Chapter 1
Nevaeh soared through the darkening sky, her bat form flying effortlessly over the expanse of the King’s Woods. A gust from a brewing storm pushed against her, causing the cold air to nip at her wings. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the world around her became a blanket of shadows, creating the perfect traveling conditions for a vampire.
Below her, the towering sequoia trees of the forest stood like ancient guards; their gigantic size were a constant fascination for her. No matter how many times she flew over the King’s Woods, the greatness of the trees never ceased to amaze her. They were living giants, their trunks stretching toward the clouds, their branches reaching outward to form a dense canopy. Nevaeh allowed herself to be momentarily distracted by the sight, her sharp eyes tracing the patterns of bark and foliage. She often wondered about the secrets these trees held and the centuries of history they had witnessed in their lifetimes.
Suddenly, her trance was interrupted by a hint of a unexpected light below. Nevaeh’s sharp vision focused on a flickering lantern, its glow cutting through the dark. Feeling curious, she flew lower, her bat form descending toward the source of the light. As she drew nearer, she saw a lone man walking along a well-worn path with a lantern held out in front of him.
The man wore a long green cloak clasped at the front, which swayed with each step. His black hair fell in curly waves above his shoulders, catching the lantern’s glow. Nevaeh’s curiosity grew, and she landed on a sturdy branch, shifting into her human form in the process. Her bat wings melted into a long black dress, tightened at the waist with a leather corset. The sleeves blew softly in the breeze, their cream color a stark contrast to her bright red eyes that glowed in the night.
From high up in the tree, Nevaeh watched the man as he continued his trek, seemingly unaware of her presence. She studied him, noting his tanned skin, broad chest and muscular legs. And even though she was above him, she could see that he was tall, perhaps even taller than her. But one thing that lingered in her mind was why a human would be alone in the woods at this hour? No one inhabited the forest, and only a few had permission from the King of Kings to enter his personal hunting grounds.
Nevaeh’s lips curled into a slight smile, her fangs shimmering briefly in the lantern light. She was interested and perhaps a little amused. The night held many secrets, and it seemed as if this man was about to become a part of one, too. Looking at the man below caused her throat to dry, and a hunger stirred within her. It had been too long since she tasted human blood. Her recent diet of wolves and wild deer had sustained her, but it was a poor substitute for a human’s rich, intoxicating flavor.
The man passed directly beneath her perch, the light of his lantern flickering against the darkened bark of the trees. Nevaeh could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, causing her mouth to salivate at the sound. Her fangs grew in anticipation, and without a second thought, she leaped from the branch, landing silently behind him.
In a flash, she wrapped her arms around his torso, pulling him into her grasp. The man reacted instinctively, dropping the lantern as he struggled against her. The light began to dim, casting long, dancing shadows across the forest floor. He was surprisingly strong, his muscles tensing as he fought to free himself from her grip.
“Let go!” He shouted, twisting and turning in a desperate attempt to break free.
“Not a chance, Darling,” she whispered as her lips brushed against his skin.
With a sudden burst of strength, the man shoved her back. Nevaeh stumbled but quickly regained her balance, her red eyes glowing like a predator in the darkness. The man drew a dagger from his belt, its blade barely visible in the dim light of the fallen lantern. He held it defensively, using the glow of her eyes to guide his strikes.
He lunged at her, the blade cutting through the air. Nevaeh sidestepped causing the dagger to barely graze her arm. She felt the sting of the wound, but only for a moment; it healed almost instantly, disappearing as if it had never happened. Undeterred, the man continued his attack.
Nevaeh found herself surprised by his skill and boldness. It wasn’t so easy for her to dodge his attacks, and the man seemed unrelenting. He slashed at her again, the blade cutting across her side. She hissed in pain, feeling the coolness of blood trickling down her skin. The wound would heal, but for now, it slowed her down.
Seeing the vampire wounded, the man seized the chance to push forward, aiming to strike at her chest. However, Nevaeh evaded at the last moment, her instincts sharp despite the throbbing pain. As they fought in the darkness, she began to realize something she hadn’t felt in a long time — a thrill, not from the hunt, but from the challenge. The human’s resilience stirred something within her, and in the moment, her cold, dead heart fluttered to life, and she was no longer just hungry for his blood.
Nevaeh decided to retreat, not out of weakness but out of curiosity for this man who dared to stand against her. With a swift movement, she pulled away from him, leaping backward into the cover of the shadows and disappearing into the trees.
The man stood panting, his chest heaving from exhaustion. He watched cautiously, his senses alert for any sign of her return. He leaned against a nearby tree, trying to steady his trembling hands. Never before had he ever felt that close to death, and the only thing that helped push him forward were thoughts of his family. He worried about their safety and well-being, wondering how they would survive should he fall to the vampire.
When he was sure she was gone, he retrieved his fallen lantern before hurrying down the path. Nevaeh watched him go, hidden among the sequoias. Her thirst remained, but so did a lingering desire. This human had challenged her, and for that, he had earned his life — for now. She would find him another night, another time to satiate her hunger. But for now, she allowed him to leave the King’s Woods unharmed.
The man stumbled through the woods, his breath coming in as gasps as his heart pounded in his chest. The darkness seemed to press in around him, with dangers and shadows lurking behind every tree. He could barely see where he was going, guided only by the faint light of the crescent moon that peeked in through the clouds.
Finally emerging from the woods, he ran past an old, ruined castle that stood eerily in the shadows of the night. Just beyond the castle, the city of Sella stretched out before him. He sprinted through the cobblestone streets, his boots echoing against the stone as he raced toward his home.
Reaching the modest three-room house he shared with his family, the man swung open the door and rushed in. The sudden motion startled his mother, Moriah, who was in the middle of cleaning up after dinner in their kitchen. Her face creased with concern as she turned to stare at her son.
“Marcel, what’s happened? Are you alright?” She questioned as she approached him quickly. Marcel took a moment to catch his breath, nodding quickly before attempting to steady himself.
“I’m fine, Mother. I just… decided to run through the woods,” he lied, his words coming out in a rush. “The cold air, you know, good for stamina.”
Moriah looked up at him with a skeptical look, though she nodded in acceptance at his explanation. She placed a comforting hand on his chest before turning back to the kitchen. As Marcel removed his cloak, she poured him a bowl of soup, setting it down on the table with a small piece of bread. But before he could sit down to eat, he heard the excited chatter of his two half-sisters, Aliza and Emilee, emerging from their room.
“Marcel!” They exclaimed in unison, rushing and enveloping him in hugs.
“My sweet peas,” he laughed as he embraced them back.
“You’re late today,” Aliza, the elder of the two girls, remarked with a frown.
“I know,” he sighed with a nod. “However, I am bound to protect the King of Kings, and sometimes that means I must stand guard for a little longer than planned. But do not worry. I promised to take you to the market to buy anything for your birthday, and I always keep my promises, don’t I?”
“You do,” she murmured with a pout.
“Alright, girls. It is time for you two to sleep,” Moriah said as she turned from the wash basin.
“Goodnight!” They called out as they scurried through a sheet hanging on the wall and back into their room.
“Night, little ones,” Marcel chuckled with a soft smile.
Sitting down at the table, he began to eat, his mind still racing from the encounter in the woods. He glanced toward his mother’s room, his brows furrowing with worry.
“How is Raylan?” He questioned quietly, referring to his stepfather.
“It was a difficult day,” Moriah sighed softly, brushing strands of her graying brown hair away from her face. “His back began to spasm around mid-morning, and he has been in the bed since then.”
“Did you go to the market for some herbs to make more tea?”
“I didn’t have enough money,” she admitted as her face dropped. “No one needed anything mended today, so I didn’t make anything.”
“Here,” Marcel whispered, taking a few coins from his pocket. “This should be enough to get some herbs and fresh bread.”
“Oh, my sweet boy,” Moriah murmured as she walked to the table, her head shaking in an attempt to decline. “I couldn’t take from you.”
“I insist,” he urged gently, taking her hand and putting the money in her palm. “If it makes you feel any better, I will indulge in the bread, too.”
“Thank you,” she smiled as she placed the coins into a pocket on her apron.
“Why don’t you go tend to him?” Marcel inquired gently. “I’ll clean up once I finish eating.”
Reluctantly, Moriah nodded and disappeared into the adjacent room where Raylan rested. Once she was gone, Marcel’s gaze drifted nervously to the window, half-expecting to see the vampire lurking just outside. To his relief, there was no sign of her. As he finished his dinner, the tension in his shoulders eased slightly. In his mind, this was just a one-off occurrence. Vampires rarely attacked this close to Haerford palace, and he assumed it was just some lost rogue, starving and going mad with hunger. By tomorrow, she would be gone, and his life would continue as if nothing ever happened.
