Crimson Bonds

The Rift

I wake slowly, my body still humming from the intensity of the night before. The faint light of early morning filters into the room, casting long shadows on the walls. For a moment, I don't move. There's something peaceful about the stillness, despite the weight of the previous day settling on my chest. I can feel the three vampires close by, but the tension between us lingers, unspoken.

Memories flood back—Dante's steady grip, Nikolai's playful command, and Lila's quiet dominance. It was overwhelming, and for a while, I was lost in it. But now, in the quiet aftermath, the reality of everything crashes down.

I shift under the cool sheets, the chill against my bare skin a reminder that everything has changed. Not just the night before, but everything. I'm not just Olivia Grayson anymore, the human who accidentally stumbled into their world. I'm something different now, bound to them in ways I can't fully understand.

I suddenly realize I'm in an unfamiliar room. I don't remember how I got here, but I must have fallen asleep, and they must have carried me to a bedroom. The thought feels both strange and unexpectedly gentle.

Carefully, I sit up, holding the sheet to my bare chest, not wanting to disturb them. Lila lies closest to me, her face relaxed, though even in sleep, there's something about her that radiates control. Nikolai sprawls across the bed, a smirk tugging at his lips even in his sleep, as if he's still dreaming of mischief. And then there's Dante. He's already awake, standing by the window, his gaze distant, posture rigid.

I watch him in the dim light, the sharp planes of his face softened by the dawn. Something about Dante always feels heavy, like he's carrying the weight of a world I can't see. His presence commands attention, but now, with his back turned to me, there's a vulnerability that hasn't been there before.

A part of me wants to reach out, to comfort him, to tell him that last night meant something. But I hesitate. The intimacy was undeniable, but now, in the quiet after the storm, I'm not sure what it all means for us—for me. Do I really belong with them, or am I still just an outsider?

The thoughts swirl in my mind, louder now. There are rules in their world I don't understand, lines I don't even know exist. And every time I let myself fall deeper into their lives, I risk losing parts of myself I might never get back.

But the pull toward them—the way they make me feel—is undeniable. They make me feel desired, protected, and powerful. It's intoxicating, and the more I think about it, the more I realize it's changing me.

I glance back at Nikolai, his carefree grin still lingering from the night before, and then at Lila, whose calm intensity never seems to waver. And then Dante. The question I've been avoiding since I met them gnaws at me: Am I still just human to them? Or have I become something more?

Something just seems different now. Maybe it's the rigid way he holds his posture. I can feel something uninviting, something uncomfortable.

The soft rustling of sheets breaks the silence, and Lila stirs beside me. Her eyes flutter open, and for a brief moment, she looks almost vulnerable. But then her gaze meets mine, and that familiar intensity returns, grounding me with a single look. She reaches out, her fingers brushing against my arm with a touch that's both gentle and possessive.

"Good morning," she murmurs, her voice still thick with sleep but filled with that quiet authority she always carries. "You're up early."

"I couldn't sleep," I admit, though I'm not sure if that's entirely the problem. My thoughts have already begun to swirl.

Lila's eyes search mine for a moment, like she can sense the turmoil inside me. Her hand stays on my arm, her touch grounding me in a way I desperately need.