Emily walked into the small café nestled on the corner of town, her sandals scraping against the tiled floor as she entered. The afternoon sun was blazing outside, and she let out a soft sigh as the cool air met her skin.
Across the room, Julian sat waiting.
He looked unusually calm..fresh even, as he stood the moment he saw her, pulling out the chair beside him with a polite smile. Emily muttered a quiet "thanks" before sitting down, avoiding his eyes.
After all these years, she still felt... nothing for him.
Julian had always been someone she brushed off as a misunderstood bully, not once imagining he was a vampire. In fact, she hadn't even believed in vampires until recently. She rolled her eyes quietly at the absurdity of it all.
"Why did you want to meet here, Julian?" she asked, folding her arms as she studied him.
"I want you to stay away from Ethan and Ryder," he said, the tone of his voice more of an order than a suggestion.
Emily's brows furrowed. "You don't get to tell me who I can talk to, Julian. Whatever issues you have with them are yours to handle...not mine."
Her voice was cold. Doubt had already begun to creep in about him. After everything, Julian still lived in lies. Years of pretending to be human, building fake identities...how could she trust him?
Julian exhaled. "I didn't mean it that way. I just want what's best for you. Ethan and Ryder... they aren't who you think they are."
Emily rolled her eyes again. Ryder? She already knew he was trouble. He never hid it. But Ethan...he had never harmed her. If anything, he had gone out of his way to protect her.
Julian leaned forward slightly. "Do you want to know who they really are?"
"Compulsion doesn't work on me, Julian," Emily said sharply.
"I wasn't planning on compelling you," he muttered, annoyed.
Emily stood abruptly, done with the conversation. "Then this is over. I'm leaving."
She turned and stormed toward the exit, but as soon as she stepped outside, her feet froze.
Ethan stood across the street. And beside him... Sara.
Emily's throat tightened. She hadn't expected to run into him...let alone with her. Julian quickly caught up and stopped behind her.
Ethan's eyes found hers, but quickly shifted to Julian. The two locked gazes, daggers flying in silence.
Emily looked away, chest tightening as she turned and walked past them without a word. Her heart clenched at the sight of Sara beside Ethan. Still, she kept her head high and didn't look back.
Julian lingered, casting one final glare toward Ethan before running after Emily again.
Sara smirked, her eyes gleaming. Watching Ethan care for someone...feel for someone...was amusing. He had never once shown affection to a woman before.
"Let's head inside," she said smoothly, breaking Ethan's distracted stare.
⸻
Julian caught up with Emily outside, grabbing her arm. Her breath caught.
"Let me go, Julian."
He held her firm. "So you do care about him?"
Emily turned to him, eyes hard. "I don't like him."
"Then help me kill him."
Her heart dropped. Her body stilled. But she said nothing. She yanked her arm free and walked away.
⸻
That night, Emily sat in her darkened room. The curtains were open, letting the moonlight spill across the bed. The window was shut, but she still felt the air shift.
Then a shadow moved.
She didn't scream...she already knew who it was.
Her heartbeat quickened as he stepped into the moonlight.
"Ethan," she whispered.
He didn't respond to her voice. Just watched her with unreadable eyes.
"Why did you want to see me?" he asked, voice quiet, rough.
Emily shifted slightly, her legs tucked beneath her on the bed. "Do you kill people?"
Ethan's frown deepened. The question came out of nowhere.
"Where's this coming from?"
"I just want the truth, Ethan. I know you have enemies. And... people fear you."
"Did someone threaten you?"
His tone shifted. Protective. Deadly. Like a storm was brewing behind his cold expression.
"No," she whispered. And then she told him everything—Julian, the café, his strange behavior, and his request.
Ethan listened silently.
His jaw tightened when she mentioned Sara. He remembered, years ago, when the witch had claimed her human foster child died of illness. Now the same child was alive...and a vampire.
Of course Sara lied.
"You're not safe," Ethan finally said, stepping closer. "The world is too dangerous for you."
Emily nodded slightly. "I just... don't want you to get hurt."
He studied her for a long moment, something soft flickering in his eyes. "I'll handle Julian. But you need to stay away from him. Promise me."
She hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."
He started toward the window.
Emily wanted to ask why he had distanced himself lately. Why he now felt like a ghost of the man who once looked at her like she mattered.
But she kept quiet.
Ethan climbed out through her window, and Emily ran after him, catching only a glimpse before he disappeared into the night.
She stood there, arms wrapped around herself, wishing for things she didn't understand.
⸻
Ethan entered his room quietly. But he wasn't alone.
"You're back," Sara said from the darkness.
With a flick of her fingers, the lights turned on.
Ethan said nothing, just watched her silently. His face remained impassive.
"Been a while since we had fun," she smirked.
His expression didn't change, but his eyes flickered cold.
"Too long," he replied.
He knew better than to provoke her. Sara wasn't a woman to underestimate. Not anymore.