**SEASON 1 – EPISODE 9
"Blood in the Moonlight"**
The night air tasted strange.
Isha felt it the moment she stepped outside her apartment balcony — a heavy silence pressing on her skin, like the entire city was holding its breath.
Her wrist tingled again, the crescent mark glowing faintly beneath her sleeve. It had been happening more often lately, especially whenever Lucian came close or even crossed her thoughts.
Tonight, it burned.
Not painfully…
But urgently.
Warning her.
She didn't know why she walked back into the quiet street. Maybe because she could sense him. Maybe because the bond was pulling them closer whether they wanted it or not.
Or maybe…
because she missed him.
The silver in his eyes.
The way he said her name like a secret.
The way his presence made her feel safe and terrified at the same time.
She took one more step—
And froze.
Someone was behind her.
Not someone.
**Something.**
A low growl crawled through the night, vibrating through the air like a living heartbeat.
Isha turned slowly.
A man stood at the far end of the street. Or what *looked* like a man.
His skin was too pale.
His eyes were blood-red.
His mouth stretched into a grin full of sharp, hungry teeth.
Her breath caught.
A rogue vampire.
Just like the one Lucian killed… but this one looked angrier. Stronger. Starving.
"Human," he hissed, voice cracking like bones breaking. "You smell… sweet."
Isha tried to run — but he moved faster.
In an instant he was in front of her, grabbing her arm, slamming her against a wall. Pain shot through her shoulder.
"Found you," he crooned. "The marked girl."
Her heart stopped.
How did he know?
Before she could scream, a shadow fell across them.
A cold wind.
A blur of black.
A hand wrapped around the rogue's throat, ripping him away from her so violently the wall cracked.
Isha gasped.
Lucian.
His eyes glowed silver — but darker than she'd ever seen. Stormy. Furious.
He slammed the rogue into the ground, stone shattering under the impact.
"How dare you touch her," Lucian snarled, his fangs sharp, voice trembling with rage.
The rogue laughed, blood dripping from his mouth.
"She'll die anyway… the prophecy says—"
Lucian crushed his throat before he could finish.
The rogue kicked him, clawed him, slashed across his chest, but Lucian didn't move an inch. He looked like a god of death descending on his prey.
Isha watched, breathless, her heart racing so fast it hurt.
This wasn't the calm, controlled Lucian she knew.
This was him *unleashed*.
"Lucian—stop!" she cried.
But he didn't stop.
The rogue scrambled back and grabbed Isha's wrist — yanking her forward and using her as a shield.
Lucian froze.
His face changed instantly — rage turning to terror.
"Let her go," he whispered.
The rogue pressed his claws to her throat.
"She's the Moonbearer. You should thank me for killing your fate—"
Lucian vanished.
One blink.
He appeared behind the rogue, twisting his arm until bone snapped — grabbing Isha and pulling her into his chest.
The rogue lunged one last time, claws aimed at Isha's heart.
Lucian shoved her out of the way.
The claws slashed across *him* instead.
Isha screamed as they tore into his ribs, leaving deep gashes. Blood spilled — dark, shimmering, almost black.
Lucian didn't even flinch.
He grabbed the rogue by the jaw and snapped his neck so brutally the sound echoed across the street.
The body dropped.
Silence returned.
Lucian swayed slightly… and only then did Isha notice how much he was bleeding.
His shirt was torn, soaked in blood, the wounds deep and raw.
She rushed to him, panic flooding her chest.
"Lucian — you're hurt!"
He looked at her, silver eyes softening instantly.
"I'm fine," he murmured.
"No, you're not!" she cried, touching his chest. Her fingers trembled, brushing his skin accidentally — warm, hard, scarred.
Lucian inhaled sharply.
The bond pulsed.
Isha felt it — a wave of something electric, like the moon itself lit up between them.
"Isha…" he whispered, her name breaking on his tongue.
She stepped closer, trying to check his wound — but he grabbed her wrist gently.
"I don't want you near my blood," he said quietly. "It's dangerous."
"I don't care," she whispered, tears stinging her eyes. "You saved me. Again. Let me help you."
He stared at her — really stared — as if he couldn't believe a human girl was willing to touch him, care for him, bleed for him if needed.
He exhaled slowly.
"Come here," he said softly.
She stepped closer.
He guided her hand to his chest — right over the wound — and her palm pressed against his skin.
Heat shot through her body.
Lucian stiffened, breath catching.
Their faces were inches apart.
Her heart raced.
His eyes dropped to her lips for the briefest second.
"Isha…" His voice cracked. "Please don't… look at me like that."
She didn't look away.
She couldn't.
He swallowed hard.
Then suddenly — he stumbled.
His knees buckled.
Isha gasped and caught him instinctively. His full weight fell against her, strong arms slipping around her waist as he leaned into her.
Her breath hitched.
A vampire prince… collapsing into her arms.
Her hands held him tightly, her fingers sinking into his hair and the back of his neck.
She whispered softly, "Lucian… stay with me. Don't close your eyes."
He looked up slowly, jaw clenched in pain — but his eyes were soft, full of something she couldn't name.
"I can't lose you," she whispered.
Something inside him broke.
His forehead touched hers.
Their breaths mingled.
His voice was barely audible.
"You won't," he said. "I would burn this world before letting anyone take you."
Isha's heart trembled.
The bond glowed — literally. Her wrist lit up with a bright silver flame.
Lucian stared at it, stunned.
"It's getting stronger," he whispered. "Our connection… our fate…"
He looked at her again, eyes full of fear and longing.
"Isha… your life is changing faster than you realize."
Before she could ask anything—
He collapsed fully, unconscious, falling into her arms.
Isha fell to her knees holding him, shaking.
"Lucian… no… please…"
Moonlight bathed them both.
And far away, unseen by either of them…
Two glowing red eyes watched.
Waiting.
Smiling.
---
**EPISODE 9 COMPLETE**