ding in her chest. The moon, hanging like a silver coin in the sky, barely provided enough light to gu

ci

eave. He had told her that stepping beyond the castle's boundaries would lead to d

ce so powerful, so undeniable, that she barely had control over her own body.

a

ing the ways of the vampires, understanding the war that loomed over them like an unbroken storm. But Kael..

hitched. She spun, pressing her back against a tre

dn't have

ll figure stepped from the shadows, his piercing crimson eyes locked onto her. His dark c

ice barely carrying over the rustl

ael Blackwood is a mist

ng the faint scent of pine and something

ia said defiantly,

rling into something between a smir

pping her wrist, pulling her close. "Kael can't protect you from wha

xpression softened just slightly, his voice dipping into something almost

oth of them spinning aroun

out from the dark

through his chest. Then, his gaze met Aria's, filled with

on to make," Kael said, h

his grip on Aria didn't loosen. "Then let'

gy split the ai

rything explo

st, coiling around the towering trees like silent whispers of a long-forgotte

ry, his sharp golden eyes scanning the darkness. He could feel

inside him, res

ia

He had felt it-the moment something ins

the only one

instincts screaming at him to prepare for an attack. The sound of footst

le, Prince," Kael said, h

glowing like embers in the dark. He was dressed in his u

lips curling into a smirk. "Patrolling your little kingdom

tened. "She's n

m thickening like a storm about to break. "No," he

ady to strike, but he forced himself to sta

d you do

s head slightly. "Tell me, Kael, did she tell you what happened? Or are you standing here

th hitched.

wer. The voice tha

ent it happened. But h

you? She's slipping away from you. Every second th

in his throat. "Y

l. I don't. But neither do you. She's bec

that Aria-the girl he had spent years protecting-was n

hing

time in his life

unger

body

r skin, threading through her veins like liquid fire. Her heartbeat was erratic, too fast, too strong. Every sound around

the guards outside her door. The steady thrum of their hea

ing hu

t, gasping. "No... no,

er glow over the treetops. Her reflection in the glass was almost unrecognizable-her normal

ning to me?"

r burst

ay, his crimson eyes lock

?" His voice was smooth

aw, backing away. "

ting the door behind him. "

g her back against the cold stone

Aria. Your body is rejecting what

ream at him, to tell him he

e he w

t burned, and the scent of blo

oser. "If you don't take co

ut, willing the hunger aw

t, almost teasing. "You're s

rangled gasp, falling to her knees. Her nails dug in

ines el

ion sha

r... the hung

p and unnatural. She lifted her gaze t

widened. "Ah...

lun

s consu