Chapter 25

The dining room is warm, the soft glow of the chandelier casting a golden light over the table.

Mara, Achilles, Finn, and I are seated around it, the remains of dinner scattered across the table.

The conversation has been light, a welcome distraction from the chaos of the past few days.

Finn is animatedly recounting the plot of a movie 'Interview with the Vampire', his hands gesturing wildly as he describes the characters.

“You’ve really never seen it?” he asks, his tone incredulous. “It’s a classic! You’re missing out.”

I shake my head, laughing. “I haven’t had much time for movies lately. But it sounds interesting.”

“Interesting?” Achilles interjects, leaning back in his chair. “It’s more than interesting. It’s iconic. And honestly, Lestat? Total Valentine vibes. Charismatic, dangerous, and way too good-looking for his own good.”

Mara smirks, her eyes flicking to me. “Except Lestat’s love story is nothing like yours. Yours is… well, let’s just say it’s bound to be more complicated.”

I feel my cheeks heat up, and I quickly look down at my plate. “We don’t have a love story,” I mutter, poking at the last bite of my food.

Mara raises an eyebrow, her tone teasing but firm. “You don’t have one yet. But it’s bound to happen. You’re mated, darling. Love always builds from a mating bond, whether you like it or not.”

Finn nods in agreement, his expression earnest. “And don’t think of it as a bad thing. The boss is a good-looking man. Like, really good-looking. You could do worse.”

I open my mouth to respond, but the sound of footsteps on the stairs cuts me off. We all turn to see Valentine descending, his presence immediately commanding the room.

Well, speak of the devil.

He’s dressed in all black—a fitted shirt, tailored pants, and boots that make almost no sound as he walks.

His golden eyes sweep over us, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe.

Mara and Finn are on their feet in an instant, their chairs scraping against the floor. “We’ll clean up,” Mara says quickly, grabbing her plate and heading for the kitchen.

Finn follows without a word, leaving Achilles and me at the table.

Achilles leans back in his chair, his smirk returning. “Going somewhere?”

Valentine’s gaze flicks to him, his expression unreadable. “Hunting.”

I swallow hard, my heart racing. The way he looks tonight is… overwhelming.

His dark clothes accentuate his lean frame, and the way the light catches his eyes makes them seem almost otherworldly.

I feel a pull in my chest, a strange, magnetic force that I can’t ignore. Is this what Mara and Finn were talking about?

Is this the love that’s supposed to grow from the mating bond?

Before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “Can I come with you?”

He pauses, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considers my request. For a moment, I think he’s going to say no, but then he shrugs. “Fine. But if you fall behind, I won’t stop.”

I nod, my heart pounding. “I’ll keep up.”

Achilles raises an eyebrow, his tone teasing. “Don’t let her get eaten out there, boss.”

Valentine doesn’t respond, already turning toward the door. I scramble to my feet, following him out of the dining room and through the mansion.

The night air is cool as we step outside, the moon casting a silvery glow over the grounds.

Valentine heads over to the garage and I think he's getting a car only for him to stop short at a bike. He tosses me a helmet and hops on.

"Come on," he urges.

I hasten to put on the helmet and hop on as well, holding on to him lightly.

He chuckles. "You might want to do tighter than that."

"I think I'm good."

"Suit yourself."

He starts off the engine and within seconds, we're flying. My hands on their own tighten around his body and I feel the vibration of a laughter from him.

We zoom out of the gates and he drives a little further down the the road before he stops and we get out.

I pull the helmet off my head, feeling heavy strands on my hair fall around my body. He steps closer to me and takes my hair in his hands.

"We're going to be running, so you need to get this out of the way," he says as he ties my hair up in a bun.

His scent is intoxicating and I do nothing but melt in his presence as my eyes are level with his chest.

He steps away from me, giving me a nod of approval. My heart does a spin and I try to remind myself that I still don't know who he is entirely and I shouldn't be falling for him.

The woods stretch out before us, dark and endless, and I feel a thrill of excitement mixed with nerves.

“Stay close,” he says, his voice low. And then he’s off, moving faster than I’ve ever seen him.

I don’t hesitate. I run after him, my legs pumping as I try to keep up. The training with Achilles has pays off—my lungs burn, but I don’t stop.

I push myself harder, faster, until I’m only a little distance behind him. The wind whips past my face, the trees blurring into a dark mass as we race through the woods.

He slows eventually, coming to a stop near a small clearing. I skid to a halt beside him, my chest heaving as I try to catch my breath.

He doesn’t say anything, his eyes scanning the trees. And then I see it—a deer, its coat glistening in the moonlight.

He moves like a shadow, silent and swift. In an instant, he’s on the deer, his fangs sinking into its neck.

I watch, transfixed, as he drinks, his movements almost graceful. When he’s done, he steps back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Your turn,” he says, his voice calm.

I hesitate, feeling that familiar burn at the back of my throat. I step forward, my hands trembling as I kneel beside the deer.

The scent of blood is strong, metallic and sharp, but there’s something else too—something primal that stirs deep within me.

I bite down, the warmth of the blood flooding my mouth. It’s delicious, and it's funny, almost sad how I won't be able to get this satisfaction of taste from human foods anymore.

When I pull away, I feel a surge of energy, my senses sharper, my body more alive.

He watches me, his expression unreadable. “Not bad,” he says finally.

I wipe my mouth, my heart still racing. “Thanks.”

We stand there for a moment, the silence stretching between us. The woods are quiet, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the breeze.

“Ready to head back?” he asks, his voice breaking the silence.

I nod, though part of me wants to stay out here forever. “Yeah.”

As we make our way back to his bike, I can’t help but glance at him. The moonlight catches his profile, highlighting the sharp angles of his face.

He’s beautiful, in a way that’s almost painful to look at. I wonder if maybe Mara and Finn are right.

Maybe there is something more between us, something that’s growing whether I want it to or not.