Noir

I had frozen in place, my body tensing as Thorin's words struck me like a thunderous blow. The weight of his revelation settled upon me, overwhelming and inescapable. It became clear why I couldn't deny the magnetic pull I had felt towards Noir. I was his mate, bound to him in a way I couldn't comprehend until now.

As Thorin continued to explain, the gravity of the situation intensified. Noir had resisted his primal instinct to claim me, for it would trigger a cataclysmic effect that would ripple through the entire world. The mating ritual would require Noir to drain my blood, bringing my heart to a halt before infusing me with his venom. This process would initiate the transformation of my blood, merging it with my dormant Eton genes, giving rise to a new breed of vampires. A species so powerful that they would eventually self-destruct, leaving the earth devoid of life.

My mouth had gone dry, a knot forming in my stomach as I'd struggled to process the magnitude of Thorin's words. Deep down, I'd known it was true. The undeniable connection between Noir and me, the undeniable truth of our destined bond. With each passing day, the longing to be with him, to be claimed by him, had grown stronger. I'd fought against it, but resistance had proven futile. Noir was my mate, and no matter my desires, the bond between us could not be denied. It was as if an unseen force guided our path, urging us to confront our shared destiny.

However, Thorin had revealed a historical discrepancy. Despite Noir not mating with me, the other elders had still risen upon his full transformation. The enormity of this revelation weighed heavily on me, my heart racing, my breath shallow and rapid. I'd known that Thorin spoke the truth, that I was destined to be Noir's mate, and that eventually, he would come for me. The question had remained, how would I respond when that time arrived? Would I defy my fate or surrender to it? Seeking answers, I'd turned to the ancient book the storekeeper had bestowed upon me, hoping to find a solution hidden within its pages.

I'd known that I couldn't fight against fate, but perhaps there was a way to change it. A way to ensure that the new species of vampires didn't destroy themselves. Perhaps, I'd thought, if I could find a way to help Noir control his instincts, we could find a way for us to be together without bringing about the end of the world... I had spent weeks pouring over the aged, musty pages of the ancient book, searching for some sort of answer, some sort of solution. But with each passing day, each ticking hour, I'd found myself growing more and more desperate, the weight of time pressing down on me.

I'd known that I had to do something, and I'd known that it had to be soon. Finally, my eyes had landed on a passage that seemed to offer a glimmer of hope. The words danced before me, their ink faded but still legible, and my heart quickened with anticipation. It spoke of an ancient ritual, one that could be performed only by the mate of a king vampire. The ritual would supposedly weaken the king's control over his instincts, giving the queen the chance to help him resist the urges that threatened to destroy everything. I'd read the passage over and over again, my fingertips tracing the worn edges of the page, my breath caught in my throat. It could work. But there was one problem: I hadn't known how to perform the ritual. The steps, the words, all remained a mystery to me. I'd been completely lost.

The storekeeper's warning echoed in my mind, his voice tinged with caution. The book could be dangerous, he had said. And I knew that if the ritual wasn't performed correctly, one tiny mistake could lead to a catastrophic outcome. Desperation consumed me as I sought out Eton, my footsteps echoing through the dimly lit corridors. He had listened patiently, his eyes filled with understanding, as I'd explained what I'd found in the book. And when I'd finished, he'd nodded slowly, a somber expression etched on his face. "We would need to get him away from the other elders and his following," he had said, his voice low and tinged with worry. "But it will be dangerous as all fuck. To even attempt to harm their king or remove him from their kingdom would result in unthinkable consequences. What I do know though, to do anything, we have to get him away from there."

At that point, we had been willing to try anything.

Now, as I looked over at Noir, lying beside me, I fully realized the mistake we had made. The weight of our actions bore down on me, filling the room with an oppressive feeling.