The warehouse district was abandoned, perfect for a covert meeting. Kieran had arranged to negotiate with a contact who claimed to have information about the hunters—their base, their leadership, their plans.
"I don't like this," Marcus said, standing beside them in the shadows. "This feels like a trap."
"Everything feels like a trap lately," Kieran replied. "But we need information. We're fighting blind."
Adrian scanned the area with his newly enhanced senses. Heartbeats—at least a dozen, hidden in the surrounding buildings. "We're not alone."
"I know." Kieran's hand found his. "Stay close to me."
A figure emerged from the warehouse—tall, hooded, moving with predatory grace. But as they approached, Adrian caught the scent. Not vampire. Not entirely human either.
"Hybrid," Marcus breathed.
The figure pulled back their hood, revealing a woman with mismatched eyes—one blue, one amber. "Kieran Ashford. The ancient one. I've heard so much about you."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Elena Volkov. Daughter of a vampire father and a witch mother. And I'm here to offer you a choice."
"What kind of choice?"
"Surrender yourself to the Council of Hunters, and they'll spare your territory. Your people. Your..." She looked at Adrian with a cold smile. "Your beloved."
"Never," Kieran snarled.
"I thought you'd say that." Elena raised her hand, and the warehouse district exploded into chaos.
Hunters poured from every direction—armed with silver weapons, holy water, magical wards. But worse, they had something new: weapons that glowed with dark energy, designed specifically to kill vampires permanently.
"Run!" Kieran shouted, pushing Adrian toward Marcus.
But Adrian wasn't running. He fought beside Kieran, their bond allowing them to move in perfect synchronization. For every hunter that fell, two more appeared.
Then Adrian saw it—a hunter aiming one of those dark energy weapons directly at Kieran's back.
Time seemed to slow. Adrian moved without thinking, throwing himself between Kieran and the blast.
The weapon fired.