The night felt suffocating as Noah sat by Elias's side, his hands trembling as he pressed the cloth to the gaping wound on the vampire's chest. Elias had survived the attack, but just barely. His body was limp and pale, his breathing shallow. The blood loss had taken its toll, and yet, Elias insisted on refusing Noah's help when he offered his own blood, despite how badly he needed it.
Noah could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him. Every brush of his fingers against Elias's skin sent a jolt of electricity through him, making the air between them thick with tension. His heart pounded in his chest as he focused on healing the wounds that marred Elias's perfect, pale skin. Even in his weakened state, Elias was a work of dark, dangerous beauty.
"I'm fine," Elias murmured, his voice hoarse but still carrying that undeniable edge of authority. But Noah could see the truth in his eyes — he was far from fine. The blood loss, the physical toll of the fight, and the mental strain from what had just transpired were taking everything out of him.
"You're not fine," Noah said softly, dabbing the cloth again. "But I'm not letting you die. Not like this."
Elias's gaze softened for a moment. The usual coldness that masked his feelings was gone, replaced with something warmer, more vulnerable — something Noah wasn't sure he had ever seen before. The silence between them felt heavy, filled with unspoken things.
The tension that had existed between them since the moment they met simmered to a boiling point. Elias seemed to be battling something inside himself, but there was no denying the way his gaze lingered on Noah's face, how his chest rose and fell more steadily as the warmth of the room, and Noah's presence, worked to heal him.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke, the only sound the soft rustling of sheets and the rhythmic pulse of their hearts. But then, as if unable to contain it any longer, Elias spoke in a low, gravelly voice that sent shivers down Noah's spine.
"I'm sorry," Elias said, his eyes meeting Noah's, dark and stormy. "I tried to keep you out of this. I tried to protect you from what I am." He paused, looking away as though he was too ashamed to continue. But then his eyes returned to Noah's with undeniable sincerity. "But I can't lie to you anymore. I've fallen for you. I never wanted to... but I have."
Noah's heart skipped a beat at the confession. He knew, deep down, that this was coming. There had always been something between them — something that neither of them could ignore. But hearing the words, hearing Elias admit it, sent a flood of emotions through Noah's chest.
"I don't want you to get hurt," Elias whispered, his voice filled with so much raw emotion that it left Noah breathless. "But I'm already too far gone. I've already crossed the line. And now… I can't imagine my life without you in it."
Noah swallowed hard, his throat tight. The words, the weight of them, settled heavily in his chest. He wasn't sure if he should run or stay, but one thing was clear — he couldn't turn away now. Not when Elias had opened up like this.
"I'm not afraid of you," Noah said softly, his voice steady despite the rapid beating of his heart. "I've never been afraid of you."
Elias's gaze softened, and for a moment, it seemed as if the world outside had vanished, leaving only the two of them — bound by something deeper than just blood.
But before either of them could speak again, a knock sounded at the door, sharp and insistent, cutting through the fragile moment they had just shared.
The tension in the room instantly spiked, and Elias stiffened, his body going rigid as if prepared for another battle. His fangs briefly flickered into view, his senses on alert. He had no need to ask who it was — the presence on the other side of the door felt like a storm approaching.
"Stay here," Elias growled, rising unsteadily to his feet, his hand gripping the edge of the table as he tried to steady himself. But Noah wasn't going to stay behind this time. He wasn't going to let Elias face whatever threat was out there alone.
Noah stood up too, his body tense as the knocking grew louder, more impatient. He felt his pulse racing, his senses tingling as something terrible washed over him — something he couldn't quite name, but he knew it wasn't good.
Elias's eyes flashed with a mix of frustration and protectiveness. "I said stay," he commanded, his voice low and dangerous. But there was no mistaking the desperation in his gaze. Whatever — or whoever — was out there, it wasn't something Noah could handle.
But Noah wasn't going to listen. "I'm not staying here. Not this time."
As if answering him, the door to the mansion was suddenly thrown open. A figure stood in the doorway, bathed in the shadow of the hall, but there was no mistaking the tall, imposing form.
Renar.
The rival vampire who had attacked Elias in the past, now standing with a sinister smile plastered across his face. And behind him, Noah's blood ran cold as he saw the figure he least wanted to see — his ex-lover, Daniel, standing with a cruel grin on his face.
Daniel, once the love of Noah's life, now a vampire. His once soft features were now sharp, predatory, and cold. The man Noah thought he had lost to time, to his past — now standing there as an immortal creature of the night.
"I know what you are," Daniel said in a voice that sent chills down Noah's spine. "And you belong to us now."
Elias stepped in front of Noah instinctively, his body tense, every muscle poised for action. His eyes glowed with an ominous light as he stared down Daniel. The air between them crackled with the threat of violence, but Elias wasn't backing down.
"You don't own him," Elias snarled, his voice low but filled with fury. "He's mine. And you'll never take him from me."
Daniel's lips curled into a smirk, his fangs now fully visible as he stepped forward, his eyes glinting with hunger. "We'll see about that," he purred, his voice dripping with menace.
The moment felt like it was stretching — Noah's heart pounding in his chest, his eyes flicking between Elias and Daniel, unsure of what would happen next. The room was filled with the scent of tension, the atmosphere thick with impending violence.
And then, without warning, Daniel reached out, his fingers curling toward Noah. Elias's body was a wall between them, but Noah could feel the heat of his ex-lover's stare on him, the desire that still lingered from their past.
Noah's breath hitched as Daniel's hand came closer, his fangs bared, his expression predatory. "You're mine now, Noah," he whispered, his eyes never leaving Noah's.
But Elias was faster.
With a feral growl, he stepped in front of Noah, his body a shield between the two men. His eyes were filled with rage, his fangs gleaming dangerously in the dim light. "Touch him, and you die."
Daniel froze, his grin faltering for a moment as the weight of Elias's warning sank in. But the danger was far from over.
The blood bond between Noah and Elias had just deepened, and now Noah was caught in a battle he couldn't escape from — between the vampire who claimed him as his own, and the ex-lover who had come to take him back.
Daniel's fangs bared in a wicked smile, his fingers twitching as if to strike at Noah. Elias stood firm in front of him, poised to strike, his eyes burning with a deadly fury. The room hung in the balance — one wrong move could change everything.
"Make your choice, Noah," Daniel taunted. "You can't run forever."
The tension snapped as Elias's fangs glistened, the two rivals locked in an unspoken challenge.
Noah's pulse raced, and he was forced to make a choice that could determine his fate — and Elias's.