Tokyo at midnight was alive with energy—humans going about their lives, completely unaware of the supernatural world that existed alongside them.
Asmodeus's headquarters was in Roppongi, disguised as an exclusive nightclub. But beneath the dance floors and bars, there were levels that catered to supernatural clientele—demons, vampires, even some fae who enjoyed slumming with the damned.
And deeper still, there was Asmodeus's private domain—his office, his files, his secrets.
"The device Bael gave us should get us past the magical wards," Marcus explained, reviewing the plan one last time. "But there will still be physical security—demon guards, surveillance systems, possibly trapped corridors. We need to move fast and quiet."
Kieran would lead the infiltration team—himself, Marcus, and two of Wei's best wolves. Adrian would stay in their secure location a mile away, monitoring through cameras and communication devices, ready to coordinate extraction if things went wrong.
"I hate this," Adrian said, helping Kieran check his weapons. "I should be going with you."
"You're the target, remember? If Asmodeus even suspects you're near his headquarters, he'll mobilize everything to capture you." Kieran cupped Adrian's face. "Besides, I need you safe. That's how I can focus on the mission instead of worrying about you."
"And I'm supposed to not worry about you?"
"You're allowed to worry. Just do it from a distance." Kieran kissed him, deep and claiming. "I'll be back before dawn. Promise."
The team left, and Adrian settled in to watch through the surveillance feeds they'd hacked into. Wei sat beside him, her pack spread throughout the safe house as additional security.
"He'll be fine," Wei said, though she didn't sound entirely convinced. "Kieran's survived a thousand years. He's not going to die breaking into a nightclub."
"It's not a nightclub. It's a demon lord's fortress," Adrian muttered, watching the feeds anxiously.
On screen, he saw Kieran's team approach the club. The device Bael had provided—a small metallic disc—glowed faintly as Marcus pressed it against the building's wall. The magical wards flickered and died, creating a temporary opening.
"We're in," Kieran's voice came through the comms. "Moving to the sub-levels."
They descended through hidden passages, avoiding main areas where demon guards patrolled. The club's layout was deliberately confusing—corridors that looped back on themselves, rooms that seemed to shift position, spatial magic designed to trap intruders.
But Kieran had planned for this. He followed a route Marcus had mapped out, using ancient vampire senses to detect magical manipulation.
"Third sub-level," Marcus reported. "Asmodeus's office should be at the end of this corridor."
"Security is too light," Kieran observed. "He should have more guards down here."
"Maybe he's confident in his wards?" one of the wolves suggested.
"Or it's a trap," Kieran said flatly. "Everyone stay alert."
They reached the office door—heavy steel reinforced with demon glyphs. Marcus examined it carefully.
"Multiple locks, both mechanical and magical. Give me five minutes."
"You have three," Kieran said, his instincts screaming danger.
Marcus worked frantically, his fingers moving over the locks with practiced precision. Two minutes in, the door clicked open.
Asmodeus's office was exactly what Adrian expected—opulent, dark, reeking of wealth and power. Massive desk, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Tokyo, and most importantly, a safe built into the wall.
"There," Kieran pointed. "His records will be in there."
While Marcus worked on the safe, Kieran and the wolves secured the perimeter. But something felt wrong. Too easy. Too quiet.
The safe opened, revealing stacks of documents and several data drives.
"Got it," Marcus said, grabbing everything. "Let's move—"
The lights went out.
When they came back on, Asmodeus stood in the doorway, flanked by a dozen demons. His beautiful face wore a smile that promised pain.
"Kieran Ashford. I've been expecting you."
Back at the safe house, Adrian watched in horror as the feeds showed Asmodeus's appearance.
"It was a trap," he said, already standing. "We have to extract them—"
"Wait," Wei grabbed his arm. "We can't just rush in. That's what he wants. We need to think—"
"There's no time!" Adrian's fangs extended, his eyes going red with panic and rage. Through the blood bond, he could feel Kieran's surge of adrenaline, his battle-readiness mixing with concern. "I'm going."
"Adrian, no—"
But Adrian was already moving, vampire speed carrying him out of the safe house and through Tokyo's streets. Wei cursed and followed with her pack, knowing she couldn't stop him but determined to provide backup.
Adrian covered the distance to the club in minutes, his ancient blood giving him speed that rivaled even the oldest vampires. He crashed through the club's entrance, startling human patrons who saw only a blur.
Down, down, down through the levels, following the blood bond that connected him to Kieran like a compass pointing home.
He reached the third sub-level to find chaos.
Kieran and his team were fighting for their lives against Asmodeus's demon guards. Blood—both vampire and demon—splattered the walls. Marcus was injured but still fighting. One of the wolves was down, possibly dead.
And Asmodeus watched it all with that same terrible smile.
"Adrian!" Kieran's voice held both relief and fury. "What are you doing here?"
"Saving you," Adrian snarled, launching himself at the nearest demon.
His ancient blood made him stronger than he should be, faster than a five-year-old vampire had any right to be. He tore through demons with savage efficiency, his protective instincts overriding any sense of self-preservation.
Asmodeus's smile widened. "Perfect. You've delivered yourself right to me."
He moved with demon speed, bypassing the fight to grab Adrian. His hand closed around Adrian's throat, lifting him off the ground.
"Did you really think I didn't know about your little plan? That Bael wouldn't tell me everything?" Asmodeus's grip tightened. "He's playing you, fools. Playing all of us. But it doesn't matter. Because now I have you."
Adrian struggled, but demon strength was overwhelming. His vision started to darken—
Then Kieran was there, his sword piercing through Asmodeus's shoulder. The demon lord screamed, releasing Adrian, who dropped to the floor gasping.
"Touch him again," Kieran said, his voice death itself, "and I'll make sure you experience every form of suffering that's been invented in the past five thousand years."
Asmodeus pulled the sword from his shoulder, black ichor dripping from the wound. "Brave words. But you're outnumbered. Outmatched. And your precious mate is exactly where I want him."
More demons poured into the corridor. Thirty, forty, maybe more. Too many to fight.
Wei and her pack arrived, crashing through demons, but even with their help, they were overwhelmed.
"Kieran," Marcus shouted, "we need to retreat!"
"Not without the evidence—"
"I have it!" Marcus held up a data drive. "Got the important files before the trap sprang. We need to go NOW!"
Kieran grabbed Adrian, pulling him to his feet. Through the blood bond, Adrian felt Kieran's mind racing, calculating escape routes, survival probabilities.
"The windows," Kieran decided.
"We're three floors underground—"
"Trust me."
Kieran ran toward the office, Adrian and the others following. Demons chased them, getting closer. Asmodeus's laughter echoed through the corridors.
"You can't escape! I'll find you! I'll take everything from you!"
They reached the office. Kieran didn't hesitate—he grabbed Adrian and jumped through the floor-to-ceiling window, vampire strength carrying them through reinforced glass and out into Tokyo's night.
They fell three stories, crashed through the real ground-level floor, and tumbled into an actual underground parking garage beneath the building.
Wei and her pack followed, shifting into wolf form mid-fall to absorb the impact. Marcus landed badly but survived.
"Run!" Kieran commanded, and they ran.
Through the parking garage, up into the streets, across Tokyo in a desperate flight. Behind them, demons gave chase, but gradually fell back—they couldn't maintain vampire speed, and werewolves were even faster.
They made it back to the safe house, bloodied and exhausted but alive.
"Everyone accounted for?" Wei asked, shifting back to human form.
"One wolf down," Marcus reported grimly. "Takeshi didn't make it out."
Silence fell. They'd lost someone. The mission had cost a life.
"Did we at least get what we came for?" Adrian asked quietly.
Marcus held up the data drive. "Everything Asmodeus has on his plot. Documents, communications with his coalition, detailed plans. It's all here."
"Then Takeshi didn't die for nothing," Kieran said. "We'll mourn him properly. But first, we need to get this evidence to the supernatural council. End this before Asmodeus can regroup."
Adrian looked at Kieran, at the blood and exhaustion and determination in his expression. Through their bond, he felt the guilt—Kieran blamed himself for Takeshi's death, for the trap they'd walked into.
"This isn't your fault," Adrian said quietly.
"I led him into that trap—"
"Asmodeus set the trap. Bael probably helped. We all knew the risks." Adrian took his hand. "We got the evidence. We can stop a war. That's what matters."
Kieran pulled him close, holding him like he might disappear. "When I saw Asmodeus grab you, when I thought he might take you from me—"
"But he didn't. I'm here. We're both here." Adrian kissed him fiercely. "And now we finish this. We expose him. We end his threat. Together."
"Together," Kieran agreed.
They spent the night analyzing the data drive, compiling the most damning evidence. By dawn, they had everything they needed to prove Asmodeus had violated supernatural law—attempted murder of a supernatural lord, conspiracy to control an entire species, breaking demon protocols that had been established for millennia.
It was enough. More than enough.
Now they just had to present it without getting killed in the process.