The first target was in Beijing—a vampire named Lord Zhao who'd been secretly funding Viktor's operation.
Kieran, Marcus, and surprisingly Wei (who insisted the pack had a stake in this) traveled north while Adrian stayed behind at a secure location guarded by Liu and three other werewolves.
"This is humiliating," Adrian complained on their video call. "I'm being babysat by werewolves."
"I'm being babysat by handsome werewolves," Liu corrected from behind Adrian, waving at the camera. "Get it right."
Kieran's eye twitched. "Liu, if you value your life—"
"Relax, leech. He's not my type. Too human." Liu grinned. "Now, if you want to set me up with that Marcus fellow..."
"Marcus is five hundred years old and hasn't dated since the Ming Dynasty."
"Perfect! I love a challenge."
Despite the situation, Adrian laughed. Having the werewolves around was surprisingly comforting. They were warm (literally—werewolf body temperature ran hot), friendly, and treated him like a person rather than a precious object to be protected.
"How's the hunt going?" Adrian asked Kieran.
"We're outside Zhao's compound now. He has twenty vampires guarding him—overconfident." Kieran's face was hard in the camera light. "We'll be done by dawn."
"Be careful."
"Always." Kieran's expression softened. "I love you."
"Love you too. Come back to me."
The call ended, and Adrian tried not to worry. Tried and failed.
"He'll be fine," Liu said, sitting beside him. "Kieran Ashford is the most terrifying vampire I've ever met, and I've met a lot of vampires. He's probably already torn through half of Zhao's guards."
"That's supposed to be reassuring?"
"Isn't it? Your boyfriend is basically an unkillable killing machine who's obsessed with you. Most people would find that romantic."
Adrian snorted. "Most people are weird."
"Says the guy dating a thousand-year-old vampire prince."
"Fair point."
Meanwhile, in Beijing, Kieran was indeed tearing through guards.
Lord Zhao had fortified his compound, but it didn't matter. Kieran moved through the defenses like smoke, his sword singing as it cut down anyone stupid enough to engage him.
Marcus took the left flank, using guns loaded with silver bullets—less elegant, but effective. Wei and her pack circled the perimeter, picking off anyone who tried to escape.
By the time they reached Zhao's inner chamber, the vampire lord was already trying to flee through a hidden tunnel.
"Going somewhere?" Kieran appeared in front of him, blocking the exit.
Zhao was ancient—at least fifteen hundred years old—with the arrogance that came with age. "Kieran Ashford. The Cursed Prince. I should have known."
"You funded an operation to kidnap and kill my partner. What did you think would happen?"
"Viktor promised us a new age. Freedom from hiding, from the Accord's restrictions." Zhao's eyes gleamed. "The old lords will rise, and we'll take our rightful place—"
"The old lords are dead and should stay dead." Kieran's voice was cold. "Viktor's vision would have destroyed everything. Exposed us all. Started wars that would end with both supernatural and human extinction."
"Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven."
"Then enjoy hell."
Kieran moved, and Zhao's head separated from his body before the older vampire could react. He turned to ash, and with him died a significant portion of Viktor's funding.
"One down," Marcus said, appearing from the shadows. "Six to go."
"Let's make this quick," Kieran said, already thinking about getting back to Adrian. "I don't want to be away longer than necessary."