"Well, here we are," Evelyn whispered as they finally reached the basement of the castle, their footsteps silent against the cold stone floor.
Shadows stretched across the dimly lit corridor, the air thick with the scent of damp stone and something far more sinister—blood.
"Remember, we just need to get Stephany and get the hell out. We do not want to linger in a vampire's lair longer than necessary."
Valerian didn't respond. He simply watched Evelyn's back, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his dagger. This mission was reckless—dangerous in ways he couldn't begin to calculate. But the risk wasn't what unsettled him. It was her.
For the first time in his life, he found himself caring more about someone else's safety than his own or his sister. He had spent years as a hunter, expecting to die with a stake in his hand and a vampire's corpse at his feet. But now? Now, he wanted to live. He wanted her to live.
