BOUND TO THE VAMPIRE KING

CHAPTER 2: THE VAMPIRE KING'S CLAIM

"No..."

Seraphina violently pulled her hand away, staring at the glowing crimson mark on her wrist.

"This can't be real!"

The strange symbol continued to pulse like a living heartbeat.

She looked at the man standing before her.

His crimson eyes never left her face.

Every inch of him radiated power.

He wasn't merely handsome.

He was terrifying.

The cloaked vampires remained on one knee, their heads lowered in absolute respect.

"Your Majesty," one of them said, "the Queen has finally appeared."

Queen?

Seraphina's heart nearly stopped.

"I am not your queen!"

She turned and ran.

Branches whipped against her face as she sprinted through the dark forest.

She didn't dare look back.

Suddenly—

A cold wind swept past her.

Before she could react, someone appeared directly in front of her.

It was him.

The Vampire King.

His speed was impossible.

"You can't escape me," he said calmly.

Fear flashed across her face.

"What are you?"

His lips curved into a faint smile.

"I am Lucien Draven."

"The King of All Vampires."

The words struck her like lightning.

Every child in the kingdom had grown up hearing stories about him.

The immortal ruler who had lived for centuries.

The king whose enemies disappeared without leaving a trace.

The monster humans feared most.

Her legs weakened.

"You..."

"You're real..."

Lucien stepped closer.

His voice softened.

"I searched for you for three hundred years."

Seraphina shook her head.

"You're lying."

"I've never seen you before."

"You haven't."

"But fate has."

He gently lifted her chin.

The instant their eyes met...

Fragments of strange memories flooded Seraphina's mind.

A castle.

A throne.

A man with crimson eyes.

A promise whispered beneath a blood moon.

Then everything vanished.

She staggered backward, clutching her head.

"What... was that?"

Lucien frowned.

"So your memories are still sealed."

Before he could explain—

A sharp whistle sliced through the night.

Whoosh!

An arrow shot toward Seraphina.

Lucien's eyes flashed crimson.

In the blink of an eye, he caught the arrow with his bare hand.

The wooden shaft instantly turned to ash.

Figures dressed in silver armor emerged from the forest.

Their swords glowed with holy light.

"The Vampire Hunters!"

One of Lucien's guards shouted.

"Protect His Majesty!"

Steel clashed against steel.

Magic exploded across the battlefield.

Seraphina stood frozen as chaos erupted around her.

A hunter pointed directly at her.

"Kill the human!"

"If the King loses his mate, the prophecy ends tonight!"

Lucien's expression darkened.

A terrifying wave of blood-red energy burst from his body.

The ground cracked.

Trees bent beneath the overwhelming pressure.

Every hunter froze in fear.

Lucien wrapped one arm around Seraphina's waist and pulled her protectively against his chest.

His voice was cold enough to freeze the entire forest.

"Touch her..."

"And you will face the wrath of your king."