Chapter 1 : The Night She Ran
The night air inside the obsidian court felt heavy, thick with candle smoke and anticipation.
Seraphina Vale stood alone in the center of the ritual chamber.
Silver-blonde hair fell down her back in a smooth wave. Her pale skin almost glowed against the black stone walls. At her collarbone, just above her heart, the unfinished mating mark shimmered faintly a curved crimson line that pulsed as if it had its own heartbeat.
It burned tonight.
Across the chamber, Lucien Draven watched her.
Tall. Broad. Still.
Dark hair cut short. Crimson eyes steady and unreadable. A king who did not need to raise his voice to command a room. The incomplete mating mark along his neck glowed faintly, mirroring hers.
He took one slow step toward her.
"Look at me, Seraphina."
His voice was low. Smooth. Controlled.
She lifted her ice-blue eyes to his.
"I am looking at you."
"Then tell me," he said quietly, "why you look like you are preparing for war instead of a wedding."
A faint smile touched her lips, but it did not reach her eyes.
"This is not a wedding."
Lucien's jaw tightened slightly.
"It is the final bond. The last bite. After tonight, you will be mine in every way that matters."
Her pulse fluttered under her skin.
"I already am."
His eyes darkened.
"Not fully."
The chamber doors opened with a deep groan.
Elara Nightwind entered first.
Dark brown skin glowing softly under candlelight. Long black braids decorated with silver rings that chimed faintly when she moved. Gold-veined irises that seemed to see through flesh and bone.
She did not rush.
She never rushed.
Behind her walked Kael Morcant.
Massive. Scarred. Bronze skin marked with old battles. Amber eyes sharp and watchful. He positioned himself behind Lucien's right shoulder without speaking.
Elara's calm voice filled the chamber.
"The Blood Court is gathered."
Lucien did not look away from Seraphina.
"Then let them witness."
Seraphina swallowed.
The air shifted as more vampires filled the shadows.
Whispers.
Heat.
Power.
Lucien stepped closer.
Too close.
His scent wrapped around her dark spice and iron. Her breathing hitched despite herself.
He leaned down slightly.
"Why is your heart racing?"
"You know why."
"Say it."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Because once you bite me, I will belong to you completely."
"You already belong to me," he said softly. "You just haven't accepted it."
Elara stepped forward.
Her gaze lingered on Seraphina's glowing mark.
"Before the bond is sealed," Elara said calmly, "there is something that must be spoken."
Lucien's expression did not change.
"Speak."
Elara's gold-veined eyes turned to Seraphina.
"If the Alpha binds his soul to the Silver Flame," she said slowly, "one heart shall cease before the century turns."
The chamber fell silent.
Seraphina felt her body go cold.
Lucien did not move.
"Explain," he demanded.
"I cannot," Elara replied gently. "I only speak what is shown."
Kael's voice cut through the silence.
"Prophecies are riddles. We do not delay for riddles."
Seraphina's eyes locked onto Elara's.
"One heart shall cease?"
Elara did not look away.
"Yes."
"Whose heart?"
Elara's tone stayed calm.
"That was not shown."
Lucien stepped in front of Seraphina, blocking her from Elara.
"Enough."
He turned to her.
"Do you fear words more than you trust me?"
Her voice trembled for the first time.
"It is not fear of words."
"Then what?"
She looked up at him.
"What if it is you?"
A flicker crossed his face.
"I do not die easily."
"That is not an answer."
He stepped closer until their bodies almost touched.
"If death comes, it comes," he said quietly. "I will not live half-bound because of a possibility."
Her fingers curled at her sides.
"You are a king."
"And you are my mate."
Elara spoke again.
"The prophecy is not command. It is warning."
Kael crossed his arms.
"The kingdom needs stability. Delaying the bond will create doubt."
Lucien's gaze never left Seraphina.
"I will not delay."
Seraphina's breathing grew shallow.
"You would risk your life for this?"
"For you."
Silence.
Her voice broke into a whisper.
"And if I cannot live knowing I caused your death?"
Lucien's tone sharpened.
"You would not cause it."
"But what if the bond does?"
He leaned down, lips near her ear.
"Then I will die knowing I had you."
Her body trembled.
"Do not say that."
"Why?"
"Because it sounds like goodbye."
His hand lifted slowly, brushing his fingers just beneath her jaw.
"Seraphina Vale," he murmured, "look at me."
She did.
"I have ruled for centuries. I have fought wars. I have bled for this throne. Nothing has shaken me."
His thumb traced lightly along the faint red curve of her unfinished mark.
"But you leaving would."
Her breath caught.
"I am not leaving."
"Good."
Elara's voice came softer this time.
"Once the final bite is given, there is no undoing it."
Seraphina's chest tightened.
Lucien's eyes burned brighter.
"I have waited long enough."
He turned slightly.
"Prepare the ritual."
The Court began to murmur.
Candles flared higher.
Seraphina's head felt light.
Lucien leaned closer again.
"Tell me what you are thinking."
Her voice shook.
"I am thinking that I love you."
His eyes softened slightly.
"And?"
"And I would rather live without you than watch you die because of me."
His hand dropped.
"You would choose absence over bond?"
"I would choose your life."
He stared at her.
"You think I want eternity without you?"
She stepped back.
"Lucien"
His voice hardened.
"Do not step away from me."
Kael's amber eyes narrowed slightly.
Elara watched silently.
Seraphina forced herself to speak steadily.
"If the prophecy is about you"
"It might not be."
"But if it is"
He grabbed her wrist.
Not cruel.
Not violent.
Just firm.
"You are my mate," he said in a low voice only she could hear. "You do not decide my fate without me."
Tears burned behind her eyes.
"I cannot lose you."
"You will not."
"You do not know that."
"And neither do you."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"What if the heart that ceases is yours?"
He leaned closer.
"Then let it cease in your arms."
She closed her eyes.
"Stop."
"Why?"
"Because you make it sound beautiful."
His voice softened again.
"It would be."
She pulled her hand from his.
"I need air."
"Seraphina"
"I need air."
Without waiting for permission, she turned and walked toward the chamber doors.
Kael stepped forward.
"Where are you going?"
Lucien lifted his hand slightly, stopping Kael.
"Let her."
Seraphina did not look back.
The night air outside the tower felt colder.
She gripped the stone railing of the balcony overlooking the dark city.
Her mark burned.
Her heart pounded.
Footsteps behind her.
She did not need to turn.
Lucien's voice came low and close.
"You would run from me?"
"I am not running."
"You are."
She faced him.
"I am thinking."
"Think here."
"What if I cannot do this?"
"You can."
"What if I refuse?"
His eyes darkened.
"You will not."
"You sound very sure."
"I am."
"You do not control my choices."
His jaw tightened.
"No. But the bond does."
She placed her hand over her collarbone.
"It hurts."
"I know."
"Does yours?"
"Yes."
Silence stretched.
"Lucien," she whispered, "if loving you kills you"
"It will not."
"You cannot promise that."
"I promise that I will not fear it."
"I do."
He stepped closer again.
"You fear losing me."
"Yes."
"Then do not create that loss yourself."
Her voice trembled.
"If I leave, you live."
His eyes flashed crimson.
"If you leave, I break."
She shook her head.
"You are stronger than that."
"Not where you are concerned."
Her lips parted slightly.
"You would survive."
"I would not heal."
Her throat tightened.
"I cannot watch you fall."
"You would not."
"How do you know?"
"Because I refuse to."
She laughed softly through tears.
"You cannot refuse prophecy."
"I can refuse fear."
The mark on her collarbone flared painfully.
She gasped.
Lucien stepped forward instantly.
"Seraphina."
"It burns."
"Come back inside."
"No."
"Do not fight the bond."
"I am not fighting it."
"You are."
She looked up at him, eyes glowing faintly.
"If I complete this ritual and you die…"
"I will not die."
"And if you do?"
He moved so fast she barely saw it, pinning her gently but firmly against the stone railing.
His voice dropped lower than ever.
"If I die," he whispered, "it will not be because you loved me."
Her breath came uneven.
"Lucien…"
"I have lived three centuries without fear," he said. "Do not ask me to start now."
Her hands trembled against his chest.
"I cannot lose you."
"You cannot lose what is already yours."
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"I would rather suffer alone."
His voice changed then.
Colder.
Sharper.
"You would abandon me to protect me?"
"I would save you."
"By leaving?"
"Yes."
His grip loosened slowly.
"You think distance will protect me?"
"Yes."
"You underestimate the bond."
She stepped back.
"Better distance than death."
He stared at her for a long moment.
"You would choose exile."
"If it keeps you alive."
His voice dropped into something dangerously quiet.
"Seraphina Vale."
She met his gaze.
"If you walk away tonight," he said slowly, "the bond will not disappear."
"I know."
"It will remain incomplete."
"I know."
"It will hurt."
"I know."
"And I will come for you."
Her breath caught.
"I know."
Silence fell between them.
The wind lifted her silver hair.
Lucien's crimson eyes did not waver.
"Do not do this."
She whispered, barely audible.
"I love you."
"Then stay."
"I love you too much to stay."
He took one step forward.
She took one step back.
"Seraphina."
"Forgive me."
She turned.
Lucien's voice cut through the night.
"If you leave this tower"
She did not stop.
His voice grew sharper.
"I will not release you."
She paused at the edge of the balcony stairs.
Her shoulders trembled.
Without turning around, she said softly,
"I do not need release."
And then she stepped into the shadows.
Lucien stood frozen.
The incomplete mark on his neck flared violently.
Pain shot through him.
Kael's voice echoed faintly from inside.
"My king?"
Lucien did not answer.
His crimson eyes locked onto the darkness where she had vanished.
The bond pulsed.
Alive.
Unfinished.
Burning.
And somewhere in the night below, Seraphina pressed her hand against her glowing mark as the pain tore through her chest
and the mating bond snapped tight instead of breaking.