The candles in the chapel sputtered and went dark, leaving only the glowing bowl of blood on the altar. Elena's breath came in short, uneven bursts. Her hand still burned from the cut, though Lucian quickly bound it with cloth.
"You did it," he whispered, as if to comfort her. "The oath is sealed."
But Elena wasn't sure. Her eyes darted across the shadows, searching for the figure only she had seen. And there he was—Darius. He leaned against the far wall of the chapel, his form darker than the darkness around him, his eyes glowing faintly red. His lips curved into a smile that was both cruel and tender.
Elena's heart raced. She tried to look away, but his gaze held her like chains. His voice slipped into her mind, soft and warm like a lover's whisper. The oath is nothing, my dear. They bind your flesh, but not your soul. Your soul is mine.
"Elena?" Lucian's voice pulled her back. His hand was still holding hers. "You're trembling. Talk to me."
She forced a small smile. "It's nothing. Just… the visions."
Lucian frowned, but he didn't press. Instead, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and guided her out of the chapel. The villagers bowed as they passed, whispering prayers of thanks. To them, the oath meant safety. To Elena, it felt like a prison.
That night, she lay awake in her room. The mansion was silent, the kind of silence that carried weight, as if the walls themselves were listening. She closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep, but the moment her breathing slowed, she felt a cold breeze sweep across her skin.
"Elena…"
Her eyes flew open. Darius stood at the foot of her bed, more solid than ever before. His black cloak brushed the floor, his pale skin glowing faintly in the moonlight.
"You shouldn't be here," she whispered, though her voice lacked strength.
He stepped closer, and with each movement, the room seemed to darken, as though the night itself bent around him. "And yet, here I am. The oath has not kept me away. Did you truly think they could sever what binds us?"
She tried to sit up, but her body felt heavy, like the air around her was pressing her down. "Why me?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Why not leave me alone?"
Darius's expression softened. He reached out, his cold fingers brushing her cheek. "Because you are mine. You are the only one who carries my blood so purely. Through you, I live again. Through you, I feel again."
His touch sent shivers down her spine, both fear and something she couldn't name. She wanted to pull away, yet she found herself leaning toward him. His presence was terrifying, but his voice was like a song she could not stop listening to.
"You feel it too, don't you?" he whispered, lowering his face closer to hers. "This fire, this hunger. Lucian gives you safety, but I give you eternity. One kiss, and you will never fear death again."
Her lips parted, trembling. She knew she should scream, push him away, call for Lucian. But her heart betrayed her. It beat faster, calling him closer.
His lips brushed hers, cold as night, yet burning at the same time. The kiss was deep, lingering, stealing the air from her lungs. In that moment, she saw visions—flashes of ancient times, castles burning, oceans of blood, and Darius standing at the center of it all, powerful, untouchable.
When he pulled back, her chest ached with confusion. She gasped, clinging to the sheets. "Why… why show me this?"
"Because it is your future," he said softly. "No matter how hard you run, you will come to me. You are my heir, my queen. And soon, you will choose me over him."
A sudden knock at the door broke the spell. "Elena?" Lucian's voice came through, steady and concerned. "Are you awake?"
Elena blinked. The shadows around her shifted. Darius was gone. Only the faint chill on her lips remained.
She pressed her fingers against her mouth, her heart torn in two. One part longed for Lucian's warmth and safety. The other burned for Darius's darkness and promise of eternity.
"Y-yes," she called out weakly to Lucian. "I'm awake."
But inside, she knew she had already crossed a dangerous line. The Shadow's kiss had awakened something in her that could never be undone.