The tea house fell silent. Even the server with horns had stopped mid-stride, frozen like a statue.
Kayen stood slowly, positioning himself between Arav and the silver-haired vampire. "Theron. I didn't know the European Council had business in Bangkok."
Theron's smile widened, revealing perfect white teeth. "We go where power calls us. And such interesting power has awakened here." His eyes slid past Kayen to Arav. "A convergence bloodline. How... delicious."
Arav felt those eyes on him like ice water down his spine. Instinctively, he reached for Kayen's hand.
"He's under my protection," Kayen said, his voice deadly quiet. "And he's bonded to me. You know the laws, Theron."
"Bonded?" Theron laughed, a sound like breaking glass. "The bond isn't complete yet. The full moon hasn't passed. Technically, he's still... available."
Ploy stood, her eyes flashing gold. "Back off, Theron. You're not welcome here."
The four vampires behind Theron tensed, ready for a fight. But Theron raised his hand casually.
"Peace. I'm not here to cause trouble. I simply wanted to... introduce myself." He stepped closer, ignoring Kayen's warning growl. "My name is Theron Castellane. I'm fifteen hundred years old, and I've been watching you, Arav, since the moment your powers awakened."
"How do you know my name?" Arav's voice came out shakier than he wanted.
"I know everything about you," Theron said smoothly. "Born in Mumbai, moved to Thailand for university, twenty-one years old, studying sociology. Your mother's family has witch blood. Your father's line carries shape-shifter genes. And somewhere, buried deep, you have divine ancestry." He tilted his head. "Tell me, has Kayen explained what you truly are? What you could become?"
"Don't listen to him," Kayen warned.
But Arav was curious despite his fear. "What do you mean?"
Theron's smile turned gentle, almost kind. "A convergence bloodline is born perhaps once every thousand years. The last one became the most powerful witch in history. Before that, a shape-shifter who could take any form imaginable. You, Arav, have the potential to become something extraordinary. More than human. More than any single supernatural being."
"He doesn't need power," Kayen said through gritted teeth. "He needs to be left alone."
"Does he?" Theron's eyes gleamed. "Or does he need someone who can truly guide him? Kayen, you've barely existed these past centuries. You hide, you isolate. Is that the life you're offering this remarkable boy? Shadows and secrecy?"
"Better than what you're offering," Jin interjected, standing beside Kayen. "Everyone knows your reputation, Theron. You collect powerful beings like trophies."
"I appreciate them," Theron corrected. "I give them everything they could want. Knowledge, training, a place in my court. I've spent fifteen centuries building a sanctuary for those with extraordinary gifts." He looked directly at Arav. "I could teach you to use your powers fully. Show you wonders across the world. You wouldn't have to hide what you are or pretend to be ordinary."
Arav felt Kayen's hand tighten on his. Through their growing bond, he could feel Kayen's emotions—fear, anger, and underneath it all, insecurity.
"I'm not interested," Arav said firmly, though his heart was pounding.
Theron's expression didn't change. "Not yet, perhaps. But the offer stands. When you realize what you're capable of, when you outgrow this... college romance... I'll be waiting." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a black card with silver lettering. "My contact information. For when you change your mind."
He placed the card on the table.
"Touch him again and you're dead," Kayen's voice was barely human, a growl from deep in his chest.
Theron laughed. "Such passion. I remember being that young and dramatic." He stepped back, gesturing to his companions. "We'll leave you to your evening. But Arav, remember—you deserve someone who matches your potential. Not someone who'll keep you small and hidden."
With that, the five vampires left, the crowd parting for them like water.
As soon as they were gone, the tea house erupted in whispers.
Kayen pulled Arav up. "We're leaving. Now."
Outside, Kayen's hands were shaking as he handed Arav the helmet. Ploy and the others had followed them out.
"That was bold, even for Theron," Preeda said grimly. "Approaching a bonded pair—"
"We're not fully bonded yet," Kayen interrupted bitterly. "He made sure to point that out."
"Kayen—" Arav started.
"Not here." Kayen got on the bike. "We need to talk. Privately."
The ride back to the viewpoint was tense. Arav could feel waves of emotion coming from Kayen through their bond—anger, fear, and something else. Inadequacy.
At the viewpoint, Kayen paced like a caged animal.
"He's right," Kayen said finally. "I can't give you what Theron can. I'm not part of the vampire world anymore. I don't have connections, power, a court—"
"I don't want those things," Arav interrupted.
"You don't know what you want!" Kayen spun to face him. "You've known about this world for less than a week! Theron could show you everything—centuries of knowledge, other convergence beings, training from the best—"
"Stop." Arav walked up to him, grabbed his jacket. "Listen to yourself. You sound like you want me to go with him."
"No," Kayen's voice cracked. "But I want what's best for you. And maybe... maybe I'm not it."
Arav felt his own anger rising. "You don't get to decide that for me. I chose you, Kayen. Before I knew about my bloodline, before I knew about any of this. I chose you because of who you are, not what you can give me."
"But he's not wrong," Kayen said quietly. "I have been hiding. I left the vampire world because I was tired of the politics, the violence, the endless games. I wanted peace. But you—you deserve more than my quiet exile."
"What I deserve," Arav said, his voice shaking with emotion, "is someone who sees me as a person, not a prize. Theron looked at me like I was a rare painting to add to his collection. You look at me like... like I matter."
Kayen's eyes softened. "You do matter. More than anything."
"Then stop trying to push me away." Arav moved closer. "I'm scared too. This is all happening so fast. But Kayen, when I'm with you, I feel safe. Even in that marketplace full of beings who could kill me, I felt safe because you were there."
Kayen pulled him into an embrace, burying his face in Arav's hair. "I'm sorry. Seeing Theron, hearing what he could offer you—it made me feel like that scared boy I was a thousand years ago. Weak. Unworthy."
"You're not weak," Arav said into his chest. "You're the strongest person I know. You've survived a thousand years. You found me across time and space. And you're choosing to bond your soul to mine forever. That's not weakness."
They stood holding each other as the city lights glittered below.
"He won't give up," Kayen finally said. "Theron doesn't accept rejection well. He'll try again."
"Let him try," Arav said with more confidence than he felt. "I've made my choice."
But as they rode back to Arav's dorm, neither of them saw the figure watching from the shadows. Theron stood on a distant rooftop, his silver hair gleaming in the moonlight.
"Fascinating," he murmured to himself. "The bond is strong. But not complete. There's still time."
He pulled out his phone, dialing a number.
"It's me," he said when someone answered. "Yes, I've seen him. The rumors don't do him justice... No, the bonding ceremony hasn't happened yet... Two weeks until the full moon... I want him, and I'll have him. One way or another."
He hung up, his eyes still fixed on the distant motorcycle disappearing into Bangkok's streets.
"Enjoy your happiness while it lasts, young ones," Theron whispered. "Everything changes after the full moon."
In his dorm room, Arav lay in bed, unable to sleep. The black card with Theron's information was in his pocket—he'd taken it without thinking.
He pulled it out now, staring at the silver lettering.
*Theron Castellane*
*Master of the European Court*
*Collector of Extraordinary Souls*
Why had he kept it? He'd told Kayen the truth—he'd chosen him. But something about Theron's words lingered.
*You deserve someone who matches your potential.*
Did he have potential? What could he become if he trained properly?
Arav shoved the card in his drawer, feeling guilty. He should throw it away.
But he didn't.
As he finally drifted to sleep, he dreamed of two paths stretching before him. One familiar and warm, leading to Kayen. The other glittering and unknown, leading to... what?
*To be continued...*