The storm did not calm.
It followed them.
Lucien landed on the balcony of an ancient cliffside mansion overlooking the violent ocean below. Lightning illuminated black stone walls, towering spires, and gothic arches carved with symbols that felt older than language itself.
Elena barely steadied herself before he set her down.
She stumbled back immediately.
"Stay away from me."
Her voice trembled.
But her eyes burned.
Good.
Fear bored him.
Fire did not.
He walked inside without looking back.
"Come in," he said calmly. "Or they will."
She glanced behind her.
Far below the cliff, pale figures gathered at the shoreline. Watching.
Waiting.
Her stomach twisted.
She stepped inside.
The doors shut on their own.
The sound echoed like a final decision.
The mansion glowed with dim golden chandeliers. Marble floors. Massive paintings of wars long forgotten. The air carried the scent of old books, ocean salt… and something darkly intoxicating.
She wrapped her arms around herself.
"What are you?"
He removed his coat slowly.
"You already know."
"Say it."
His crimson eyes lifted to hers.
"I am a vampire."
She let out a shaky laugh.
"This is insane."
"And yet," he said softly, "you are still breathing."
She studied him carefully.
He didn't breathe like a human.
Didn't blink as often.
And his gaze—
It didn't just look at her.
It measured her.
Like she was something rare.
Valuable.
Dangerous.
"If you try to touch me—"
"You would not remain conscious long enough to protest," he replied flatly.
Silence fell heavy.
Her jaw tightened.
"So I'm your prisoner."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"If you were my prisoner," he stepped closer, voice lowering, "you would not be standing."
Her heart skipped.
He heard it.
Of course he did.
And that tiny, involuntary reaction—
Did something to him.
He turned away first.
Control.
Always control.
"Those creatures are called Veil Wraiths," he said. "They cross into this world when the barrier weakens."
"And they want me?" she demanded. "Why?"
"That," he said quietly, "is what I intend to find out."
She walked toward him now.
Anger replacing fear.
"Or maybe you're lying."
The temperature in the room dropped.
"Careful," he warned softly.
"You expect me to trust a centuries-old blood-drinking monster?"
His jaw flexed.
"And you expect me to tolerate disrespect in my own kingdom?"
"Kingdom?" she scoffed. "This is a haunted castle."
In less than a second—
He was in front of her.
So close her breath hit his chest.
Her back straightened.
She refused to retreat.
"I ruled empires," he said quietly, voice turning lethal, "before your world understood what power was."
Her breathing faltered.
His hand lifted slowly.
She froze—
But he didn't hurt her.
He brushed a wet strand of hair from her cheek.
The contact was barely there.
Cold.
Electric.
"And yet," he whispered, gaze burning into hers, "your defiance is the first thing in centuries that has interested me."
Her pulse exploded.
She pushed his hand away.
"I am not your entertainment."
For a moment—
He almost smiled.
Good.
She was not weak.
That made her far more dangerous.
A violent crash shook the balcony.
Both turned instantly.
The Veil Wraiths had reached the cliff.
Lucien stepped outside.
"Stay inside."
"Stop ordering me!"
He ignored her.
The ocean below began to churn violently.
Ghostly forms rose from the water.
At least twenty.
Their hollow voices echoed in unison.
"She belongs to the Rift…"
Lucien's expression turned deadly.
"You will not touch her."
The ghosts attacked.
Elena watched in stunned disbelief.
He didn't fight like a man.
He moved like darkness given shape.
Teleporting.
Tearing through spectral bodies.
Shadows obeyed him like weapons forged from night itself.
One slipped past him.
Rushing toward her.
She froze—
But something inside her didn't.
The ghost's hand almost touched her—
And a pulse of crimson light exploded from her chest.
It disintegrated instantly.
Silence followed.
The remaining Wraiths retreated.
Afraid.
Of her.
Lucien turned slowly.
His gaze sharp.
"What did you just do?"
"I don't know!"
He crossed the distance in an instant.
Grabbing her wrist.
His grip was firm.
Not cruel.
But demanding.
"Again."
"I can't just command whatever that was!"
"Again."
Anger flared.
"Stop treating me like I'm your experiment!"
He pulled her closer unintentionally.
Their bodies collided.
Her breath hitched.
His face inches from hers.
"Your blood destroyed a Veil Wraith," he said tightly. "Do you understand what that means?"
"No!"
"It means," his voice lowered, "you are not human."
Silence.
The words sank like stones.
All her life she felt different.
Unwanted.
Now this.
She gave a hollow laugh.
"Great. Even my species rejects me."
That broke something in him again.
His grip loosened slightly.
"You are not rejected."
"My family sold me like property."
His eyes turned lethal.
"Names."
She blinked.
"What?"
"Their names," he repeated calmly. "If they harmed you, they answer to me."
Her breath caught.
No one had ever said that.
No one had ever sounded ready to destroy the world for her.
"You're not touching them," she said softly.
His gaze didn't waver.
"If they made you feel worthless, they have already crossed a line."
Her heart betrayed her again.
She looked away first.
"I don't need saving."
"No," he agreed quietly. "But you deserve protection."
That hit harder than everything else.
Later—
She was given a massive guest chamber.
Black silk sheets. High windows. Moonlight spilling in silver streaks.
She couldn't sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes—
She saw him.
Your defiance interests me.
A whisper suddenly filled the room.
"Daughter of the Rift…"
She turned sharply.
A shadow formed in the corner.
Taller.
More solid than the Wraiths.
"You cannot hide behind the Vampire King."
It lunged.
She screamed—
The door exploded open.
Lucien appeared instantly.
His fury this time—
Was personal.
He caught the creature midair and slammed it into the wall.
The mansion trembled.
"She awakens," the creature hissed.
"She is under my protection," Lucien growled.
The shadow laughed.
"You already feel it."
That distraction—
Was enough.
Dark energy pierced Lucien's chest.
Black cracks spread briefly across his skin.
Elena gasped.
He roared—
And obliterated the creature completely.
Silence.
Lucien staggered once.
She ran to him without thinking.
"You're hurt!"
"I will survive," he said quietly.
She touched his chest instinctively.
Warm now.
Healing beneath her palm.
Their eyes locked.
No anger.
No challenge.
Just intensity.
"You came," she whispered.
His hand covered hers slowly.
Firm.
Possessive.
"No one touches what is mine to protect."
Her breath caught.
Mine.
He realized what he said—
But didn't retract it.
Her thumb brushed over his skin without thinking.
"You're impossible," she murmured.
"And you," he replied softly, "are becoming dangerous."
They stood too close.
Too aware.
He leaned in slightly—
Then stopped.
Control.
Always control.
Outside—
The crimson moon emerged fully.
In another dimension—
An ancient throne cracked.
"The Rift Heir awakens."
Lucien felt the shift in the air.
Something massive was coming.
He looked down at her.
"You are the center of something catastrophic."
She swallowed.
"Then maybe you shouldn't have saved me."
His thumb brushed lightly over her knuckles.
Intimate.
Deliberate.
"Too late."