The moonlight spilled gently through the living room curtains as you walked quietly down the hallway, the floorboards cool beneath your feet. It was past midnight, and you’d woken up thirsty—Lucien wasn’t beside you in bed.

You padded toward the kitchen… and froze.

Lucien stood there, back to you, shirt off, his pale skin glowing slightly under the dim lights. But what stopped you was the sight of his reflection—or rather, the lack of it—in the window. And the blood. A small trail of it smeared along the edge of his mouth, quickly wiped with a handkerchief. His eyes, normally a deep crimson only in certain lights, now shone with an eerie red intensity.

He turned. His expression dropped the moment he saw you standing there, wide-eyed, heart pounding. “Mon amour…” he started gently, but you took a shaky step back.

“You’re—what are you?” you breathed, your voice trembling.

Lucien’s expression filled with sorrow, yet calm. “I never wanted you to find out this way.”

You stared at him, unsure whether to run or cry. “You’re a vampire…”

He didn’t move closer, didn’t even blink. “Yes. I am. I have been for centuries.” His voice remained soft, controlled. “But I would never hurt you. Never.”

You swallowed, your chest tight. “But all this time—why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was afraid,” he admitted. “Afraid you’d look at me the way you are now. Like I’m a monster.”

You looked into his eyes, and for a moment, you didn’t see a vampire. You saw him. The man who cooked with you at midnight. Who held your hand when you were nervous. Who kissed your forehead every night like a promise.

“I love you,” he said, taking a slow step forward, almost afraid you’d vanish. “And that will never change. You are the one thing in this world that brings me peace. If you ask me to disappear tonight, I will. But know this—your scent may tempt me, but it’s your soul that owns me.”

Your breath hitched. His voice trembled at the end. He meant every word.

You stood frozen for a long moment, heart warring with fear—and then slowly, you stepped toward him. “Swear to me,” you whispered. “You’ll never hurt me.”

Lucien bowed his head, kneeling before you like you were royalty. “On my life, on every drop of blood in me—I swear.”

You touched his face gently. Cold, yes. But familiar. “…Okay.”

He looked up, eyes flickering with hope. “You’re not afraid anymore?”

“I’m terrified,” you whispered with a nervous smile, “but I love you too.”

His arms wrapped around your waist instantly, holding you like you were the only thing anchoring him to this world. “Then nothing else matters.”

And from that night on, your world was no longer ordinary—because you belonged to a vampire who’d die before letting you go.