Chapter 1

I didn't pick up the money, and I didn't call the police.

Instead, I was lying on the carpet, letting tears stream from the corners of my eyes.

My phone was pressed against my chest, but the chat window never lit up with a new message.

I think I'd been dumped.

I was drowning in regret.

If I'd known, I never would have pushed him to meet.

I turned my head and happened to see the white bat, also unconscious on the floor.

It had shrunk considerably from its terrifying massive form, its wings draped limply on the ground. It looked like a snowball that had been left out in the rain.

My fear finally caught up with me, slow and heavy.

How could a bat this big exist in the real world?

And one that fell from the sky carrying gold and jewels?

I closed my eyes and whispered to myself.

"It has to be a dream.

"Leah, it's okay. Tomorrow when you wake up, the bat will be gone, the living room will be back to normal, and your Nightfall will come back to you."

The next morning, something cool and soft brushed against my face.

I jolted awake.

The instant I opened my eyes, I found myself staring into a pair of green eyes several times larger than any normal animal's.

I scrambled upright, backing away until my spine hit the couch.

"You... stay back! I don't know if bats bite people, and I don't know if you're carrying diseases!"

Yesterday's monster had shrunk overnight into a tiny bat no bigger than eight inches.

It stood on the table, its white fur puffy and soft, wings tucked at its sides, ears quivering nervously.

It didn't lunge at me. Instead, it pointed a claw at my calendar.

Written on today's date: Meet Nightfall and start the sweetest relationship ever!

It jabbed its claw at "Nightfall" repeatedly.

"You know him?"

The little bat nodded excitedly, and the tips of its ears slowly flushed pink.

"Eli? Did he send you?"

It nodded, then shook its head.

Watching it struggle between wanting to say something and not daring to, I suddenly understood.

Nightfall must have sent it to scare me, test me, and show off his wealth all at once.

I took a deep breath and gathered my courage to step forward.

When faced with a gold-dropping bat, any rational person should be afraid.

But my hopeless romantic brain only cared about one thing: whether my online boyfriend still wanted me.

I reached out tentatively.

The little bat's eyes lit up the moment it saw me approach.

It spread its wings with joy and carefully pressed its tiny head into my palm.

Cool to the touch, impossibly soft fur, but a heartbeat far too fast for any ordinary animal.

That was when it truly hit me.

"So bats like this... a vampire's bat... they actually exist?"