His skin was sun-kissed, firm and supple, with blood rushing beneath the surface, hot and intense, wild and free—an irresistible allure, full of temptation.
Elena's gaze darkened. She wanted nothing more than to bite down, but... not in front of all these people!
Mason wore a smirk, the kind he hadn't shown in years. After that incident in his childhood, it felt like even his smiles had turned false.
But today, something was different. His long-hidden heart was unexpectedly stirred by an enemy of a different race.
Suddenly, Mason recalled what his teacher had said about a "fateful connection" that was uniquely his. Was it coming for him quietly, without warning?
The two of them were playfully running down the hallway, away from the hall.
At the far end of the hallway, a tall, slender figure of a man appeared.
Damon stood bathed in a soft, warm light, his tone cold as always: "Elena?"
Elena stopped abruptly, crashing into Mason's chest. She turned quickly, her eyes shimmering with cold silver, like a crescent moon: "Damon? What are you doing here?"
Mason narrowed his eyes, a thought flickering in his mind. Did Damon know her? What was their relationship?
Suddenly, Mason pulled Elena closer, wrapping his arm around her waist and grinning. "Ah, so it's Damon? Long time no see."
"Get lost." Damon's reply came swiftly, colder than expected.
"Well, that's a special greeting. I like it," Mason said, unfazed. "Let's go." He called to Elena, still smiling, ready to leave.
"You go. She stays." Damon grabbed Elena's wrist firmly.
Mason held onto Elena's other hand, his smile still in place, but his words sharp: "Not happening. She wrecked my car, and I'm her creditor. She's mine now."
Damon pulled out a check, signed it, and tossed it to Mason. "I'll take her. You can fill in whatever amount you want."
Mason took the check, and in front of Damon, he tore it up piece by piece, scattering the pieces above Damon's head. "Do I look like I need money? Besides, being this generous—do you even have enough left for Zia?"
"Don't ever mention Zia again." Damon stepped up to Mason, his tall figure imposing and unyielding.
"What if I insist?" Mason casually slipped his hands into his pockets, his posture carefree, almost daring Damon to do something about it.
"You think I won't act?" Damon's voice dropped to a chilling whisper by Mason's ear.
Mason raised an eyebrow, scoffing. "It'll be a draw at best, won't it?"
"What do you want?" Damon's figure loomed even closer, his dark eyes flashing with growing menace.
Mason grinned suddenly, leaning into Damon's ear, speaking slowly. "If I leave, she leaves. If I stay, she stays. Everything you want, I'll take it all. Everything you love, I won't leave a single piece of it."
"Fine. Try it," Damon replied coolly, barely a flicker of emotion in his eyes.
"Try me. Who's afraid of you?" Mason chuckled, addressing Elena playfully. "Let's go, little nun."
Despite the cold tension between them, Mason couldn't help but feel a faint amusement in his heart.
But Damon didn't let go. "You're not going anywhere."
Mason turned back to Damon, leaning in close and whispering, "Are you really going to keep her here, listening to your lecture about how to kill her kind?"
"..."
Damon's brow furrowed slightly, his body stiffening for a brief moment. Then, with a deliberate motion, he released Elena's wrist and turned to walk away without a single word.
Elena followed Mason out of the venue, her voice filled with confusion. "What kind of academic conference is this? Why is Damon here?"
Mason raised an eyebrow, his gaze flickering with something unreadable. "You really want to know?"
"Yes," Elena nodded.
"Then don't regret it," Mason replied, his tone serious.
Elena paused for a moment, a sense of unease creeping in. What did he mean?
Mason led Elena back into the venue.
Damon had already taken the stage, beginning his lecture.
Standing at the podium, he looked as immaculate as ever in a crisp white checkered shirt, his demeanor warm and elegant. There was an undeniable air of refinement in his every move.
When Damon saw Elena enter, his eyes darkened ever so slightly, his face betraying a flicker of surprise.
He had intentionally provoked Mason earlier, hoping he'd take Elena and leave, so she wouldn't have to witness what was about to happen. But why had she returned? Was Mason out of his mind?
After all, this was a gathering of seasoned vampire hunters, a veritable killing spree, yet Mason had let a vampire walk right in. Did he really expect Elena to just watch?
On the projector, a series of photos were shown, displaying vampires feeding on humans.
Damon compared the images to the accompanying text, outlining the history of vampires—how they were created, how they evolved, and the immense harm they had caused humanity.
Once he finished the historical context, the projector displayed more images: humans hunting down and mercilessly eliminating vampires, dragging them off for experiments.
Elena stood quietly in a corner of the hall, her beautiful face growing colder by the second. Hidden beneath her lips, her fangs began to show, and her eyes glinted with a silver flash, her beastly aura growing stronger.
Mason pulled Elena closer to him, his arms around her as if they were a couple. He whispered, "Most of these people are vampire hunters. Don't let your aura slip, or I won't be able to protect you."
"Mm." Elena struggled to control herself. Her dark eyes shifted, changing from silver to gray, then to black, finally turning to a blood-red hue.
"Don't listen. Don't look." Mason covered her ears and shielded her eyes.
Elena gritted her teeth, her fingers digging into Mason's hand, nearly crushing his bones with the force.
On the podium, Damon paused, seemingly hesitating, before continuing. "Sometimes, if we capture a live vampire—what we call a valuable specimen—we don't just exterminate it. We could send it to a research facility, possibly helping humanity extend its lifespan."
In the corner, Elena could no longer control herself. Her fingers curled into claws, her nails growing longer at an alarming rate. Two sharp Lunar Trace Teeth emerged, and she lunged at Mason, aiming to bite him.
Mason dodged her attack just in time, reaching into his coat pocket for a Necroseal. He slapped it onto Elena's forehead with a swift motion. "Freeze!"
"..."
Elena's body went limp, her senses dulled in an instant. She collapsed into Mason's arms, unconscious.
Mason sighed quietly with relief. Some stronger vampires weren't affected by the Necroseal, but it seemed Elena was weak enough to be subdued.