INICIAR SESIÓNCaius POV The soldiers were nervous.Caius, in the moments before they hurriedly ushered him in through the gate, the crowd grew. Caius. The name spread from mouth to mouth, like a spark into a line of leaping fire, awed, fearful, shocked.Caius the vampire. The guard to the right just continued to look at him blankly, but there was growing recognition on the face of the guard to the left, who said, fatally, ‘It’s him.’ It’s him and the spark ignited into a blaze, seizing the crowd. It’s him.It’s him. Caius. Suddenly it was everywhere. The crowd was jostling, exclaiming. A woman fell down onto her knees. A man shoved forward.The guards were close to being overwhelmed.They pushed him inside, roughly. His public surrender had accomplished that much: he had won himself the privilege of being manhandled into the palace.If it worked, if he was in time, how long could a trial last? How long could Kieran stall for time? The trial would have commenced in the morning, how long until th
Caius POV He arrived in the cool of morning, alone. Leaving his horde alone, he went the last of the way on foot, choosing the goat tracks first, then passing through avenues of apricot and almond, and the dappled shade of olive trees.Shortly after, the tracks ascended, and he began to climb a low limestone hill, the first of the rises that led him up, and up further to the white cliffs, and the fortress.The fortress; the place where massacres happen without any question, built into high mountain cliffs that crumbled and broke off into the sea. The familiarity was so strong it was almost dizzying.On the horizon, the sea was a clear blue, only a few shades darker than the strident shade of the sky. He expected to be challenged at the outer gates by guards warned and wary, on the lookout for him. But perhaps they were on the lookout for Caius, the arrogant Vampire at the head of his army, not a single man in an old worn cloak, a hood that came down over his face, and sleeves to h
Caius POV I walked out of the house into the cold air and did not let myself look back at the room where his scent still lingered like a hand on my shoulder. Sentiment was a luxury, and I had not been able to afford one in centuries.By the time I reached the treeline, I had already sorted the plan into its parts. First: The Force. I would give them orders they could understand which was patrols, scouting formations, blood rations measured out in strict amounts. A pack with a task does not turn on itself. I would not let them hunt the way Gabriel had let them hunt. Not yet. Not until I had a use for that kind of savagery.Second: the river. Bonnie had told me once, years ago, that the old fortress had been carved into a mountain riddled with natural caves. Kieran would know the same. He had spent years inside those walls, listening, learning. If he had left us a direction, it was because he knew it led somewhere. I intended to find out where.Third: Kieran himself.My jaw tightened
Caius POV I walked out of the house into the cold air and did not let myself look back at the room where his scent still lingered like a hand on my shoulder. Sentiment was a luxury, and I had not been able to afford one in centuries.By the time I reached the treeline, I had already sorted the plan into its parts. First: The Force. I would give them orders they could understand which was patrols, scouting formations, blood rations measured out in strict amounts. A pack with a task does not turn on itself. I would not let them hunt the way Gabriel had let them hunt. Not yet. Not until I had a use for that kind of savagery.Second: the river. Bonnie had told me once, years ago, that the old fortress had been carved into a mountain riddled with natural caves. Kieran would know the same. He had spent years inside those walls, listening, learning. If he had left us a direction, it was because he knew it led somewhere. I intended to find out where.Third: Kieran himself.My jaw tightened
Kieran’s POV The words left my mouth before I could stop them.“Alright. I’ll go with you.”Caspian’s face transformed, the rage melting away into something that looked almost like relief. Almost like love. It made my stomach turn.“I knew it,” he breathed, stepping toward me with his hand outstretched. “I knew you’d come back to me. You belong with me, Kieran. You always have.”Behind me, I heard Beau’s sharp intake of breath. Caius’ emotions, normally so carefully locked away, slammed into me through the bond like a tidal wave. No, his voice seemed to scream at me through the connection. No, Kieran, don’t do this.But I had to. He didn’t understand yet, none of them did. But this was the only way.Caspian’s fingers closed around my wrist, cold and possessive. His thumb traced the veins beneath my skin, and I fought the urge to recoil. To tear myself away and run back to Caius. To safety.“You won’t regret this,” Caspian murmured, pulling me toward the broken door. “I’ll take c
Beau’s POVCaspian’s grip on my throat tightened, cutting off the air I so desperately needed. His green eyes blazed with a madness I hadn’t seen before.“You have no idea,” he whispered, his face inches from mine, “how long I've waited for this moment.”I tried to speak, but his hand crushed my windpipe. Black spots danced across my vision. “You took him from me,” Caspian continued, his voice dropping to something almost intimate. “You, and that vampire, and every other fool who thought they could keep Kieran from me. But now... now I have someone who matters to him. Someone he cares about.”He released my throat just enough to let me gasp. Sweet, blessed air flooded my lungs.“Please,” I choked out. “Don’t do this.”Caspian tilted his head, studying me like I was a curious insect. “Do you know what I felt when I found out he was gone? When I realized that vampire had taken him from right under my nose?” His fingers traced along my jaw, a mockery of tenderness. “It was like someon
Kieran’s POV.I stare deep into Caius' red blooded eyes as fear curls around my chest, curling around it so tightly I barely have the strength to breathe. The variations of colour in his eyes makes my entire being tremble from deep within me. And I know the reason behind this colour. He's hungry
Kieran’s POV.Three days later, sliding my finger lazily across the carpet in search of my drink, I frown as I bring it to my lips. There's not so much left, so I'm forced to lap the froth caked around the rim. Beau plays his piano in the background and once in a while, he scribbles down notes acr
Professor Evans is one of the youngest lecturers in the academy. And that makes it easier to be able to confide in him. He understands young adults and sees things from our own point of view. And that’s one of the reasons he is my best history lecturer to ever exist. He turns sharply from the pul
Kieran’s POV.A male. My vampire is a male. My limbs tremble as I stare at him. He takes a step forward, gracefully. He has long fingers that are perfectly slender. His colour matches the flakes of snow. I lick my dry lips and hope he doesn't smell the fear through my veins. He lifts his hands







