My Vampire Second Chance Mate

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I could hear nothing but the crunch of our footsteps on the frost-covered ground, and the sound of my heart, pounding i

as he

ked for what seemed like miles, the village now nothing more than a faint blur in the distance. With each step, I felt furth

elt charged, like something ancient and powerful was watching us, waiting. My instincts screamed at me t

" I asked, my voice

is pace slowed, and he glanced over at

voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that I hadn't h

a quiet urgency that I couldn't ignore. Whatever this was, it was important-important enough that he had brought me here, to t

s. The fog clung to them, twisting and shifting, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. I felt th

sked again, my voice t

egret, maybe-cross his features. He didn't answer at first, but I could s

at last. His tone was quieter now, more seri

uickened, and I couldn't stop myself from glancing a

" I asked, my voic

moment before Rafael spoke aga

c here... it's all tied to somethi

t are you saying? What doe

hardening. "It's not just about you, Sienna. It

me like a tidal wave. What did he mean? What key? I ope

his voice a low murmur.

ing I had given away too easily in

e raw truth that lay within them-pulled me

softly, my voice barely a

ost sad smile, and he stepped forward,

what I'm about to show y

anches forming an almost impenetrable canopy above us. The air grew even colder, t

only sounds the crunch of our footsteps and the distant

here for centuries. In the center of the clearing stood a stone structure-ancient, weathered, an

ered, my voice trembling as I

otsteps slow and deliberate. I followed, unable to tear my eyes away from the tem

s voice low and reverent. "The curse, the mag

ht in my throa

o face me. "The curse tha

s his words. "What do you mean? W

covered in intricate carvings, symbols I didn't recognize. He placed his hand o

oice barely above a whisper. "It's t

to comprehend what he

mething I couldn't name. "You are the key to br

in my chest. "I don't understand. Why

t has kept me bound to this world for centuries. But your blood, Sien

of his words pressing down on

the endless cycle of life and death. I've been trapped in this exi

inning, and I couldn't make sense of it. I had come here to escape my own pa

He was a man bound by a curse, trapped in a world he hadn't chos

whispered, my voice barely audibl

placing a hand gently on my cheek. "You don't have