BLOOD OATH: THE VAMPIRE'S CLAIM

Chapter 13

Sacrifice and Surrender

The storm raged outside, wind howling through the shattered windows of the old temple. Candles flickered, casting long, restless shadows across the stone walls. The weight of the night pressed down on her, heavy with the impossible choice she had to make.

Kill the queen.

Or save Lucian.

The words echoed in Seraphina's mind like a curse. There was no right answer, no path that didn't lead to pain. The queen's magic was ancient, unstoppable. Facing her was a death sentence. But if she didn't, Lucian would be lost.

She gripped the edge of the stone altar, her breath unsteady.

Behind her, Damien spoke. "You're not going alone."

She turned to him, her heart aching at the quiet resolve in his eyes. He stood near the fire, his golden skin illuminated by the flickering light, his dark hair slightly disheveled. He looked like a warrior—but tonight, there was something else in his expression. Something raw.

"I have to do this," she whispered.

Damien exhaled sharply, stepping closer. "Not without me."

She shook her head. "You don't understand. If I don't face her alone, she'll kill you too."

He caught her wrist, his touch firm, grounding. "Then let her try."

Tears burned in her eyes. "Damien—"

"I won't let you do this alone," he said, voice fierce. "I won't let you walk into death while I stand here waiting for the world to burn." His hand cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. "You are everything to me, Seraphina. And if you think I'd let you throw your life away without fighting for you, then you don't know me at all."

Her breath caught.

He was too close, his warmth intoxicating, his presence overwhelming.

And gods, she wanted to lose herself in him.

Because after tonight, there was no guarantee she would be alive to feel this again.

Seraphina moved first, crashing her lips into his, her fingers tangling in his hair. Damien groaned, his hands sliding down her back, pulling her closer as the fire between them erupted.

They stumbled back against the altar, the cold stone biting against her skin as Damien lifted her onto the smooth surface. His mouth traced fire down her throat, over her collarbone, his breath hot and desperate.

Her hands roamed his body, pulling at his shirt, needing to feel every inch of him. He obliged, shrugging off the fabric, leaving his sculpted chest bare. She ran her fingers over the scars that marked his skin, reminders of the battles he had fought, the pain he had endured.

Damien cupped her face, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Tell me you want this."

She swallowed hard, her body aching with need. "I want you."

He captured her lips again, slower this time, savoring the taste of her. His hands slid beneath her dress, pushing the fabric higher until there was nothing between them but heat and desire.

Seraphina gasped as his fingers teased her, sending waves of pleasure through her body. He took his time, worshipping every inch of her, making her feel as if she were the only thing that mattered in the world.

And in that moment, she believed it.

They moved together, their bodies entwined, each touch a promise, each kiss a silent vow. She whispered his name against his skin, her nails digging into his back as he pushed her closer to the edge.

When they finally shattered together, it was with a desperation that left them both breathless.

Damien held her against him, his fingers tracing lazy circles on her back. "Stay," he murmured. "Stay with me."

Seraphina closed her eyes, pressing her forehead against his. "I can't."

His grip tightened. "Then let me fight with you."

She pulled away, her heart breaking as she whispered, "This is my fight."

The throne room was silent when Seraphina entered.

The queen stood at the far end, her silver gown trailing behind her like spilled moonlight. Her crimson lips curved into a cruel smile.

"You finally came," the queen purred. "How brave."

Seraphina drew her sword, her hands steady. "I didn't come for bravery."

The queen laughed. "No, I suppose you didn't." She tilted her head, eyes gleaming. "You came to die."

Seraphina lunged.

Their battle was a dance of steel and magic, light and darkness colliding with every strike. The queen was fast, impossibly so, her claws raking across Seraphina's arm as she barely managed to dodge.

Pain flared, but she didn't stop. She couldn't.

But the queen was toying with her.

"Did you think you could kill me?" she mused, dodging another strike effortlessly. "Did you think love would make you stronger?"

Seraphina gritted her teeth. "No."

Then, the queen's gaze shifted, and her smile widened. "But he did."

Seraphina froze.

No.

She turned just in time to see Damien stepping into the throne room, his sword drawn. His eyes met hers, full of stubborn determination.

"Damien, no!"

But it was too late.

The queen moved faster than thought, her claws piercing his chest before he could react.

Seraphina's scream shattered the air.

Damien staggered, blood spilling from his lips as the queen twisted her hand deeper into his heart. His eyes flickered to Seraphina, filled with something she couldn't bear to see—acceptance.

"No," she whispered, rushing forward. "No, no, no—"

The queen leaned in, whispering against Damien's ear. "Love makes you weak."

And then she ripped his heart out.

Seraphina fell to her knees as Damien's body crumpled to the ground.

The world blurred.

All she could see was the blood.

All she could hear was the sound of her own shattered soul.

The queen wiped her claws against her gown and smiled.

"Your turn, little hero."

Seraphina's scream ripped through the throne room, raw and broken. The world shrank to the sight of Damien's lifeless body sprawled across the marble floor, blood pooling beneath him.

He was gone.

Her heart. Her anchor. The man who had given her everything, who had loved her even when she couldn't love herself.

Dead.

The queen smirked, tossing Damien's still-beating heart aside as if it were nothing more than a discarded trinket. The wet sound of it hitting the floor made Seraphina's stomach churn.

Something inside her shattered.

The pain was too much. Too vast. Too deep.

Then—something new took its place.

Rage.

It started as a slow burn in her chest, a heat that coiled and expanded until it was a roaring inferno, consuming every part of her. The air around her crackled with energy, the ground beneath her trembling.

The queen noticed.

"Oh?" she murmured, tilting her head. "Do you still have some fight left in you, little one?"

Seraphina lifted her head, her vision tinged with red. Power surged through her veins, hotter than any flame. Her fingers curled into fists, the magic within her no longer a quiet whisper, but a deafening scream.

"I'm going to kill you," she said, her voice eerily calm.

The queen laughed, a sharp, cruel sound. "Oh, darling, you couldn't even save him."

Seraphina didn't wait.

She moved faster than she ever had, magic exploding from her palms as she launched herself at the queen. Their battle wasn't like before. This wasn't a game.

It was war.

The queen barely dodged Seraphina's first strike, surprise flickering in her ancient eyes as a bolt of golden fire seared past her cheek, leaving a deep burn.

Seraphina didn't relent.

She struck again and again, her sword a blur of silver light. For the first time, the queen was forced to defend herself.

But Seraphina wasn't just fighting with steel and magic.

She was fighting with grief. With fury.

With love.

Every strike was for Damien. Every blast of fire was for the nights he had held her, the words he had whispered against her skin.

The queen snarled, lashing out with dark tendrils of magic, but Seraphina batted them away with a flick of her wrist.

Then, she saw the opening.

The queen faltered, just for a moment.

It was all she needed.

With a primal scream, Seraphina drove her sword straight through the queen's chest.

The impact sent shockwaves through the room, light colliding with darkness in a blinding explosion.

The queen gasped, her body arching as golden fire spread through her veins, consuming her from the inside out.

Her silver eyes widened in shock.

"No," she rasped, clawing at the blade. "