VIVALDI'S BROW FURROWED. “Well, you're making it sound like Chloe's in trouble or something. I mean, I don't really give a hoot about her, but for the sake of my freedom, I'm cool with keeping her safe.”I put on a reassuring smile. “Don't sweat it; she's fine.” I let out a laugh, hoping to throw him off the trail. The last thing I needed was Vivaldi poking around and possibly covering his tracks if he was indeed the culprit.The thing was, his voice didn't waver with guilt or worry, like he genuinely had no clue what had gone down with Chloe. I was baffled, man. Pinning the attack on Vivaldi felt like a stretch, especially since anyone could've framed him using our kind's mind control mojo. From then on, I decided to keep an even closer eye on the guy – couldn't be too careful.Trying to lighten the mood, I teased, “I was just checking to see if there's any shred of compassion in that cold, undead heart of yours. So, do you actually have feelings for Chloe, or was it all just mind con
Gabriel's chillin' in his small flat, minding his own business, when suddenly his phone goes off like a fire alarm. It buzzed and vibrated so hard that it made the whole countertop hum like a bee. Gabriel snapped out of his daydream, and his hand shot out quicker than a cat, grabbing the phone with a smooth touch.His thumb swiped across the screen, and his heart went THUD, like it just fell down a flight of stairs. The voice note made his chest feel heavy, as if someone had poured concrete in it. It was from Winter, one of his sister Chloe's besties.Winter's words hit Gabriel like a slap in the face: “Gabriel,” she said, her voice full of sadness, “I hate to be the one to break it to you, but Chloe's in the hospital, hurt pretty badly. She's got a nasty wound on her neck, but she's a tough cookie, and she made it. Still, it's pretty rough. The docs say she's lucky, but you know how it is. She needs you, man. I know you've been away, but she's been asking for her big brother.”Gabrie
ANGEL FINALLY CRUMPLED TO THE GROUND, and Noah rushed to Samantha's side, his breath catching in his throat at the sight of her pale, lifeless form. Tears streamed down his face, their warmth a stark contrast to the cold fear that gripped his heart. He gathered her into his arms, her blood soaking through his clothes as he cradled her against his chest. His sobs filled the night air, mingling with the gentle rustle of the wind through the trees. As he knelt there, his grief a palpable force in the darkness, a shadow fell over him, casting a chill down his spine. Noah's instincts kicked in, and he turned with lightning speed, his gun raised and ready to fire. But Angel was faster. His fangs glinted in the moonlight as he dove at Noah, his movements a blur of predatory grace. Noah fired wildly, the gun's blast illuminating the night in flashes of light and shadow. Yet no matter how many times he pulled the trigger, Angel's jaws remained locked onto his neck, those deadly fangs sinking
“THIS WHOLE NIGHTMARE STARTED the moment you showed up,” I spat, my voice laced with venom. “I've seen the evil you're capable of with my own eyes. I watched you sink your fangs into Chloe's neck. I saw you drain the life from countless girls in that godforsaken cave where you fed me nothing but lies. And don't forget how you took pleasure in seeing me rip into that poor driver when we first met.” My chest heaved with the weight of my accusations. “You tried to lure me in, to convince me to feast on the innocent. What could be more monstrous than that?” “That was before I met you,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “Now, I have a goal, a task to accomplish, and a master to serve for eternity. I've changed, and I wouldn't do anything to risk my chance at freedom.” “To hell with it,” I yelled, his gaze intensifying as he looked me straight in the eyes. “Will me to speak the truth.” I felt my breath catch in my throat. “Will me,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. The weig
“EVERYTHING WENT TO HELL THE MOMENT you showed up,” I hissed, my voice dripping with rage. “I've seen the monster you are with my own eyes. I watched you sink your fangs into Chloe's neck, draining the life from her like she was nothing. I saw you drain the lives out of those girls that day you lured me into that godforsaken cave where you fed me nothing but lies. And don't forget how you took pleasure in seeing me rip into that poor driver when we first met”.My chest rose and fell with the fury of my words. “You tried to lure me in, to convince me to join you in your twisted games. What could be more monstrous than that?”His voice was barely a whisper. “That was before I met you. Now, I have a purpose, a duty to fulfill, and a master to serve for all eternity. I've changed, and I won't risk my chance at freedom for anything.”“To hell with it,” I growled, my gaze burning into his. “Will me to speak the truth.”I felt the air leave my lungs in a rush. “Will me,” he repeated, his voi
SO, HERE I AM, sprawled out on the cold, damp floor of a dark cave, naked as the day I was born. My tiny hands are cuffed with these gigantic chains that look like they could hold down a whole friggin' ship! I let out a groan that makes a wounded bear sound like a whimpering puppy. Every bone in my body screams in agony; it's like a sledgehammer-wielding madman has gone to town on me.As I try to move, the pain just won't quit. I reach for the keys to freedom, lying oh-so-close on the cave floor. But my hands are shaking like leaves in a hurricane, weighed down by the chains and that ceaseless, pounding pain. I have to wait it out, waiting for my secret superpowers to swoop in and patch me up. I know they'll stitch my broken bones, mend my torn flesh, and silence that shrieking pain.So, I lay there, wincing and writhing on the ground, my eyes tracing over the bloody remnants of my, shall we say, “transformations.” The cave walls are splattered with dried blood, like some abstract pain
I'LL BE HONEST, FOLKS—my blood runs colder than an Arctic river at that moment. This isn't going to end well.I cock my head to the side, my lips forming a thoughtful 'O.' Now, what have I called him again? Oh, right—Mr. Bean Head and his glorious bald dome. I've really gone and stirred the pot now, haven't I?“I say I want a mug of beer!” I chuckle nervously, trying to backpedal faster than a clown on a unicycle. But my new friend isn't buying it. Not one bit.“No, no,” he growls, his chest heaving like a stormy sea. “What did you call me?”I clear my throat, scrambling for a way to defuse the situation. “Uh, I said, Mr. Blonde Head!” I lie, hoping he'll buy it.“But... I'm not a blonde,” he says, his brow furrowed in confusion.Well, if he wants the truth, I'll give it to him. My lips curl into a mischievous smirk. Oh, this is going to be good. “If you're not a blonde,” I say, drawing out the moment, “then that means you're a...”I pause, letting the tension build like a pressure co
SO HERE I AM, FEELING like the cat that got the cream as I lap up the rich, honey-like blood. My serpentine tongue savors every sweet drop, like it's the nectar of the gods. I can't get enough, but eventually, the poor guy's body goes limp in my grasp, so I let him drop. His glassy eyes stare up at me, so I gently close them. I'm not a complete monster, you know?I let out a long, satisfied breath, then hop up onto the bar counter, my gaze sweeping over the rows of glittering bottles. So many choices! I can't decide which one to go for, so I do a little “eeny meeny miny moe” until my fingers land on a fancy-looking bottle of Johnnie Walker. “Aha!” I exclaim. The thick, curvaceous glass and the swirly pattern on the label catch my eye, so I figure, Why the heck not?I grab the bottle, jump back down to the ground, and crack it open. As I take a long, deep swig, the sweet, bubbly liquid dances on my tongue. I can't help but let out a contented sigh. “Next time, you won't argue with me w