The Vampire's Luna

Veyron paused. The tension in the air thickened. "You ready?" he asked, not just referring to the task ahead—but to the morality of it all.

Thessa nodded. She was a doctor, trained to save lives. But these past few weeks, she had learned to toe the line between mercy and necessity. "Yes."

"Finish up. Make sure it’s hygienically packed. I’ll handle the smuggling into Blood City."

Again, she nodded, her mouth tightening with resolve.

With a slow breath, Veyron reached into his pocket and withdrew a small brass key. It glinted under the moonlight. He nodded at the guards, and one stepped aside while the other helped him pull the heavy sliding door open with a groan and a screech.

The scent hit them first. Coppery. Heavy. The scent of barely-living flesh and recycled air.

Inside, the container was dimly lit by a single hanging bulb. Beneath its pale glow were rows and rows of humans—hundreds of them—lying on makeshift beds, their wrists bandaged, some unconscious, others groaning faintly. Their skin was pale from weeks of slow, regulated blood draws, their breathing shallow.

Veyron’s face remained impassive, but inside, something twisted. He had told himself this was temporary. A necessary evil to sustain Luna and the unborn heir.

Thessa, too, stepped in without a word, already pulling on gloves and moving to the nearest table where vials and sterile bags waited. Her movements were professional—but her eyes lingered on a boy who couldn’t have been older than fifteen.

"Do you also sedate the underaged?" she asked the guards.

"Yes, ma’am. Low dosage, monitored every four hours."

She nodded and got to work, blocking out her feelings as she had trained herself to do. There would be time to grieve later. For now, they had to survive.

Veyron remained by the entrance, a silent sentinel as Thessa moved from one donor to the next. His mind wandered to Luna, her body growing heavier with each passing day. This blood would keep her alive. Keep the heir alive.

As the first bags began to fill, he whispered to the sky. "Forgive us."

*****

Williams handed the necklace to Gabriel a few days later, his grin stretching across his face with the pride of a mad scientist unveiling a weapon of mass destruction. "Call me a genius," he beamed, rocking on the balls of his heels.

Gabriel didn’t share his enthusiasm.

He took the necklace with a contemptuous look, letting it dangle from one hand. The pendant itself was ancient, a blackened casing surrounding a dull gem. The metal was carved with runes. "Because of a necklace," he said flatly. "I didn’t ask for jewelry, Williams. I asked for the throne."

Williams tsked and rolled his eyes, unbothered by the venom in Gabriel’s voice. "So impatient," he muttered. "You nobles always want blood before the blade’s even drawn. I’m finished with the spell. The necklace will lead you to Damien’s mate."

Gabriel’s fingers curled tighter around the necklace. "Williams," he said slowly, voice clipped, "It is supposed to lead Damien to his mate."

"Yes," Williams replied, folding his arms, "and unless you’re planning on skipping to Blood City and handing it to the prince yourself with a cheerful ’Here you go, my lord,’ I’d suggest you use it."

Gabriel’s jaw tensed, grinding teeth just barely audible beneath his breath. "You’re telling me I have to find her?"

"yes. I don’t know how far it will take you—she could be here, she could be halfway across the continent. But all I do know is that this..." He tapped the gem. "This will lead you to her."

Gabriel stared at the necklace. "Okay," he said finally, voice low and taut with resolve. "So I just step outside and what happens?"

"Look into the gem," Williams said, tone abruptly clinical as he shifted into the role of professor. "It’s a compass. And when you’re within a few feet, it glows."

Gabriel studied the gem.

"And when I find her?" Gabriel asked.

"You put the necklace on her," Williams replied. "Her essence, the very thing that binds her to the prince, will pull at him—no matter where he is. It’s ancient soulmate magic. He won’t be able to resist."

Gabriel smiled for the first time in weeks. "You’re sure about this?"

"Very sure."

"Sounds complicated though."

Gabriel’s tone was dry, but there was a bitter curl at the corner of his mouth.

"Happiness doesn’t come easy," Williams replied, rolling his eyes. "Especially not for men like us."

"There is one thing I keep forgetting to ask you," Gabriel said.

"What’s that?"

"We have what we want from your father. I hope you’ve stopped seeing him."

Williams stiffened for a moment, barely perceptible, but Gabriel’s keen eyes didn’t miss it. "Yes," he said, too quickly. "Haven’t seen him since I found out what they were up to."

"Good." Gabriel finally leaned back, his eyes never leaving him. "Your father seems to be on the side of the prince and his princess. I wouldn’t want him getting a sniff of what we’re up to—or worse, you accidentally letting it slip that you’re his son."

Williams forced a grin. "Nothing to worry about."

But his smile faded the moment he turned away, just fast enough that Gabriel wouldn’t catch the flicker of guilt in his eyes. His fingers curled tightly against his side as he walked to the far end of the chamber. The truth pressed at his chest. He had seen his father. Repeatedly. He just couldn’t stay away.

*****

Luna stood before a wide mirror, her fingers tracing the embroidery on her ceremonial dress.

She smiled, a soft breathless sound, as if she couldn’t quite believe the moment had finally arrived. "It’s happening." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Ravena, standing just behind her, met her daughter’s gaze in the mirror and laughed softly, her voice edged with tears. "Yes, sweetie. It is happening. You’re going to be queen. Your father would be proud. You’ve really come out of all these strong."

The words should have comforted her. They didn’t.