A Fated Betrayal

The wind howled through the valley as Selene and Lucian stood at the edge of the cliff, their hands still clasped together. Below them, the river raged, its waters deep and merciless. Behind them, the hunters were closing in.

There was no way forward. No way back.

Only one choice.

Lucian's grip on her hand tightened. "Jump."

Selene's breath caught. "What?"

He didn't hesitate. "We won't survive if we stay here."

She glanced at the river below. The fall alone could kill them. But Darius and his hunters would kill them.

Lucian looked into her eyes. "Trust me."

She did. She didn't know when it had happened—when she had gone from seeing him as the enemy to someone she was willing to risk everything for—but she did.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded.

And together, they jumped.

Into the Depths

The fall was a blur of wind and adrenaline. The icy water hit them like stone, knocking the air from Selene's lungs. The current pulled her under instantly, dragging her into the depths.

Panic clawed at her chest. The river was stronger than she had expected, its waters relentless as they tossed her like a rag doll.

She fought against the current, struggling to break the surface. Her lungs burned, her limbs grew heavier.

Then—strong arms wrapped around her.

Lucian.

He pulled her up just as they broke through the surface, gasping for air. The river carried them downstream at a punishing speed, the night sky spinning above them.

"Hold on to me!" Lucian shouted over the roar of the water.

Selene barely had time to react before the river twisted sharply, sending them crashing against jagged rocks. Pain flared through her side, but Lucian held her tight, guiding her toward the riverbank.

With one last desperate push, they reached the shore.

Selene collapsed onto the damp earth, coughing up water. Lucian knelt beside her, his breathing ragged but steady.

"You okay?" he asked.

Selene groaned. "Remind me never to let you decide our escape plan again."

Lucian let out a low chuckle. "Noted."

For a moment, they just lay there, catching their breath. The night was eerily silent, save for the rushing river and their pounding hearts.

Then Lucian tensed.

"We're not alone."

Shadows of the Past

Selene sat up instantly, scanning their surroundings. They had washed up on the bank of a narrow canyon, the towering cliffs enclosing them in shadows.

And in those shadows, something watched them.

A figure stepped forward—a woman cloaked in deep crimson, her face hidden beneath the hood. But Selene didn't need to see her face to know she wasn't human.

She could feel the power radiating from her like a pulse of cold air.

Lucian was on his feet in an instant, his expression unreadable. "You."

The woman pulled back her hood, revealing piercing violet eyes and skin as pale as the moon. Her dark hair cascaded in soft waves, untouched by the wind.

"I never thought I'd see you again, Lucian."

Selene's fingers instinctively curled around her dagger. "Who is she?"

Lucian's jaw clenched. "My sister."

Selene's breath hitched. She had never considered the idea of Lucian having family—much less a sister who radiated as much power as he did.

The woman's violet eyes flicked to Selene, a small smirk playing on her lips. "So this is the hunter who's stolen my brother's heart."

Selene stiffened. "I—"

Lucian cut in, his voice sharp. "Enough, Morgana. We don't have time for games."

Morgana sighed dramatically, stepping closer. "Oh, little brother, you always were so serious." Her gaze settled back on Selene, and there was something almost amused in her expression. "But you… you're interesting."

Selene narrowed her eyes. "I don't trust you."

Morgana's smirk widened. "Smart girl."

Lucian stepped between them. "Why are you here, Morgana?"

His sister's playful expression darkened. "Because the Order isn't the only one hunting you."

Selene's pulse quickened. "What do you mean?"

Morgana exhaled. "You thought running from the Order was your biggest problem? I hate to break it to you, but you've stirred up something much older than those self-righteous hunters."

Lucian's gaze turned cold. "The Elders."

Selene's stomach dropped.

The Elders. The ancient rulers of the vampire world.

They were myths—stories whispered in the dark corners of history. Powerful. Merciless. Eternal.

And now, they were hunting them.

Morgana nodded. "The moment you bonded with her, Lucian, you sealed both your fates."

Selene's breath caught. "Bonded?"

Morgana arched a brow. "You didn't tell her?"

Lucian's expression remained unreadable, but Selene could see the tension in his jaw.

She turned to him, her heart pounding. "Lucian. What is she talking about?"

Lucian hesitated.

Morgana smirked. "Oh, this is delicious. She has no idea, does she?"

Selene's patience snapped. "Somebody start explaining. Now."

Morgana folded her arms. "It's simple, really. When a vampire chooses someone—truly chooses them—it's not just a feeling. It's a bond. A connection that ties their fates together. Forever."

Selene's blood ran cold.

She turned to Lucian, searching his face for the truth. "Is that true?"

Lucian's silver eyes met hers, filled with something raw and unreadable.

"Yes."

Selene took a step back, her heart hammering. "You—You bonded with me?"

Lucian swallowed hard. "I didn't mean to."

Her breath hitched. "What does that mean?"

Morgana's voice was smooth as silk. "It means that if one of you dies, the other follows."

Selene's knees nearly buckled.

She was bound to Lucian.

Their lives were no longer their own.

And now, the Elders would never stop hunting them.

End of Chapter Eight.