Chapter 12

As they lay in bed, Zeenia"s words about their fated mates replay in Alexi"s mind. He smirks, imagining the unstoppable force they"d become if bonded. "You know," he murmurs, tracing patterns on Zara"s bare back, "Zeenia said if we complete the bond, we could get some...interesting abilities."

Zara shifts to meet his gaze. "Like making every vampire and werewolf get along?" Her sarcastic tone can"t mask the underlying hesitation.

"Something like that," he chuckles, leaning in to brush a kiss against her forehead. "Though I imagine it would be a bit more...potent than mere mind control."

Zara hums thoughtfully, her brow furrowing ever so slightly. Alexi can practically see the wheels turning in her head as she weighs the implications. After a moment, she meets his gaze again, her expression resolute. "Let"s do it."

Alexi blinks, taken aback by her sudden decision. "Are you sure?" He holds her gaze, needing to be certain she"s fully committed to this path. "Once the bond is sealed, there"s no going back, darling. It"s a permanent joining of our souls."

Alexi"s heart swells as Zara nods, confirming her decision, her voice filled with unwavering certainty. A playful smirk dances on her lips as she tilts her head, her sea-green eyes sparkling with mischief. "Are you scared of being stuck with me until I die of old age, bloodsucker?"

He chuckles, shaking his head as he reaches out to tuck a stray lock of her dark hair behind her ear. "Actually, little wolf, our life forces will be completely entwined once we seal the bond. You"ll be granted an extended lifespan, just like me."

Zara"s eyes widen, a flicker of surprise and wonder crossing her face. "So, I"ll be immortal?"

"Not quite," Alexi clarifies, his fingertips tracing the curve of her cheek. "I know werewolves have longer lifespans, but you"d live even longer. We"ll have centuries together, my gorgeous she-wolf."

The weight of his words hangs in the air between them, a promise of a future that spans lifetimes. Zara"s expression softens, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "I like the sound of that," she murmurs, leaning in to capture his lips in a tender kiss.

As they pull apart, a newfound sense of purpose and unity settles over them. They rise from the bed, their movements synchronized as they begin the Ritual of Acceptance.

Alexi guides Zara through the ancient steps, his deep voice resonating with power as he speaks the Eldaran incantation. Sylvarae eilunen, aerethalis threnolen...

The ritual reaches its climax, and Alexi"s fangs elongate, his crimson eyes locking with Zara"s molten gold ones. With a swift, precise movement, he sinks his teeth into the soft skin of her neck, and the connection between them surges to life.

As her blood flows into him, a kaleidoscope of sensations and emotions floods his mind—her passion, her strength, her unwavering loyalty. It"s overwhelming and exhilarating, and he knows he"ll never be the same.

Alexi"s mind reels as another vision slams into him, crystal clear this time. Marius, that sadistic fuck, looms over some poor bastard strapped to a table, dark magic swirling around him like a twisted hurricane. The energy pulses with pure evil, making Alexi"s gut clench.

Marius chants in some ancient tongue that sounds like grinding bones, his hands painting sigils in the air. The poor soul on the table writhes and screeches, body warping into something straight out of a nightmare. Skin bubbles, bones snap and twist. It"s like watching a horror movie.

With dawning dread, Alexi realizes he"s witnessing the creation of the Ghaurs.

The vision shifts, and Alexi sees Marius surrounded by a horde of Ghaurs, their eyes glowing with an unholy red light. Marius laughs, the sound cold and cruel, as he sends them forth to wreak havoc on the city.

As abruptly as it began, the vision ends, and Alexi finds himself back in the present, his knees hitting the floor hard as he gasps for breath. Beside him, Zara is in a similar state, her chest heaving and eyes wide with shock.

"Marius," Alexi growls, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.

"He really is the one behind the Ghaurs," Zara asks, her expression grim.

Zara"s brow furrows, her mind racing to process this new information. "But why? What does he stand to gain from all this chaos?"

Alexi shakes his head, his jaw clenching. "Power, control, the satisfaction of watching our world burn. Who knows what twisted motives drive a man like Marius Draven?"

Alexi meets Zara"s gaze, his crimson eyes still blazing with the aftershocks of the vision. He nods, his expression grim. "We need to tell Aziel, but..." He hesitates, running a hand through his dark hair. "Aziel"s a stickler for protocol. He"ll want more than just our word and some psychic visions to go on."

Zara"s brow furrows, frustration evident in the set of her jaw. "But we can"t just sit on this, Alexi. If Marius is really behind the Ghaurs, we need to act now before more people get hurt."

"I know, I know." Alexi holds up his hands placatingly. "I"m not suggesting we do nothing. Just that we need to be smart about this. Gather some concrete evidence before we go to Aziel."

Zara"s brow furrows, her eyes sparking with determination. "Then we"ll have to get my father involved." She squares her shoulders, her voice filled with unwavering certainty.

Alexi raises an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "You think your father will be willing to work with us on this? To trust the word of a vampire?" He knows the history between their kinds, the centuries of animosity and mistrust that have shaped their relations.

A wry smile tugs at Zara"s lips. "Oh, he"s not going to like it one bit," she admits, her tone laced with a hint of amusement. "But he"s also not one to ignore a threat to our community, no matter where the information comes from."

Alexi can"t help but admire her confidence, the way she stands tall and unafraid in the face of the challenges before them. It"s one of the many things that drew him to her in the first place, that fierce, unbreakable spirit that burns within her.

"Alright then," he concedes, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Let"s go convince the great Donovan Knight to join forces with a bloodsucker."

Zara laughs, the sound bright and warm in the stillness of the room. "Oh, this is going to be fun." She reaches out, her hand finding his, their fingers intertwining as they make their way out of the penthouse.