Crimson Eyes

dge of the sidewalk, watching cars hiss through the streets like restless ghosts. His reflect

ck. Another night, another aimless walk to nowhere. He had no destination. He just cou

he sa

fronts. A sign flickered above the entrance: NOCTURNE. No sound escaped f

houl

nt an

D. He just stared into Elias's eyes-too long, too deep-and the

floorboards, bass deep enough to vibrate his bones. Shadows danced in crimson light, brushin

th caught in

't belo

ne was wa

ce in the crowd. Unmoving. Electric. E

red wine that looked too thick, too dark. He didn't blink. Didn'

fire. No

sto

nother. Drawn like gravity. He co

d-slow, knowi

voice velvet-soft an

echoing like a drumbeat in the dim, seductive haze of Nocturne. The air se

his legs had moved or if he'd been d

features were flawless, almost inhuman: sharp cheekbones, lips like sin, skin so pale it near

s mouth, but no

pine. "You're trembling," he said, setting down his glass wit

nd slow, like molass

managed. "I don't e

smelled like sandalwood, smoke, and something darker. "Names

is mouth was dry. His b

the edge of Elias's damp hoodie, then th

n Elias's throat like he could see the blood pul

didn't pull away.

ear. "The one that lives after midnight... where p

was only this moment, this man, and the un

as said, though hi

cause something inside you is starving. And I-" the

issed Eli

de of his wrist, where the skin was soft,

have felt e

as's arm, settlin

n asked now, as if offerin

.El

en, with a gleam in those crim

cie

intoxicating. Elias didn't realize he was holding his breath unti

said, not ask

he club. Elias hesitated. He should have left. Every instinct screamed

swallowed by the silence ahead. Elias followed Lucien to a private room-dark, p

o sit on the chaise lounge.

d, circling him slowly like a predato

vously. "That's w

ped. His ey

inches from Elias's face. "You feel

, breath sha

is

was both beautif

whispered. "Y

ck again-soft, deliberate. Elias shivered,

said, voice low, sensual. "But make no mista

, heart in his thr

idened-fangs jus

you