Sulfur spring mist clung to Alyssa's bare shoulders like translucent shroud. Layne traced the unhealed claw marks on her back, drawing silver-blue blood—proof her Shadowclaw bloodline was being corrupted.
"Relax, little wolf." His fangs grazed her earlobe, breath reeking of oxidized metal. "Vampire waltz has three beats: seduction, surrender, death."
Bubbles erupted as Moonflare hatchling flared in her veins, only for Layne to drown it underwater. Steam twisted into seventeen dancing silhouettes, each with Alyssa's face and a unique silver collar.
"Pick your favorite demise?" He peeled off his soaked shirt, revealing the cogwheel heart where their engagement ring pulsed violet. Sulfur burns regenerated slower now, new muscle fibers flowing like molten wax.
When her knee slammed his thigh, Layne hissed. Ancient warnings surfaced on the spring floor—her father's handwriting: Those who dance with nightfolk shall be exiled by moonlight. In the ripples, his pupils fractalized before reverting at her touch.
"Quick learner." He spun her violently, crimson droplets freezing mid-air. Each held memories—Kane's mother hanging from the sacred oak three days after this dance.
Moonflare phoenix exploded, igniting steam into falling ice shards. Layne laughed through cracking collarbone: "Now we dance." He snapped his own regenerating arm bone against stalactites, drawing a bloody requiem.
The wall crumbled to reveal Evelyn's diary pages—"Seventh Sacrifice" illustrated with Alyssa's dance poses. As tremors shook the spring, Layne bit his tongue, forcing venom down her throat: "Your sister choreographed your finale."
When mist cleared, Alyssa found her father's missing boot at the pool bottom, its buckle engraved with Layne's heart-runes. The final vision showed young Layne sliding the same ring onto her undead great-grandmother's finger.