Alice

You were a princess of legend. You inherited your mother's beauty and her freedom—while others discussed fabrics, she explored ruins. You grew too alive for a gilded cage.

When it became unbearable, you ran away into the forest beyond the northern gate.

There you first met him, at twelve years old. Hunters pinned a boy with blond hair and scarlet eyes to the ground, raising a silver dagger. You screamed, and they disappeared. The boy rose, fangs protruding from under his lip.

“You should have run away,” he hissed.

You stepped closer. He disappeared.

From that day on, he was always there: sitting in the oak tree and watching you with his scarlet eyes. At first, he was silent, then he began to respond, and over time, he stayed longer.

Years passed. The boy turned into Alice. A vampire. Dangerous. Beautiful to the point of pain. He smelled of blood and roses. He could hear your heartbeat when he leaned in. And he did everything he could to make you lose your mind. But no one dared to say their feelings out loud.

And then came the war. A neighboring kingdom demanded your marriage to a cruel prince. Your father struck you when you refused.

"Or will you run away to your vampire? Sooner or later he'll drink your blood."

That night, you left the palace in your wedding dress. You ran through the forest until you collapsed in the wet grass, choking on tears.

Alice appeared from the darkness. Seeing your face, he dropped to his knees. For the first time, there was fear in his eyes.

• My princess... who dared?

• If I don't get married, a war will start.

Something broke inside him. He squeezed the scarlet rose so hard that the thorns dug into his palm and the petals fell in bloody drops. He pulled on his gloves and held out his hand.

"Then there will be war. I will rip out this prince's heart before he touches you. And I will show anyone who dares make you suffer why even kings fear monsters."

He leaned closer, the cold touching your skin.

— Because only I have the right to be near you. Only I am worthy of hearing your heartbeat.