It started with a mark.
I didn't notice it at first — just a faint shimmer on my collarbone, like a leftover bruise from the dream.
But when the moonlight hit it, it glowed crimson. And that's when Yeonjun froze.
His eyes widened. "Amelia... that's not from me."
I blinked. "Wait. You didn't bite me last night?"
He scoffed. "No, I wanted to. You were wearing my hoodie. I was going feral. But I didn't."
So either I sleepwalked into a blood cult…
Or the bond was getting smarter. Hungrier. Possessive.
And maybe? Jealous.
1. The Cursed Tattoo
The mark looked like an ancient sigil — two intertwining fangs wrapped around a shattered moon.
I couldn't touch it. Not just because it hurt when I tried — but because it felt alive.
It pulsed when Yeonjun got too close.
It burned when someone else looked at it.
And when Professor Vanta saw it, she went absolutely pale.
"That mark is from the Moonbound Era," she whispered, dragging a dozen dusty books off the shelf. "Only bonded pairs with unstable souls ever receive it."
Yeonjun crossed his arms. "Unstable souls? That's rude. I'm extremely charming."
Vanta ignored him. "If you don't stabilize the bond soon, the mark will keep growing. It'll wrap around her heart next. And after that… well…"
I swallowed. "After that, what?"
She didn't answer.
Just closed the book and walked away.
Classic villain behavior, if you ask me.
2. The Forbidden Pool
Yeonjun dragged me out of the dorms and into the deepest part of the Bone Forest.
Apparently, there was a place called the "Mirror of No Return." Romantic, right?
"It's this sacred vampire pool," he said. "Shows the truth behind cursed bonds. Only one catch: you might lose your mind."
"Oh, just that?" I shrugged. "That's a Tuesday around here."
The pool shimmered like liquid mercury. When I leaned in, I saw my reflection shift.
It wasn't me.
It was… her. The future version. The crowned version. The one who ruled Nightshade with blood and shadow.
And next to her — Yeonjun. But not the Yeonjun I knew.
This one had no pupils. His veins were black. His smile was... monstrous.
"I don't want that," I whispered.
Yeonjun stood behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder.
"Then we fight it," he murmured. "Together."
His reflection smiled wickedly.
Mine winked.
Rude.
3. The Ceremony of Stars
Back at Nightshade, the Headmistress announced a surprise:
The Ceremony of Stars — a once-in-a-decade ritual where bonded pairs have to publicly prove their soul link.
Fun twist? If the bond fails the test, both parties are stripped of power for eternity. Or turned into bats. It's a little unclear.
Yeonjun looked mildly thrilled.
"This is it," he said. "Our cursed debut."
I groaned. "We didn't even rehearse!"
"Please. I'm hot, you're hot, and our trauma is synchronized. We'll crush it."
4. Trial by Moonlight
The ceremony began in the Blood Amphitheater.
Every eye was on us — witches, demons, undead drama queens. Even the ghosts showed up.
We stood in the center of the stone ring, and an ancient spirit stepped forward.
"Name your bond."
Yeonjun raised his chin. "Crimson Eclipse."
I frowned. "That's not what we agreed on."
"It sounded cool."
"Fine, but we're so having a couple fight after this."
The spirit nodded. "Then begin."
Suddenly, a circle of silver fire surrounded us.
Our bond mark glowed. The fangs around the shattered moon twisted and reached across my chest.
Pain seared through me.
Yeonjun grabbed my hand — and growled.
No, seriously. Full vampire growl.
His eyes went black, his canines extended, and power exploded from him like a tidal wave.
I screamed — not in fear, but from the rush.
It was like our souls had merged.
For a moment, we saw each other.
All the way in.
Every broken part. Every hope. Every fear.
No hiding.
Just raw, soul-baring truth.
Then the fire died out.
The spirit smiled faintly.
"Bond: Stabilized."
Everyone gasped. Except Yeonjun, who whispered, "Told you. Synchronized trauma."
5. Afterglow and Aftermath
We stumbled back into the dorms, half-drunk on whatever that soul-merging magic was.
Yeonjun flopped on the bed beside me. "So. That was dramatic."
"I literally saw your childhood memories. You tried to bite your math teacher in 3rd grade."
"She gave me a D! I was hangry!"
I laughed — and then stopped.
Because the mark on my collarbone was gone.
But in its place… was something new.
A small, silvery scar.
In the shape of a heart.
Yeonjun saw it and smirked.
"Guess we're really bonded now."
I rolled my eyes. "Great. Cursed love tattoos. Just what I always wanted."
But secretly?
I kinda did.
6. One Last Omen
That night, I woke up with a jolt.
Not from a dream — but from reality.
Someone had left a note on my pillow.
Written in ancient vampire ink.
"The bond has chosen. But the throne is still watching."
No name.
No signature.
Just a crimson wax seal.
Shaped like a crown.
And that's when I knew…
This wasn't over.
Not even close.