Lucas's POV I pulled out my phone, the screen illuminating my face in the darkness. Vikram's name flashed on the screen, and my heart sank. His calls rarely brought good news."Lucas," Vikram's voice was firm, laced with an undercurrent of urgency.I tensed, my grip on the phone tightening. "What is it, Vikram?""The Master wants to see you," Vikram replied, his tone devoid of emotion.A shiver ran down my spine. The Master's summons were never trivial. Something was amiss, and my instincts screamed warning."When?" I asked, already knowing the answer."Now. Come to the old warehouse on 5th and Main." Vikram's words hung in the air like a challenge.I hesitated, my mind racing. What did the Master want? The silence between us was heavy with unspoken threats."I'll be there," I said finally, resignation etched in my voice.Vikram ended the call without another word, leaving me with more questions than answers.I glanced at my watch, the ticking seconds echoing my racing heart. Emilio
Lucas's POV "Emilio, calm down," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'll get you blood. Just hold on."The Master's eyes narrowed. "Looks like your lover needs attention, Lucas."I ignored his sarcasm. "Emilio, where are you?""I'm...I'm at the park," Emilio replied, his voice laced with desperation. "Please, Lucas. I don't know how much longer I can—""I'm on my way," I interrupted, already moving toward the door.Vikram stepped aside, his expression unreadable."Take care of him, Lucas," the Master called out, his voice dripping with malice. "But remember, loyalty to our kind comes first."I nodded, knowing the Master's warning was more than just a reminder.As I rushed to Emilio's side, I couldn't shake off the feeling that our world was about to implode.Would Emilio's newfound nature tear us apart, or would we find a way to make our love work amidst the danger and deception surrounding us?Only time would tell.I sped to the park, my heart racing with every passing second.
Emilio's POV I woke up to Lucas's warm breath on my skin, his chest rising and falling with each gentle snore. Our legs were tangled, and his arm wrapped around me, holding me close.As I gazed at his peaceful face, a nagging thought crept into my mind.How can Lucas be so calm about my father?The man who slaughtered his family, leaving Lucas with a burning desire for revenge.I knew Lucas's past, the pain and anger that fueled his quest for vengeance. It didn't add up. Lucas, the man who had dedicated years to planning his revenge, couldn't just let it go.Not because of me.Not because of our relationship.There had to be more.Lucas's eyes fluttered open, and he smiled, his gaze locking onto mine."Morning," he whispered, his voice husky.I forced a smile, trying to shake off my doubts."Morning."As we lay there, the morning sunlight casting a warm glow on our skin, my mind raced.What was Lucas's true intention?Was he using me to get closer to my father?The thought sent a shi
Unknown POV The phone call ended, and a satisfied smile spread across their face. Emilio's fear was clear, even through the line."Perfect," they muttered, setting the phone down.Their eyes narrowed, focusing on the task at hand. Lucas and Emilio thought they were safe, but they were wrong.A plan had been set in motion, months in the making. The vacation Lucas mentioned was exactly what they needed.Their gaze shifted to a map of the city, pinpointing locations and timelines. Emilio's father was a useful pawn, but he wouldn't be enough.More pieces needed to be moved into place.They picked up a secure phone and dialed a number. "It's time to proceed," they said, voice distorted."Lucas and Emilio are getting closer to the truth. We can't let that happen."The person on the other end listened intently. "What's the next step?""They'll be taking a trip soon. We'll be ready."A sinister grin spread across their face. "Emilio's father will create a diversion. We'll handle the rest."
Lucas's POV I woke up early, feeling excited for our vacation. Emilio was still sleeping, so I quietly got out of bed and started getting ready.As I was packing my bag, my phone rang. It was one of my trusted guys, Victor."Lucas, we have a problem," Victor said, his voice serious."What is it?" I asked, immediately alert."Operation Nightshade," Victor replied. "It's a setup against you and Emilio."My heart sank. "What do you mean?""Someone's been planning this for months," Victor explained. "They're using Emilio's father to hunt you down, and they've got evidence to expose Emilio's secret to the world."I felt a chill run down my spine. "How did you find out?""I hacked into their system," Victor said. "I saw the plans, Lucas. They're going to use Emilio's mother against him, and they've got a recording of Emilio confessing to Alex's death."My mind was racing. This was bad."Where are they?" I demanded."They're tracking your every move," Victor warned. "They know about your va
Emilio's POV "I'm not running, Lucas," I said, determination in my voice. "I'll face whatever comes my way."Lucas's expression turned serious. "Emilio, you're not thinking clearly. You're a Reaper now. You can't stay around humans for long.""Why not?" I asked, already knowing the answer."Because you'll suck their blood till they die," Lucas said bluntly. "It's not safe for you to be around your mother, either."My heart sank. Leave my mother? Leave the city?"I can't leave, Lucas," I protested. "I have enemies here. If I leave, they'll kill my mother."Lucas's eyes filled with understanding. "I know it's hard, Emilio. But it's the best option. We'll find a way to keep your mother safe."But I shook my head. "No, Lucas. I won't leave her behind. I'll find another way."Lucas sighed. "Emilio, you're not thinking about yourself. You're a Reaper now. You need to think about your own survival."Survival? What survival?"My survival doesn't matter without my mother," I said firmly. "I'l
Vikram's POV I stared at my phone, my mind racing. The Master's words echoed in my head."Vikram, we have a problem. There's a group of people out to wipe out our entire vampire race."I gripped my phone tightly. "What do you mean? Who are these people?" Aside from Emilio's father, I don't know of anyone else."We don't know," The Master replied. "We've tried gathering intel, but they're ghosts. No one knows anything about them."I frowned. "What do you need me to do?""We need Lucas's help," The Master said. "He's the only one who can help us track down these unknown enemies."I nodded, already dialing Lucas's number. But it went straight to voicemail.I tried again. Still, no answer.A shiver ran down my spine. This wasn't like Lucas. He always answered his phone.I tried reaching his right-hand man, but his line was off too.And when I tried calling Emilio, there was no response.Something was off. I could feel it.I tried calling Lucas again, but it was like he'd vanished into th
Gray's POV I was still trying to wrap my head around everything that had happened. Alex was dead, and Emilio was the one who killed him. But that wasn't all - Emilio was also a vampire now, thanks to his boyfriend Lucas.I felt like my whole world had been turned upside down. I didn't know what to do or who to trust. But one thing was for sure - I wanted to make sure Emilio paid for what he did.I had already told Emilio that I was going to leave the country, but I didn't really mean it. I just wanted to get away from him and his vampire friends. But now, I was back, and I was more determined than ever to destroy Emilio.I didn't realize it at first, but I had started to despise Emilio. He was my best friend, or at least, he used to be. But now, I saw him as a monster. A monster who had killed my friend and was now a creature of the night.I started doing some research, trying to learn more about vampires and how to stop them. And that's when I stumbled upon some interesting informat
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
Emilio's POV The phone buzzed on the table, the sound slicing through the silence like a blade. My hand hovered over it, reluctant to pick it up. I already knew who it was. Vikram and Red didn’t exactly call for casual chats. With a sharp exhale, I grabbed the phone and pressed it to my ear.“Emilio,” Vikram’s smooth, calculated voice greeted me, sending a chill down my spine. “I’m glad you picked up. We’ve got a problem. Or rather, you do.”I clenched my jaw, gripping the phone tighter. “What do you want, Vikram?”There was a brief pause, then Red’s voice cut in, rough and mocking. “It’s not what we want, Emilio. It’s what you’re going to do for us. Unless, of course, you don’t care about that sweet girl, Mackenzie.”My heart stopped.“What did you do?” I growled, my voice low and dangerous. But I already knew the answer. Red lived for games like this, and Vikram was just the kind of bastard to let him play them.“Relax,” Vikram said, his tone far too casual. “She’s fine. For now. B
Lucas's POV The bed was still warm, the sheets tangled around us in a way that spoke of a night spent shedding inhibitions. The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast faint, flickering shadows on the walls, painting the room in hues of intimacy and vulnerability. Emilio lay beside me, his dark hair a disheveled mess that framed his sharp, angular features. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, and his expression—even in sleep—was unreadable. I turned on my side to watch him, my thoughts a tangled mess. There was always something about Emilio, something beneath the surface, hidden behind those piercing eyes of his. And tonight, as I lay there, that feeling gnawed at me more than ever.I have been ignoring all these times but I couldn't hide it anymore.I know that the things happening are turning him to the monster he never wished to be.N“You’ve been making a lot of new friends lately,” I said, breaking the fragile silence. My voice was low, almost hesitant, but the words carri