***Brandon POV****
"How many years has it been?" My voice cut through the silence like a blade.
"Six years," Zara murmured, almost too soft, like she knew I wouldn't like the weight of it.
Six years.
Six years of chasing a ghost. Six years of blood, smoke, and corpses he left behind, always one step ahead.
"For six years, I've been on his trail, and I've never felt this close." My jaw tightened. "Not once. Until now."
Zara shifted, wringing her hands. "How do you know it's him? For all we know, this could be another rogue."
"It's him," I snapped before she even finished. "This is his pattern. He's in New York. And I'm going to find him."
She sighed — the kind of sigh that said she'd had this argument a hundred times and was tired of losing.
"You do know he's not the same person you saw six years ago, right?"
That hit. Harder than I wanted it to.
I scoffed, pushing down the flicker of memory that threatened to surface. "And what do you suggest, Zara?"
Her eyes lifted, searching mine like she was hoping to find a scrap of reason I hadn't burned away yet.
"You could sit this one out. Let it be another pure blood problem."
My blood boiled, rage clawing at the inside of my ribs. "The moment he betrayed the Order and went on his little killing spree, he made it my problem." My teeth clenched, my voice a low growl.
"Brandon, look at the people we've caught along the way," she tried again, softer, pleading. "It doesn't have to—"
"No." The word tore out of me sharp and final.
She flinched but pressed on. "Listen to me. You're slowly becoming the hate. Darkness is hate. It'll eat you alive until there's nothing left of you."
Her words dug under my skin like splinters. I didn't want to hear them, but they stuck anyway.
"I don't want to hear it." My voice was colder this time. "You're right to be afraid — he will kill you if you stay. You're free to walk. But I'm going to be the one to end Dean."
I didn't wait for her reply. I stormed out, jaw locked, every step heavy with fury I couldn't shake.
By the time I slid behind the wheel of my car, my hands were trembling — not from fear, but from the rage that refused to die. My knuckles whitened around the steering wheel, and I shut my eyes, forcing air into my lungs, trying to smother the pounding in my chest.
What if she's right?
What if this hate is the only thing left keeping me alive?
No.
I can't afford that doubt. Not now. Not when I can feel him in my bones. Dean's close. Too close.
He's in New York. He wants to be seen. He'll make a move, he always does. That ridiculous pairing ceremony — witches, hunters, all pretending unity isn't a joke. Exactly the kind of stage he'd choose to send a message.
My lips curled into a humorless smile. If that was my only shot, I'd take it. I'd play the part, drink the wine, smile at the rookies, nod at the higher-ups. None of it mattered.
All that mattered was Dean.
I turned the key, the engine roaring to life beneath me.
And for the first time in six years, I felt it — that pulse under my skin.
I wasn't chasing his shadow anymore.
I was hunting him.
me.
•••••••••
I arrived at the mansion,by then their ceremony had already begun, my blood hammered the more I thought about it.
They celebrate a spell bond that's more like an invitation to death, true hunters don't drag someone along to die with them in the name of partnership.
I could hear the humming of the music, pretty noisy considering the location of the mansion, the guards stationed at the door bowed their hands the moment they sighted me, swinging the doors open.
I strolled in, my eyes scanning the atmosphere. At first nobody noticed my arrival,I adjusted my tie, gently drifting through the crowds. Soon enough the laughter started dying down.
I could sense their stares, like I was some artifact that needed to be recollected. Even though I expected it, I was still ticked off.
Then I saw her, a purple haired girl. Staggering towards me, a drunk who walked towards the path carved for me.
Her body collided with mine, she almost stumbled to the floor. Her wine spilled on my suit,I grunted clutching my fists,my eyes glaring down at her.
The music seized,the hall frozen in silence.
She slowly raised her head,
"Who the hell…"
Her words muted,her glistening green eyes now locked with mine.
"Fuck." She whispered,her eyes rolled backwards and she collapsed on my body.
The whole hall gasped, like they'd witnessed a magic trick.
I grumbled.
"Take her away." I ordered.
Looking at her face one more time, she had a straight face and small lips but there was something else.
Something that made me for a reason wanted to hold onto her.
For a moment I wanted time to stop, for me to hold on to her. With a girl you barely know?
Get over yourself.
I shrugged the thought of my head.What's wrong with you?
"Lord Brandon." A voice alerted me from ahead, with a smile that barely went above his teeth.
"Commander Bruce."
"We were not aware of your arrival."
"I'm not welcomed?"
"Of course not." He threw his hands in the air, chuckling, "you're always welcomed…"
"Spare me the formalities." He choked on his words.
I walked upstairs as he shuffled behind me, grabbed a bottle of wine and poured myself a drink.
"You know why I'm here Bruce." I sighed.
"I hate to disappoint you, but there's nothing to say." He muttered, tightly squeezing his hands.
"I'd reconsider the path you're about to take. It leads nowhere."
"Of course not Lord Brandon."
I leaned close.
"You're wasting my time. And time, unlike your excuses, has value."
He smirked.
"The council is torn in two." He whispered.
My eyes lit up.
"Two families are at lock heads with each other and everyone's picking sides."
"And why is that?"
"There are rumors speculating that…one of the families is working with the shadows and possibly Dean Hale."
I clenched my jaws, all this while that bastard had help?
"What is your gain out of this?"
"It doesn't matter now, does it?" He snickered.
"But it's certain, the girl who collapsed on you today. She belongs to one of those families."
"The witch?" He nodded slowly.
"For your sake, it better be true." My glare sent signals for his dismissal.
My hands slowly ran through my hair, there was something about her. What's her connection to this?
What if she isn't here by chance? He might've sent her.
She might be my only hope of finding out what's really happening.
There's only one way to make sure I seal it, the only way I could get close enough.
No.You should be ashamed of yourself for thinking about that, is this how far you're willing to go?
There has to be another way. Surely not this.
It's only a bond Brandon, don't overthink it…sacrifice, it's all that matters.
I marched down the stairs, my steps echoing inside my brain.As my eyes searched for her.
Until I did…
Time slowed down, the moment I saw her. There was more to this girl than meets the eye.
I strode, every step heavier than I hoped. Her green eyes locked on with mine again.
The words lingered on my lips.
"Lord Brandon,is everything alright?" The head witch asked.
This seemed more difficult than I expected,my fists tightened.
"I sincerely apologize on her behalf."
"The girl is going to be my spell bond witch partner."