The Vampire Who Learned to Love.

Lucien Ashford had lived for three hundred and seventeen years, yet he had never understood why humans made such a fuss about love. They cried over breakups, celebrated anniversaries, and bought flowers for people who would eventually die. To Lucien, love was an inconvenience, emotions were distractions, and humans were unnecessarily complicated. Unfortunately, he wanted to become one of them. "You're joking." Lucien didn't look up from his tablet. Across his mahogany desk, Damien Cole stared at him in disbelief. "You want to become human?" Damien asked. "Yes." "You? The man who once described marriage as an unnecessary financial agreement?" "Marriage is an unnecessary financial agreement." Damien groaned and collapsed into a leather chair. "You have eternal youth, billions of dollars, and a face that makes women forget their own names. Why would you want to throw everything away?" "I'm not throwing anything away. I'm making a decision." "A terrible decision." "Your opinion has been noted. You can leave now." Damien ignored him. At twenty-one in appearance, Lucien was the perfect image of a wealthy businessman. His black hair was always neatly styled, his dark eyes revealed almost nothing, and his expensive suits made him look effortlessly elegant. His actual age was three hundred and seventeen. He had spent centuries building a business empire, acquiring properties, and accumulating wealth. Yet, despite everything he possessed, he had recently begun wondering whether he was missing something important. Three months earlier, an elderly employee who had served the Ashford family for decades had died. Lucien attended the funeral because the company required a representative. While standing beneath his umbrella, he watched the man's granddaughter approach the coffin. "Grandpa," she whispered through her tears, "you promised you'd walk me down the aisle." Something strange happened inside Lucien. For a brief moment, he wanted to understand her pain. Then the feeling disappeared. Since that day, he had begun noticing things he previously ignored: parents holding their children's hands, couples laughing together, and friends comforting one another. He couldn't understand why ordinary experiences meant so much to humans. Curiosity eventually led him to an ancient book in his family's private library. Its pages revealed something extraordinary. A vampire could choose to become human, but the transformation came with a condition. "How long do you have?" Damien asked. "One year." "And if you fail?" "I remain a vampire permanently. I'll never have another opportunity." Damien stared at him. "You don't even know how to comfort someone. Last week, a woman told you she had broken her leg, and you asked whether she intended to submit a medical report to your company." "She was blocking the entrance." "She was sitting in a wheelchair!" "Then she wasn't blocking it very effectively." Damien covered his face. "You're hopeless." "That's precisely why I need to do this." Lucien opened the ancient book. Silver writing shimmered across the final page. A vampire who willingly rejects immortality shall be granted one year to learn compassion, honesty, responsibility, and the meaning of a human heart. As humanity awakens within the immortal, supernatural gifts shall gradually fade. If the transformation remains incomplete when the year expires, the opportunity shall be lost forever. Lucien understood the conditions. His powers would gradually disappear as he genuinely developed the qualities that made someone human. He couldn't simply pretend to be kind or say he loved someone. He had to change. "You can't buy your way into becoming human," Damien warned. "If you help people because you expect something in return, it won't count." Lucien considered this. "Then I'll learn to mean it." "That's not how feelings work." "Then I'll learn how feelings work." He placed his palm against the silver symbol printed inside the book. A faint warmth spread through his hand. The silver words began glowing. His decision had been accepted. His one-year deadline had begun. And somewhere in the city, a girl he had never met was about to turn his life upside down. --- THE GIRL WHO WASN'T IMPRESSED "You're going to be late!" Seraphina Hayes nearly dropped her phone when her roommate shouted from the bathroom. "I'm already late!" "Then why are you standing there?" "Because I can't find my other shoe!" Her roommate appeared in the doorway. "You're wearing it!" Seraphina looked down. Her right foot wore a white sneaker. Her left foot wore a pink slipper. She stared at them. "Today is officially trying to kill me." Her roommate burst into laughter. At nineteen, Seraphina had mastered the art of surviving on limited money, limited sleep, and unlimited optimism. Her family wasn't wealthy. Her mother worked long hours, and Seraphina helped cover their expenses through a part-time job at a café. She wanted to graduate, find a good job, and give her mother a comfortable life. Romance wasn't a priority, especially not with rich boys who believed expensive watches made them irresistible. Twenty minutes later, she reached the university gate, only to discover that her lecture had been postponed. She stopped walking. "I nearly sacrificed my life for nothing?" A passing student glanced at her. Seraphina smiled awkwardly. "Talking to myself. It's a healthy habit." Her phone vibrated. Her café manager wanted her to cover the afternoon shift. She immediately agreed. She needed the money. Unfortunately, she had no idea that accepting the shift would introduce her to the most irritating man she would ever meet. --- THE ACCIDENT At four thirty that afternoon, Lucien sat inside an expensive café, wondering why humans paid so much for coffee. He had ordered a black coffee because Damien claimed humans frequently drank it while working. It tasted bitter. Lucien took another sip. Still bitter. He decided humans were probably lying about enjoying it. Beside his tablet lay Damien's list of suggestions for becoming more human. TEN SIMPLE WAYS TO BECOME MORE HUMAN. Number one: Smile at people. Lucien had tried it on the receptionist downstairs. She immediately asked whether he was feeling unwell. Number two: Make casual conversation. He had asked his driver whether he enjoyed his job. The man responded with a nervous speech about his excellent salary and unwavering loyalty. Lucien was considering abandoning the list when someone rushed past his table. A shoulder struck his arm. His coffee tipped. An entire cup of hot liquid landed across his black shirt. "Oh, no!" A young woman stood beside him, grabbing napkins. "I'm so sorry! I didn't see you sitting there. I was trying to reach the counter, and someone opened the door behind me, and I—" She stopped when she noticed his expression. Lucien looked at his shirt, then at her. "Are you finished?" She blinked. "Finished apologizing?" "Finished explaining how you poured an entire cup of coffee on someone who was sitting perfectly still." "I said I was sorry!" "And I heard you." "Then why are you looking at me like I destroyed your entire bloodline?" Lucien stared at her. Nobody had spoken to him like that in years. She pressed the napkins against his shirt. He caught her wrist. "Stop." She pulled her hand away. "Fine. Clean your own shirt, Your Majesty." She placed the remaining napkins on his table. "Once again, I'm sorry." She turned to leave. "Wait." The word escaped before Lucien could reconsider. She turned around. "What now?" He wanted to ask her name. He wanted to know why she wasn't afraid of him. Instead, he asked, "Do you always behave like this?" "Like what?" "Recklessly." Her eyes narrowed. "Do you always behave like an arrogant statue?" Lucien fell silent. She smiled sweetly. "Have a wonderful afternoon." Then she disappeared behind the counter. Lucien remained seated, staring at his ruined shirt. For the first time since beginning his transformation, he felt something other than determination. Irritation. Curiosity. And something he couldn't identify. He wasn't sure whether he found her refreshing or insulting. --- A NAME HE COULDN'T FORGET An hour later, Lucien was still in the café. He had changed into a spare shirt, reviewed three business contracts, and rejected two calls from his executive assistant. Yet he hadn't left. He told himself the café had excellent internet access. He didn't believe himself. Across the room, the girl carried a tray of drinks. She laughed at something a customer said, and her entire face brightened. Lucien watched her longer than necessary. Why did humans smile so frequently? And why had he begun wondering what it would take to make her smile at him? He immediately dismissed the thought. He wasn't interested in her. He was merely curious. "Excuse me, sir," another waitress said. "Will you be ordering anything else?" Lucien glanced toward the counter. The girl who had spilled his coffee was writing something on a paper cup. "What is her name?" The waitress followed his gaze. "Seraphina Hayes. She's a university student who works here part-time." Seraphina Hayes. The name settled into his memory with irritating ease. "Would you like another coffee?" the waitress asked. "No, thank you." She smiled and walked away. Lucien stared at his tablet. He had said thank you without being reminded or expecting anything in return. It was an insignificant moment, but he felt a faint warmth inside him. Perhaps the transformation had already begun. Or perhaps he was simply tired. He preferred the second explanation. As he left the café, Seraphina glanced toward the door. Their eyes met. She gave him a small, amused smile. Lucien looked away first. He didn't understand why he wanted to return. He didn't understand why his chest felt strangely warm. And he certainly didn't understand why, for the first time since accepting the transformation, his one-year deadline no longer felt like the most frightening thing in his life. He had survived three centuries without becoming attached to anyone. A university student with an unfortunate talent for spilling coffee was hardly going to change that. At least, that was what he believed. Because somewhere between the spilled coffee and the girl's sharp tongue, Lucien Ashford had encountered something more dangerous than a supernatural curse. He had encountered a feeling he couldn't control. And he had absolutely no idea what to do with it. END OF CHAPTER ONE