Kikelomo_Odusola_7017

After tragically losing her parents in a car accident, Helena is taken in by her Aunt Agatha. But instead of finding comfort and support in her new home, Helena is met with cruelty and neglect. Her only source of solace is her kind Uncle James, but when he unexpectedly passes away, Helena is left alone to endure her aunt's abuse and her cousin Elizabeth's taunts.
  Meanwhile, a new student named Xavier joins Helena's class at school. Unbeknownst to Helena, Xavier is a vampire, and his elder brother, a powerful vampire leader, discovers that Helena's blood possesses unique properties that could benefit their kind.
  Xavier, drawn to Helena's quiet strength and the pain hidden behind her eyes, becomes determined to help her find a way out of her difficult situation and discover the true meaning of family and love. As they grow closer, Xavier realizes he must protect Helena from his brother's dark intentions.
Despite the dangers posed by Xavier's vampire identity and his brother's obsession with Helena's blood, the two find themselves falling for each other, embarking on a forbidden romance that could have deadly consequences.
  Together, Helena and Xavier navigate the challenges of adolescence, grapple with their troubled pasts, and learn to rely on each other as they search for a brighter future."With danger and darkness closing in around them, one question remains: will their love for each other be enough to overcome the obstacles they face, or will their forbidden romance ultimately be their downfall?"

BLOODBOUND HEART

The rooftop garden was bathed in silver moonlight, the scent of blooming night jasmine drifting through the cool air. Helena hesitated in the doorway, watching Xavier as he stood at the edge, his gaze locked onto the sky.

There was something haunting about him in that moment—like a soul searching for something it could never reach.

An unfamiliar warmth stirred in her chest.

Before she could second-guess herself, she turned away and headed toward the kitchen. If he wouldn't talk to her, maybe a simple meal could be her way in.

Helena worked quietly, slicing vegetables with ease. The steady rhythm of the knife against the wooden board was almost soothing—until her hand slipped.

A sharp sting. A single drop of blood welled up, crimson against her skin.

A flicker of movement at the doorway made her freeze. When she looked up, Xavier was there.

His body was unnaturally still, his expression carefully blank. But his eyes—his eyes were not.

They burned with something dark. Something hungry.

Helena's breath caught as she saw it—the subtle dilation of his pupils, the faint elongation of his fangs. The sharp scent of blood lingered in the air between them.

He took a step forward. Then another.

"Are you hurt?" His voice was rougher than usual, strained as if he were holding something back.

"I—" Helena swallowed. "It's just a scratch."

Xavier exhaled sharply, tearing his gaze away. His hands curled into fists at his sides. "You should… clean it."

She wasn't stupid—she had noticed the unnatural way Xavier moved, the coldness of his skin, the way his presence always seemed to command the space around him.

Helena lifted her hand, watching his reaction closely.

His breath came faster, as if he were struggling to contain something violent beneath his skin. For the first time, she saw real fear in his expression—not of her, but of himself.

Helena took a slow, deliberate step toward him. "Xavier…"

"I'm fine," she whispered, almost testing him now. "It's just a little blood. Why does that—"

The word was hoarse, almost a plea.

The truth was staring her in the face. The way he reacted, the way his body fought against his own nature, the darkness that flashed in his gaze before he wrenched himself back under control.

And she was certain of one thing: Xavier wasn't just a mystery. He was something else entirely.

A Taste Of The Truth