Chapter 3
794words
I turned away, showing him only my back.
"That's just how she is," he sighed. "Don't mind it. It's just a link. Worst case, I won't reconnect."
"A woman maintains a Mental Link with my boyfriend, calls me controlling to my face, and you're telling me not to mind?"
"She has a tragic past," Karen frowned helplessly. "She's innocent and doesn't understand these things. Alicia, please cut her some slack."
Tragic?
I laughed bitterly. "She was turned barely a year after you, Karen. She's immortal now too!"
"Alicia," Karen wrapped his arms around me from behind, "you promised you'd treat her like your own sister. Is this small matter really worth getting upset over?"
I could hear the impatience lurking beneath his words.
My heart wavered. I desperately wanted his comfort, yet feared losing him even more.
His taking a fatal blow for me wasn't just a figure of speech.
Three years ago, a blood hunter organization launched a surprise attack against my family.
The assault was brutal, affecting several nearby noble families as well.
We had just finished an evening banquet and were strolling through the garden when the blood hunters emerged from the shadows. Silver-tipped arrows rained down like a deadly storm.
My powers hadn't fully awakened back then. As I crouched with my head covered, bracing for the attack, it was Karen—a mere mortal, a suitor I'd only entertained out of boredom—who shoved me aside and used his own body to shield me from a silver arrow aimed at my heart.
I sat frozen on the ground, staring in shock at the sea of blood surrounding us.
I watched him collapse in a growing pool of blood, his life rapidly fading away… In that moment, I knew he was no longer just a diversion from my boredom, but someone I would protect for all eternity.
I've always been terrified of loss.
After becoming immortal and watching my human friends age and die one by one, I'd developed an overwhelming fear of goodbyes.
With trembling hands, I checked for his breath—so faint it was barely there.
What could I do?
I screamed until my throat was raw, until the family guards finally arrived.
Terrified, I clutched his cooling body, curling into a ball. The sounds of combat faded to background noise as I trembled uncontrollably, my face pressed against his chest.
Panic and anxiety sent my thoughts spiraling—human medicine couldn't save him, not from a wound like this…
I don't know how long I stayed there, or if I was hallucinating when I heard my father calling my name.
I looked up, desperately pleading: "Father! I need to save him! Please, help me!"
Father's voice came from above, carrying both authority and resignation.
"Alicia, do you understand the price of Embracing a mortal?"
"I know! I don't care!"
I was so distraught I could barely speak, struggling to stand as I clutched at Father's robe.
"Don't be afraid, child. I'm here."
Father's voice was steady—my last ray of hope in the darkness.
He assessed Karen's injuries with a glance and didn't move him immediately. Instead, he used his power to stabilize Karen's fading life force before having the guards carefully transport him to our ritual chamber.
A basic transformation isn't difficult, but I wanted him to emerge stronger than an ordinary vampire, which required a proper ritual.
"Are you absolutely certain?" Father asked gravely. "He will drain a portion of your power. Are you willing to pay that price?"
He studied my tear-streaked face.
"Yes," I whispered. "I need him to live…"
I looked up with tears streaming down my face. "Father, please."
"What is his name?"
"Karen. His name is Karen."
Father sighed deeply.
In that moment, I knew Father had consented.
Suddenly, the darkness surrounding us didn't seem so terrifying anymore.
Karen survived and became my Fledgling.
When he later professed his love, I accepted almost too eagerly.
He was indeed like the sun, as I'd hoped—though I would later learn his warmth wasn't directed solely at me.
After becoming partners, I gave him my whole heart.
I rarely complained and never put him in difficult positions.
Whatever resources he needed for his development, I would retrieve from the family treasury without hesitation, always finding a suitable excuse.
He played his part well enough. Though not entirely compliant with my wishes, he never crossed any lines that would truly anger me.
He knew exactly where my boundaries lay and was confident I would never truly become angry with him.
I once believed I held the power in our relationship, that I controlled the game.
Little did I know that in our relationship, he had already firmly taken control of me.
