The forest was still, cloaked in shadows and birdsong as twilight draped its soft veil across the sky. Draka moved silently, his feet barely rustling the grass beneath him. The scent hit him first—clean, delicate, and entirely human. Aria.
He followed it until the trees parted, revealing the stream nestled between the rocks, its surface shimmering beneath the fading sun. Steam curled lazily from the warm water, and in its heart, Aria bathed—alone, unaware she was being watched.
Draka stopped at the edge, his eyes burning with hunger—not for flesh, not for blood—but for her.
She turned sharply at the sound of his footstep, water sloshing around her. Her eyes widened when she saw him, and instinctively, she sank deeper into the water, letting it cover her chest.
A low chuckle rumbled fro
