**EPISODE 12 — *The Blood That Changes Everything***
The door slammed open so violently that the candles trembled.
Lucian pushed Isha behind him, his voice dropping to a warning growl she had never heard before.
**"Kael."**
The man stepped into the light.
Tall. Pale grey eyes gleaming like a predator's.
He carried the same ancient darkness as Lucian — but colder, sharper, poisonous.
Kael's lips curled.
"So it's true," he said softly.
"You're protecting a human."
Lucian didn't move.
"Leave."
Kael looked past him—straight at Isha.
"You're trembling," he told her, amused.
"Don't worry. I only kill the ones who lie."
Isha flinched.
Lucian snapped.
His body blurred—one moment standing still, next he was in front of Kael with his hand at Kael's throat, slamming him into the wall.
"Don't. Look. At. Her."
A snarl, raw and primal, tore from Lucian's chest.
---
# **The Fight Begins**
Kael only smirked.
"You're weaker than you used to be, brother. Emotion has rotted you."
His elbow shot forward—fast.
He struck Lucian in the ribs, forcing him back a step.
Lucian hissed in pain but stood his ground, eyes glowing red.
They moved too quickly for Isha to fully follow.
A blur of claws–
A rush of wind—
Bodies crashing against stone—
Lucian threw Kael across the room.
Kael rolled, rose, and lunged like a hungry wolf.
Lucian blocked him with his forearm, fangs bared.
"Stay down."
Kael laughed in his face.
"You're protecting her like she's your mate."
Lucian froze for half a second.
Kael used that moment—
He drove his knee into Lucian's stomach, knocking the air out of him, then slashed his arm with sharpened claws.
Lucian staggered.
Blood dripped.
"I said—STOP!" Isha shouted, stepping forward.
Both vampires turned toward her.
Kael's expression sharpened with new interest.
"Oh… that explains everything."
Lucian's eyes widened in fear.
"Isha, don't move!"
But Kael was already beside her, faster than a blink, gripping her wrist.
She gasped.
His cold fingers trailed the pulse at her neck.
"Her heartbeat… it reacts to your presence," he whispered mockingly.
"Does she even know what that means?"
Lucian grabbed Kael by the shoulders and yanked him off Isha with such force the wall cracked.
"Touch her again—"
His voice was pure venom.
"I will end you."
Kael wiped the blood from his lip with his thumb.
"Then prove it."
---
# **The Turning Point**
Lucian struck first.
His fist collided with Kael's jaw.
Kael countered with a slice across Lucian's shoulder.
Blood sprayed.
Isha cried out, "Lucian!"
For a heartbeat, Lucian glanced at her.
Kael didn't miss it.
He drove his claws straight into Lucian's side.
Lucian gasped, dropping to one knee.
"No!" Isha rushed toward them.
Kael grabbed her arm again—
but she didn't cower this time.
She fought back.
She slammed her elbow into his ribs—
Kael grunted—
Lucian surged back up and punched Kael square in the face, sending him flying across the room.
He crashed through a wooden cabinet.
Lucian grabbed Isha's shoulders.
"Why did you come here?! He could've killed you!"
"You were hurt!" she cried, tears pricking her eyes. "I couldn't just watch you—"
Lucian cupped her face with bloody fingers.
His voice shook.
"You matter too much."
For him to say that in the middle of a fight—
Isha's heart stopped.
Kael rose again, wiping dust from his coat.
"Disgusting," he spat.
"Fine. Be her shield. But know this—"
His eyes locked onto Isha.
"She is changing. And when the transformation completes, she will belong to the one whose blood she tastes."
Isha froze.
Lucian stiffened.
Kael smirked.
"Oh… did he not tell you? One drop of vampire blood binds a human to its giver."
Lucian lunged at him with such fury Isha had never seen—
But Kael vanished into smoke.
Only his voice remained.
"This isn't over. She will choose. She must."
Silence crashed into the room.
Lucian stood there panting, blood dripping from his wounds.
Isha's voice trembled.
"Lucian… what did he mean?"
Lucian didn't answer.
Not at first.
He turned to her slowly, eyes softening with guilt—
fear—
longing.
"Isha…" he whispered, stepping closer.
"You were in pain earlier. Your heart was failing. Your body couldn't take the awakening."
"Awakening?" she repeated, breath shaky.
He took her hands gently.
"Your connection to me… it's not normal. My presence calms your pain because—"
He swallowed.
"You're becoming tethered to me."
Her pulse raced.
Lucian looked tortured.
"If Kael ever gives you his blood… you will belong to him instead."
His jaw clenched.
"I would lose you."
She stepped closer.
Very close.
"You won't," she whispered.
He lifted her chin with one finger, eyes dark with emotions he tried so hard to bury.
"You say that now," he whispered.
"But the bond… it's only growing stronger."
Her breath hitched.
His thumb brushed her cheek.
"Tell me, Isha…"
His voice dropped to a trembling whisper.
"When you kissed me… did it feel like something inside you woke up?"
Her cheeks warmed.
Her heart pounded.
"Yes."
Lucian closed his eyes, fighting himself.
"Then it has already begun."
"Lucian…" she whispered, stepping even closer, her hand resting on his chest.
He inhaled sharply at her touch.
"If the bond is forming because of what we… feel… then I don't want to run from it."
His eyes shot open—full of shock, desire, and fear.
"You don't know what you're saying."
She rose on her toes.
"I do."
Their lips were inches apart again.
Lucian's voice broke.
"Isha… if I let this bond complete, I will never be able to let you go."
She whispered against his lips:
"Then don't."
His restraint shattered.
He kissed her—
Harder.
Deeper.
Desperate.
As if claiming something he had tried so long to deny.
Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer.
His arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her slightly as he deepened the kiss, pouring fear, relief, hunger, everything into it.
When they separated, trembling, breathless, he pressed his forehead to hers.
"This bond…
It's dangerous," he whispered.
"But you're mine now…
and I can't stop it."
Outside, lightning cracked.
Inside, everything changed.
---
**EPISODE 12 COMPLETE**