Whispers of Night and Blood

Chapter 4: The Bond of Power

Adrian POV

I pulled into the driveway of Sarah's mansion, the headlights cutting through the darkness of the sprawling estate. Her place always felt more like a fortress than a home.....an imposing structure that screamed both elegance and danger. 

The guards were already on high alert, as they should be. I'd made sure my sister was protected at all times, even though Sarah could more than handle herself.

As I stepped out of the car, the cool night air wrapped around me, but it did nothing to chill the fire burning inside my chest. 

Lena. 

My mate. 

The realization hit me harder with every passing moment, a tidal wave of emotions I wasn't ready to face.

I walked up the marble steps, the guards watching silently as I made my way through the massive front doors and into the grand foyer. 

Sarah's taste in decor was... excessive, to say the least. 

Ornate chandeliers, towering statues, and rich tapestries draped the space in opulence. It was her way of flaunting power, of reminding everyone who entered that they were in the presence of someone formidable. 

But I wasn't here to admire the architecture.

I moved through the house, following the sound of faint music playing from the living room. As I entered, Sarah was lounging on one of her oversized couches, her legs elegantly crossed. A glass of red wine was in her hand, and she glanced up at me with a knowing smile. She always knew when I was coming.

"Adrian," she greeted, her voice smooth, almost melodic, as if she had expected me. "You look... troubled. Something on your mind?"

I walked over and sat down across from her, running a hand through my hair, trying to find the right words. "I've found her."

Her eyes gleamed with interest, but she remained composed. "Found who?"

"The girl you on the blind date you set me up with. She is my mate," I said, the weight of those words settling between us like a storm waiting to break.

For a moment, her face remained impassive, and then she smiled so wide, setting her wine glass down on the table in front of her, she gave me a crushing hug. 

"So, it's finally happened." She leaned forward slightly, her tone taking on a more serious edge. "And what now? 

Have you claimed her?"

I clenched my jaw, my fingers tightening into fists. "Not yet, but... I didn't tell her."

Sarah raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by my restraint. "Why not?"

"Because I don't know what to do." The frustration in my voice was undeniable. "Lena....you know she's human. She has no idea about our world, and she's already in danger because of me. I can't drag her into this without knowing the full consequences."

Sarah stood up and began to pace slowly, her heels clicking softly against the marble floors. "You're right. Bringing her into our world means exposing her to dangers she could never imagine. But there's something you must understand, Adrian. Finding your mate is more than just a bond of love. It's a bond of power."

I frowned, confused by her words. "What do you mean?"

She stopped pacing and turned to face me, her eyes sharp with knowledge. 

"You've heard the legends. Vampires grow stronger when they find their true mate. Their power multiplies, their strength and abilities reach levels they couldn't achieve on their own. The connection between you and your mate will make you more powerful than you've ever been." She paused, letting the gravity of her words sink in.