With the wind roaring across the rugged rocks like the murmurs of long-dead souls, Alaric stood on the edge of the night. The moon was low in the sky, its silvery light creating shadows across the terrain, but the black clouds whirling menacingly overhead blocked off the moon's pale radiance. The night reflected the turbulence within him.
The kingdom could be seen in the distance below, but Alaric's thoughts were not on the matters of the land. He could not take his mind off the woman in the castle, this mysterious woman who was the center of his existence and yet simply a piece in a political game.
Celine.
He'd hardened his heart against the world for generations, especially against people. How vulnerable they'd been—a persistent memory of Elara, his lost love who passed away in his arms all those years ago. However, as soon as he saw Celine, his determination started to waver. She was more than simply a regular person; she was a mystery, a remnant of the past that roused long-slumbering emotions in him. The worst portions of him had come to life because of her presence—the beast that yearned for her life, her blood, and her soul. However, there was more. Something deeper was aroused by her; it was a craving for love that had been long forgotten.
There was no denying their blood ties. It was dragging him toward her like an unseen cord, and he could feel it, pounding in his veins. The need to shield her from harm always battled furiously with the instinct to assert her, to really own her. It was an excruciating torture that pushed him beyond reason, at once seductive and maddening.
But here he was, at a fork in the road.
The truth about their relationship had come to light tonight: an old magic had linked his destiny to Celine's. She was more than just Elara's reflection—she was something predestined. However, a decision that tore at his very soul was presented with that knowledge.
His abilities, the core of his being a vampire king, were connected to the old enchantment that bound their lives together. He could totally embrace the dark, turn into the predator he was bred to be, and protect her by keeping a close eye on her while she remained physically and sexually attached to him forever. It was the simpler decision, the one more in line with his character. However, doing so would doom them both to a life of perpetual darkness, devoid of all humanity, light, and pleasure.
The other option was far more dangerous. He could give up his abilities—give up the might, eternal life, and control he had possessed for ages. By doing this, he would lose his invincibility as king and instead become a man with a weak heart who is prone to loss and death. However, it would entail giving Celine the flexibility to follow her own path and love him for who he really was rather than for family ties or old magic. Giving up control and running the chance of rejection was the one thing he dreaded the most.
A strong wind gust dragged at his coat, and Alaric let the night air whirl about him before closing his eyes. His mind was filled with flashes of Elara's sacrifice, her kind voice, and her warm smile reassuring him that love was worth everything. She had sacrificed her life for him, giving him the opportunity to go on, but she was unaware of the monster he would grow into. It was the guy, not the monarch, that she had trusted.
Celine was standing in the same spot now. There was going to be another sacrifice, but it would be his.
Can I risk it?
His decision was growing larger in his head with every second that went by. He would be protecting her if he accepted the darkness, but at a severe expense to her soul—as well as his. He would be endangering their lives and leaving them vulnerable to foes that waited in the shadows, waiting for the right opportunity to attack, if he gave up his abilities. However, he began to question whether maintaining his position of power was truly worth it for the first time in ages. Is life worth sacrificing for her love? Could he take on the burden of her anger and fear?
Celine materialized at the tower's door as though called upon by his thoughts, her cautious yet determined, delicate steps. Her face was glowing palely in the moonlight as her long hair blew in the breeze. When he saw her, Alaric's heart tightened terribly. Despite having Elara's appearance, she was the whole time herself. robust. Valiant. sympathetic. He was reminded that she was more than just a memory of the past by the way she had questioned and stood up to him. She was an independent force.
"Alaric," she murmured, her voice a comfort to his tormented spirit.
He turned to look at her directly, the weight of his choice visible in his dark eyes. Even though his voice was not as harsh as normal, he nevertheless stated, "You should not be here." It was brimming with an exhaustion that not even he could conceal.
Celine moved in closer, examining his face with her gaze. "I needed to locate you. I had a sensation. similar to a tug. And I was unable to ignore it.
Her words cut like a blade through him. Their relationship was becoming closer and more unquestionable as time went on. He leaned out and brushed a stray strand of hair off her face, his chest constricted. He felt a surge of warmth from the contact and noticed her cheeks blushing slightly as a result.
"Celine." His tone was rough and tight. You're not understanding. I have to decide what to do. One that will bring about complete transformation.
Her eyes were bright with emotion as she raised her head to face him. Which option?
With his fingers still pressed against her flesh, Alaric paused. The warmth of her blood called to him, pleading to be claimed, and he could feel the pounding of her heart beneath his fingertips. But her spirit, her soul, the sheer essence of her, was what pulled him, not just the blood, the core of her identity. And he understood, as clear as day, that he wanted her, everything of her. not limited to her blood. not only her physical appearance. He want her affection.
Almost whispering, he said, "I can't keep you safe unless I embrace the darkness." "But I will lose the part of me that could love you as much as you deserve if I do that."
Celine's hand reached out to cover his as her breath caught. "And the alternative option?"
An agony pierced his gloomy gaze. "I could give it all up. Give up my abilities. Turn back into a human. However, that would leave us both exposed.
She gave him a long look as the significance of what he had said dawned on her. Then, showing bravery, she moved closer, her forehead against his chest, something she had never anticipated. "Alaric, I don't give a damn about your power. You are important to me. The guy underneath the throne. the person with a heart still intact.
Something inside him crumbled at what she said. His lips pressed into her hair as his arms around her, drawing her near. He let himself experience, not as a king but as a man, the intensity of his need and the overpowering yearning for her love for the first time in ages.
Now the decision seemed obvious.
And with it, destiny's weight changed.