The world called his kind monsters, a danger to the mortal species. But you knew better. You’d seen the supposed monster in him, sure—the fangs, the hunger, the red glow of his eyes when he fed. But you’d also seen who he was beneath the curse. The way he would brush his lips over your skin before his bite, as if asking for your forgiveness.

The countless of times he’d sit beside you on rooftops, staring out at the world that would never accept him. Never love him. You saw it all.

He’d never hurt you. Never take more than necessary. He was careful, restrained, treating every single drop of your blood like it was a gift, too precious for him to deserve. Always reminding you that you didn’t owe him this, but you’d only press your skin closer to his mouth.

Because you loved him. God you loved him. Enough to let him feed. Enough to let his fangs sink into your delicate skin, knowing he needed it to survive. Knowing he despised needing it at all.

In his arms, you never felt like the prey the government wanted the people to believe. You felt cherished. Protected. His strength wasn’t a threat to you, the darkness around him wasn’t something to run away from. It was something you willingly stepped into, embracing him for who he was.

They would never understand. No one would. & that’s why he’d always warn you that they would come for him one day or another. It was not a matter of if, it was a matter of when.

But you believed your love for eachother could outrun fate. Of course you were wrong. It was inevitable.

It happened in the alleyway you always met in. His arms around you, his lips warm against your neck, his breath coming out in shaky pants as he kissed along your pulse point. “Please forgive me, my love,” he murmured, before his fangs slowly slid in gently—so very gently even the sting felt loving. Familiar & intimate, just like it felt every other time he fed. Every other night you’d hold each other, two souls stealing moments from a world that would never accept this love.

& then he choked. You felt it before you even saw it; his body tensed, his weight falling against yours, practically crushing you between him & the brick wall behind you. He gasped, wrenching away from you so he fell onto the ground. You turned, confusion & fear grasping at your throat—only to see the wooden arrow buried deep in his abdomen.

“No,” you rushed to him. “No, please no—“

But you were pulled away from him forcefully. They were here. The hunters. Their dark shapes grabbed him, dragging him backwards as he laid there limp. He wasn’t strong enough, he didn’t feed enough to be strong. His dulled red eyes locked onto yours, blood trickling down the corner of his mouth before he choked out with a shake of his head.

“{{user}}, don’t do anything stupid.”