The Lost Vampire Princess

the door shut. She dashed off without a second glance at her mother, who simply shook

aised her as their own. They always knew Mia was special, but they'd never shared their suspicions with anyone. Mia's 17th birthday was fast app

ebrows. Her rounded face, soft features, and gentle smile made her incredibly beautiful, but that beauty often made her feel like an outsider. The other girls at school envied her, while the boys were too intimidated by her to approach. All ex

met in the halls just before homeroom, she practically bounced with excitement. "You should have s

us. "Well, I'm glad you had fun. So, wh

ld go to the mall, just the two of us. Then

ed. "Okay,

hake the feeling that something was about to happen. It was a strange sense of an

end of herbs and spices. She turned her head, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from. And there he was, s

was dark, neatly styled, with a natural, slightly tousled texture. His olive comple

voice, but when she did, it came out as a soft chuckle. "I'm Mia," she sai

ah, just transferred here. I don't know anyone y

ock, nodded enthusiastically. "That's not a

lp but notice that her mind kept drifting back to the guy. His presence was mag

airos," Mia said as they le

ing that something significant had just happened. It wasn

was about to change. She wasn't sure how, but the sense of foreboding had s

ll she could do was breathe in his scent, which seemed to fill the entire room. It was overwhelming,

ng. As soon as the bell rang, she packed up her th

till didn't have an answer, but today-her birthday-she was meeting Tariq at the mall. It was suppo

of warmth washed over her. She looked up and froze. There, standing just a few feet away,

. She found herself walking toward him as if drawn by some invisible force. Before she knew it, she was s

vers down her spine. His eyes seemed to glow, and in that mo

k a step back. "Excuse me, sir, you can't just go around touc

ious. "Even his laughter is contagious," Mia thought

d, his tone pla

Now, if you'll excuse me,

e said with a grin

uy think he is?" she thought, but for some reason

ad, and found Tariq sitting alone. But to her su

ir

d closer, she noticed the tension in the air. Kael was glaring at Kairos, and fo

eeted her with his usual enthusiasm

aid with a deadpan ex

ng his hands in mock surrender. "We just met

eling her heart race with

side Mia, his icy blue eyes never leaving Kairos, whose warm hazel gaze se

ween them. "Okay, weird vibes aside, it's still my birthday, and

the ice. "Ice cream, anyone? It's on the

and Kairos stood at the sam

go wit

red at e

r eyes. "Guys

aid, flashing his crooke

without a final glance back at Kael. Once they w

you know." His voice was

row. "You met

change th

smile tugged at the corner o

little. "You

returned with ice cream and birthday candle

ish," Tar

t friend, the mysterious new guy with wild eyes, and a gorgeo

derstand who I am and whe

forward. "Yo

laying it cool. "Bu

Kael murmure

ething brewed. Kael and Kairos barely spoke to each other, but the energy between them pulsed-rivalry, t

r