The ancient vampire’s presence was suffocating. His towering figure cast a shadow over everything, and the air itself seemed to grow colder. My heart raced in my chest, each beat louder than the last, but I couldn’t move. His eyes—dark, endless pools of malice—pinned me in place.
Kieran growled low beside me, his muscles tensing as he took a step forward, positioning himself between me and the ancient. His body was coiled, ready to strike, but I could feel the weight of his uncertainty. This wasn’t like the other vampires we had fought. The air around the ancient vampire crackled with dark energy, something far more sinister than I had ever felt before.
“Stay back, Aylin,” Kieran whispered, his voice sharp, laced with a protectiveness that stirred something deep inside me.
But I knew it
