Chapter 4 The Blood Contract

The room was stifling, yet Liana felt a chill crawl up her spine as she met Damien's piercing gaze. He stood in the doorway, framed by the dim light of the corridor, his silver eyes practically glowing in the darkness.

"Talk about what?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

Damien stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. He didn't answer immediately, his expression unreadable. For a moment, it was just the two of them, silence stretching like a taut wire.

"You've been having visions," he said finally.

Her heart skipped a beat. "How do you know that?"

"I can sense it," he replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "Your aura changes when you dream. And judging by the look on your face, those dreams are more than just figments of your imagination."

Liana tensed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why would you care about my dreams?"

"Because they're not just yours," he said, stepping closer. "They're ours."

She froze, the weight of his words settling heavily in the air. "What are you talking about?"

"I've seen them too," Damien admitted, his voice low. "The forest, the blood, the shadows. I don't know why, but we're connected, Liana."

She wanted to scoff, to dismiss his claim as another vampire trick. But the sincerity in his voice, the way his silver eyes softened-she couldn't ignore it.

"And what do you think it means?" she asked warily.

"I don't know yet," he said, his jaw tightening. "But I intend to find out. And so should you."

Damien led her to a different part of the mansion, a library that smelled of aged parchment and candle wax. The shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, lined with books older than either of them.

"What is this place?" Liana asked, trailing behind him.

"It's where I keep my secrets," he said without looking back.

He stopped in front of a small table, where a thick, leather-bound book lay open. Strange symbols adorned its pages, glowing faintly in the dim light.

"Do you know what this is?" Damien asked, gesturing to the book.

Liana shook her head.

"It's a grimoire," he explained. "Passed down through my family for generations. It contains spells, rituals, and... contracts."

"Contracts?" she echoed, her brows furrowing.

"Blood contracts," Damien clarified, turning the pages with care. "Binding agreements that connect two souls. They're rare, and most vampires don't bother with them. But I think one was made with us-without our consent."

Liana stared at him, disbelief clouding her thoughts. "You think we're bound by some kind of spell?"

"It's the only explanation that makes sense," he said, his voice firm. "Your visions, my visions-this connection between us. It's not natural."

"And what do you propose we do about it?" she asked, her tone laced with skepticism.

"We find out who did this and why," Damien said, his gaze unwavering. "And we break it-if that's what you want."

Liana's breath hitched. If the bond could be broken, would she want that? The thought of being free from Damien should have been a relief, but a small part of her hesitated.

"What happens if we don't break it?" she asked quietly.

Damien's expression darkened. "Then we're bound for eternity-whether we like it or not."

As they delved into the grimoire, the hours passed in a blur. Liana found herself drawn to the ancient text, her fingers tracing the strange symbols as Damien explained their meanings.

"Who would do something like this?" she asked after a while.

"Someone with a lot to gain," Damien said grimly. "Binding a vampire and a werewolf isn't just rare-it's dangerous. It could upset the balance of power between our clans."

"Then it has to be someone who wants to see that balance destroyed," Liana muttered, her mind racing.

Damien nodded, his jaw tightening. "And I have a feeling I know who."

Before he could elaborate, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall. The library door burst open, and Armand stormed in, his expression tense.

"You need to come now," he said, his gaze flickering to Liana. "Both of you."

"What's wrong?" Damien asked, rising to his feet.

"It's the hunters," Armand said. "They've found us."

The mansion was chaos. Vampires darted through the halls, their faces grim as they prepared for battle. The scent of fear hung heavy in the air, mingling with the metallic tang of anticipation.

Liana followed Damien and Armand to the main hall, her heart pounding. She could hear the commotion outside-the shouts of the hunters, the growls of the werewolves they had captured.

"We need to move quickly," Damien said, his tone commanding. "Armand, take half the guards and secure the perimeter. Liana, stay here."

"Like hell, I will," she snapped.

"This isn't your fight," Damien said sharply.

"It is now," she retorted, her amber eyes blazing. "I'm not going to stand by while people die-whether they're vampires or not."

Damien hesitated, his silver eyes searching hers. Finally, he nodded. "Stay close to me."

Together, they stepped outside, the cold night air biting at their skin. The hunters were a sea of shadows, their weapons gleaming under the moonlight.

Liana's breath caught as she spotted a familiar figure among them-a man with Thorne's face.

"Thorne?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

The man turned, his eyes cold and unrecognizing.

It wasn't him.

"Liana," Damien said urgently, pulling her back. "It's a trick. Don't let them distract you."

The impostor smirked, raising his weapon. "Hello, little wolf," he said, his voice dripping with malice.

Liana's blood boiled. Whoever this man was, he had made a grave mistake.

"Let's end this," she growled, her claws extending.

Damien stood beside her, his fangs bared. "Together."

As the hunters charged, the bond between them pulsed like a living thing, driving them forward.

And in that moment, Liana knew: whatever had bound them, it was stronger than she had ever imagined.

Amid the chaos of the battle, the impostor's voice rose above the fray. "You don't even know the truth, do you, Liana? About your precious father... and him." He pointed directly at Damien.

Liana froze, her heart pounding. "What are you talking about?"

The impostor's smirk widened. "Ask him. Ask Damien what he's been hiding from you all along."