The Vampire's Luna
Chapter 77: Fall Out Boy - Centuries

Chapter 77: Fall Out Boy - Centuries

Magnus’s throat tightened. He didn’t know what to say. What did you say to a man who saved your daughter and signed his own death certificate in the same breath?

"When the time comes," Damien continued, more serious now, "and if I’m gone, our child will be next in line. You must lift Luna’s banishment. She must return here where she’ll be protected, where our child will be trained and guided."

Magnus rubbed his face and let out a noise somewhere between a groan and a growl. "You’re asking me to undo an exile and prepare for an orphaned heir all in one conversation? This may lead to war."

"Technically, I’m telling you," Damien said dryly. "I’ve earned that much."

Magnus gave a huff of disbelief and shook his head. "You are, without a doubt, the most aggravating, over-sacrificing vampire I’ve ever met."

Damien grinned. "And yet Luna finds me charming." free we\bnove(l).com

"She needs her head checked."

"She is still going to kill me for marking her though."

"I’ll protect her. And the child. No matter what happens, I swear it."

Damien nodded. "Good. Because if you don’t..." He smirked. "I’ll find a way back from the grave. And haunt your royal ass."

Magnus chuckled despite himself, the sound tired but genuine. "I believe you."

Magnus stared at the vampire before him with reverence. His lips parted slightly as if struggling to find the right words. Finally, he breathed, "You gave up everything so she can live."

Damien tilted his head, a small, rueful smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "It depends on how you see it," he replied. "I gained everything."

Magnus arched a brow. "Gained everything? You’ll be dead within a year."

"Yes, well. I’ve been undead for centuries. Technically, this is a promotion."

The King blinked. "You’re insane."

Damien chuckled. "Possibly. But Luna makes it worth the madness."

Magnus folded his arms. "Why can’t you just tell her? Tell her the truth?"

Damien’s smile softened. "Because I’ve only known Luna a short time, but one thing’s already clear—she tends to carry every burden like it’s her personal curse. She’d think this was her fault. That I chose death because of her."

Magnus nodded grimly. "Yeah. She gets that from her mother."

"Do not fear, Your Highness," Damien said. "Luna will be in good hands. For however long I have, I’ll protect her with everything I’ve got."

Magnus stared at him for a long moment, then muttered, "You’re too good for her."

"I keep telling her that," Damien replied with a grin, "but she insists I’m merely tolerable."

*****

Outside the castle gates, Kyllian stood with fists clenched at his sides and heart doing the emotional equivalent of dry-heaving. He watched as the castle maids bustled about, loading Luna’s trunks into Damien’s car.

His wolf snarled just beneath the surface.

This was surrender. And to a vampire, of all people.

He should have seen it sooner. These bloodsuckers, they came cloaked in mystery and polite manners, then swept in and took everything.

Kyllian had chosen to work with Damien once. A rare alliance between their species. He’d thought—for just one moment—that maybe, just maybe, he’d found a vampire without an ulterior motive.

How stupid he had been.

Damien hadn’t just saved Luna. He’d orchestrated this entire play with the precision of a war general and the smugness of a man who knew he’d win from the beginning. All that nobility, that honor? It was the trap. And Luna had fallen into it.

Right into his undead lap.

"Bastard," Kyllian muttered under his breath.

Kyllian stood, feet rooted to the earth as if moving might break whatever sliver of strength he had left. His eyes were fixed on the driveway, the car, the open doors—each a symbol of her leaving. And then he felt a gentle, featherlight touch on his shoulder. His breath caught in his throat as if the world itself had hit pause.

He turned slowly, almost afraid it was a cruel trick his heart had conjured. But no... there she was. Scarf gently fluttering, eyes darker than usual, and far too calm for someone about to be exiled from everything she knew.

Everything stopped for him. The night sounds dulled, his heartbeat rang in his ears, and the wind stilled as if it, too, was waiting for her to speak.

Luna didn’t meet his gaze. Instead, she stepped up beside him, shoulder to shoulder, and looked out at the sky, now painted with thick charcoal clouds.

"I’m going to miss you," she said softly.

He didn’t answer. He couldn’t. His gaze never left her face—not for a second. As if memorizing her was the only way he’d survive what came next. The curve of her lips. The way her lashes dipped when she blinked.

They stood there in silence. She staring into the distance. He staring into the past, present, and future—all wrapped up in her. fre.ewebnov el.com

Then the vampire arrived.

Damien emerged from the castle. His suit was immaculate, not a wrinkle in sight, despite the ordeal of the past twenty four hours.

"Let’s go," Damien said.

Luna finally turned to Kyllian. Her eyes locked with his, and he saw the storm inside her. "I’m sorry," she whispered. Then she rose on her toes and kissed him.

A full-bodied, soul-bruising, time-stopping, world-realigning kind of kiss.

It was goodbye—but Kyllian refused to let it be. His arms wrapped around her waist with a desperation that startled even her. He deepened the kiss, pouring into it everything he didn’t know how to say. Every wound, every memory, every "I love you" he never got the chance to voice.

Luna let him have it. Let him hold her. She tasted tears on his lips. And when he finally pulled back, he didn’t speak. He just looked at her.

She gave him a shaky smile.

Then she turned away... and walked into the storm.

And Damien was waiting.

His eyes were sharp, arms crossed, expression stonier than the castle walls. If looks could kill, Kyllian would’ve combusted on the spot.

Luna met Damien’s glare with a calm defiance. As if to say, "Yes, I kissed him. No, I’m not sorry. What are you going to do about it?"

She said nothing, just lifted her chin, stepped past him, and climbed into the car.

Inside, she didn’t look back.

She leaned her head against the leather headrest and closed her eyes. She didn’t want to see her home fade in the rearview mirror. Didn’t want to witness the guards saluting, or the windows she grew up behind shrinking into the distance.

She wanted to forget—for just a moment—that she wasn’t a princess being driven away from everything she knew... and toward a life that wasn’t hers.

The car hummed along the dark, winding road leading toward the Blood City—Damien’s domain, and now, Luna’s new life. The trees lining the highway blurred into inky shadows, the moon peeking through gaps. Damien kept one hand on the wheel and the other lightly drumming the leather-wrapped dashboard, casting occasional side glances at the very quiet passenger beside him.

"I will need you to hide your mark in the Blood City," he said at last. "No one has to know... yet."

"Okay," Luna mumbled, eyes still closed, her cheek pressed to the headrest.

Damien gave her a sideways glance, lips twitching. "How long are you planning to give me the silent treatment? Because you will have to speak to me at some point. I’d prefer we get everything out of your system now so we don’t end up arguing in the middle of the castle where every vampire and their undead grandmother can hear."

"I have nothing to say."

Ah. That tone. He knew it well. It was the tone of every wronged woman across centuries. And it meant one very specific thing: She had everything to say but would let you burn before giving you the satisfaction.

Damien cleared his throat. "Alright then... shifting gears. Will you need any help planning the wedding? I can assign you some maids, maybe a personal assistant or two." freew\e bnovel.com

"Not happening."

He blinked. "Not happening as in...?"

"As in I’m not marrying you," she replied coolly, eyes still closed, the calm defiance in her voice sharp enough to slice through steel.

The tires screeched, the car jolted, and Damien slammed hard on the brakes. Luna’s body pitched forward slightly, her seatbelt catching her with a dramatic lurch. Her eyes shot open and met his stunned expression with the practiced glare of someone who’d had enough.

Damien turned to her, jaw slack. "What? What the fucking hell are you talking about?"

"You heard me," she said with maddening calm, as if she’d just told him they were out of milk.

"Excuse me," he said slowly, "that wasn’t the deal."

Luna tilted her head, brows raised. "Oh? Did we shake on it? Because I don’t recall being consulted when you sank your royal fangs into my neck."

"You were dying."