**SEASON 1 — EPISODE 10
"Heartbeats and Darkness"**
Lucian's weight was heavy against her, and for the first time since she'd met him, Isha saw him not as a mysterious immortal…
but as someone breakable.
Someone who could bleed.
Someone who could fall.
Someone she could lose.
Her hands trembled as she dragged him into the small abandoned storeroom behind her building. His blood left dark streaks on the floor, shimmering like black opal in the moonlight.
"Lucian… don't do this," she whispered, brushing his hair away from his forehead.
"Wake up. Please."
He didn't stir.
Panic surged through her chest.
He had thrown himself in front of claws meant for her.
He had taken the hit without hesitation.
And now he lay there, breathing shallow, skin colder than ever.
Isha pressed her ear to his chest — something she never imagined doing — and froze.
His heartbeat.
It was there… faint… slow… but beating.
She exhaled shakily.
"Okay… okay," she whispered, wiping tears that threatened to fall. "I can do this."
His wound still bled — an ugly, deep gash running across his ribs.
Isha lifted his shirt gently. The sight made her dizzy — but she didn't pull away.
"I need to stop the bleeding," she said to herself, fumbling for anything in the room. A cloth? A towel?
Her wrist glowed suddenly.
The crescent mark shone like silver fire.
"What…?"
As the light touched Lucian's skin, his body reacted — muscles tightening, breath catching, a soft groan leaving his lips.
She jerked back in alarm.
"Did that… hurt you?" she whispered.
His eyelids fluttered but didn't open.
Her wrist glowed brighter.
Something inside her whispered:
**Touch him again.
Heal him.
You are meant to.**
She swallowed nervously.
Slowly… she placed her glowing hand on his wound.
Lucian's back arched sharply — a choked sound catching in his throat — but this time, the bleeding slowed.
The dark blood began to dry, the torn flesh pulling together bit by bit.
Isha gasped.
"What am I…?"
Lucian's voice cracked through the silence, low and raw.
"Isha…"
Her heart jumped.
He was waking.
His eyes didn't open yet, but his hand shot up — grabbing her wrist gently yet desperately, like he knew she was the one touching him.
His thumb brushed her skin.
Warm.
Tender.
The bond pulsed violently, shaking her entire body.
Silver energy shot up her arm straight into her chest, making her gasp.
Lucian's eyes snapped open.
Silver flames.
Pain, longing, fear — all swirling inside them.
His voice was a whisper, strained and intimate.
"You… saved me."
Isha froze, breath catching.
"I—I didn't know what to do," she stammered. "Your blood wasn't stopping, and I thought—"
"You healed me," Lucian said, staring at her wrist in disbelief. "Your Mark responded to my pain."
He sat up slowly, his muscles tensing in pain, but he kept his hand on hers.
He didn't let go.
His face was inches from hers now.
Isha could feel his breath, warm and soft against her cheek.
His lips were dangerously close to hers — just one breath away.
Her heart raced so loud she thought he could hear it.
Lucian's voice dipped lower.
"You shouldn't have risked touching me."
"I wasn't going to let you die," she whispered.
He inhaled sharply.
Their faces were so close now that their foreheads touched — gently, tremblingly.
"Isha…" His voice shook. "Don't say things like that. I'm barely hanging on."
"Hanging on to what?"
He swallowed painfully.
"To staying away from you."
Isha's breath hitched.
His hand slid from her wrist to her cheek, thumb brushing her skin slowly, reverently, like he was memorizing her face.
Their lips were a whisper apart—
A sudden gust of cold air slammed into the room.
Isha screamed as a figure appeared in the doorway, eyes glowing red.
Lucian moved instantly — pulling her behind him, fangs out, stance protective.
The intruder stepped into the moonlight.
Tall, lean, elegant.
Jet-black hair tied loosely.
Eyes glowing a venomous crimson.
He smirked.
"A little hurt, aren't you, brother?"
Isha blinked.
Brother?
Lucian snarled.
"What are you doing here, Kael?"
Kael leaned against the doorframe like he owned the place.
"I came for the girl."
Lucian tensed so hard Isha could feel it from behind him.
"No," Lucian said coldly, every word a threat.
Kael raised a brow.
"You can't protect her forever."
Then his gaze slid to Isha, slow and sharp.
"She looks fragile. Easy to break."
Lucian lunged.
Only Isha's gasp stopped him.
Kael laughed softly.
"Relax, I'm not here to kill her. Yet."
His eyes glowed brighter.
"But the prophecy is real, Lucian. And the Moonbearer always dies."
Isha felt her stomach drop.
"What prophecy?" she whispered.
Kael grinned.
"Oh? He didn't tell you?"
He stepped closer.
"The human girl with the crescent mark is destined to—"
Lucian roared, shoving Kael back with supernatural force.
"Say one more word," Lucian growled, "and I will rip your throat out."
Kael chuckled.
"Touchy."
He vanished into the night, leaving a final whisper hanging in the air.
"She'll destroy you, brother. Or save you. The moon chooses."
The room fell silent.
Lucian was shaking — with fury, fear, and something deeper.
Isha stepped toward him slowly.
"Lucian… what is he talking about?"
Lucian closed his eyes, jaw tight.
"Isha… you are in danger because of me."
She swallowed.
"And you saved me because of me."
Their eyes met.
Raw.
Open.
Intense.
He stepped closer, cupping her face again — forehead pressing against hers like he needed the contact to stay grounded.
"Isha," he whispered. "I don't know how to protect you anymore."
"Then don't protect me alone," she said softly. "Let me stand with you."
Lucian exhaled shakily — a sound halfway between relief and pain.
His lips brushed her forehead.
Not a kiss.
But a promise.
A dangerous one.
The bond pulsed again — stronger, brighter — wrapping around them like moonlight.
And neither of them stepped away.
**EPISODE 10 COMPLETE**