Mikel's expression softened, and he reached out, gently taking Viktor's hand in his own.
"You've been alone all this time?" Mikel asked softly, his voice filled with empathy.
The question hit Viktor like a punch to the gut. He hadn't expected Mikel's response to be one of understanding, one of compassion. But that was who Mikel was, he saw beyond the surface, beyond the danger, and looked deeper into Viktor's soul.
"Yes," Viktor admitted, his voice raw with emotion. "I've been alone for a very long time. But that's not w..."
Mikel's hand tightened on Viktor's arm, his touch warm and grounding. "...you don't have to be," he said softly.
"I don't care about the danger. I don't care what you are. All I know is that I've never felt anything like this. I'm drawn to you in a way I can't explain, and I don't want to run from that. I don't want to run from you."
Viktor's chest tightened with emotion. How could Mikel be so accepting, so brave in the face of something so terrifying? He had expected rejection, fear, perhaps even disgust. But instead, Mikel stood there, his eyes filled with nothing but love and determination.
"You don't understand," Viktor said, his voice tight with restraint. "I can't give you a normal life, Mikel. I can't give you the things you deserve. You would be putting yourself in danger just by being near me. If my enemies find out about us... "
Mikel silenced him with a sudden kiss, pressing his lips to Viktor's in a bold, passionate gesture. Viktor froze for a moment, caught off guard by the intensity of Mikel's embrace. But then, instinct took over, and he kissed Mikel back, pouring every ounce of his conflicted feelings into that single moment.
The kiss deepened, and Viktor could feel the mate bond pulling at him, stronger than ever. It was like a fire that had been smoldering inside him, waiting for this moment to ignite. He pulled Mikel closer, his hands tangling in the soft curls of Mikel's hair, and for the first time in centuries, Viktor allowed himself to let go of the control he had so carefully maintained.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless. Mikel's eyes were bright, his cheeks flushed with emotion.
"I don't care about the risks," Mikel said, his voice firm. "I want to be with you, Viktor. Whatever that means, whatever it takes."
Viktor closed his eyes, feeling the weight of Mikel's words wash over him. He had spent lifetimes alone, believing that love was something he could never have, that his existence was too dangerous, too cursed. But Mikel was different. Mikel was willing to fight for him, to stand beside him even in the face of danger.
"You don't know what you're asking for," Viktor whispered, his voice trembling. "If we do this, there's no turning back. The bond between us will be permanent."
Mikel's gaze never wavered. "Then let's make it permanent."
Viktor's heart ached with love for this man, his mate, his equal. Slowly, he pulled Mikel closer again, his lips brushing against the skin of Mikel's neck. "If I drink from you, we will be bound," Viktor murmured. "You will feel what I feel, and I will feel what you feel. Are you sure this is what you want?"
Mikel shivered at the sensation of Viktor's breath on his skin, but his voice was steady when he answered. "Yes."
"I've waited so long for you," Viktor whispered, his voice filled with a mix of longing and relief. "Centuries."
Mikel smiled, his eyes shining with a warmth that Viktor hadn't felt in centuries. "Then I guess we have all the time in the world."
"I don't want to lose you," Viktor said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mikel's smile faded slightly, and he looked up at Viktor with a seriousness that cut through the air. "You won't."
But Viktor wasn't so sure. The world he came from was dark and dangerous, and it had taken so much from him already. Could he really risk losing Mikel too?
Viktor leaned down and pressed his lips to Mikel's neck, and with a sharp inhale, his fangs extended. He hesitated for only a moment, his body trembling with both anticipation and fear. Then, with a quick, precise motion, he sank his fangs into Mikel's flesh.
Mikel gasped, clutching Viktor's shoulders as the bite sent a rush of pleasure through him. His body arched against Viktor's, the intensity of the moment overwhelming his senses. He could feel Viktor's emotions,his desire, his fear, his love, blending with his own, creating a connection that was deeper than anything he had ever known.
When Viktor finally pulled away, his lips stained with Mikel's blood, he looked into Mikel's eyes and saw his own reflection there. They were bound now, forever. And no matter what dangers lay ahead, Viktor knew that he would never be alone again.
Mikel touched the bite mark on his neck, his fingers trembling slightly. "Is it done?" he asked, his voice soft.
Viktor nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "It's done. We are one now, Mikel. Bound by blood and by love."
Mikel smiled, a faint, dazed expression on his face. "I feel… different. Like I can feel you with me. Inside me."
"You can," Viktor said, his voice filled with wonder. "Our bond connects us now, in ways you can't imagine."
They stood there for a moment, the weight of what they had done sinking in. Then, without another word, Mikel pulled Viktor toward the bed in the corner of the studio, their bodies tangling together as they finally gave in to the desire that had been simmering between them for so long.
Their love that night was intense, passionate, and full of the kind of raw emotion that only comes from a bond as deep as theirs. Every touch, every kiss, was a promise, one that transcended time, fear, and even death.