Chapter 84

I felt as if my blood were thickening, growing heavier with each beat of my fragile heart, threatening to shatter under the strain. My breathing came in ragged gasps as I locked eyes with Caspian, silently pleading for clarity.

“What... what am I turning into?” I whispered, my voice trembling with anxiety. “Caspian, what am I becoming?!” The question tore from my lips in a desperate cry.

“Thalassa, calm down,” he urged, springing to his feet and gripping my shoulders. “Look at me. Just breathe.”

I nodded weakly, drawing in a shaky breath, my gaze never leaving his.

"You don't have the wolf gene," he began, his voice measured, "but your DNA is... unique. Some dormant genes in your code have awakened, and I believe you've also assimilated something from vampire DNA."

I swallowed hard. “What are you saying?” I asked, struggling to make sense of his words.

“There’s an element in vampire blood called Tenebris—a changer. It behaves like a virus, injecting its genetic core into human cells and initiating the transformation into a vampire. Normally, Tenebris needs a particular environment to activate—death, or the brink of it. But somehow, your cells have partially accepted its DNA. I suspect that reaction triggered your other latent abilities…” His voice wavered with unease, as if bracing for my reaction.

“So... I’m becoming some kind of hybrid?” My fingers fidgeted as I tried to process the implications. “Will I start craving blood? Avoiding the sun? And why now? I’ve had Hadrian’s blood three times already.”

Caspian sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t know why it’s happening now. Maybe... maybe it was your blood loss after Hadrian fed from you. What I do know is that your body only absorbs what it finds beneficial. You're adapting. Evolving. It’s like you’re becoming a better version of yourself—Super Thalassa,” he said with a faint grin.

I let out a shaky laugh, a ghost of a smile tugging at my lips. “Super Thalassa, huh?”

“It’s not a bad thing,” he reassured me, his expression softening. “You’re already stronger than any human. I believe your speed, agility, even your senses will sharpen with time—without the usual downsides.”

An ironic chuckle escaped me. I had spent my whole life battling my body's weaknesses, branded as fragile and useless. And now? Now I was transforming into something more. Something powerful. At least, that's what Caspian believed.

“How long will this... change take? When will it stop?” I asked, gradually coming to terms with it.

He shrugged. “I can’t say. Think of it like discovering new talents—you can either nurture them or ignore them. It’s up to you.”

A flicker of excitement ignited within me. I had another reason to train, to push myself beyond my limits. The thought of wielding my newfound strength against vampires set a fire in my chest.

As I returned to the castle, my nerves had settled, and I even chatted with Elio on the way back. For the first time in a long while, I found it easier to smile, knowing—at least in part—what was happening to me. I was curious about this new version of myself.

By the time I reached my chambers, it was past 11 PM. Quietly, I slipped through the corridors, eager to collapse into bed.

But the moment I stepped inside, my heartbeat surged, pounding in my ears before I even reached for the light switch. In my haste to shut the door, my fingers fumbled, searching for it—only to freeze as I felt the chilling whisper of familiar breath against the nape of my neck.

"Where were you all day?" Hadrian’s voice was a low, dangerous whisper, his breath ghosting over my skin.

Before I could answer, he spun me around and pinned me against the door. A gasp escaped me at the sight of his eyes—dark, hungry, burning with anger and desire. His jaw clenched tight, his fury palpable. Was he truly this enraged just because I came back late?

"You’re not allowed to leave the castle," he growled, his hands gripping my wrists and pinning them against the door.

"I was in Caspian’s lab—"

“That makes it even worse,” he hissed, his lips brushing against my ear before he bit down lightly. “Spending the whole day with another man…”

“I was doing tests,” I protested, my voice unsteady.

“You gave him your blood without my permission,” he muttered, nipping at my neck in punishment.

I flinched, glaring up at him. “Something is changing inside me. I needed answers, and you weren’t here—”

His lips crashed against mine, cutting off my words with a deep, possessive kiss. His tongue invaded my mouth, his desire laced with raw frustration. And I… I thrived on this jealousy of his. It only made me crave him more.

"Take off your clothes," he commanded, stepping back just enough to watch me.

Slowly, I shrugged off my jacket, feeling his eyes darken as he bit his lip in anticipation.

"Faster," he warned, smirking. "Or I’ll tear them off myself."

I obeyed, unbuttoning my shirt with trembling fingers and sliding my skirt down. His eyes gleamed as he rid himself of his own clothing in a swift motion.

Standing before him in my simple sports underwear—practical, meant for endurance tests earlier that day—I watched as his predatory smile grew. Without hesitation, he unsheathed his claws and sliced through my bra and panties in one fluid motion. My ruined lingerie fell to the floor.

“You said you wouldn’t ruin my clothes,” I muttered, my gaze locked with his.

“I changed my mind.” His arms wrapped around me, lifting me effortlessly and tossing me onto the bed.

My breath hitched as his fingers traced the sensitive skin of my thighs. Then, without warning, his fangs sank into my femoral artery, sending a shudder of pleasure through me. As he fed, his fingers delved into me, heightening my arousal until I was trembling beneath him.

When he finally pulled back, licking the last traces of my blood from his lips, I expected the wound to need healing—but it had already vanished.

“I told you,” I whispered, meeting his suspicious gaze with a smirk. “I’m changing.”

He didn’t reply, just chuckled darkly and captured my lips once more. As he pressed his body against mine, I felt the heat of his need, the aching urgency as he claimed me.

He plunged deep, filling me completely, and I surrendered to the waves of pleasure crashing over me, losing myself in him. Again and again.

After what felt like hours, I lay breathless in his arms, my body sated yet still attuned to his touch. But something had changed. His gaze was different—more intense, more regal.

“This is our last night here,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“W-why?” I asked, my heart skipping a beat.

“We’re moving to the Royal Palace,” he said, his eyes locked onto mine. “You’re looking at the new king of vampires.”