''I don't believe in love''

2

    I couldn't get him out of my mind, no matter how hard I tried. His eyes, that piercing blue, kept haunting me like the sky just before a storm. It wasn't just the way he looked at me—like he could see right through the walls I'd built around myself—it was something deeper. He asked me who hurt me, and for a split second, I thought about telling him everything. But how could I? I barely knew him, and I'd learned the hard way that letting someone in only led to disappointment. Still, the way he said my name, like he could taste every syllable, it left a mark. I don't want to care. I don't want to think about him. But no matter what I do, he's there—lingering in the back of my mind, making me wonder if maybe, just maybe, I could let someone in again.

I can't help but wonder: What is it about him that made me feel so exposed? I've spent years perfecting the art of hiding behind a smile, of keeping my scars—both visible and invisible—locked away. No one gets close enough to ask the questions Riccardo did, and yet, in one glance, it was like he saw right through me. Part of me wants to forget it, bury it like I do with everything else. But another part... it keeps wondering what it would be like to let someone break through the walls, just once. Could he be the one? Or am I just setting myself up for more pain?

Riccardo POV

I shouldn't care. I've spent years perfecting this cold exterior, making sure no one gets close enough to see the cracks underneath. Yet, here I am, thinking about a girl I've just met. Her name, Anastasia, still lingers on my lips like a soft melody I can't shake. She was different. The way she tried to hide her pain behind those honey-brown eyes—it reminded me of my own struggle to bury everything deep down. I don't know why I cared, but something about her vulnerability drew me in. I saw the scar on her wrist. It was small, but it spoke volumes. I wanted to ask more, to know more, but I held back. I have enough demons of my own. Getting close to her would only pull her into the darkness I live in, and I've sworn to never let anyone fall into that trap again. Still, no matter how much I try to push her from my thoughts, her scent, her eyes, her very presence won't let me forget her.

Anastasia 

 I told myself it was just a chance encounter, but now I'm not so sure. Every time I wander through the streets of Verona, I feel his presence, like he's there—just out of sight. It's strange, almost as if he knows where I'll be before I do. No one else seems to notice him, though, which only makes him seem more unreal. It's not just that he's stunning, but there's something else about him... something I can't explain. The air changes when he's near, colder, sharper. It makes my heart race, though I don't know if it's excitement or fear.

Riccardo 

I leaned against the cool stone wall of the building, my heart racing as I replayed the moments we had shared in my mind. How was it possible that a single interaction could shift my entire existence? She had looked at me, those warm honey eyes filled with curiosity and something more—a glimmer of understanding that seemed to pierce through the darkness I carried.

The weight of my impending duties as the vampire king felt heavier than ever. I was torn between the life I had always known and the future that could be, one that was brightened by her laughter. But what did that future even look like? A king with a human mate was a scandal that could unravel everything my family had built. My mother's stern warnings echoed in my mind: "Never show weakness, Riccardo. Never let them see you falter."

I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. I needed to think clearly. What would it mean for me?

Would I be willing to sacrifice everything for her? The answer felt both exhilarating and terrifying. I couldn't fathom how a human could be my mate, yet something in me screamed that she was meant to be by my side. What could a fragile human being possibly understand about the shadows that followed me?