Breaking the Blood Bond Before Dawn

The Story

The birthday celebration at the upscale Blood Banquet Lounge turns into a nightmare when Daniel Cook vanishes for an emergency at the Elders’ Council. Just as the protagonist finishes ordering, a post from Camila Bennett, a Pureblood Elite, reveals Daniel assisting her with a napkin. The caption implies he is feeding her after waking from Torpor, a fact that instantly kills any remaining appetite. The protagonist ignores the archaic Latin menu and instead orders everything from the Blood Reserve selection. Back at the Underground Manor in Manhattan, the phone lights up with missed calls from Daniel. His final voicemail dismisses the incident, claiming Camila had just woken up and promising to make it up next time. The protagonist leaves the message unanswered, questioning the value of a relationship built on perpetual delays for an immortal who cannot afford to wait.