I didn't remember moving.
One second I was standing in that empty street, my heart pounding like it was about to burst out of my chest…
And the next—
Everything blurred.
The world around me stretched, twisted, and disappeared into darkness.
A sharp gasp tore from my lips as cold air rushed past me. My body felt weightless, like I wasn't even touching the ground.
"What—what's happening?!" I cried out, gripping onto the only solid thing near me.
Him.
Lucien.
His arm was wrapped tightly around my waist, holding me firmly against him as the world sped by in a dizzying rush.
"Be still," he said, his voice calm despite everything.
Calm?
How could he be calm?!
"I'm not a suitcase!" I snapped, my fingers clutching his shirt as panic took over. "Put me down!"
He didn't respond.
Didn't even slow down.
If anything, his grip tightened slightly, as if he was making sure I wouldn't fall… or escape.
Seconds later—or maybe minutes, I couldn't tell—we stopped.
Suddenly.
My feet hit solid ground, but my legs gave out immediately. I stumbled forward, disoriented, my vision spinning.
Strong hands caught me again before I could fall.
"Careful," Lucien said quietly.
"Stop saying that!" I snapped, pulling away from him as I tried to steady myself. "What is wrong with you?! What are you?!"
My voice echoed slightly.
That's when I noticed where we were.
A massive room.
Dark. Elegant. Cold.
High ceilings stretched above me, with dim lights casting long shadows across polished floors. The walls were lined with tall windows covered in heavy black curtains.
It looked like something out of a movie.
Or a nightmare.
"Where am I?" I whispered, my anger fading into unease.
"My home," Lucien replied simply.
Of course it was.
Because kidnapping me apparently wasn't enough—now I was in some gothic mansion with a man who had glowing red eyes and fangs.
Totally normal.
I let out a shaky breath, backing away from him.
"I want to go home."
The words felt small. Weak.
Pointless.
Because deep down…
I already knew the answer.
Lucien didn't move.
Didn't blink.
He just watched me.
"You're not safe out there," he said finally.
"And I'm safe with you?" I shot back.
Silence.
Then he took a step toward me.
I took one back.
"Stay away from me," I warned, my voice trembling despite my attempt to sound strong.
He stopped.
But his eyes never left mine.
"You don't understand what's happening to you," he said, his tone quieter now.
"Then explain it!" I snapped. "Because from where I'm standing, I just got attacked by… whatever those things were—and then kidnapped by one of them!"
Something flickered across his face at that.
Annoyance.
"You were not kidnapped," he said sharply.
"Oh really? Because I don't remember asking for a ride!"
"You would have died if I left you there."
His words hit harder than I expected.
I opened my mouth to argue—but nothing came out.
Because part of me knew he was right.
Those… things…
They would have killed me.
Or worse.
A chill ran through me.
Lucien took another step closer, slower this time. Careful.
Like he didn't want to scare me.
Too late.
"You were being hunted," he continued. "And they will not stop."
"Why?" I whispered. "Why me?"
That question lingered in the air between us.
Heavy.
Important.
Lucien's jaw tightened slightly.
"That," he said, "is what I intend to find out."
Before I could respond—
A sudden wave of dizziness hit me.
I staggered, grabbing onto the nearest surface as my vision blurred.
"What…" I breathed, my chest tightening. "What's happening to me?"
Heat spread through my body.
Fast.
Too fast.
My pulse raced uncontrollably, pounding in my ears as a strange, burning sensation spread through my veins.
Like something inside me was… waking up.
Lucien was in front of me instantly.
His hand gripped my chin, lifting my face toward his.
"Look at me," he ordered.
I tried to pull away—but I couldn't.
His eyes locked onto mine, glowing brighter now.
"What did you do to me?" I whispered, panic rising.
"I haven't done anything," he said, though his expression darkened. "Yet."
That word sent a shiver down my spine.
Yet?
The heat inside me intensified.
It was unbearable now.
Painful.
I gasped, clutching onto him as my legs gave out again.
"I don't feel right…" I admitted, my voice breaking. "Something's wrong…"
Lucien went still.
Then his gaze dropped—to my neck.
Slowly.
His expression changed.
Hunger.
Real hunger.
My breath caught.
"Lucien…" I whispered, suddenly unsure.
He stepped closer.
Too close.
His hand slid to my waist, pulling me against him as his other hand brushed my hair away from my neck.
"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
"You're changing," he murmured.
My heart skipped.
"Changing into what?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he leaned in.
I felt his breath against my skin.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Every instinct inside me screamed to push him away.
To run.
But my body betrayed me.
I didn't move.
I couldn't.
"Your blood…" he whispered, his voice rough now. "It's not normal."
My pulse quickened.
"Lucien—"
His grip tightened.
"Stay still."
And then—
Pain.
Sharp.
Sudden.
His fangs sank into my neck.
A gasp tore from my lips as my body tensed, shock flooding through me.
It hurt.
But at the same time…
It didn't.
Something strange spread through me.
Warmth.
A dizzying, overwhelming sensation that made my head spin.
My fingers gripped his shirt tightly as a soft sound escaped my lips—one I didn't recognize.
The pain faded quickly.
Replaced by something else.
Something dangerous.
Something… addictive.
My body relaxed against his without my permission, my breathing uneven as my eyes fluttered closed.
Everything felt distant.
Light.
Like I was floating.
Lucien froze.
I felt it.
The moment he realized something was wrong.
His fangs pulled back instantly.
"No…" he muttered under his breath.
His hands tightened on me, steadying me as my knees buckled completely.
I collapsed against him, too weak to stand.
"What… did you do…" I whispered faintly.
But my voice barely came out.
Darkness crept into my vision.
Fast.
Too fast.
Lucien's face blurred in front of me, his expression no longer cold.
No longer controlled.
This time…
He looked worried.
"Aria," he said sharply. "Stay with me."
I tried.
I really did.
But my body felt too heavy.
Too weak.
My eyes closed slowly, my last bit of strength slipping away.
And the last thing I heard before everything went black—
Was his voice.
Low.
Uneasy.
"What are you…?"