now to rebuild it." I felt Emilio stiffen beside me. I met his eyes, searching for his thoughts. This was unexpected. A human official—someone from the government—asking for help from vampires? That had never happened be
Lucas's POV "Thank you."The words caught me off guard. I turned to see an older woman standing before me, her clothes torn and dusty, her face smudged with dirt. But her eyes—those eyes—were kind. She held out her trembling hands, as if unsure whether she should touch me or not."You saved us," she repeated. "Thank you."I didn’t know how to respond. I had never expected gratitude. Fear, maybe. Hatred, perhaps. But not this. Not from these people. After all, Emilio and I were vampires, and not just any vampires. We had fought in a battle that had left the city in ruins. People had died. Lives had been destroyed. Yet here she was, looking at me like I had done something good.More people gathered around us. Slowly, they came out from the rubble, the broken buildings, the dark alleys. They were weary, their faces worn, but there was a soft relief in their eyes. Some carried the injured, others clutched their loved ones, whispering reassurances."We wouldn't have survived without you,"
Emilio's POV "I'm tired."The words slipped from my mouth before I even thought about them. My body ached, my head pounded, and my heart felt heavier than it ever had before. I was exhausted, more than I had ever been in my entire life. Everything hurt. My arms, my legs, my chest—even my thoughts felt slow and heavy, like they were sinking into thick mud.I looked around at what was left of the city.Lucas stood beside me, silent. His face was pale, his eyes staring ahead like he wasn’t really seeing anything. I knew how he felt. We had won, but at what cost?The city was in ruins. The people who had lived here, worked here, built their lives here—everything they had was gone. All because of Vikram.Vikram.The name made my chest tighten. He had caused so much pain, so much destruction. He had played with people’s lives like they were nothing, used them like tools, broken them when they were no longer useful. I hated him. I hated him for everything he had done. And now he was gone
Lucas's POV “It’s over.” Emilio’s voice cut through the heavy silence like a knife, sharp and unyielding. But I didn’t move. I couldn’t. My body felt like it was made of stone, every muscle locked in place, every breath shallow and forced. My heart pounded against my ribs, each beat a reminder of what I had just done. Vikram lay at my feet, his body still, unmoving. Blood seeped from the deep wound in his chest, spreading like ink across the cracked pavement. The firelight flickered in his open eyes, reflecting emptiness. He was no longer the man I had fought, no longer the threat I had feared. He was just a lifeless shell now. A body. A memory. A mistake I could never take back. I had done it. I had killed him. My hands still gripped the hilt of my sword, fingers curled so tightly that my knuckles had turned white. The weapon was buried deep in Vikram’s chest, its steel stained red. I couldn’t let go. The weight of it felt heavier than before, as if the blade itself carried
Emilio's POV The city burned. Smoke curled into the sky, thick and suffocating, choking the air with the scent of ash and blood. Flames licked at the buildings, casting long, jagged shadows against the ruined streets. The heat pressed against my skin, but it was nothing compared to the fire in my chest. Vikram stood ahead, his figure dark against the inferno, a cruel smirk tugging at his lips. His eyes, sharp and gleaming, locked onto me like a predator watching its prey. Emilio was beside me, his breath unsteady but his stance firm. His presence was the only thing keeping me from losing myself completely. My fingers curled into fists. My body ached, bruises and cuts stinging with every movement, but none of that mattered. Not now. Vikram tilted his head, amused. “Look at you,” he murmured, voice smooth like poison. “Still standing. Still fighting for something that was never yours to begin with.” Rage clawed up my throat, hot and unforgiving. My heart pounded. I wanted to lu
Emilio's POV This was getting too much and I couldn't breathe so I ran away, I ran till I couldn't breath.I need to breathe! I was going berserk, I was losing myself and I didn't want my rippers killer instinct to come up.I heard footsteps behind me and realized that it was Lucas. "Hey...." He muttered with frustration."We need to talk." I didn't even give him time.Lucas's voice was quiet, but the weight of his words made Emilio turn around immediately. They were in Lucas's room, a dimly lit space filled with the silence of unspoken thoughts. The air was heavy, thick with the tension Lucas had been carrying since Vikram’s betrayal. Emilio frowned, stepping closer."I know," Emilio whispered. "It's about Vikram, isn't it?"Lucas ran a hand through his hair, feeling the frustration and regret claw at his chest. "Yeah. It is." He let out a shaky breath. "I don't know what to do. I feel like... I feel like this is all my fault."Emilio's brows furrowed. "Lucas—""No, just—just let
Lucas’s POVChaos. The battlefield is nothing but blood, screams, and shadows moving too fast to track. The air is thick with the metallic tang of spilled blood, so sharp it clings to the back of my throat like poison. I swing my blade, the steel slicing clean through the neck of a rogue vampire before it can reach me. Its body collapses at my feet, twitching, but there’s no time to catch my breath. Another one takes its place almost instantly, snarling, eyes glowing with that unnatural hunger. Damn it. There are too many. “Lucas, behind you!” Emilio’s voice cuts through the chaos. Instinct kicks in. I twist just in time to see a rogue launching itself at me, claws slicing through the air like daggers. I barely get my arm up before it slams into me, knocking me backward onto the blood-slick pavement. The impact steals the breath from my lungs. The rogue is on top of me in seconds, its fangs bared, saliva dripping onto my face. Its breath reeks of death and rot. I shove m
Emilio's POV “They’re everywhere!” I shouted, my voice shaking. My chest burned, my hands clenched into fists. The city was falling apart around us. Flames swallowed buildings, turning them into black, crumbling skeletons. Thick smoke filled the air, choking me, burning my eyes. The streets were broken, cracked, covered in glass and blood. Cars sat abandoned, their windows shattered, doors hanging open. The fight that rukus that Vikram caused is the reason why we had to leave the Vampire world and come out here to make a fight that I doubt we would ever win.And then there were *them*. The rogue vampires. Vikram's evilness, deceit and stupidity.He created them! He brought them and these are his properties.They swarmed the streets like a nightmare come to life. Fast. Wild. Bloodthirsty. Their glowing red eyes cut through the darkness. Their claws tore through anything in their way. The sound of screams, of bones breaking, of bodies hitting the ground filled the air. I fe