In the labyrinthine underbelly of Busan, a city where night never seems to end, reigns Choi San, a centuries-old vampire with control over the darker elements. His world is one of cold dominance and strict hierarchies-a place where humans are strict...
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𓊈𒆜 𝕵𝖚𝖓𝖌 𝖂𝖔𝖔𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖌 𒆜𓊉
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The thirst clawed at me like a living thing, sharp and unrelenting. It wasn't just hunger; it was a fire coursing through my veins, demanding to be extinguished. My body thrummed with restless energy as I shifted beside San in bed. He sat calmly, glasses perched on his nose as he read, the flickering lamplight casting soft shadows over his sharp features. His composure was a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me.
I couldn't focus. My hands clenched and unclenched at my sides, and my tongue darted over my teeth, where I could feel the faint ache of fangs threatening to extend. Every sound around me was amplified—the faint rustle of pages, San's even breathing, and the distant thrum of his pulse, steady and inviting.
I sat up abruptly, unable to take it anymore. "San," I rasped, my voice rough with desperation. "It's unbearable. I need... I need something."
He looked up from his book, his golden eyes softening as they met mine. He set the book aside with deliberate care and turned to me, the quiet authority in his movements grounding me for a moment.
"You're feeling the thirst," he said gently, though his tone carried an edge of seriousness. "It's stronger now, isn't it?"
"It's not just strong," I admitted, my voice cracking. "It's all-consuming. It's like it's taken over every part of me. I can't think straight, San. I—" I stopped myself, swallowing hard against the burning ache in my throat.
San nodded, his expression calm but resolute. "It's time," he said simply, standing and slipping on his coat. He adjusted the glasses on his nose before removing them, placing them neatly on the bedside table. "You need to feed. But tonight will be more than that—it will be your first lesson in control."
I stared at him, both relieved and terrified by his words. "Control?" I echoed, my voice trembling. "What if I can't? What if I hurt someone?"
San approached me, his gaze steady and unwavering. He crouched in front of me, his hands lightly gripping my knees as he looked up into my eyes. "That's why I'll be there," he said firmly. "I'll guide you. You won't lose control, Wooyoung, because I won't let you. Trust yourself, and trust me."
The conviction in his voice settled the worst of my fears, though the hunger still burned like acid inside me. I nodded, swallowing hard, and allowed him to pull me to my feet. His hand was warm and steady as he led me out of the room and down the grand staircase.
The night air was crisp and biting, cooling my heated skin as we stepped outside. The mansion loomed behind us, its towering silhouette a comforting reminder of safety. But safety wasn't what I needed now. My every sense was attuned to the world around me—the rustling of leaves, the distant howl of wolves, the faint but maddening scent of blood in the air. It was as though the forest itself was alive, taunting me with its abundance of life.
