Bound by fate:the vampire CEO's bride

Chapter 3: The Unseen Bond

Amara's heart raced in her chest as she stood behind Damien, the man's cold eyes never leaving her. The lobby was a whirlwind of panic, but all she could focus on was the tension in the air-the undeniable charge between her and Damien. His protective stance, the way he held himself between her and the danger, made her heart race in ways she couldn't understand.

The man in front of them still smiled-that cold, unsettling grin that never faltered. "You can't protect her forever, Damien," he sneered, stepping closer, his boots echoing ominously against the floor. "She belongs to someone else now."

Amara's breath hitched. Someone else?

Damien stood, rigid, his gaze cold but honed. His posture said it all, the stark intensity of his presence promising he wasn't going to take a step back. "I'll die before I let anyone take her."

Amara's mind swirled. Who were these people? What did they mean by "belonging" to someone? The unease that had been heavy in her stomach felt so much heavier. But as Damien uttered those words-words that should have scared her-there was something else in his voice: a raw, undeniable emotion. And it wasn't just the protectiveness; it was deeper, something… intimate. The way he stood his ground, though knowing nothing of what was really going on, made her feel safe.

The man laughed softly, shaking his head. "You'll regret this," he muttered, turning toward the exit, his figure disappearing into the shadows.

Amara was immobile, her eyes glued to him as he disappeared, but soon returned to Damien as he swung around. His dark eyes, burning with intensity, latched onto hers, and for the first time, there was something in them-something more than the mask he wore. There was a flicker of something so much more personal, so much more vulnerable.

"You're safe," Damien said, his voice soft, but with a note of finality that made her heart skip. He stepped toward her slowly, each step measured, and it seemed as though the world around them faded into the background. Everything, all the chaos, the questions, the strange unease—it all melted away in the space between them.

She felt the warmth of his body as he closed the gap between them, his eyes so bright it was almost unbearable. Her pulse quickened once more, and she fought the urge to step backward. There was something magnetic about him, something feral that pulled her in. Yet at the same time, her body froze, torn between fear and something she couldn't quite name.

The hand rose to touch her cheek, his touch oddly gentle. "I won't let anything happen to you, Amara." His voice was low and sincere, a vow that he would keep no matter what.

Her heart fluttered. It was hard to believe anyone could feel so… protective of her, especially someone like Damien, whose cold exterior never seemed to crack. And yet, in this moment, it was as though he was revealing a side of himself she never expected to see.

You barely know me," she whispered, unable to feel anything. She could not deny the growing connection between them, the way her body leaned toward him, it would seem, in rhythm with his every move.

Damien gave a small, almost imperceptible smile, his fingers staying on her cheek. "Sometimes, we don't need to know someone to know they matter.

The words sent a flush of warmth through her, and her breath caught. For one second, an eternal moment, it was as if the world around them didn't exist. There was only the two of them: the warmth of him, the presence of him, the inexorable pull that seemed to yank her closer. Her body responded instinctively, with a flutter of desire washing over her.

It wasn't until her wrist was grabbed by Damien's hand and he tugged her near that the swirl of feelings in her began to settle, giving way to her heart-sketched breath. She felt an acrid tension between them, charged like electricity, such that but a little touch would cleave asunder the flimsy link that existed between them.

He didn't say another word. Instead, he reached for her, his lips brushing against her forehead in the softest of kisses. The tenderness in that gesture clashed with the tumultuous tide of feelings sweeping through her. She was caught deep in the storm-the danger and mystery, the raw connection that made no sense and, yet, at that moment, seemed to. And it all made perfect sense, even when she knew it couldn't.

Amara's eyes fluttered closed as her body betrayed her with responses she couldn't control. The kiss was brief, the warmth of it remaining, and she could feel the racing beat of her heart in her chest, the pulse of desire unmistakable.

He stepped back a little, and for the first time, his face softened. "I don't want to push you into something you are not ready for," he whispered, hardly louder than a breath. "But there is something here, Amara. I just can't deny it. I have to protect you. but I need you to trust me.

The vulnerability in his words caught her off guard. She had never seen him this way-so open, so raw. It was as though the walls around him had crumbled, revealing a side of him she didn't know existed.

Her heart was torn. She didn't know what to believe. Her mind was telling her to be cautious, to push him away and place a distance between them, but her heart.her heart was telling her quite another story.

"I-I don't know what is happening, Damien," she whispered, not louder than a whisper. "But I feel it too.".

His eyes softened, and he took another step closer, his hand reaching for hers. "You don't have to understand it. Not yet. But I promise, I'll be here."

It was a fragile, intimate moment. The touch of his fingers with hers made Amara shudder; the electricity which sparkled between them kindled in her an unbearable fire, which she simply wasn't able to smother. Now, there was just no more denying it. Something had changed between them. Undeniable, something that went beyond the danger they were facing.

Damien's gaze softened as he intertwined his fingers with hers, pulling her closer once again. "Don't worry," he said quietly. "I won't let anyone hurt you. You're mine to protect, Amara."

The words struck her heart like a chord, but before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Someone was coming.

Damien tensed, his protective instincts flaring again as he pulled Amara closer to him, shielding her with his body.

A voice rang out in the hallway, cutting through the tension like a blade. "Damien! You're not going anywhere with her."

Amara's heart sank. Another figure step

ed into view—tall, dangerous, and all too familiar. Kieran.