Five years since Adrian's transformation. Five years of love, battle, growth, and passion. Five years that felt like both an instant and a lifetime.
"Can you believe it's been five years?" Adrian asked, standing on their balcony overlooking Shanghai.
"Sometimes it feels like yesterday. Other times like we've been together for millennia." Kieran wrapped his arms around Adrian from behind. "But every moment has been worth it."
"Even the crisis moments?"
"Especially those. They showed us what we're capable of together."
Adrian turned in his arms, looking up at Kieran's face. "I love you. I don't say it enough, but I do. You're everything to me."
"I love you too. More than I loved you as Elias, more than I could have imagined during my thousand years of waiting. You've exceeded every dream, every hope, every fantasy."
They kissed on the balcony, under the Shanghai stars, five years of love and passion and partnership flowing between them.
"Bedroom," Kieran murmured. "I want to make love to you properly. Slowly. Show you exactly how much you mean to me."
Adrian's body responded immediately. "Yes. Please."
They moved to the bedroom, both removing clothes deliberately, savoring the reveal of familiar skin. When they were both naked, Kieran pulled Adrian to the bed.
"Lie down. Let me worship you."
Adrian obeyed, spreading out on their bed. Kieran started at his feet, his mouth traveling up slowly, kissing, licking, occasionally biting gently. He spent time on Adrian's thighs, his hip bones, his stomach—everywhere except where Adrian wanted him most.
"Kieran, please—"
"Patience. I'm savoring you."
Kieran continued his worship, his mouth finding Adrian's chest, his neck, his lips. The kiss was deep, thorough, perfect.
Finally, finally, Kieran's hand wrapped around Adrian, stroking slowly. Adrian's back arched off the bed, pleasure sparking through him.
"So beautiful," Kieran murmured. "So perfect. Mine."
"Yours," Adrian agreed breathlessly.
Kieran prepared Adrian carefully, his fingers working thoroughly, stretching and teasing. When Adrian was ready, begging, desperate, Kieran finally positioned himself.
"Look at me," Kieran commanded. "I want to see your eyes when we connect."
Adrian met his gaze, and Kieran entered slowly, deeply. They both gasped at the perfect connection, the rightness of being joined.
"I love you," Kieran said, beginning to move. "I love everything about you. Your strength, your compassion, your passion, your stubbornness. You're perfect for me."
"I love you too," Adrian managed. "You're my everything. My mate, my love, my eternity."
They moved together slowly, building pleasure gradually, maintaining eye contact. The blood bond amplified everything—every sensation, every emotion, every thought flowing between them.
When they were both close, Kieran shifted their position so they could drink from each other. Their fangs sank in simultaneously as they came together, blood and pleasure and love merging into one transcendent moment.
Their souls merged completely, the bond reinforcing, their connection absolute. In that moment, they were one being—not Adrian, not Kieran, but something greater than both.
When they finally separated, both were shaking with the intensity.
"That was..." Adrian couldn't find words.
"That was our bond at its strongest. Our souls completely merged. We're one, Adrian. Truly, completely one."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
They lay tangled together, both satisfied and content. Through the window, Shanghai's lights glittered, the city continuing its endless motion, unaware of the two immortal beings who'd found each other across a thousand years of separation.
"What happens next?" Adrian asked.
"We build our sanctuary. We continue helping people. We face whatever threats emerge. We love each other through it all." Kieran kissed his forehead. "We live, Adrian. Fully, completely, together."
"That sounds perfect."
"It will be. Because we're together."
They made love once more that night, slowly and tenderly, celebrating five years together and the infinite years ahead. The blood bond sang between them, their love absolute, their connection unbreakable.
As dawn approached, they drifted into meditation, wrapped in each other, both completely content.
Five years down.
Eternity to go.
And neither of them could wait.
END OF VOLUME 2 : "ETERNAL SHADOWS "
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