The Parisian nights grew colder as autumn crept in, but within Mikel's small art studio, the warmth of something unspoken bloomed.
Viktor sat in his usual place, watching the young artist paint. The flicker of candlelight cast long shadows on the walls, illuminating Mikel's movements as he worked on his latest creation.
Viktor's eyes weren't on the canvas, though.
He was watching Mikel, the way his brow furrowed in concentration, the way his hands moved with such certainty, the passion that radiated from him in every stroke of his brush.
Mikel paused, sensing Viktor's gaze. He glanced over his shoulder, meeting Viktor's eyes with a smile that made Viktor's chest tighten.
"You watch me more than you watch the paintings," Mikel said softly, a teasing glint in his eyes.
Viktor leaned back in his chair, the corners of his mouth lifting into a faint smile. "You're more interesting than the paintings."
Mikel chuckled, turning back to his work, but Viktor didn't miss the faint blush that crept into his cheeks.
They had spent weeks like this, long, quiet evenings where Mikel painted and Viktor kept him company. Their conversations, once polite and formal, had grown more intimate, more vulnerable, and with each passing night, Viktor found it harder to keep his distance.
Mikel's curiosity had deepened over time. The artist was perceptive, always observing, always questioning, and Viktor had sensed it coming, the moment when Mikel would begin to wonder who he really was.
"You don't talk much about yourself," Mikel said after a few minutes of silence, his tone casual but probing.
Viktor tensed slightly, his centuries-old instincts warning him to tread carefully. "There's not much to tell."
Mikel stopped painting, setting his brush down as he turned to face Viktor fully. His hazel eyes were alight with curiosity, but there was something else there too, something deeper, more intense. "I find that hard to believe. You're… different, Viktor. I've felt it since the day we met."
The words hung in the air between them, and Viktor could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him. This was the edge of the precipice, the point where he either had to pull back or step forward, revealing the truth that had kept him apart from the world for so long.
Mikel's gaze never wavered, and Viktor could see the spark of determination in his eyes. He wasn't going to let this go.
"Everyone has secrets," Viktor said quietly, his voice steady but guarded.
Mikel took a step closer, crossing the room until he was standing just a few feet away from Viktor. "But yours are heavier, aren't they?" His voice was gentle, understanding. "I can feel it. There's something more to you… something you're not telling me."
Viktor's chest tightened. Mikel was right, of course. His secret was not just heavy, it was a burden that had weighed on him for centuries. He had been alone for so long, navigating a world where love was fleeting, and connections were dangerous. And yet, Mikel had drawn him in, broken down the walls Viktor had carefully built around himself.
Viktor stood slowly, his gaze never leaving Mikel's. "What would you say if I told you I was not like other men?"
Mikel's breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening slightly, but he didn't move away. Instead, he tilted his head, his expression softening with curiosity. "I'd say… I already know that."
Viktor took a step closer, the space between them shrinking. He could feel the pull of the mate bond growing stronger with every breath, every heartbeat, and it took every ounce of control he had not to reach out and touch Mikel, not to claim what was already his.
"I'm not like you, Mikel," Viktor said, his voice low, almost a whisper. "I've lived… for a very long time."
Mikel's brow furrowed in confusion, but he didn't back away. "What do you mean?"
Viktor hesitated. This was it, the moment when everything would change. He could lie, could continue to hide the truth and keep Mikel at arm's length. But the bond between them, the mate pull, was too strong. He couldn't deny it any longer.
"I'm a vampire," Viktor said, his words hanging in the air like a dark cloud.
Mikel's eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, Viktor feared that he had made a terrible mistake. But then, instead of recoiling in fear, Mikel took a step closer, his expression a mixture of disbelief and fascination.
"A vampire?" Mikel echoed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Viktor nodded, his gaze searching Mikel's face for any sign of fear or rejection. "I've lived for centuries. I've seen empires rise and fall, and I've watched the world change in ways you can't imagine. But I have remained. Unchanging. Undying."
Mikel was silent for a long moment, processing the weight of Viktor's confession. He took a step back, shaking his head, his lips parting in shock.
"You're… a vampire?" Mikel repeated. He searched Viktor's face, looking for some sign that this was a joke, some impossible trick. But Viktor's eyes were steady, filled with an ancient sorrow that spoke of lifetimes spent in solitude.
Mikel's mind raced. How could it be true? The idea of vampires belonged to folklore, myths. And yet, everything about Viktor, his mysterious nature, the way he seemed so removed from the world, suddenly made sense.
"You should be afraid," Viktor said quietly, watching Mikel's reaction. "I am not like you, Mikel. I live in a world filled with dangers, rival vampires, hunters who would kill me and anyone close to me without hesitation. Loving me is dangerous. It's a risk you shouldn't take."
But instead of pulling away, Mikel took a step forward, his breath coming quicker now. "You've lived for centuries, Viktor. And yet, here you are with me. Why?"
Viktor hesitated, his heart torn between wanting to protect Mikel and the undeniable pull of their bond. "Because you are my mate, Mikel. You were meant for me, and I for you. I've known it since the moment we met. But that doesn't change the danger that surrounds us."