Chapter 3

Alexi pushes through the fancy doors of the Zampieri mansion. He slides his leather jacket off, gritting his teeth as a jolt of pain lances through his left arm.

Shit.

The burning ache hangs around like an unwanted houseguest. He starts for the training center down the hall, his room just a stone"s throw away.

Strange. That should be healed by now.His gaze drops to the jagged gash—it hasn"t mended completely yet.

Alexi"s heightened healing capabilities, a gift from his vampire physiology, typically ensure even deep wounds knit back together within moments. Yet this injury remains raw and angry against his pale flesh.

Gritting his teeth, he stalks toward the bathroom, rolling up the sleeve of his charcoal Henley to inspect the damage more closely. The black, viscous substance clings stubbornly to the torn skin, its putrid stench assaulting his senses.

Alexi twists the faucet, meticulously scrubbing away the foul ichor under the steaming water. Flashes of the brutal bar brawl flood his mind—the creatures" feral snarls, the eerie way they melted into shadow, the glint of vicious claws slicing through flesh.

His jaw clenches as he recalls hurling one of the beasts across the room, its deformed body shattering tables and chairs in its wake. In the chaos, a familiar presence had pierced the haze of violence—the scent of evergreen and rain, laced with the intoxicating musk of wolf.

Zara fucking Knight.

Despite the rage of battle thrumming through his veins, Alexi couldn"t help but drink in the sight of the werewolf warrior. Her lithe form danced with lethal grace, every strike precise and powerful. A primal part of him had stirred then, captivated by the fierce beauty before him.

Alexi shakes his head, bemused by the unexpected direction of his thoughts. Get a grip. She"s a mere pup, a mutt playing at being a fighter.

Alexi drags himself over to the couch, his body giving out as he sinks into the cushions.

Fuck, I can"t remember the last time I felt this wiped.He fumbles for his phone, the cool metal a relief against his skin. A few taps later, he"s waiting for Aziel to answer.

The line rings once, twice, before Aziel"s rich baritone voice cuts through. "Alexi? What"s going on?"

Alexi takes a steadying breath, the words heavy on his tongue. "Ghaurs."

Silence stretches for a heartbeat, laden with disbelief. "Are you certain?" Aziel"s tone carries a rare edge of surprise. "It"s been centuries since we last encountered those abominations."

"I"m sure." Alexi"s jaw tightens, phantom echoes of feral snarls reverberating through his mind. "One of them gouged me pretty good before I took it down." He glances at the sluggishly healing gash on his forearm.

The prolonged quiet on the other end of the line speaks volumes.

Alexi grunts at the pain, his movement tugging at his wound. "I"m fine," he says, trying to keep his voice level.

There"s a pause on the line, a beat of silence that stretches a moment too long. "You"re still hurt?" Surprise colors Aziel"s rich baritone, an uncharacteristic edge to his usually unflappable demeanor.

"You should see the other guy," he attempts a wry retort, but it falls flat.

"Dammit, Alexi." Aziel"s tone takes on a rare edge of worry. "How bad is it?"

Alexi curses under his breath, realizing his slip. He hadn"t meant to let on that he wasn"t fully healed yet. "It"s nothing," he rushes to assure, hoping to bypass any further inquisition. "Just a scratch, really. You know how it is."

He can practically hear Aziel"s furrowed brow through the phone, that annoying piercing gaze, trying to scrutinize him from afar. Alexi shifts his weight as he stares out the window at the bruise-colored sky, waiting for Aziel"s response.

"What of the other Ghaur?" Aziel finally asks, though his tone remains tinged with concern.

"Knight killed it." The name slips out before Alexi can catch himself, that infuriatingly distracting scent of wild forest and ozone flickering through his senses once more.

"Donovan? Silvercrest"s Alpha?" Aziel"s surprise is palpable.

"No. His daughter." Alexi cuts him off, unwilling to delve deeper into that particular complication. He drags a weary hand down his face, the events of the night finally catching up to him. "Listen, I"m fine, just a little..."

The word sticks in his throat, foreign and unfamiliar on his tongue. Alexi Dragomir, centuries-old vampire assassin, doesn"t experience exhaustion. And yet, the bone-deep weariness gripping his body tells a different story.

"You"re never tired," Aziel states, an undercurrent of confusion coloring his words.

Alexi waves off Aziel"s bewilderment. "Don"t you have some princely duties to attend to? Quit mothering me and get lost."

He ends the call abruptly, tossing his phone aside. Perks of having been with the Zampieri clan for centuries, another vampire would have had their heart torn out already.

Maybe if I just rest my eyes for a minute...

Alexi settles back, letting his lids drift closed. But mere moments later, vivid flashes of the forest assault his mind, as if he"s tearing through the shadowed woods himself, wind whipping past.