Chapter 4 : A Scent In The Dark

Katherine's POV

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a cold silver glow over the land. The night was quiet, save for the rustling of the wind through the trees and the distant murmurs of vampires going about their nightly business.

I knelt on the damp earth, my fingers carefully plucking delicate white moon lilies, their petals shimmering under the moonlight. These flowers were rare and valuable—our only means of survival. My mother would be waiting for me at home, hoping I could sell enough to buy a little bread, maybe even a scrap of meat.

As I reached for another bloom, I felt it again. The stares.

A group of female vampires stood nearby, their crimson eyes watching me with thinly veiled contempt. They whispered among themselves, their laughter soft yet cruel.

"Look at her," one sneered. "Pathetic little human, always crawling in the dirt."

"And still so pretty," another said with a scowl. "Too pretty."

I kept my head down, refusing to react. Their words didn't hurt me anymore. I had heard them all my life—reminders that I didn't belong, that I was weaker, lesser.

But I refused to break.

I gritted my teeth, gathering the last of my flowers and rising to my feet. I would sell them. I would earn enough to feed my mother and myself, no matter what they said or did.

I turned to leave, following the narrow dirt path back toward the village. But as I walked, I became aware of my surroundings shifting. The familiar homes and streets began to blur into unfamiliar ground.

Then I saw it.

Towering iron gates. Guards dressed in black.

And beyond them, sleek black cars parked in front of the grandest estate in the entire clan.

I had wandered too far.

Elliot King's den.

My breath caught in my throat. I had never been this close before. No human in their right mind would dare step near the home of the Vampire King. He was a legend—a ruthless, untouchable force.

I turned on my heel, prepared to run—

But the sound of car doors opening stopped me cold.

I barely had time to react before I saw them.

The guards stepped out first, their movements precise, disciplined. Then came him.

Elliot King.

My heart nearly stopped.

He emerged from the car like a shadow slipping through the night. His black suit hugged his tall, commanding frame, his red eyes gleaming under the moonlight. He was cruel. Powerful. Beautiful in a way that was almost inhuman.

I should not be here.

Every instinct screamed at me to flee, but my body refused to move. I could only stand there, breathless, watching as his guards bowed their heads, as if in silent reverence to their king.

Elliot adjusted his cuffs with a slow, calculated grace before stepping forward.

Then, suddenly, he stopped.

His body tensed, his head tilting slightly, as though sensing something.

His crimson eyes flickered in my direction.

He smelled me.

Panic surged through me.

I took a slow step back, my fingers tightening around my basket. I had to leave—now.

But before I could move—

A strong hand grabbed my wrist and yanked me into the shadows.

I gasped, my back hitting something solid. A strong arm wrapped around my waist, holding me still.

"Are you insane?" a familiar voice whispered harshly in my ear.

Jace.

I turned my head, my heart pounding. His dark eyes were sharp with urgency, his fangs slightly bared.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he demanded.

"I—I got lost," I stammered.

"There's no time," he said, his grip tightening. "He's coming this way."

I didn't need to be told twice.

Elliot's slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the night. He was moving closer, his gaze fixed on the darkness where I had stood.

Jace didn't hesitate. He lifted me onto his back in one swift movement. "Hold on," he ordered.

I clung to him, my arms wrapped around his shoulders as he took off. His speed was dizzying, the wind whipping past my face as he darted through the shadows.

I dared one last glance over my shoulder.

Elliot stood at the entrance of his den, his red eyes piercing through the night.

And for a moment—just a brief, heart-stopping moment—our eyes met.

Then Jace rounded a corner, and Elliot was gone.

Elliot's POV

The scent was intoxicating.

I stood at the entrance of my estate, my gaze fixed on the shadows beyond the gates. It had been faint at first, a whisper in the air. But then it hit me fully—a scent so exquisite, so unlike anything I had ever encountered.

It wasn't just any human scent. It was different. Alluring.

I took another slow breath, letting it fill my lungs, my throat tightening with need.

And then—just as quickly as it had appeared—it was gone.

Vanished.

A scowl crossed my face.

Someone had taken her away before I could find her. Before I could see her properly.

But I had seen enough. A glimpse of her in the dark. A pair of striking, unforgettable eyes.

A smirk curled at the corner of my lips.

It didn't matter.

She was here. Somewhere on my land.

And one day—no matter how long it took—I would find her again.