Lucas's POV I stepped into the hotel and was instantly greeted by security. I responded with a nod and went my way. I went to the front desk and told the receptionist what I was there for but I didn't finish my words when Emilio appeared out of nowhere. A smile crept into my cheeks as I saw him. Emilio walked over to me and gave the receptionist a flat stare. “He's with me.” The receptionist bowed her head and cleared her throat. “Oh.” Emilio walked out over to me with a gentle smile on his face. “This way,” I followed him to his room at the hotel and noticed how delicately arranged that it was. It's walls are covered in light blue paint and the aesthetics of the room was naturally very flamboyant. “What is going on with you?” I asked as soon as the room door was shut. Emilio looked at me and held back a smile. “Was just thinking. My emotional space is just a little bit shaky now. I was just thinking if you'll have the same love for me that you claim to, in the future.”
Emilio's POV I didn't blush. Instead, I looked at Lucas seriously and said, “Follow the case of your father seriously, who knows who his body was snatched by.”Lucas frowned. “Whoever did it must have some nerve.”Emilio sighed and said, “You should leave. Take care of your family issues first.”“I should go?” he asked and I nodded.“Yeah, that's the only way we can be with each other with no distractions.” I said, trying to be calm.Lucas gave me a look. “You’re right. But I'll still be with you, tonight. I can go take responsibilities tomorrow.”“Then it will be too late.” I said, which led him to sigh.“It will be too late, huh. You have a point.” Lucas said.“I do.” I responded.He walked over to me and kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes, taking in the feeling as much as I could. Then he pulled away and stood on his feet.“Emilio, only you can convince me of doing something that I don't want to do.” “You're kidding. Your father is somewhat very specific in your life, you have
Emilio's POV “I don't know what to say but I think I'd never do that.”“You think? This is something that happens each and every day.” Mackenzie said. “You might think you're good for now but wait until the day when you're desperate comes. You would know how to be bad. Especially when someone that you know is involved. Particularly someone that you love.”I swallowed as I looked at Mackenzie. It was probably my humanness that attracted Lucas to me. What happens if the humanness is gone. Would Lucas still love me the same way?“Mackenzie—”“—How do you know my name? I never told you that,” she cut in defensively.“I heard your ex call you that before he left.” I said.“Is that so?” She said, a slight smile appearing on her cheeks.“I didn't take you for the kind to eavesdrop on somebody else's conversation.”“Well, I couldn't help it. Vampire hearing, you know?”She smirked.“To you, would that be a good thing or a bad thing?”“None. I'm pretty much in the middle of it if that's what
Emilio's POV “It doesn't matter, Lucas. Because I am what I am now and it's never going to change. Even though I try to keep these instincts at bay, they're still going to exist.” I said and he nodded.“I'm sorry Emilio, if it seems like I'm asking too much of you.”I wiped the corner of my eyes that were brimming with tears.“Don't worry,” Lucas put his arms around me and I smiled.“Thank you for buying so much food and snacks but next time, don't. It won't satisfy me anyway.”Lucas pulled away from the hug and gave me one long look.“You know what, you're right. I should go now and handle family business.”I gave Lucas a nod and he smiled at me before walking out of the room.I gave the foods and snacks he bought and look and then began to open them. I started with the sea boil and took a bite but it was unappetising to me. I had completely changed from who I used to be. Before, this kind of meal would probably push someone like me to the brink but now…My phone beeped and I check
Emilio's POV “Listen Mackenzie, you're going to have to lock yourself in your room for now. If my guess is right, your brother will soon start to smell like food to you. You will have the instincts to bite at him to satisfy your need but that's exactly what we're not going to do.”I could hear Mackenzie start to cry.I could just let her feed on me untill she was alright. Then when Lucas comes back, I could ask him for how to get blood from the blood bank without anyone suspecting.“My brother is starting to smell like food to me. Goddamnit! I can't help myself anymore.”Mackenzie probably needed the help now but there was no way I could help her immediately. I could only help her help herself, if she was willing.“Breathe, Mackenzie. How are you?”“I feel horrible.” She said while holding back a sob. I could hear everything that she was trying to keep silent.“Go to the bathroom and turn on the shower. Sit directly under the shower so that the water is pouring on your skin and don't
Emilio's POV “Eventually you might be able to tell them but do not worry about it right now. The most important thing at this moment is you adapting to this lifestyle.”“I see.”“Stay on the phone with me okay?” I said as I took the last turn heading in Mackenzie's direction.“Yes I'm on the phone with you.” She said, which led me to smile.“What are you doing?” I said.“Letting the water wash me while I listen to your voice.” She said.“Things won't always be this hard, I promise you.” I said and she sniffled.“I don't know what to say. I've always considered myself a big girl but now I'm all in my feelings.” She sobbed.“Everyone gets in their feelings, sometimes Mackenzie. And by everyone, I mean everyone.”“That kind of sucks. Getting into my feelings sound like the dumbest thing in the world. I'm a vampire now, it should be the best thing of my life, right?”“Actually, no.” I said. “Being a vampire doesn't guarantee anything. It's quite the opposite, really.” I honked in front o
Emilio's POV “I wouldn't want you to be found out while you're enjoying your meal.”“Well, I have something else to say, how are you so good at what you say? You sound like you've been touring vampires for years.”I chuckled outrightly. “You won't believe this. I don't tour vampires or do what you think I do. In fact, you're the first vampire I'm doing this with.”“Whoa, really?” She seemed super shook about it.“Yes,” I answered her.“It might not seem like it but it's the real truth.” I said and she nodded.“Anyway, thanks. For not abandoning me if not I would have absolutely no fricking idea what to do with myself. I would have killed my brother because I was hungry, seriously.”“Well, I'm glad you didn't do that. This is your life from now on so you have to get that under control.”I stood up from the bed, getting ready to leave but Mackenzie stopped me.“Absolutely fucking not. You're not going anywhere yet.”“What? Why?” I asked her.“I'm scared.” She said. “What am I going to
Emilio's POV The evening air felt heavy with worry as I paced back and forth in my living room. Lucas hadn’t answered his phone all day. At first, I told myself not to overthink it—maybe he was just busy or his phone had died. But as the hours ticked by, unease took root in my chest. Something didn’t feel right, and the more I thought about it, the harder it became to sit still. I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed his number again, hoping this time he’d pick up. The line rang and rang, but no one answered. Eventually, it went to voicemail. I hung up without leaving a message. There was no point; he already had two missed calls from me. He’d know I was trying to reach him. Sinking onto the couch, I tried to calm myself down. Lucas was a grown man. He could take care of himself, couldn’t he? He was always so confident, so sure of himself. But even as I told myself that, I couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that something was wrong. I needed to do something—anything—ot
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