Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

IVY

A cacophony of gunfire and the screeching of steel tore through the night, jolting me awake. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, threatening to drown out the chaos around me. In an instant, Kael burst into my room, his eyes glowing with a mix of fury and urgency that sent shivers down my spine.

"Get up now," he snarled. "We're under attack." The usual eloquence in his voice had vanished, replaced by raw danger.

Before I could even process his words, his hand gripped my arm, firm but not painful, as he yanked me from the bed. I stumbled after him, my breath hitching in fear as we navigated a labyrinth of hidden corridors within the vast mansion. I'd wondered what the place looked like outside of my room. Now I knew. Everything was the pentacle of luxury and elegance.

The tension radiating off Kael was palpable, a silent promise of retribution for whoever dared to invade his territory. Every muscle in his body seemed taut, poised to strike without mercy. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of enemies would be foolish enough to provoke someone so obviously powerful and lethal.

Finally, we arrived at a heavily fortified room deep within the mansion. Kael locked the door behind us. His eyes met mine for a brief second, conveying a wordless message: Stay here. Then, to my astonishment, his form blurred and shifted before my eyes, transforming into a little bat. With a flutter of wings, he disappeared through a narrow tunnel in the door. It was way too small for me to even attempt to follow. Damn him.

I was alone now, locked in this room while knowing there was some kind of battle going on around me. The adrenaline coursing through my veins began to ebb, replaced by a growing dread as I realized just how dangerous Kael's world truly was. This was no longer some dark fantasy I could escape by closing the pages of a book; I was caught in the middle of it, whether I liked it or not. What would happen if they killed Kael? Would I die here?

As I stood there, I tried to calm my racing thoughts. I had no choice but to trust Kael to protect me. And to hope that whatever malevolence we faced tonight wouldn't kill us both. A little voice inside of me wondered if I was really safer with Kael than whoever was out there… but I'd gone three days in safety since he'd brought me here. Sure, he'd threatened me and made shows of power, but he hadn't even tried to harm me. I couldn't say the same for whoever else was on the other side of this door.

I turned and inspected this room, which was vastly different than anywhere else I'd seen since arriving here. Instead of plush elegance, this room screamed modern business man. Rich modern business man. The bed was simple with a small padded headboard, decked out in all navy blue linens and pillows. In another area was what appeared to be an office space with modern designs in black wood and silver finishings. On another side of the room was a sitting area with a loveseat and two chairs which also matched the theme of the room. That's when I saw the floor to ceiling wall screens. They were off, but with everything in here, they gave me the vibe of some kind of supernatural panic room.

With nothing else to do, I decided to snoop around and see if there was anything that might give me a clue… either to the missing people or about my captor.

T he door to the fortified room swung open with a heavy metal click, revealing Kael in his human form once more. A mixture of relief and apprehension washed over me as he entered, his eyes still holding that dangerous glint. A quick search revealed he looked as perfectly put together as he did last time I saw him. No wounds or disheveled clothing, which if he was a vampire and they were anything like what was on TV, then it wasn't a surprise he didn't appear to be injured. That was definitely on my list of questions in a future interrogation.

"Come," he said, his voice low and commanding. "We have much to discuss."

He led me to a sitting area within the room, adorned with a few simple pillows. The space felt strangely intimate despite the circumstances, and my heart raced at the prospect of being so close to him.

"Are you all right?" he asked, his tone softer now.

"Considering I just survived an assassination attempt, I think, I'm doing pretty well," I replied, biting back the sarcasm. In truth, I was terrified, but I needed some semblance of control over this chaos.

"Abduction attempt on your part, not an assassination attempt on mine. But indeed, you have proven quite resourceful and resilient," he said, a hint of admiration in his gaze. "But now, it's time for you to understand the gravity of what you've stepped into."

"Oh, goody. Just an abduction. Not nearly as serious as an assassination."

With a wave of his hand, a wall screen flickered to life, displaying two faces – one belonged to a man with dark, piercing eyes, and the other to a woman with an aura of mystery about her.

The video call connected, and Kael introduced me. "This is Brayden. He's a loyal and intelligent vampire from my direct line. Maeve is a powerful witch who can get anything you need, or anyone."

Both of them looked at me for longer than was comfortable, but neither of them spoke.

"Your assistance tonight was invaluable," Kael told them solemnly. "Now, we must deal with the looming threat."

"I've reached out to some contacts and the word going around is that Lucien has decided to make a run at you." Maeve said, her attention divided between Kael and me. I didn't feel threatened by her, but something niggled at my gut telling me she knew something about me I didn't.

"Lucien," Kael said, his voice dripping with venom. "So he's the one responsible for tonight's attack. I had hoped he just wanted his own line, but I should have known he would be foolish enough to try and usurp me."

"Who is Lucien?" I wasn't sure they wanted me to be part of this conversation, but if I was here and my life was in danger, then I needed to know what was happening.

"A rogue vampire with a personal vendetta against me." Kael responded without a pause. Hmm, maybe I could get answers from him.

"Lucien is relentless," Brayden added, his eyes filled with concern. "You must be prepared for what comes next."

Maeve offered a knowing smile. "We'll do everything in our power to protect you, Ivy."

"Me?" A nervous chuckle escaped my lips. "Lucien can't be after me. I don't even know him."

"I suspect he's the one who left you the note to lead you here."

My head spun as I tried to absorb this new information. "I don't understand."

The air in the room seemed to grow colder as Kael's eyes narrowed, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "Lucien was once a trusted ally. I turned him centuries ago when he was on the verge of death. So I gave him new life, and he gave me his allegiance. We fought side by side for centuries, but his ambition and hunger for power twisted him into something monstrous. He betrayed me almost a century ago even though I gave him eternal life."

"For the non-fanged creatures in the room, that's like the ultimate betrayal." Maeve spoke up. Her gaze lingered on me again, but she didn't say anything else.

I shivered, goosebumps prickling my skin as Kael continued. "I've suspected it was him, but this was the confirmation. He's left a trail of devastation in his wake. Disappearances, brutal attacks - all linked to him. His actions have sown chaos and fear across the city, and the humans haven't been able to stop him."

"And he's after me." I whispered, an icy dread settling in my chest. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks: Lucien was targeting me specifically because of my connection to Kael. I'd researched everything about him. I knew his habits, locations, and so much more. That's why Kael had been so determined to protect me. Because if Lucien got his hands on me, I would be able to give him sensitive information on Kael.

"Exactly," Kael confirmed, his jaw clenched in anger. "He sees you as a vulnerability of mine, a way to hurt me. This feud is deeply personal, and lives are hanging in the balance."

"Yours included," I added, swallowing hard. The weight of that knowledge threatened to crush me, but I refused to let it break me. I'd gone from an investigative journalist to a pawn in a vampire war.

"Indeed." Kael's hatred for Lucien was palpable, his desire for vengeance a burning fire in his eyes. "We must be prepared for anything. I won't allow him to harm you."

"And what do we do?" I asked, feeling both terrified and determined. My heart raced at the thought of facing such a ruthless enemy, but I couldn't just stand by and let innocent people suffer.

"First, we gather information," Kael said, his voice steely. "That's Maeve's speciality. We need to know Lucien's plans and weaknesses. Brayden will help strategize a plan. Then we strike."

"Will it be enough?" I couldn't help but question, knowing full well the power of our enemy.

"Your investigative skills are invaluable, Ivy," he said, his voice low and seductive. "With your help, we can uncover Lucien's plans and put an end to this threat. We've been pouring over intelligence for years, but only now got a confirmation of who was behind it. Which still doesn't help us stop him. If we could have come to a resolution, we would have by now."

"Aside from my life, what would I get out of this?"

Brayden laughed without restraint. "She's a fierce little human."

Kael eyes lingered on me, their intensity sending a thrill through my body. "I'll consider answering any questions you have."

"Consider? You expect me to stay here and act like your employee, and you might answer my questions?" I jumped out of the armchair and marched over to Kael. "No, you will answer my questions."

"You're playing a dangerous game, little mouse." His dark eyes narrowed on me and my heartbeat picked up. Which he would be able to hear. I suspected he could, anyway.

I weighed my options, my heart pounding in my chest. Refusal wasn't an option. I didn't have any control over my life in this situation unless I helped them take down Lucien. Though I did notice that he didn't say anything about my freedom. With a deep breath, I steeled myself against the fear that threatened to consume me.

"Alright," I agreed, my voice wavering slightly. "I'll help you."

"Good." He flashed a wicked grin, one that both enticed and terrified me. "We'll work together to neutralize Lucien."

"Kael, I'm sending over my updated intel on Lucien. As soon as I learn something new, I'll let you know." Maeve said before she gave me a long look. Then the screen where her face was went blank.

"You know where to find me." Brayden said, then he focused on me. "Give him hell." Brayden let out a belly laugh as he hung up.

As I glanced around the heavily fortified room, I realized that until the situation was resolved, neither of us would be leaving its confines. Well, Kael could, but I doubted he would even entertain the idea for me. That meant staying by Kael's side at all times—forced proximity with a gorgeous, dangerous vampire. The thought made my heart race, and I struggled to ignore the warmth spreading through me.

Focus, Ivy, I reminded myself. You have to resist him. This is about survival, not desire.

"Where do we start?" I asked, trying to maintain a professional demeanor.

"Intel," he replied, his eyes boring into mine. He flicked his fingers at the screen and numerous reports and documents appeared.

"Very well." I nodded, swallowing hard. "Let's get to work."

Kael approached, his tall, dark presence both alluring and menacing.

I hesitated, my fingers trembling as a sudden question burned in my mind. "Kael... are you really as evil as your reputation claims?"

His dark eyes narrowed, and I sensed the danger lurking beneath his elegant demeanor. "Why does it matter to you, Ivy? What difference would it make?"

"Because," I spat out, my voice shaking, "if you're as monstrous as they say, I need to bide my time until I can escape. If not... then perhaps helping you isn't such a terrible idea."

"Helping me take out an enemy," he mused, his voice low and dangerous. "You think it's just two vampires fighting, do you?"

"Isn't it?" I challenged, even though fear laced my words. Kael's laugh was dark and chilling.

"Let me assure you, Ivy, I am every bit as evil as my reputation suggests. Worse, even." He began moving toward me, each step deliberate and predatory.

My heart raced as I backed away from him, the walls of the escape-proof room closing in around us. Kael's hands slammed into the wall on either side of my head, boxing me in. His heated breath washed over my face as he leaned down, his voice dripping with menace.

"I am an evil creature, Ivy. I never claimed to be otherwise. How can a cursed creature that defied the laws of humanity be anything other than evil? Part of it is my base nature, but the rest of it... that was my choice."

I couldn't help it; something about his power and intensity ignited a fire within me, even as he tried to intimidate me. It annoyed me to no end that I found myself drawn to him, despite the danger.

"Your fear excites me," he whispered, his nose running along my neck as he scented me. My pulse quickened, a mix of terror and desire coursing through my veins. He ran his fangs teasingly along my neck, licking the pulse point, and I shivered.

"Kael... please," I whispered, unsure whether I was pleading for him to stop or continue. He pulled back slightly, his eyes locked onto mine.

"Remember," he murmured, "you chose this. You knew who I was and what I've done."

And with those words, the reality of my situation slammed into me once more. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, I knew that I had not only made a deal with the devil - I had become irrevocably entwined with him.