Adrian woke three days later in the sanctuary's medical wing.
Kieran was beside him, still unconscious but breathing. Through their bond—weaker than before but still present—Adrian could feel him healing.
"You're awake," Elena said, relief evident in her voice. "How do you feel?"
"Weak. Confused. Is it over?"
"It's over. The entity is destroyed. You and Kieran somehow weaponized your bond against it. I don't understand the mechanics, but it worked."
"Kieran?"
"He'll wake soon. He gave almost everything to protect you. Your ancient blood kept him from being fully consumed, but it was close."
Adrian spent the next day watching Kieran sleep, holding his hand, willing him to wake.
Finally, on the fourth day, Kieran's eyes opened.
"Adrian?" His voice was weak but there.
"I'm here. We're both here. We survived."
"The entity?"
"Destroyed. Actually destroyed this time, not just dormant."
Kieran's hand tightened on Adrian's. "How?"
"Our bond. Our love. It couldn't consume something it didn't understand." Adrian leaned down to kiss him gently. "We saved each other. Again."
"Always saving each other," Kieran agreed with a weak smile.
Recovery took weeks. Both of them had given so much life force that even vampire healing struggled. But slowly, they improved.
The sanctuary held memorial services for the fallen—hundreds had died in the battle, including several First Generation vampires. The cost had been enormous.
But they'd won. The entity was gone, not sleeping, actually gone. The existential threat that had loomed over supernatural existence for ten thousand years was finally ended.