Chapter 1

Alexi"s muscles flex as he executes a series of punishing strikes against the elite Zampieri guards, his movements fluid and precise, honed by centuries of combat experience. The training center resonates with the sounds of grunts and the sharp crack of flesh against flesh, a testament to the intensity of their sparring session.

Sweat glistens on Alexi"s chiseled form, highlighting the ripple of his muscles beneath his tight-fitting training gear. His dark hair, usually immaculately styled, is tousled and damp, falling across his forehead in a way that only adds to his rugged appeal.

The guards, despite their own formidable skills, struggle to keep up with Alexi"s relentless onslaught. He moves like a predator, all coiled strength and lightning-fast reflexes, his blue green eyes bright with the thrill of the fight.

Alexi stands over them, his chest heaving, a feral grin on his face. This is what he lives for - the thrill of combat, the rush of adrenaline. It"s in these moments that he feels truly alive, truly connected to his primal nature.

Fucking hell, they"re getting better,he thinks as he helps one guard to his feet. But not good enough.

Just as he"s about to launch into another round, his cell phone pings. He frowns, irritated at the interruption. Who the fuck is messaging him now?

He strode over to his bag and fished out his phone. His eyebrows shot up when he saw the coded summons from Aziel flickering across the encrypted screen.

A muscle twitched in Alexi"s jaw as he read the terse message.

Penthouse. Now.

Alexi"s mind races with possibilities, a hint of trepidation mingling with curiosity at what could warrant such an urgent call from his friend and confidant. Aziel isn"t one for dramatics, so if he says it"s important, it must be serious.

Fuck, what now?Alexi thinks as he grabs his gear and heads for the showers. Another territory dispute? A threat to the family?

As the scalding shower cascaded over his battle-hardened body, Alexi fought to suppress the foreboding sensation clawing at his back.

Get it together, Dragomir. You"ve faced worse and come out on top.

No situation was insurmountable—he"d proven that time and again. Still, apprehension lingered like a bitter aftertaste as he toweled off and slipped into clean clothes.

Aziel sounded rattled. And anything that could rattle that stone-cold bastard...He blew out a tense breath. Guess I"m about to find out.

Checking his weapons out of decades-old habit, Alexi strode out to face this latest shitstorm head-on, just like all the others. Some things never changed.

Alexi"s thoughts race as his sleek black Maserati GranTurismo S growls through the neon-lit streets, carrying him to downtown Portland where the high-rise where Aziel"s penthouse looms. His jaw tenses and knuckles whiten on the steering wheel.

As a half-blood, he can"t simply shadowstep like the purebloods. Tonight, a drive clears his head—or at least, it"s supposed to. The cool night breeze rushes in through the open convertible top, tousling his hair, as city lights blur around him.

Alexi stops his car in the parking garage and steps out, slamming the door. He saunters through, his boots leaving faint marks in the grime.

Climbing short steps, he reaches the lobby of the Zampieri high-rise, his boots clicking on the polished marble. He passes the vampire guards, feeling their eyes on him. Some show deference, others suspicion. His nostrils flare at the sour tang of fear rolling off the lesser vampires. Pathetic, he thinks with a curl of his lip.

With that thought, he heads towards the elevator.

The elevator doors slide open with a soft hiss. As he ascends, his mind wanders back to the urgent summons from Aziel. Something serious enough to rattle even his old friend"s legendary composure, Alexi assumes.

His stomach tightens and he straightens his leather jacket as the elevator slows. Showtime.

The penthouse suite unfurls before Alexi"s eyes, its decor an extension of what he knows of the host"s personality.

Pausing just inside the doorway, he takes in the cherrywood paneling, the blood-red accents, and the discreetly placed cctv screens—a reminder that even in his own domain, the vampire lord was still on guard, Alexi muses.

His eyes land on Aziel, framed against the cityscape visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Even from across the room, Alexi senses the tightly coiled energy radiating from his friend, like a predator poised to strike.

"You summoned me?" Alexi"s voice cuts through the silence.

Aziel turns slowly, his navy eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion.

"I did," Aziel says, his tone clipped. "We have a situation that requires your particular skill set."

Alexi arches an eyebrow. "Oh? Do tell."

Aziel"s jaw tightens, his eyes flashing crimson. "Attacks."

"Attacks?" Alexi scoffs, his own eyes burning scarlet. "That"s nothing new. The Vladimirs again?"

Aziel shakes his head. "We"re not sure. That"s what I need you to find out."

"Bodies drained of blood, left in alleyways and abandoned buildings. The human authorities are baffled, but we know better."

Alexi nods, his jaw clenching. "A rogue vampire from another city?"

"It would seem so." Aziel runs a hand through his hair, his brow furrowed. "But there"s something strange about these killings. They"re too messy. Too public. Almost as if whoever is responsible wants to be caught."

Alexi frowns. "A newly turned, perhaps? Someone who hasn"t learned control?"

"Perhaps. But we still can"t rule out the possibility of an experienced vampire gone rogue."

Alexi feels a thrill of anticipation. A mystery to unravel, a target to hunt. It"s been too long since he"s had a worthy challenge.

"So you need me to dig around, find out who"s behind these attacks, and deal with them," he says, grinning.

"Precisely."

Alexi chuckles. "It would be my pleasure." His eyes gleam with a predatory light.

Stepping closer to Aziel, he lowers his voice. "Any other specifications?"

Aziel meets his gaze unflinchingly. "None. Find out who"s responsible and put a stop to it. By any means necessary."

"Understood." Alexi straightens, his muscles coiled with tension. "I"ll start in the underground network."

Aziel nods grimly. "Be careful, Alexi. We don"t know what we"re dealing with."

"Consider it done." A wicked smile curves Alexi"s lips.

As Alexi strides out of the penthouse, he knows the underground network like the back of his hand.

Time to go to work, Alexi thinks, turning towards the elevator.

Alexi enters The Shadowglass, his senses immediately assaulted by the heady mix of supernatural energy and the faint haze of incense. The bar is a haven for creatures of the night, a place where vampires, werewolves, and otherworldly beings can let their guard down and mingle without fear of retribution.

He scans the room, taking in the eclectic mix of patrons. Vampires, with their unnaturally pale skin and air of refined elegance, lounge in the plush velvet booths. Werewolves, their muscles rippling beneath tight t-shirts, congregate around the pool tables, their laughter booming over the low thrum of music.

And then he sees her. Raven Blackthorne, the enigmatic witch known for her extensive knowledge of the supernatural underworld. She sits alone at the bar, her long, black hair cascading down her back, slender fingers wrapped around a glass of deep red wine.

Alexi makes his way towards her, his movements fluid and graceful, like a panther stalking its prey.

"Well, Raven, I never expected to see you here," Alexi purrs, sliding into the seat next to her. "And here I am, getting to enjoy your company. What a rare treat."

Raven slowly turns to face him and rolls her eyes, but Alexi catches a glint of amusement in her icy blue gaze. "Alexi, whatever, you were always the one who managed to slither your way into a girl"s life," she drawls.

"Slither? You wound me, darling," he says, placing a hand over his heart in mock offense. "I prefer to think of it as... artfully inserting myself. Besides, you can"t deny you enjoy my company." He flashes her his most charming grin, the one that usually has women falling at his feet.

But Raven just snorts inelegantly and takes a swig of her drink. "Don"t flatter yourself, Dragomir. I tolerate you, at best."

We"ll see about that.Alexi flags down the bartender to order another round, determined to get under Raven"s skin tonight. One way or another, he"ll crack that icy exterior of hers. It"s only a matter of time.

The bartender brings them their drinks and Alexi waves him off, his eyes locked with Raven"s.

Raven takes a sip of her wine, and Alexi notices her lips curving into a coy smile. "I"m sure your gold-plated ass hasn"t brought you down here to reminisce. State your business, vampire."

"Straight to the chase, I see. I like it." He runs a slender finger along the rim of his newly minted glass. "The attacks, humans drained of blood, some missing."

"And why would I know anything about that?" Raven asks, feigning innocence. She folds her slender, black-clad arms over her chest, but her eyes betray her interest. "This city"s brimming with monsters. One more missing body"s just another meal for…" she pauses, gesturing around the bar, "well, look around, handsome."

Alexi narrows his eyes, attuned to her racing heartbeat, a dead giveaway she knows more than she lets on. "Spare me the act, witch. I know you have a pulse on everything that"s going on in the city. What do you know?"

Raven takes a sip of her wine, her lips curving into a coy smile. "Now, why would I do that? Information is power, Alexi, and I"m not in the habit of giving it away for free."

Alexi chuckles, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Who said anything about free? I"m sure we could come to some sort of...arrangement."

He lets his gaze drift over her striking figure, taking in the way her dark dress hugs her curves, the silver embroidery catching the light.

"I"m listening, but what"s in it for me" Raven says, leaning in closer, her breath ghosting over his skin.

Alexi grins, his fangs glinting in the low light. "The chance to work alongside the devastatingly handsome Alexi Dragomir?"

Raven rolls her eyes, but Alexi can see the hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "You always were a charmer, Alexi."

"Is it working?" he murmurs, his his tone dripping with sensual amusement.

Raven leans in closer, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispers, "Maybe."

Alexi edges closer, his lips barely grazing Raven"s neck. Her quickening pulse calls to his vampire instincts as he wraps an arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him.

"Raven, darling," he purrs, his voice a seductive whisper. "I think we could both use a little...stress relief."

Alexi"s lips trail along Raven"s jawline, and he feels her breath hitch, her eyes fluttering closed. "I thought you"d never ask," she murmurs, her fingers tangling in his dark hair.

His fangs graze her neck as Alexi"s lips twist into a smirk.

Another night, another mark,he thinks with a touch of exasperation. The things I do for this job. He suppresses an annoyed sigh, maintaining his seductive fa?ade.

With a practiced ease, he sinks his fangs into Raven"s neck, her gasp of pleasure mingling with the soft sound of punctured skin. As her blood flows into his mouth, the rich, coppery taste, warm and rich, he reaches out with his mind, using his vampire abilities to sift through her memories.

Images flash before his eyes, disjointed and hazy. Strange creatures lurking in the shadows, their forms twisted and grotesque. Whispers of missing humans, vanishing without a trace. But nothing concrete, nothing that points to a rogue vampire as the culprit.

As he drinks deeper, lost in the flood of Raven"s memories, a new scent wafts through the air. It"s faint at first, almost imperceptible beneath the heady mix of blood and arousal. But as it grows stronger, Alexi finds himself unexpectedly distracted, his focus wavering.

The scent is primal, a heady blend of earthy moss, wild lavender, and warm amber, with a hint of something he can"t quite place. An intoxicating perfume that kicks him straight in the cock, igniting a fire in his veins that has nothing to do with the feeding.

What the hell?

He feels a sudden, overwhelming urge to seek the source of that scent, to bury his face in it and breathe deeply.

Raven presses herself closer, and Alexi feels her nails raking down his back as she grinds against him, mistaking his sudden stillness for desire. The sensation is pleasurable, but Alexi barely notices, his mind consumed by the mysterious scent that seems to permeate the very air around them.

He pulls back, his fangs retracting as he licks the last drops of blood from Raven"s neck, sealing the puncture marks. His eyes, normally a piercing blue green, flare demonically red - almost glowing with intensity. A shudder runs through him, his body reacting to the primal pull of the scent in a way he"s never experienced before.

"What is it?" Raven asks, her voice hazy with lust. "What"s wrong?"

Alexi shakes his head, trying to clear the fog from his mind. "Nothing," he says, his voice rough. "I just...I need a moment."

"Tell me more," he commands, his voice low and urgent. "What else have you heard about these attacks?"

Raven"s eyelids flutter, her resistance crumbling under the weight of his stare. "I... I don"t know," she admits, her voice trembling. "Just whispers, rumors of strange beings lurking in the shadows."

Alexi"s grip on her tightens, his fingers digging into her flesh as he leans in closer. "Think harder," he growls, his fangs grazing her skin. "There must be something else, some detail you"ve overlooked."

Beneath his touch, Alexi feels Raven"s body quiver as she whimpers. "I... I can"t," she gasps, her eyes wide with fear and desire. "Please, Alexi..."

But Alexi"s not listening, his focus solely on the fragments of memory he"s gleaned from her blood. He knows there"s more to this mystery, some crucial piece of the puzzle he"s missing.

Determined to uncover the truth, he sinks his fangs back into her neck, drinking deeply, searching for any hint or clue that might lead him to the possible rogue vampire. As Alexi drinks from her, Raven"s body goes limp in his arms, and he feels her head loll back, surrendering to the ecstasy of his bite.

But even as he feeds, Alexi"s mind is haunted by the scent that lingers in the air, the tantalizing aroma that seems to call to him. He knows he should ignore it, focus on the task at hand.