Pure bloods are on top of the royal hierarchy on the social structure of vampires. Different family trees hold different types of power.
❝ He is your leader but he is not mine, I'm my own leader. ❞
Cross Academy is a school where vampires and humans...
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CHAPTER EIGHT
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Over the next couple of weeks, Iris kept her mischief to a minimum, but the pull Zero felt toward her only grew stronger. No matter how much he tried to shake it off, he couldn't escape the sensation that haunted him—her voice echoing softly in the back of his mind, her amber eyes flashing green with dark promises.
It wasn't just a passing thought; it was an obsession that burrowed deep under his skin, like a whisper that wouldn't be ignored.
Zero tried everything to ignore it—he buried himself in his patrols, focused on the task at hand, but no matter where he went, he felt it. Her presence, like an invisible thread, tugging at him, pulling him closer. Her voice always lingered there, just out of reach, soft and mocking, beckoning him like a siren.
One particularly quiet evening, Zero found himself walking the academy grounds again, his thoughts unsettled and restless. The cold night air didn't do much to calm his nerves. He tried to focus on his surroundings, on his duty, but his thoughts kept drifting back to her.
"Dammit..." He muttered under his breath. His grip on the gun holstered at his side tightened as he walked along the tree line.
Suddenly, the familiar green glow flickered in the distance, cutting through the darkness like a beacon. His heart skipped a beat, his muscles tensing instinctively.
"I knew you'd be here." Zero murmured, eyes narrowing as he pushed through the trees toward the source of the light.
When he reached the clearing, he saw her. Iris was standing with her back to him, her hands tucked casually into her pockets, her long, raven hair streaked in silver, glowing faintly in the moonlight. Her eyes were closed, but Zero knew she could sense him. The air around her felt thick with magic, a heavy energy that made his skin prickle.
Before he could take another step, she turned, her gaze locking onto his. Her lips curled into a slow, mocking smile.
"Ah, Zero... You've been looking for me, haven't you?" Her voice was teasing, dripping with the same haunting melody that had been tormenting him for weeks.
"Enough games, Manoban." Zero said, his voice low and strained. His patience was running thin, and he couldn't take it anymore. The pull was unbearable, gnawing at him from within. "What did you exactly do to me? Why the hell am I drawn to you? It's killing me."
Iris's smile widened at his words, her amber eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. She took a step forward, her movements smooth and deliberate, as though she was savoring every moment of his frustration. Zero felt an involuntary shiver run down his spine.
"You really don't understand, do you?" Her voice dropped to a softer, more intimate tone. "The more you fight me, the more you'll be drawn to me. It's in your nature now. You've already succumbed."
Zero gritted his teeth, every instinct in his body screaming at him to back away, to get as far from her as possible. But his feet didn't move. The magnetic force of her presence kept him rooted to the spot, and his hand clenched into a fist.
"Stop it." He growled, trying to push the overwhelming urge down, but it only made it worse. His body felt like it was on fire, like something was pulling him toward her, forcing him to obey.
Iris took another step closer, her eyes flicking to his lips for a brief moment before her gaze locked back onto his. There was something dangerously playful in her expression.
"You want to understand? Fine." She purred, raising a hand slowly, almost as if to taunt him. Zero's heart raced as she brought it closer to his face, her fingers brushing lightly over his jaw. Her touch was electric, sending a jolt of warmth through him.
When she cupped his cheek, Zero froze. A low gasp escaped him before he could stop it. His body betrayed him, his head instinctively tilting into her touch, nuzzling into her hand like he was starved for her affection. The moment it happened, his eyes widened in disbelief, and he jerked back, horrified at how weak he had become.
"No..." He whispered, his voice hoarse as he fought to regain control. "Why am I...?"
Iris smirked, her lips curling in satisfaction. "See? The more you resist, the more you crave it. This is what you don't understand, Kiryu. You're already mine."
Zero's mind raced, panic threatening to consume him. The last shred of his willpower fought desperately against the pull of her magic, but it was no use. Every part of him wanted to pull away, but another part—a darker, deeper part—wanted nothing more than to fall into her embrace, to surrender to her touch.
Iris's smile was full of wicked amusement, and she tilted her head slightly, watching him struggle with fascination. "You're a lot more fun than I thought. I expected you to be more resistant, but I see... you're already too far gone."
Zero opened his mouth to argue, but the words caught in his throat. All he could do was stare at her, his heart pounding, his breath shallow, and his body betraying him in ways he didn't fully understand.
"You'll never escape it now." Iris said softly, as though speaking to herself, her thumb brushing lightly over his skin. "But don't worry, Zero. I'll take good care of you."
She leaned in just slightly, her lips brushing the side of his face, and for a moment, Zero's entire world narrowed to the feel of her against him. The pull, the need, the overwhelming desire—he couldn't fight it anymore.
Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, Iris stepped back, her hand dropping from his cheek as she regarded him with a mix of amusement and something darker, something more dangerous.
"Next time." Iris grinned. "You won't be able to resist me at all. I'll make sure of it."
With a swirl of green smoke, she vanished from his sight, leaving Zero standing in the clearing, breathless and confused, his mind spinning with what had just happened. His hand went to his face, feeling the lingering warmth where her fingers had touched him.
But no matter how much he tried to shake it off, the pull remained. It was there, lingering in the depths of his mind, and Zero realized—he was trapped.
Iris Manoban had him in her grasp, and there was no escaping her.
