The central chamber was massive—a converted cathedral with vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows. Fifty Council of Shadows members stood in formation, and at their center—
"Elena Volkov," Kieran breathed.
The hybrid who'd led the attack that killed Adrian Chen nine hundred years ago stood before them, looking exactly as she had then.
"Hello, Kieran," she said. "Surprised to see me?"
"I let you live."
"You did. And I've spent nine hundred years regretting what I did. Building this Council. Gathering vampires who understand that humans are the true enemy."
"I'm not your enemy," Aiden said, stepping forward.
"You're an abomination. Human soul in vampire body, bonded to an Ancient. You represent everything wrong with our world." Elena's mismatched eyes blazed with fanaticism. "If I couldn't save my brother nine hundred years ago, at least I can save the vampire race now by eliminating contamination."
"You're insane," Kieran said.
"I'm right. And history will prove it. When humans discover us—and they will—only pure vampires will survive. Bonded mates, human lovers, hybrid children—they make us weak."
"Love makes us strong," Aiden countered.
"Love got your last incarnation killed. Love has gotten you killed in every lifetime. Love is a disease, and I'm the cure."
She raised her hand, and the Council members attacked as one.
But Kieran's allies were ready. The chamber erupted into violence—vampire against vampire, ideologies clashing as violently as bodies.
Aiden found himself facing Elena directly.
"You killed me before," he said, circling her. "In my last life. Do you remember?"
"I remember. You threw yourself in front of Kieran. Died for love. Proved my point perfectly."
"I died protecting what mattered. You killed your own brother's memory by becoming this."
Elena snarled and lunged.
They fought with supernatural speed and strength, two forces of nature colliding. But Aiden had advantages—his unusual power, his past life combat memories, and most importantly, something to fight for beyond ideology.
He was fighting for love. For Kieran. For their future.
Elena was fighting for hate.
And hate, Aiden discovered, was always weaker than love.
He caught her mid-lunge, his hand closing around her throat. "This ends now."
"Kill me," Elena gasped. "Make yourself the monster you claim you're not."
Aiden hesitated. Killing her would prove her point. Would show that vampires bonded to humans were just as violent, just as dangerous as she claimed.
But letting her live meant she'd come back. Would threaten them again.
Through their bond, he felt Kieran's presence. Felt the weight of a thousand years of loss, of grief, of watching loved ones die.
"I'm not a monster," Aiden said quietly. "But I'm not a victim either. I'm someone who's learned, across multiple lifetimes, that some battles must be won completely."
He snapped her neck.
Elena's body fell, truly dead this time.
Around them, the battle was turning. The Council of Shadows, seeing their leader fall, began to surrender or flee.
Within minutes, it was over.
Fifty Council members dead or captured. Kieran's allies victorious, though not without casualties—twelve vampires from their side had fallen.
"It's done," Kieran said, pulling Aiden close. "It's finally done."