**EPISODE 27 — *"The Night the Shadows Tried to Take Her"***
The forest trembled like a living beast as those glowing eyes multiplied in the darkness. Isha's breath hitched. She'd seen creatures in Lucian's world — but nothing like this.
Lucian stepped in front of her, fangs descending, eyes burning crimson.
"Isha," he murmured, voice vibrating with power, "no matter what happens… don't let go of my hand."
She squeezed his fingers instinctively.
"I won't."
A low growl echoed from the shadows.
Then another.
Then dozens.
Lucian pulled Isha tightly against his side, one arm locked around her waist protectively.
"They're Nightborn," he muttered. "Shadow creatures. Someone sent them."
"Sent… for us?" Isha whispered.
"For you." Lucian's jaw tightened. "They want the human girl the prophecy mentioned."
Isha swallowed hard.
Lucian's grip tightened, almost possessively.
"No one touches you."
The first Nightborn lunged — a blur of black smoke and claws.
Lucian moved faster.
He shoved Isha behind a tree and appeared in front of the creature in the same heartbeat. His fist slammed into its chest, pure light exploding from the impact. The Nightborn disintegrated into ash.
Two more rushed in.
Lucian's voice roared across the trees.
"Stay back!"
He fought like a storm — fluid, deadly, elegant. Fangs flashing, eyes blazing, every movement a blend of fury and precision.
But there were too many.
Isha picked up a fallen branch, hands shaking, ready to defend herself if needed.
Lucian saw her and his eyes widened in panic.
"No! Isha— stay behind me!"
But the Nightborn moved faster.
One creature slipped behind Lucian's blind spot and leapt toward Isha with a screech.
"Isha!" Lucian shouted, but he was three feet away—too far by vampire standards.
The creature's claws slashed toward her.
She swung the branch wildly.
It snapped in half.
The Nightborn lunged again.
Then suddenly—
**An arrow shot from the trees and pierced the creature's head.**
It collapsed instantly.
Lucian whipped around, fangs out, ready to attack whoever shot.
A figure dropped from the branches behind them.
Tall. Confident. Smirking.
**Erevan.**
The same rogue vampire who had flirted with Isha once — and had annoyed Lucian beyond limits.
Isha's eyes widened.
"You?!"
He winked.
"Miss me?"
Lucian's expression went murderous instantly.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Erevan flipped another arrow casually.
"Saving your girlfriend."
Lucian growled, low and dangerous.
"She's not—"
Isha stepped forward, heart pounding.
"She is. I am."
Lucian froze.
Erevan raised his brows.
"Oh? Well… interesting."
Lucian glared at Erevan with a rage that could burn worlds.
"Don't look at her."
Erevan smirked.
"Jealous?"
Lucian didn't deny it.
Instead, he grabbed Isha around the waist and pulled her toward him in one swift, heated motion.
"She's mine. Get that through your thick skull."
Isha's breath caught.
Erevan laughed.
"Relax, prince. I'm not here for her. I'm here because someone paid me to track the Nightborn."
Lucian's eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
"Someone powerful. Someone who knows the prophecy."
Erevan's expression darkened. "And someone who wants the human girl dead."
Lucian's arm stiffened around Isha.
"They will die before they reach her."
More shadows shifted. More glowing eyes appeared.
Erevan sighed.
"We can argue later. Right now — incoming."
Lucian stepped in front of Isha again.
"I'll kill them faster."
Erevan smirked, not backing down.
"Let's see."
And the forest erupted into chaos.
Lucian blurred through the shadows, striking faster than lightning. Erevan fired arrows from every angle, covering blind spots with perfect timing. The two fought like opposites — Lucian, furious and protective; Erevan, calm and mocking.
Isha watched, heart thundering.
But then something strange happened.
A Nightborn broke off from the rest — and crept behind Lucian.
"Isha!" Erevan shouted. "Duck!"
She barely managed to drop to the ground as an arrow whizzed past her ear and killed the creature behind her.
Lucian spun around, eyes wide.
Erevan shrugged.
"You're welcome."
Lucian snarled.
"If she had been hurt—"
"She wasn't," Erevan said calmly. "Because of me."
Lucian lunged forward, shoving Erevan back.
"Stay. Away. From. Her."
Isha hurried between them before they could kill each other.
"Stop! Please!"
Lucian's breathing was harsh, fangs still out.
He grabbed Isha's face in both hands, checking her frantically.
"Are you hurt? Did anything touch you? Did you bleed? Tell me—"
"Lucian," she whispered, holding his wrists, "I'm okay."
He pulled her into a fierce hug — almost crushing — burying his face in her neck and inhaling shakily.
"I thought I lost you," he murmured against her skin. "I can't— Isha, don't ever scare me like that."
She softened, hugging him back.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Lucian exhaled, a shudder of relief.
Behind them, Erevan cleared his throat loudly.
"You both done? Because the Nightborn are regrouping."
Lucian didn't let Isha go. Not even a little.
But he whispered in her ear, voice dripping jealousy—
"Stay close to me. And don't look at him."
She leaned up and kissed his cheek gently.
Lucian froze.
Then smirked — a dark, satisfied, possessive smirk.
"Good," he whispered. "Mine."
But just as they turned back toward the fighting—
**The ground split open beneath them.**
A deep, ancient voice whispered:
**"Bring me the girl."**
Lucian shoved Isha behind him, fangs flashing.
"Over my dead body."
And from the crack in the earth—
something colossal began to rise.
***END OF EPISODE 27***