EIRA POV
"Tessy, baby, listen to me! Tessy! Tessy!" Peter's voice cracked as he shouted her name, desperation dripping from every word. But Tessy didn't look at him. She hadn't spoken or moved since the video played. She stood frozen, her world shattered.
He grabbed her trembling hand, clutching it as though his life depended on it."Please, forgive me, baby! They planned it all!" He pointed at me and Adrain, his voice rising with pathetic urgency. "That Claira—she took advantage of me. She drugged me! How can you believe a low-life girl like her? You know how much I lo—"
Before the poison in his mouth could form the word, Tessy's palm collided across his cheek with a sharp, echoing slap.
Her voice trembled with fury. "Peter, don't you dare say the word love!" She shoved him back with all the strength her broken heart could muster. "You don't know anything about love. You are the worst person I have ever met in my life. I can't believe I wasted my heart on someone like you!" Tears streamed endlessly down her face, but her voice was a roar of pain and betrayal.
Peter's eyes turned dark, his jaw clenched. "How dare you—" He lunged toward her, but before he could touch her, Adrain stepped between them like a wall of fire.
"It's time for you to leave," Adrain said coldly, his voice like steel. He flicked his fingers, and in an instant, uniformed officers stormed in through the doors.
Peter thrashed against their grip, his voice venomous. "Remember my words, Adrain! I'll come back! I won't leave you alive!" His threats echoed as they dragged him away, but Adrain didn't flinch. His eyes never left him until the door slammed shut.
"Dear, let's go home," Tessy's mother whispered gently, wrapping her arms around her daughter. Tessy nodded weakly, her body trembling. Then her eyes searched for me.
She stumbled forward and whispered through her sobs, "Eira… I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. Can I… can I get my friend back?"
I hugged her tightly, clutching her as if I'd never let go. "I never left you."
Her mother's tearful voice trembled. "Thank you… thank you for saving my daughter's life." They walked away together, leaving me standing in the storm of emotions swirling inside me.
That night, I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying every moment. Peter's mask ripped away. Tessy's broken but saved. And the one who made it all happen—Adrain.
It was all because of him.
Oh, God. Stupid Eira. Idiot! I buried my face in the pillow and screamed, punching it until my fists ached. I didn't even thank him. Worse—I accused him, yelled at him… slapped him. I called him a monster when all along he was protecting me. Protecting Tessy. Protecting Claira and her baby.
I bit my lip hard, a shaky smile pulling at me through the tears. Tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll thank him properly. I'll get him a gift, I'll apologize. Because maybe… maybe Adrain Blake isn't as bad as I thought.
Arrogant Blake… you're not bad.You're just different.
ADRAIN POV
The house was swallowed in its usual darkness when I walked in. Silent. Cold. Empty. Darkness had always been our comfort, our shield. But tonight, it felt heavier, heavier than ever.
"Where were you, Adrain?" Mike's voice broke the silence. He was seated on the couch, the firelight reflecting in his hard eyes, though his gaze was fixed on the flames instead of me.
"It doesn't matter," I muttered, trying to walk past.
"I asked, where did you go?" His voice hardened, sharp enough to cut.
"I just went to meet a friend."
In the blink of an eye, he was in front of me, his vampire speed blurring through the shadows. His hand clamped around my throat, lifting me effortlessly, his grip unrelenting.
"How dare you lie to my face?" he growled, his eyes burning into mine.
I gritted my teeth, choking out, "He was going to destroy her life."
For a moment, silence—then his laugh erupted, deep and cruel. "Don't tell me… you care." He squeezed tighter, his words like fangs sinking in. "Since when do we care about humans? Since when do we waste ourselves on their fragile little lives?"
"You know me, Adrain. Do you think I'm stupid?" His voice dropped low, dangerous. "We are not human. That girl—she's harmful to you."
He leaned closer, his teeth clenched, eyes glowing. "What's her name?"
"Eira." I forced the word through clenched teeth. My voice shook but stayed firm. "She's not good for me. She's nothing to me. Don't involve her in this. Stay away from her."
Mike's grip tightened, but I didn't break eye contact. I wouldn't.
"Relax, Mike," came a calm, silken voice from behind. A woman's voice. "Adrain knows. He knows he should stay away from her." She laid a hand on his shoulder, her touch smoothing the storm inside him.
Mike's lips curled into a cruel smile as he released me, letting me drop to the ground with a thud. "We're leaving this place," he said flatly, his voice final. Then he walked away into the shadows.
And for the first time in a long time, I felt something foreign clawing in my chest. Rage. Fear. And something far worse.
Eira's name still burned in my throat.