Chapter 16

Alexi pulls up to the grand Zampieri family estate in his sleek black sports car, the engine purring as he parks near the entrance. The sprawling chateau stands majestically against the backdrop of Portland"s skyline

He strides into the mansion with purpose, his leather jacket accentuating his muscular build. As he enters Aziel"s study, he finds his friend seated at the large ebony desk, pouring over ancient texts.

"Aziel," Alexi greets him, a hint of annoyance in his tone. "I hear you"ve been talking to Donovan Knight without filling me in."

Aziel looks up, his deep blue eyes meeting Alexi"s gaze. "Hello to you too, Alexi," he replies, a touch of sarcasm in his voice.

"Don"t give me that," Alexi retorts, crossing his arms. "We"re supposed to be working together on this Marius situation. Why am I finding out secondhand that you"ve agreed to help?"

Aziel leans back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "Last I checked, Alexi, you"re not my mother or my wife. I don"t have to run every decision by you."

Alexi"s eyes flash crimson for a moment, his frustration evident. "That"s not the point, and you know it. We need to be on the same page if we"re going to take on Marius and his Ghaur abominations."

Aziel sighs, standing up and walking around the desk to face Alexi directly. "You"re right, I should have informed you. But if what you"re saying is true, then time is of the essence, and we need all the allies we can get. Donovan"s pack can provide valuable support."

Alexi nods, his anger subsiding slightly. "I get that. But we"re a team, Aziel. We"ve been through too much together to start keeping secrets now. Do you know how humiliating it is being your supposed right hand and I didn"t know what"s going on?"

Aziel arches an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "Is this little tantrum because you found out through the grapevine? Or are you just upset Zara saw you caught off guard for once?"

Heat flares in Alexi"s cheeks and his jaw tightens. Goddamn Aziel and his uncanny ability to strike right at the heart of the matter.

"That"s not the fucking point and you know it," Alexi grits out, glaring at his so-called best friend. "We"re supposed to be in this shit together, not playing petty games of one-upmanship."

"Agreed," Aziel concedes, placing a hand on Alexi"s shoulder. "From here on out, full transparency. We"ll face this threat together, just as we always have."

Alexi"s posture relaxes, a small smile replacing his earlier scowl. "Good. Because we"ve got a lot of work to do if we"re going to stop Marius and his twisted plans."

Aziel chuckles, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You know, Alexi, I think mating with that she-wolf has made you soft. Where"s the ruthless enforcer I used to know?"

Alexi narrows his eyes, a low growl rumbling in his throat. "Watch it, Aziel. I"m still the same vampire I"ve always been. And one day, when you find your mate, I"ll be the one laughing as you turn into a lovesick fool."

"Ha! We"ll see about that," Aziel retorts, grinning. "But for now, let"s focus on the plan. Donovan mentioned that Marius might be hiding out at Shadow"s Hollow. If that"s true, we need to move fast. He"ll sense us coming if we"re not careful."

Alexi nods, his expression turning serious. "Agreed. We can"t afford to waste any time. If Marius is there, we need to take him down before he can unleash any more of those Ghaur monstrosities."

"I"ll gather my best warriors and head to Silvercrest territory immediately," Aziel says, already mentally preparing for the upcoming battle. "But I need you to do something for me, Alexi."

"What is it?" Alexi asks, raising an eyebrow.

"I need you to head to Silvercrest territory first and make sure the werewolves don"t attack my guards when they arrive," Aziel explains, his tone grave. "We can"t afford any misunderstandings or infighting, not now."

Alexi nods, but he lays a hand on Aziel"s shoulder, his expression grave. "I understand your plan, Aziel, but I can"t let you go to Shadow"s Hollow. It"s too dangerous."

Aziel"s eyes narrow, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. "Alexi, you can"t tell me what to do. I"m more than capable of handling this situation."

Alexi"s grip on Aziel"s shoulder tightens, his blue-green eyes boring into Aziel"s. "Yes, I can. And I will. If this plan doesn"t work, we need you here to prevent chaos from erupting among the vampire clans. You"re the leader, Aziel. Your people need you."

Aziel opens his mouth to argue, but Alexi cuts him off. "Listen to me, my friend. Those Ghaurs are no joke, and if Marius is truly hiding out at Shadow"s Hollow, he"ll have more than just a few of those abominations at his disposal."

A muscle in Aziel"s jaw twitches, but he remains silent, allowing Alexi to continue. "I"ll lead the assault on Shadow"s Hollow. I"ve fought alongside your warriors before, and they trust me. We"ll bring Marius to his knees and put an end to his twisted plans once and for all."

Aziel sighs, running a hand through his short, black hair. "I don"t like this, Alexi. I should be the one leading the charge."

Alexi shakes his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "I know you want to be the hero, Aziel. But sometimes, being a leader means knowing when to delegate. Trust me on this."

For a long moment, Aziel stares at Alexi, his deep blue eyes searching for any hint of hesitation or doubt. Finding none, he nods slowly, a resigned expression settling on his face. "Fine. But you better come back in one piece, Alexi. I don"t want to have to find another enforcer."

Alexi chuckles, releasing his grip on Aziel"s shoulder. "Don"t worry about me. I"ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. And besides, I"ve got a she-wolf waiting for me. I"m not about to let some ancient vampire with a god complex get in the way of that."

Aziel smirks, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Just be careful, Alexi. I"d hate to have to step in and save your ass if things go wrong."

Alexi rolls his eyes, a grin spreading across his face. "Have a little faith, Aziel. This is what I do. Now, if you"ll excuse me, I have a pack of werewolves to wrangle and a vampire elder to dethrone."

He spins around and heads out into the brisk night, letting the door swing shut behind him. Time to show that crusty old bloodsucker how it"s done, he muses as he climbs into his sleek black Masarati. The engine purrs to life and he peels out, tires squealing against the pavement.

As the city lights blur past, his mind drifts to Zara, waiting for him back in Silvercrest territory. His heart clenches. Determination surges through his veins.