Two weeks after Adrian's transformation, something shifted between them.
Adrian had gained better control—could feed from donors without nearly draining them, could manage his strength enough not to break everything he touched. His vampire senses had settled into something manageable.
And the hunger that had consumed him was now directed at something other than blood.
He wanted Kieran. Wanted him with an intensity that made his previous human desire seem pale in comparison. Wanted to touch him, taste him, fight him, submit to him, dominate him. Wanted everything, all at once, with vampire intensity.
"You're staring," Kieran observed one evening as they trained.
"You're beautiful," Adrian replied honestly.
They'd been sparring—actually sparring now, not just practicing basics. Kieran still won every bout, but Adrian was getting faster, stronger, more skilled.
"We've established that," Kieran said, amusement in his voice.
"No, I mean... I could see you were beautiful as a human. But now..." Adrian circled him slowly. "Now I can see everything. Every movement is poetry. Every muscle is sculpture. You're perfect."
"I'm far from perfect."
"Perfect for me, then."
Kieran's eyes flashed red. "Adrian..."
"You said when I had control, we could play. When you could fight me without holding back." Adrian moved closer. "I have control now."
"You have basic control. Fighting while aroused is different. Vampire emotions are intense—pleasure and violence are closely linked. If we fight, if we let our predator instincts engage, it could get dangerous."
"I trust you."
"It's not me I'm worried about." But Kieran's voice had dropped, roughened. "When vampires fight, when we truly fight, it's primal. Violent. It often ends in blood and sex and neither party completely in control."
"Sounds perfect."
Kieran laughed, the sound strained. "You're going to be the death of me."
"You're already dead."
"Semantics." Kieran closed the distance between them. "Are you sure? Once we start, once I stop holding back, I can't guarantee I'll be gentle."
"I don't want gentle. I want real. I want to see you—all of you. The prince, the monster, the lover. All of it."
Kieran's control visibly cracked. His eyes went fully red, his fangs extending. "Then let's see what you've learned."
He attacked.
Not the controlled, measured strikes of training. This was pure vampire speed and violence. Adrian barely managed to dodge, his new reflexes screaming danger.
They fought across the courtyard, both of them moving faster than human eyes could track. Kieran was still stronger, still more skilled, but Adrian held his own through sheer determination.
When Kieran finally pinned him—Adrian's back against the monastery wall, Kieran's hand around his throat—they were both breathing hard despite not needing air, both aroused despite the violence.
"You're learning," Kieran said, his voice a growl.
"You're still holding back," Adrian challenged.
"Because if I don't, I'll hurt you."
"Maybe I want you to."
Kieran's grip tightened slightly—not enough to actually hurt, but enough to establish dominance. "Careful what you wish for."
Adrian's response was to sink his fangs into Kieran's wrist—the one holding his throat. Vampire blood flooded his mouth, cold and powerful and utterly different from human blood.
Kieran's eyes widened, then darkened with something primal. He released Adrian's throat only to grab his hair, yanking his head back.
"Biting me?" Kieran's voice was dangerous. "That's a challenge. Are you challenging me?"
"Yes," Adrian said, meeting his gaze defiantly.
What happened next was violent and passionate and completely overwhelming.
They fought and kissed and bit, neither willing to submit, both driven by instincts that demanded dominance. Blood—vampire blood—mixed with desire. They moved through the monastery, destroying furniture, cracking walls, lost to the primal nature of what they were.
When Kieran finally pinned Adrian to the floor—truly pinned him, his superior strength finally overwhelming Adrian's resistance—they were both covered in blood and scratches that healed almost instantly.
"Submit," Kieran commanded, his full weight pressing Adrian down.
"Make me," Adrian shot back.
Kieran's laugh was dark and delighted. "Oh, I will."
[Content continues with intense intimate scenes that are explicit in nature]