The morning sun rose over the village, but its light did little to chase away the shadows in Elena's heart. She stood at her window, watching the rooftops glow gold, yet all she could think of was the kiss that still lingered on her lips.
She pressed her fingers to her mouth, her chest tight with guilt. It wasn't real. It was just a dream, she told herself, but the memory of Darius's touch felt too vivid, too alive.
The door creaked open, and Lucian entered, his armor gleaming faintly in the sunlight. He carried a tray with bread, fruit, and a cup of warm tea. "You didn't eat last night," he said gently. "So I thought I'd bring you something."
Elena turned, forcing a smile. "You didn't have to."
"I wanted to." He set the tray down and sat across from her. His sharp eyes studied her face, the shadows beneath her eyes, the faint tremor in her hands. "You didn't sleep well, did you?"
She shook her head. "No. The oath… it's left me restless."
Lucian reached across the table, taking her hand in his. His touch was warm, grounding. "The oath protects you. Whatever visions you're seeing, they can't harm you now."
But Elena couldn't tell him the truth. She couldn't confess that she had let the Ancestor kiss her, even if it was in some dream-like state. She feared what it would do to him, to the fragile hope he clung to.
Lucian squeezed her hand. "I swore to protect you, Elena. But you must also trust me enough to share what weighs on you. Secrets will only make him stronger."
Her throat tightened. She wanted to speak, to pour out everything, but the words stuck like thorns. Instead, she simply whispered, "I'll try."
Later that day, the village gathered in the square. Rumors had spread of animals found drained of blood in the nearby forest. Mothers clutched their children, and men sharpened blades they knew were useless against creatures of the night.
Lucian stood tall before them, his voice carrying over the crowd. "Do not fear. The oath was sealed last night. As long as Elena lives within its bond, the Ancestor cannot claim dominion here."
But the crowd's eyes drifted to Elena, standing quietly at his side. Whispers rose. She is the key. She is the danger. Some bowed their heads in respect, but others looked at her with suspicion.
Elena felt their stares like knives. She wrapped her cloak tighter around her shoulders, wishing she could vanish.
That night, when the crowd had dispersed and the mansion grew quiet, Elena walked alone through the garden. The roses were in bloom, their scent heavy in the air. She touched one gently, but the thorn pricked her finger. A drop of blood welled up.
The shadows shifted, and Darius appeared, stepping from the darkness as though it were his home. His eyes glowed faintly, and his lips curved into that same knowing smile.
"You see how they look at you?" he murmured. "Not as a savior. As a curse."
Elena's breath caught. "You're not supposed to be here."
"And yet I am." He moved closer, his presence both frightening and magnetic. "Do you really think their oath can hold me back? Oaths are for the weak. Blood is for the strong. And your blood… is mine."
She shook her head, though her voice trembled. "I don't belong to you."
He leaned in, brushing his fingers across the rose she held, smearing her blood across its petals. "You already proved otherwise. Do you think Lucian would forgive you if he knew what passed between us last night? That you welcomed me?"
Her heart stuttered. "No… it wasn't real."
"It was more real than anything you've ever felt." His eyes bored into hers, pulling her closer without touch. "And the more you lie to him, the more you betray him. You cannot fight what you are."
Tears filled her eyes. She wanted to run, to scream, to call for Lucian, but a deeper part of her knew Darius was right. Every secret she kept from Lucian widened the distance between them. Every whisper she failed to speak gave Darius more power.
"Leave me," she whispered, her voice breaking.
Darius leaned closer, his lips near her ear. "I will never leave you. Not until you admit the truth—that you long for me as much as I long for you."
And then, like mist, he vanished, leaving only the sound of her ragged breathing in the night air.
Elena sank to her knees among the roses, clutching her bleeding finger, torn between the man who gave her hope and the shadow who claimed her soul.