Morning came with no respite.
Elira woke, tangled in the silken sheets of her bed, the scent of Lucien still lingering on her skin. Her body ached, but not from pain—rather, from the absence of something she couldn't quite name. The bond had marked her in ways she didn't understand yet. It was an insatiable thing, a force that pulled at her core, urging her to seek him out.
The chamber was silent, save for the soft rustling of the wind outside. Lucien had not returned after their kiss, after their union. He had left her to her thoughts, to the fire burning in her chest.
Her hand instinctively went to her wrist, the place where the mark had once been faint but now was glowing with an ethereal light—an eternal symbol of the bond that tethered her to him.
A knock sounded at the door, breaking her reverie.
"Elira?" Lucien's voice came through the wood, low, controlled, but with an edge she recognized now. The Alpha inside him was always watching, always poised.
She stood, feeling the weight of her decision to stay here. To remain with him. A choice made in the dark, with no clear path ahead.
She opened the door.
Lucien stood on the other side, his dark eyes meeting hers with a mixture of possessiveness and something softer—vulnerable, almost.
"The Council is coming," he said, his voice low. "We need to prepare."
She frowned. "The Council? The vampire rulers?"
"Yes. They've sensed the bond. They'll want to test your power—our power," he said, stepping into the room. His presence filled it, the air crackling with his energy. "I won't let them take you."
She swallowed. "What do you mean 'test' me? I can't even control this bond, this magic inside me. How can I be tested?"
Lucien's gaze softened for a moment, but then he clenched his jaw. "They won't care if you're ready. They will test your worth. And that test… can break you."
"Then what do we do?" Elira asked, stepping closer to him. A part of her wanted to reach out, to touch him, to find some sense of safety in the chaos of their world.
"Prepare," Lucien said, his voice firm, though his eyes held a trace of the darkness that had taken root in him over the years. "The bond is powerful, Elira, but it's also dangerous. If the Council wants to claim you, we'll have to fight for you. Fight for our future."
She stared at him. "You're not afraid, are you?"
He smirked, though the answer was in his eyes. "Afraid? I've fought battles for centuries. But this? You? You're worth everything."
The intensity in his voice made her heart flutter, despite the fear gnawing at her insides. The power between them was undeniable, as was the attraction—the need—that kept her rooted to him.
But this fight, this test, was different. The Council's grip was vast. Their reach far.
Elira stepped away from him, suddenly needing space. "I don't know if I'm ready for this. For you."
Lucien's gaze darkened, but he gave her room. "I'll never force you, Elira. But you don't have a choice anymore. The prophecy doesn't allow it."
Her mind reeled. The weight of her decision had been lifted from her shoulders in one breath—like a dam bursting. Her life, once simple, had shifted to a path she hadn't chosen. And now she was caught in its current, swept away by the tide of fate.
Before she could speak again, there was a sudden movement outside the chamber. A shadow fell across the threshold, and before Lucien could react, the door swung open.
A woman stood in the doorway—tall, regal, with midnight-black hair cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes were a glowing amber, cold and assessing. She was dressed in a flowing gown made of midnight silk, intricate silver designs woven along its hem.
Lucien stepped forward, his posture shifting into that of a protector, his eyes flashing with tension. "Liora."
The woman smirked, her gaze flicking over Elira before settling on Lucien. "You've finally broken the silence, Lucien. I thought you might keep her hidden forever."
"I don't need your approval," Lucien growled. "What do you want, Liora?"
The woman's smile widened. "I'm here because the Council has sent me to prepare the Omega."
Elira's breath caught in her throat as she realized the woman was speaking of her. The word Omega was a label, a title, a mark of ownership that felt more like a chain than a gift. She took a step back.
"What does that mean?" Elira demanded. "You're not taking me anywhere."
Liora's eyes glinted, a dangerous, predatory shine. "You don't have a say, sweetheart. You're already marked. And the Council will take what belongs to them."
Lucien stepped between them, his expression hard. "Not while I'm still standing."
Liora didn't flinch. "The Council will test you both. Don't think for a moment that they'll leave you unchallenged, Lucien. They know what the bond means. They'll do whatever it takes to claim its power."
"I won't let that happen," Lucien said, his voice a low growl.
Liora's smile faded, her eyes narrowing. "We shall see."
With that, she turned on her heel, her gown rustling as she moved toward the door. "The Council arrives at dawn. Prepare yourself."
The door slammed shut behind her, leaving Elira and Lucien alone.
The tension in the room was thick, a storm cloud waiting to burst.
Lucien turned to face Elira, his eyes fierce. "I won't let them take you. You're mine. And I'll fight the entire Council if I must."
Elira's heart raced, torn between fear and a burning need for the protection he offered. The bond was heavy, undeniable. But so was the danger that now loomed.
"Lucien," she whispered, her voice trembling. "What if we can't fight them?"
He reached for her, pulling her close. "Then we die together. But I won't let you go without a fight."
And for the first time, Elira believed him.