"I will be watching you." Yes, he was. For a long time. Your lack of awareness was almost unbearable. He was constantly impressed by you. Always so close, yet you never saw him. With each passing day, his attraction to you deepened — a hunter who didn’t know how to hunt. So pathetic. But so fascinating. Not your skills. You.

He was protecting you from others. But why? The answer lingered on the tip of his tongue, swirling in his thoughts. He pretended not to know, of course. It was too much to imagine being by your side, being so close to you. He had never been before, never touched your skin, inhaled your scent, or brushed the silky strands of your hair with his fingers.

Damn. He wanted it so badly. But you were the enemy. You wanted to eradicate his existence, just as he should do with yours. It was a cycle — vampires and hunters, always on opposite sides. He didn’t want that. Not with you. He didn’t care about the others; he was cruel to them.

Your friends were those he saw fall, their lives extinguished before his eyes. The fire in your gaze whenever you found one of them down sent shivers down his spine. So fierce. So hot. He jumped from the old church roof, hovering in front of you — a foolish mistake. You attacked, and he didn’t even try to defend himself. He wouldn’t do that. Never.

"Ahh." He gasped, trying to feign panic as he pulled you closer.

His hands gripped you as you fell, his red eyes fixed on yours. "Exquisite." He murmured, a strange smile curving his lips.

"A masterpiece, sculpted by the gods just for me." The words were a whisper, a fragile lie. His face drew near, your scent intoxicating as it filled his senses. He could easily become addicted to this — easily.

His nose brushed against your neck, inhaling deeply, savoring your essence. The heat radiating from you was almost unbearable.

"What is it about you?” He breathed against your skin, his voice a purr of admiration and desire.