Chapter 1: The Dream of Flames
The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the ancient Drakov Castle. Shadows clung to every corner, the air thick with a sense of foreboding that had become as familiar to Lucian as the beat of his own heart. The ancient stone walls were steeped in centuries of history, bearing witness to generations of rulers, each more ruthless than the last. Standing on the balcony overlooking the vast, darkened forest, he felt the chill of the night seep into his bones. Yet it wasn't the cold that unsettled him—it was the dream.
Every night, it was the same. A woman bathed in moonlight, her flaming copper hair cascading down her back, her eyes like emerald fire. Her name was always just beyond his grasp, slipping through his fingers as he reached for her in the darkness. But he knew, without a doubt, that she was real. And more than that, she was important—dangerously so.Lucian gripped the stone railing, his jaw clenched as the last remnants of the dream faded. The pull he felt toward her was unnatural, overwhelming. His father had warned him about the witches, about the darkness that surrounded their kind, but this woman...she was different. She felt like fire and ice all at once, a storm threatening to break inside him. And he couldn't shake the feeling that she was tied to his fate.The trees below swayed in the wind, their branches whispering secrets to the night. He wondered if they, too, knew something he didn't. Was it possible that the dream wasn't just a figment of his mind, but a warning? A glimpse of what was to come? His kingdom teetered on the edge of war with the witches, and the last thing they needed was a prophecy dictating his future.A low knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Lucian didn't turn as his most trusted advisor and friend, Simon, entered the room.
"You're restless again," Simon said, his voice quiet but knowing.
Lucian gave a curt nod. "The dream."
Simon crossed the room to stand beside him, his sharp blue eyes scanning the forest below. "It's been weeks, hasn't it? Every night?"
"Every night," Lucian confirmed. He ran a hand through his dark hair, frustrated by his own confusion. "I can't explain it. It's as if she's calling to me, and yet…I don't know who she is."
Simon remained silent for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "Perhaps it's nothing more than a manifestation of your growing responsibilities. You will be king soon, Lucian. The weight of that can play tricks on the mind."Lucian wanted to believe that. But deep down, he knew this was something more. Something ancient and dangerous. "It's not just the dream, Simon. There's a prophecy...something my father has kept from me. I need to know more."
Simon's face darkened at the mention of the prophecy. "Your father forbade anyone from speaking of it. He believes it's nothing more than old superstitions."
"And you?"
Simon hesitated before answering. "I believe the past has a way of catching up with the present, no matter how hard we try to bury it."
Lucian's eyes flicked to Simon, searching his face for answers. But Simon, ever loyal, remained as guarded as always.
"Find out what you can," Lucian finally said, his voice low and firm. "I need to know why she haunts me."Simon gave a sharp nod and turned to leave. Just as he reached the door, he paused. "Be careful, Lucian. Some secrets are better left buried."
As the door closed behind him, Lucian exhaled slowly, his mind swirling with questions. Who was she? And why was he drawn to her with a force he couldn't resist?The weight of his kingdom's future bore down on him. His father, King Darius, had raised him to be strong, ruthless, and unwavering in his duty. There was no room for weakness, no room for uncertainty. And yet here he was, haunted by a woman he had never met, her presence threatening to unravel everything he had been taught.Far across the darkened land, hidden deep within the forest, Selena Ravenshade stood in the heart of her mother's temple, her copper hair glowing like embers in the dim light of the ritual candles. The air around her hummed with magic, the ancient power of her bloodline coursing through the very stones beneath her feet. But despite the sacredness of the place, Selena's mind was elsewhere.
She had felt it again—the pull, the strange, magnetic force tugging at her very soul. It had grown stronger in recent weeks, and no amount of magic could suppress it.
Her mother, Morwenna Ravenshade, stood beside her, eyes closed as she chanted an incantation that Selena barely heard. Her mind was elsewhere, far from the sacred grounds of the witches. It was with him—whoever he was. She saw him in her dreams, his silhouette dark and menacing, but with eyes that called to her in ways she couldn't understand."Selena, focus," Morwenna snapped, her sharp tone pulling Selena back to the present.
Selena blinked, forcing herself to concentrate. "I'm sorry, Mother."
Morwenna's eyes were fierce, and for a moment, Selena feared her mother might sense the truth—that her thoughts were consumed by a vampire. She couldn't explain the pull she felt toward him, but she knew it was dangerous, forbidden. No witch would dare involve themselves with a creature of the night.
"Something troubles you," Morwenna said, her voice quieter now, but no less stern. "You've been distracted for days."
Selena straightened, masking her fear with a calm facade. "Just the weight of my duties. Preparing to lead the coven is no small task."Morwenna studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Good. You must stay focused, Selena. The future of our kind depends on it."
Selena's heart clenched at her mother's words. If only Morwenna knew the truth—that her daughter's fate had already been sealed by forces beyond their control. And the more Selena resisted, the stronger the pull became.
Her dreams had been vivid lately, filled with visions of a man she had never met. A vampire, no doubt, though she didn't know his name. Each night, the dreams grew stronger, more real, as though he were reaching out to her across the darkness, just as lost as she was.
But there was no room for fantasies, no time to dwell on the forbidden. Her path had already been laid before her—one of power, of leadership. The coven looked to her, and she could not afford to falter.Yet, deep down, Selena knew that the pull between her and the mysterious vampire was more than just a dream. It was destiny—dangerous, thrilling, and inescapable.