Dareth's breath caught as Elara pulled away from him, his blood glistening darkly on her lips. Her eyes were dazed, but something new flickered within them — something unsettling... and far too familiar. The desire that ignited inside him wasn't just instinct; it came from the raw, supernatural bond that had just been formed between them. But that bond was still fragile. Still reversible. And if he had learned anything over the centuries, it was that fragile things shatter easily.
He had to tell her.
Dareth sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, his gaze locked with Elara's. Beneath her skin, he could feel the pulse of new life — his blood. The bond was already there — a spark that could become a flame.
"Elara..." he said softly. "What you're feeling right now... it's only half. This b
