The sound of the approaching footsteps echoed in the silence, each step like a drumbeat in my chest. My heart pounded, a primal rhythm that matched the urgency in Kael's eyes. He grabbed me by the arm, pulling me toward the shadows of the room. His body was tense, muscles coiled as if waiting to strike.
"They're too close," Kael muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the room. "We need to go now."
My pulse was racing, but not just from fear. The lingering heat between us, the taste of Kael's kiss, still burned in my veins. My body was still sensitive, aching for his touch, but there was no time. We were about to face something much worse than passion.
Kael's sharp gaze never left the door, his fangs glinting as he bared them, ready to fight. But I could see the hesitation in his eyes. We weren't just up against anyone. Whoever was on the other side of that door had something far more dangerous than physical strength.
"We don't have much time," I whispered, my voice trembling as I held onto him. Kael, what are we going to do?
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a step closer, his hand sliding down my arm to intertwine our fingers. The touch was comforting, grounding me in the midst of the chaos. His other hand slid under my chin, lifting my face to meet his gaze. His eyes were dark, swirling with intensity, but there was something else there too, something softer.
"You trust me, don't you?" Kael asked, his voice low, almost a growl.
I nodded, the weight of his gaze making my breath catch. "I trust you."
Kael's lips brushed against my forehead in a quick, almost desperate kiss. Good, he murmured. "Because this will be the hardest thing we've done."
The door creaked open, and my heart stopped.
A figure stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the light from the hallway. The unmistakable scent of vampire blood lingered in the air. My instincts screamed this was not someone we could easily defeat.
The figure stepped forward, revealing a tall, regal woman with a crown of black roses adorning her dark hair. Her eyes glowed with an eerie violet hue, and her presence radiated power. The air seemed to shift around her, heavy with the weight of centuries.
You can't run from me, Kael, the woman said, her voice smooth, but with an edge that sent chills down my spine. You know that. I've waited too long for this.
Kael's grip on my hand tightened. "Lilith."
The name was like a curse, and as soon as he said it, I could feel the weight of the past crushing down on us. This was no ordinary vampire. Lilith was an ancient being, a force of darkness that even Kael had been unable to escape in his long life.
Let her go, Kael growled. His body was poised, ready to fight, but I could see the internal struggle in his eyes. This wasn't just a fight for survival, it was a fight for freedom. A fight against a past that he had been running from for centuries.
"You know I can't do that, Lilith replied, stepping closer. "She's everything you need, Kael. She's the key to all of this. And you She turned her gaze to me, her eyes narrowing with a dangerous gleam. "You're the only thing standing between us."
My heart clenched, and I instinctively stepped closer to Kael, bracing myself for whatever was about to happen. The air around us was thick with tension, as if the universe itself were holding its breath.
Kael's grip on my hand tightened, and he pulled me behind him, as though to shield me from whatever Lilith was about to do.
I won't let you take her, Kael said, his voice firm, but there was a trace of something else there, something I couldn't quite place. It was fear, but not for his own life. For mine.
Lilith chuckled softly, her laughter sending a shiver down my spine. "You always were the stubborn one. But this time, Kael, I'm not asking."
The room seemed to darken, the temperature dropping as Lilith's power surged. I could feel the weight of her magic pressing down on us, threatening to crush us under its force. But Kael didn't flinch. Instead, he stood taller, his body radiating with the same dark energy that had drawn me to him in the first place.
"I'll kill you before I let you have her," Kael said, his fangs gleaming as he stepped forward.
Lilith's smile twisted into something cruel. You can try,she said, her voice a mere whisper, but it echoed like thunder in my ears.
And then, the battle began.
Kael's body was a blur as he moved between me and Lilith, his black coat swirling like a shadow. His power surged dark, ancient, and wrathful. I had seen him furious before, but never like this. This was desperation masked in rage.
Lilith stood still, unfazed, her violet eyes gleaming like twin stars of destruction. "You think love will save you, Kael?" she said softly, lifting one elegant hand. "You poor, foolish boy."
The floor trembled.
I gasped as black vines erupted from the stone beneath us, slithering like snakes with thorns, aiming straight for me. Kael spun and slashed through them with a snarl, his bare hands glowing with vampire fire. One vine grazed my ankle, burning cold against my skin. I staggered back as Kael pulled me into his arms.
You were supposed to be mine,Lilith hissed, her voice low and venomous. "Not hers."
Now I understand. This wasn't just power. This was personal.
Kael didn't answer her. He turned his eyes to me, blood-red and burning with emotion. "There's something I never told you," he said, breathless. "I made a pact with her centuries ago. A blood vow. I broke it when I chose you."
My heart dropped.
She wants to punish me,he continued. "By taking you."
Lilith's laughter echoed through the hall. No, Kael. You broke the oldest rule of all. You loved her. And now, I will make you watch as I erase her from existence."
Before I could scream, Lilith raised her hand and everything around us exploded into chaos.