The forest was cold, but I barely felt it. My mind was a mess, running in circles as I tried to shake off the night before. I could still feel Elaine's skin against mine and hear the sounds she made when caught between me and Damien. It should've been just another night, another distraction. But it wasn't.
The problem wasn't what we did. It was how it made me lose control.
The curse inside me had always been there, lurking under the surface. But Elaine? She stirred it up in ways that scared me. The more I touched her, the more I felt the beast inside clawing to get out. And if that happened… I didn't know if I'd be able to stop it.
I moved deeper into the woods, my boots crunching against the leaves. The quiet of the forest usually helped clear my head, but not tonight. The silence felt heavy, pressing in on me.
Then, from somewhere in the dark, slow clapping echoed through the trees.
I stopped, my jaw tightening. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"Out for a walk, Kai?" Damien's voice floated through the fog, smooth and mocking. "Didn't think you were the type to brood."
I turned slowly, my eyes narrowing. Damien walked out from the shadows, that same smug grin plastered on his face. His dark coat blended into the night, but there was something new—a faint shimmer over his skin.
A shield. Sunlight wouldn't touch him now.
"You've been busy," I muttered.
Damien chuckled, taking a step closer. "You're not the only one with tricks up your sleeve."
My hands clenched into fists. I didn't have time for Damien's games tonight. "What do you want?"
Damien's grin didn't fade. He moved closer, his eyes gleaming like he was enjoying this way too much. "It's not about what I want. It's about what you need."
I didn't like the sound of that. I stayed silent, waiting for Damien to get to the point.
"It's about Elaine," Damien said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. "She's not here just for fun, you know. She's asking questions."
My chest tightened. I'd guessed as much, but hearing it from Damien made it feel real.
"She's digging into the murders," Damien added, his voice dropping lower. "The ones tied to us."
I felt my pulse quicken. If Elaine kept pushing, she'd find things that could get her killed. Or worse.
"She's none of your business," I growled, my voice rough.
Damien laughed softly. "Oh, but she is. She's tied to this mess in ways you can't even imagine."
I didn't respond. I didn't trust Damien, but there was something in his voice, something that made my gut twist.
"I can keep her distracted," Damien said, stepping even closer. "But I need something from you."
My heart pounded. "What?"
Damien's grin widened. "A blood pact."
My breath hitched. A blood pact wasn't just a deal—it was a bond. A connection that went deeper than any touch, something that would tie Elaine to Damien without her even knowing.
"She'd never agree to that," I snapped.
"She doesn't have to," Damien replied smoothly. "You'll bring her to me. I'll take care of the rest. She'll be too busy with me to keep asking questions, and you'll get what you want."
My fists tightened until my knuckles turned white. The thought of Damien's hands on Elaine, his fangs against her skin—made my blood boil. But the curse was getting stronger, slipping out of my control. Every time I was near her, I felt it pushing harder, and one day I might not be able to stop it.
Damien could help. But at what cost?
"There's one more thing," Damien added, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You're going to watch."
My eyes snapped to Damien's, fury flashing in them.
"You're going to stand there while I take her blood, while she trembles under my hands," Damien murmured, stepping close enough that I could see the wicked gleam in his eyes. "And you'll do more than just watch. You'll touch yourself. I want you to feel it, Kai. I want you to know exactly what you gave up."
My breath came hard and fast, my anger burning just under the surface. But the curse—the damn curse—was a ticking time bomb, and Damien knew it.
"I'll give you some time to think about it," Damien said, stepping back into the shadows, his grin lingering like a bad taste in my mouth. "But don't wait too long. We both know what happens when you lose control."
And just like that, he was gone, leaving me alone in the dark with a choice I never wanted to make.
Elaine sat on the edge of her bed as she stared at the candle on the nightstand. The shadows on the walls danced with each flicker, but she wasn't paying attention. Her mind was stuck on them.
Kai. Damien.
The way their hands had felt on her skin, the heat between them, the raw, confusing mix of desire and something else she couldn't name. She'd told herself it didn't mean anything, that it was just one night. But her body still ached from the memory.
She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. She had more important things to focus on—the murders, the questions that no one in Raven Hollow seemed willing to answer. But every time she tried to concentrate, her mind pulled her back to that night.
A soft knock at the door made her jump.
Her heart thudded in her chest. She stood slowly, crossing the room with hesitant steps. When she opened the door, Kai was standing there, his eyes dark, his face hard to read.
The sight of him hit her like a punch to the chest. For a moment, all she could see was the way he'd touched her, the heat in his eyes as Damien had pressed against her from behind. She swallowed hard, trying to push the memory down.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.
Kai didn't answer. He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his presence filling the small room like a storm cloud.
Elaine closed the door behind him, watching him carefully. There was something off about him tonight—something darker, something tense.
"What do you want, Kai?" she pressed, crossing her arms over her chest.
For a long moment, he didn't speak. His eyes burned into hers, and she saw something flicker there—guilt, maybe. Or regret.
"I need you to come with me," he said finally, his voice rough.
Elaine frowned. "Where?"
Kai hesitated, his jaw clenching. "Just… trust me."
But something in his tone made her skin crawl. Before she could respond, the shadows in the room shifted, and Damien stepped out from the corner, his smile slow and predatory.
Elaine's breath caught in her throat.
"What the hell is this?" she snapped, backing away as Damien moved closer.
Damien's smile didn't fade. "Relax, Elaine," he purred. "We're just here for a little... ritual."
Her heart pounded in her chest. She shot Kai a sharp look, but he didn't meet her eyes. That only made the dread in her stomach grow.
Before she could say anything else, Damien was in front of her, his hand brushing lightly against her cheek.
"You trust me, don't you?" he whispered, his breath hot against her skin.
Elaine's body froze. She should've pulled away. Every part of her screamed to push him off. But his voice, his touch—it wrapped around her like a fog, and her body betrayed her.
Damien pulled out a small, silver blade, the metal catching the dim candlelight. "This won't hurt," he murmured, his eyes locked onto hers.
Before she could react, he pressed the blade to her palm, the sharp sting of the cut sending a jolt through her. She gasped as blood welled up, her breath catching in her throat.
Damien's eyes darkened, his lips parting slightly as he brought her hand to his mouth. His tongue flicked out, tasting the blood. The sensation sent a strange heat rushing through her, her knees feeling weaker with each second.
Behind her, Kai stood frozen, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He didn't move. He couldn't. Damien's words echoed in his mind.
You'll watch. And you'll touch yourself.
Damien's other hand slid around Elaine's waist, pulling her closer. His lips trailed from her palm up her wrist, each touch leaving a trail of fire on her skin.
Kai's breathing grew ragged, the curse inside him roaring louder than ever. His hand slid to his waistband, his grip tightening as he forced himself to follow through with Damien's twisted demand.
Damien's lips brushed against Elaine's neck, his breath warm against