Echoes of a Forgotten Vow

Kael’s Point of View The soft glow of candlelight spilled across Maria’s skin, turning every curve of her body into something I could never look away from. She was above me, her knees resting on either side of my hips, her weight warm and perfect against me. My hands moved slowly over her sides, tracing the smooth line of her waist, then higher, cupping her breasts gently as I brushed my thumb over her n****e. She let out a soft, shaky moan, her head falling back, and the sound went straight through me, making my heart race. “Kael…” she breathed, her voice thick and soft. I lifted my hips, pushing deeper inside her, and she gasped, her fingers digging lightly into my chest. “You feel so good, Maria,” I murmured, my voice rough with desire. “So perfect like this.” She lowered her head, her lips brushing mine as she began to move, slow and steady at first, then faster, rolling her hips against me. I watched her face the way her eyes fluttered shut, the soft parted lips, the flush rising on her cheeks and I thought I could stay like this forever. Nothing else existed. No hunting, no blood, no danger. Only her. I pulled her closer, sitting up just enough to take one breast into my mouth. She cried out, arching into me, her movements growing faster and more desperate. “Oh God Kael, yes…” she moaned, her fingers tangling in my hair. I moved to the other, sucking gently, and kept thrusting upward, matching her rhythm, driving us both closer to the edge. Her body began to tremble. “I’m so close,” she whimpered, her hips stuttering. “Kael, I’m coming…” “Let go for me, love,” I whispered against her skin. “Come for me.” With a sharp, beautiful cry of my name, she shattered above me. Her body convulsed, her walls tightening around me, and I lost control. I thrust hard and deep one last time, spilling everything I had inside her, my own shout mixing with hers as the pleasure crashed over me in waves. We stayed locked together, breathless, our skin slick with sweat, my seed spilling out and mixing with hers on the sheets. Maria rested her forehead against mine, her chest heaving, her eyes soft and full of love. “I love you so much,” she whispered, brushing her lips over mine. “I love you too, Maria,” I said, my voice still unsteady. “More than anything in this world.” She stayed seated on me, my length still buried deep inside her, as she leaned down and pressed her lips to my neck. I sighed, closing my eyes, enjoying the gentle warmth of her mouth. But then something sharp and piercing sank into my skin. Pain exploded through me. I gasped, my whole body tensing. “Maria, what are you doing?” She did not pull away. Her lips stayed pressed to my neck, and I could feel her swallowing, drinking from me. My blood ran cold. I grabbed her shoulders, trying to push her back, and when she finally lifted her head, her eyes were no longer warm and loving. They were dark, glowing, and there was a cruel, cold smile on her lips. “Maria…” I choked out, my vision already starting to blur. “Why? Why would you do this to me?” She leaned closer, her voice low and icy, nothing like the woman I loved. “Die.” Her words echoed in my ears as darkness swallowed me whole. I jolted awake with a violent gasp, my hand flying to my neck, my heart hammering so hard it hurt. I ran my fingers over the skin smooth, unbroken, no bite marks. Sweat soaked my shirt, and my breath came in ragged, panicked gasps. It was only a dream. A nightmare. But it had felt so real. The warmth of her body, the taste of her lips, the pleasure, and then the sudden, searing pain. That vampire had worn Maria’s face. The monster who had killed her had looked exactly like the woman I loved. I sat up slowly, running a hand through my messy hair, staring blankly at the dark wall of my room. It had been one year since that night. One year since I had lost her. And in all that time, I had never been with anyone else. I had not touched another person, had not allowed myself to feel anything but rage and grief. My body had known no one but her, and even now, the only pleasure I could remember was the one she had given me—right before she tore my life apart. I missed her. God, I missed her so badly it felt like a physical ache in my chest. That was why the nightmare had come. Because even after everything, my heart still longed for her. Because I had not been able to move on. There was no one else. There would never be anyone else. Anger burned hot in my veins, replacing the grief. I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening until it ached. It was not Maria. It never had been. It was a vampire. A monster wearing her face, tricking me, killing the only good thing I had. All vampires are the same. Cruel. Deceptive. Dangerous. They take what they want, they destroy what they touch, and they do not care who they hurt. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, my movements sharp and filled with cold purpose. I would not let her death be in vain. Every vampire I found, every single one, I would kill. No mercy. No hesitation. They would pay for what their kind had done. I grabbed my coat and my weapons, my gaze hard and unyielding. The dream was over. The hunt was all that remained. And I would not stop until every last one of them was gone.