Chapter Twelve
Riven's POV
I didn't want to call him.
I stood in the middle of a battlefield blood coating the broken stone, three Bloodbound already dead, their magic shattered across the dirt. The vampire we were sent to hunt? Not just strong ancient. Older than any of us knew. His eyes glowed red like hellfire, and he moved like smoke and death. We'd tracked him for weeks.
And now he was hunting us.
I clutched my side, blood leaking between my fingers. I'd managed to stab him once but he healed faster than we could blink. My blade was cracked. My magic was drained. I'd lost contact with the rest of my team. I was cornered.
And I did the one thing I never thought I'd do.
I called him.
My voice trembled as I whispered the blood-call, using the cursed link between us. A thread of magic I swore I'd never pull again.
But I did.
And he came.
Like the storm itself had answered.
Black coat sweeping behind him, fangs already bared, eyes locked on mine like he'd missed me more than he should've.
"Well, well," Lior said, surveying the battlefield. "Look who finally begged for me."
I hissed, limping toward him. "This isn't a joke. He's killing my people."
"And you called me," he said, stepping close. "That must've hurt your pride."
"Don't make me regret it."
"You won't." He smirked. "But… there's a catch."
I knew it. There was always a catch with him.
"What?" I growled. "You want blood? Power? Another dirty message?"
He leaned in, mouth at my ear. "I want your full submission for one night."
I froze.
"Don't look at me like that," he said. "You need me. I need something in return. That's how deals work."
"You're disgusting."
"You're hard," he whispered, hand brushing lightly over the front of my pants, too quick to stop.
I slapped his hand away, seething. "You're a monster."
"And you're already mine, Riven. This just makes it official for one night."
I wanted to punch him.
I wanted to kiss him.
I wanted to run.
I wanted to stay.
I stared at the glowing red sky behind him, where the ancient vampire stirred again.
"Fine," I said, voice like gravel. "Help me kill him… and I'm yours for one night."
His grin was slow. Dark. Hungry. "Then let's make it count."