Chapter 18

Alexi surges forward, his muscles coiled with power as he leads the charge alongside Zara. Their bond thrums between them, a living force that amplifies their strength and synchronicity. Around them, the elite Zampieri guards and Zara"s pack move as one, a deadly unit cutting through the horde of Ghaurs.

Zara is a whirlwind of death at his side, her movements graceful and lethal. Through their bond, he can feel her savagery, her joy in the heat of battle. It sings to his own predatory instincts, urging him faster, harder.

For every horror Marius has wrought, we"ll make him pay tenfold, Alexi vows silently as he fights through a knot of howling fiends. Black ichor sprays, spattering his face and clothes. The taste of it on his tongue only stokes his rage higher.

The carnage unfolds in a haze, a blur of fang and claw, silver and steel. Alexi becomes a conduit of destruction, the beast within him unleashed to savage and rend without mercy. His world narrows to the foes ahead and the deadly she-wolf at his back, their hearts beating in sync, united in the fury of battle.

You"re magnificent, confidence suits you,he marvels through their bond, catching glimpses of Zara"s dire wolf form as she tears through their enemies. She"s a blur of midnight fur and rippling muscle, towering over the largest of their pack. A goddess of death and moonlight.

Zara"s savage delight curls through his mind like crimson smoke. As are you, my love. Now let"s finish this, before your sweet talk makes me forget myself.

Your voice drips with razor-edged hunger,Alexi sends back, his mental tone thick with savage desire. He can practically taste Zara"s bloodlust on his tongue, feel it thrum through his veins like a drug. It"s intoxicating, sharing this vicious rapture with his soulbound mate as they paint the night red.

Alexi grins fiercely, pivoting to hamstring a lunging ghaur. With pleasure. In perfect tandem, they press their attack, an implacable force that cannot be denied.

In this moment, awash in blood and violence, they are divine retribution incarnate.

Alexi"s pistol barks, silver rounds punching through the Ghaurs" flesh, buying precious seconds for Zara to rip into them.

My warrior queen,he thinks with savage pride as she tears their foes. Poetry in violence, my love.

Zara"s vicious elation curls through his mind, coppery and hot. As it does in you, my heart. Now shut up and kill.

Alexi grins while hamstringing a lunging Ghaur, his ivory knife flashing. Yes ma"am.

Beside him, Zara snarls viciously, her gleaming fangs sinking deep into another Ghaur"s putrid flesh. We"re getting closer, her voice rasps across their mental link, raw with savage exertion. I can feel it.

Marius is here,Alexi confirms grimly, his resolve hardening like tempered steel as he senses that twisted presence. I know it in my bones.

They exchange a glance, their bond flaring between them. In that moment, Alexi feels the depth of their connection, the unshakable trust and unwavering commitment to each other and their cause.

Alexi"s pulse races as he and Zara smash through the last defensive line, ghaurs folding like rag dolls under their ferocious onslaught. The growls and staccato of gunfire mixed with the crunch of severed necks from behind assure him their werewolf and Zampieri allies continue to hold back the ravenous swarm.

Almost there,he grits out across the mind link, feeling Zara"s feral determination. Just a little further.

The ancient stone archway looms before them, thrumming with Marius"s vile power. Alexi"s breath catches. This is it, the devil"s lair. Where that sadistic fuck has been orchestrating all this horror and death.

His reign ends now,Zara growls, yellow eyes glinting. We"ll tear his throat out!

Alexi checks the magazine of his gun and slams it back in with a satisfying click, the cool metal eager for retribution. Damn straight we will! That son of a bitch has no idea what"s about to hit him.

Steeling himself, he steps across the threshold into the waiting shadows, Zara prowling at his side. The malignant energy skitters across his skin like oily fingers.

It"s now or never. Reckoning is at hand.

Alexi"s breath catches in his throat as they breach the threshold into Marius"s inner sanctum. The air crackles with an unholy energy that sets his teeth on edge, every instinct screaming danger.

What the fuck is that thing?He can"t tear his gaze away from the abomination before them, a grotesque mashup of Ghaur and something far more sinister. Oily black veins pulse beneath its mottled skin, its eyes glowing with a sick, otherworldly intelligence.

Marius"s pet project, looks like.Alexi"s muscles coil tight, ready to spring into action. Must"ve juiced it up with some seriously dark mojo.

The enhanced Ghaur shifts, its movements jerky and unnatural. Alexi"s stomach turns at the wrongness of it, bile rising in his throat. Ugly motherfucker, aren"t you?

He glances at Zara, sees his own dread mirrored in the set of her jaw. Steady now. We"ve got this. Alexi takes a breath, letting their mental link flare bright and strong between them. Together.

As one, they turn to face Marius"s twisted creation.

Alexi"s sinews wind taut, coiled to unleash hell. Marius pumped this bastard full of some dark magic.

Zara flanks left as Alexi circles right, the two moving in sync, a well-oiled machine. Watch the claws. Alexi sends the thought through their link as the Ghaur swipes, its talon-tipped fingers glinting in the fading light.

No shit.Zara"s mental voice drips with sarcasm, even as she nimbly sidesteps the attack. Any other brilliant observations?

Just keep on your guard.Despite the situation, a grin tugs at Alexi"s mouth, his blood singing with the rush of the fight. And keep that sweet ass intact.

You"re a pain in the neck.But Alexi senses Zara"s daring smile, her excitement at the looming battle. Let"s finish this asshole.

Alexi"s throat constricts as the Ghaur"s wicked claws catch Zara off guard, catapulting her straight through the crumbling wall. Fuck! Heart pounding, he whirls toward the gaping hole. "Zara!"

She"s not moving. He fights the urge to run to her, knowing their best chance is to end the Ghaur.

Pure, unadulterated rage boils in his gut, seething through his veins. And with it comes an unfamiliar sensation—a tingle sparking in his fingertips and surging up his arms, flooding his chest. His muscles quake, barely containing the raw onslaught of power.

It"s like a hidden well inside him has ruptured, deluging his system with untamed energy begging for release. Holy hell. Alexi sucks in a sharp breath, knees nearly buckling. This...this is new. Terrifying. Exhilarating.

The strange tingling sweeps through Alexi"s body like a tidal wave, threatening to knock him on his ass. What the hell is happening to me? He grits his teeth, willing himself to stay upright as the energy swells inside him, wild and untamed.

It"s like nothing he"s ever experienced before—a deep, thrumming connection that feels suspiciously like... Zara. He can sense her presence, not just beside him, but within him. As if their souls have somehow fused together, blurring the lines between where he ends and she begins.

Holy shit.Alexi sucks in a shaky breath, heart hammering against his ribcage. This bond between them, it"s unleashed something in him. Something powerful. Something dangerous.

And it"s growing stronger by the second, building like a gathering storm until he"s damn near drowning in it. Fuck. He squeezes his eyes shut, hands curling into fists at his sides. If he doesn"t get a handle on this soon, it might just consume him completely.

Alexi staggers back, his body trembling with the sudden influx of raw, untamed power. It"s like a live wire running through his veins, setting every nerve ending ablaze. Fuck, fuck, fuck. He grits his teeth, struggling to maintain his footing as the energy surges within him, wild and demanding.

Breathe, Alexi.Zara"s voice echoes through their bond, a soothing balm amidst the chaos. I"ve got you.

Alexi sucks in a shuddering breath, Zara"s voice a lifeline he clings to desperately as the maelstrom rages inside him. Thank god you"re okay, he sends through their bond, head snapping towards the hole she"d punched through the wall.

The sight of her picking herself up from the rubble, determination etched on her blood-streaked face, sends a flood of relief crashing through him. She"s alive. Banged up to hell and back, but alive.

I"ve got you,she repeats, the words wrapping around his mind like an unbreakable vow. Always.

Alexi draws strength from that promise, from the unshakable faith shining in her eyes as she limps towards him. Slowly, painfully, he wrestles the snarling beast of his magic back under control, chaining it down with every ounce of willpower he possesses until it"s no longer threatening to tear him apart at the seams.

I know,he sends back fiercely, reaching out to pull her into his arms the second she"s close enough. I know you do.

He latches onto her presence like a lifeline, drawing strength from the unwavering love and determination that flows between them. Slowly, painfully, he begins to harness the raging torrent, shaping it into something manageable. Something he can wield.

That"s it,Zara encourages, her own power entwining with his, steadying him. You"ve got this.

The electricity receded to a low vibration thrumming through Alexi"s veins, transforming from a raging wildfire to a contained current. This is absolutely insane. He curled and uncurled his fists, mesmerized by the miniature lightning bolts arcing across his knuckles. I must be losing my goddamn mind.

Zara flashed him a feral grin, her eyes ignited with molten gold. But it"s also pretty incredible, yeah?

Damn straight.Alexi returned her manic grin, intoxicated by the surge of raw energy flooding his system. His attention snapped back to the mutated Ghaur as it lumbered to its feet, regarding them with calculated caution. Ready to take this new party trick for a spin?

Thought you"d never ask.Zara falls into step beside him, her own magic flaring bright and strong.

They unleash a blistering assault on the creature, fire and lightning raining down in a devastating barrage. The Ghaur shrieks in agony, its mottled flesh sizzling and smoking under the onslaught.

The Ghaur charges them with a guttural roar. Alexi reaches out instinctively with his mind, harnessing the telekinetic abilities stirring to life within him. A mere thought sends an invisible shockwave slamming into the creature, staggering it mid-stride.

Keep pushing!Alexi grits out, pouring every ounce of his newfound strength into the attack. We"ve got this bastard!

The Ghaur staggers, its movements growing sluggish and uncoordinated. Black ichor oozes from countless wounds and Alexi"s relentless attacks, hissing as it splatters against the ground.

There!Zara"s mental voice is sharp with urgency. An opening!

Alexi sees it too—a chink in the creature"s armor, a vulnerability exposed by their relentless assault. Take the shot, darling.

Alexi watches in awe as Zara lunges for the creature"s exposed weakness, a blur of midnight fur and primal ferocity. Her massive dire wolf jaws clamp down on the Ghaur"s throat, fangs sinking deep. With a savage twist of her powerful neck, she rips its flesh asunder in a spray of ichorous blood.

The monster staggers, dark vital fluid gushing from the gaping wound, its movements growing feeble. Gurgling, rattling breaths wheeze from its ravaged throat as it sways drunkenly. Zara presses her advantage, attacking with a relentless flurry of fang and claw until, with a final, wrenching tear, she severs its head from its shoulders.

Damn,Alexi breathes mentally, stunned by the raw savagery of her assault. Remind me to never piss you off.

The Ghaur"s headless corpse crumples to the ground with a heavy thud, its lifeblood painting the earth in slick, obsidian ribbons. Twitching and spasming, it emits hideous gargling noises that finally peter out as the last dregs of life abandon its broken form.

Alexi"s tenses, his gaze snapping to the shadows where Marius emerges, the elder vampire"s face contorted with rage and disbelief.

Alexi meets Marius"s glare unflinchingly, drawing strength from Zara"s presence at his side. "You"re the one who betrayed us!" he retorts, his voice dripping with contempt. "And for what? Power? Dominion?"

Marius"s lips curl in a sneer, his features twisting into a grotesque mask of hatred. "You understand nothing," he spits, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. "I am trying to save our race! To make us strong again!"

Alexi shakes his head, disgust roiling in his gut. "By creating abominations? By inciting war and bloodshed?" He takes a step forward, squaring his shoulders. "No. This ends now!"

Marius throws back his head and laughs, the sound harsh and grating. "You think you can stop me?" he taunts, drawing his own power around him like a cloak. The air crackles with the intensity of his dark magic, the hairs on the back of Alexi"s neck standing on end.

"It"s over, Marius," Alexi says, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. "Your Ghaurs are destroyed, and your plans have been exposed. Surrender now, and we can end this without further bloodshed."

Marius throws his head back and laughs, the sound harsh and grating against Alexi"s ears. "Surrender? To a traitor like you and your mongrel mate? I think not."

Ready?Alexi sends through the bond, steeling himself for the battle to come.

Always,Zara responds fiercely, her presence a steadying force at his side.