The Council of Shadows' monastery stood like a dark fortress against the night sky.
Kieran's army approached in three waves—Dmitri's group from the north, Rashid's from the south, Celeste's from the east. Kieran, Aiden, and Marcus would enter from the west, the main entrance.
"They know we're coming," Marcus reported, his magic sensing the defensive wards. "They've prepared."
"Good," Aiden said, his fangs descending. "I'd hate for this to be too easy."
They'd discovered something in the past week: Aiden was powerful. Not just vampire-powerful, but something more. The combination of his reincarnated soul and vampire strength created unusual abilities.
He could sense life forces from incredible distances. Could move even faster than typical vampires. And most importantly, his blood—because he was turned by an Ancient—had healing properties.
"You're a weapon," Marcus had said with awe. "A living, breathing weapon."
Now, standing before the monastery, Aiden felt that power thrumming through him.
"Ready?" Kieran asked.
"I was born ready. Literally, across multiple lifetimes."
They attacked at midnight.
The monastery's doors exploded inward as Dmitri's vampires breached the north entrance. Alarms blared. The Council of Shadows swarmed out like angry hornets.
The battle was chaos—vampires moving at inhuman speed, power clashing with power, the night filled with screams and the scent of blood.
Aiden fought with instincts from past lives—a soldier in 1156, a warrior in 1347, a fighter in every lifetime. His body knew what to do even if his mind had only weeks of vampire experience.
He tore through Council members with ruthless efficiency, protecting the weaker members of their alliance, keeping Kieran's back covered.
Through their bond, he felt Kieran doing the same—centuries of combat experience channeled into lethal grace.
"They're retreating!" someone shouted.
The Council of Shadows was falling back, regrouping in the monastery's central chamber.
"It's a trap," Marcus warned. "They're drawing us in."
"Then let's spring it," Aiden said, and charged forward.