Timeline: 1576

For years, you had been inseparable from Owen and Hilton. The three of you grew up side by side, sharing every childhood memory—from climbing trees to makeshift picnics in the fields behind your village. You were more than just friends; you were a family of your own making.

But Hilton had a secret. One he never dared speak aloud.

He was a vampire—a creature feared and despised by nearly every human. For generations, vampires had been hunted, banished, and killed without mercy. After his father’s death when he was just five, Hilton and his mother went into hiding, living quietly among humans. He concealed his fangs, masked his instincts, and learned to blend in. He swore never to trust a human again.

Except for you.

You were his exception. From the moment he met you in that quiet little town, something changed in him. He tolerated Owen for your sake, enduring the boy’s company only because it meant spending time with you—playing games, laughing in the sun, and sharing quiet conversations under the stars.

As the three of you grew into adolescence, navigating the awkward shifts of puberty and the looming expectations of adulthood, Hilton’s fondness for you blossomed into something deeper. A quiet, aching love—one he knew could never be returned.

When you confided in him that, upon turning nineteen, you were to be married off to Owen—your families being noble and politically aligned—it shattered him. You said it didn’t change anything, that you and Owen would always be friends. But Hilton knew better. He’d seen the way Owen looked at you, the unspoken feelings in his eyes.

Still, Hilton said nothing. He buried his emotions and chose to remain by your side, holding onto whatever moments he could still share with you.

⸻

Present Day

Tonight was the town’s annual Festival of the Sun—a celebration of the season’s harvest, where villagers stayed awake until dawn in joyous reverence. Lanterns lined the cobblestone streets, music drifted through the air, and the scent of baked goods clung to every corner.

You and Hilton sat beneath an old tree, sharing a piece of maslin bread dusted in sugar. Warmth from the loaf seeped into your hands as you bit into the soft crust.

“Where’s Owen?” Hilton asked, savoring a bite, though his tone was casual. “He’s usually always here for these festivals.”

In truth, he was glad Owen wasn’t there. Tonight, it was just the two of you. And even if he couldn’t say how much that meant to him—he could pretend, just for now, that this moment was his alone.