Chapter 4
Chapter Four
As my eyes flutter open to the warm moonlight, the apartment is silent, save for the soft, rhythmic cadence of Lena’s breathing as she sleeps.
She’s curled into my side, her head resting on my chest, one hand tangled in the dark tendrils of my hair.
The marks I’ve left on her—those crescent moons biting into her skin—are visible, pulsing with a faint, dark heat that feels like a living connection between us.
I close my eyes, letting my senses drift outward. I can still feel her pulse, steady and slow, thrumming against my own skin. It’s a grounding force, a tether that keeps me from slipping back into the endless, numbing void of the centuries. She’s alive. She’s warm. She’s mine.
For a moment, the ancient, hunting fear that had driven me to the river recedes, replaced by a contentment I haven't felt in a very long time.
I run my fingers through her hair, watching the way the moonlight catches the strands and makes them shine.
She looks so peaceful, so innocent, completely unaware of the storm gathering on the horizon.
But peace is a fleeting thing, especially for a vampire. The silence outside my window isn't empty; it's heavy with intent. And then, I feel it—the vibration in the floorboards, the subtle shift in the air pressure, the familiar scent of moss and old blood that precedes them.
The Commanders. They've found us.
I don't waste time waking Lena. Instead, I slide out from beneath her, careful not to disturb her, and reach for my leather jacket.
The cool leather feels familiar against my skin, a second layer of armor.
I grab a pair of stakes from the table by the door—one for me, one for her—and tuck them into my back pocket.
I turn back to the bed one last time. Lena stirs, her eyes fluttering open, groggy and confused. She reaches for me, her hand brushing against the empty space beside her. "Del?"
"I'm here," I whisper, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "But we have to move."
She sits up, the sheets pooling around her waist, and instinctively covers herself. The bite marks are prominent on her neck, a testament to the bond we’ve forged. "Who are they? What's happening?"
"The hunters," I say, keeping my voice low. "The ones who want me dead. Stay close. Do exactly as I say."