Page 105

Erou grimaced when he saw the older vampire had taken the first step to approach him. He had always prided himself in his ability to do everything correctly and according to the rules, but here he was, violating one of the basic rules of courtesy among Chalysians. Alexandru was not only older than him by centuries, but he outranked Erou as well. He should have been the first one to greet the other man, but Erou just couldn’t make himself do it. He felt like if he did, it would be akin to admitting the other man was better than him.

“Lord Erou, I believe?” The hunter’s voice was smooth and strong, a polite smile still playing on his lips as he spoke.

Erou forced himself to bend his head in acknowledgment. “Lord Alexandru.”

Alexandru almost smirked at the ill-concealed disapproval on the younger vampire’s face. Nice young gentlemen like Erou Damaschin always did hate hunters like him. Erou’s generation believed in peace talks and battles fought in the shadows, preferring to avoid everything that could shake the tenuous balance between the world of humans and nonhumans. For them, hunters like Alexandru were a threat, a throwback from the Dark Ages that would only serve to make their race appear more uncivilized.

“I came to thank Lady Zari for her vital assistance this morning.”

“Yes. You were very fortunate thatmypet was at therighttime and place.”

Erou flushed, too smart to miss the hunter’s pointed barbs, despite having spoken in a bland tone. In just one sentence, Alexandru had been able to remind him of his ownership over Zari as well as the inappropriateness of what had happened – an offense that Alexandru was making clear he would not allow to happen again.

It pissed Erou off, the way the other vampire seemed to have completely dismissed his ability to steal Alexandru’s pet from him. He heard himself saying, “I also let her know that I desire to claim her as my pet.”

“Is that so?” Alexandru’s eyes cooled even though a smile continued playing on his lips.

“Yes. I thought she should know she has a choice.” Erou threw the hunter a look of challenge. “It is only right you do not hold her back if she wants to break your claim on her.”

“I agree with you completely, boy. But the question is...”

Erou watched warily as the other vampire crossed his arms against his chest.

“Do you really think she would want to leave me?”

Alexandru smirked when he saw the other man’s lips tighten, an indication that the boy had indeed asked and was rejected. Something in his chest eased at the sight, and it was only then he realized that he had been tense all the time he had been waiting for the boy to answer.His pet really was beginning to mean too much to him, Alexandru thought uneasily. He had to do something about it soon.

Erou’s temper ignited when he saw the hunter smirk. “You should let her go. A girl like Zari is not to be played with.” Throughout his childhood, Erou had grown up hearing of Alexandru’s legendary exploits but for some reason, Erou had never been overly impressed with it. He had always disliked the nonchalant way Alexandru treated his every mission, as if hunting down criminals was more a pastime than an honorable duty.

And if there was a woman involved in the mission? It was a foregone conclusion that Alexandru would have her in his bed. None of them, however, had been elevated to anything more than a one-night stand...untilthat girl.

Erou’s eyes widened in realization. “You care for her, don’t you?”

Alexandru’s gaze became hooded. “Now you’re talking nonsense.”

“Say all you want, hunter. I’ve seen through you. You don’t want to let her know youcarefor her, do you? Why is that? Are you thinking a vampire like you is too good for her? You don’t want other vampires finding out that you actually fell for a human girl?”

Alexandru’s lip only curled. “You know nothing.”

Erou laughed jeeringly. “Yeah, sure, I know nothing. And you know what? I’m actually going to wish you luck. You just keep doing your thing and I’ll keep doing my thing, and mark my words, the day will come...”

Ignoring the other vampire’s words, Alexandru strove for calm. But his mind resisted, invaded as it was by a treacherous image – of his pet naked, and this boy feeding on her neck—-

Alexandru hissed, “SHE’S MINE!”His power was unleashed through the words, his voice making the thick walls tremble and the air around them crack with tension. At that moment, Alexandru’s true self was revealed, the one he fought to hide with a mask of playful charm.

Killer. Murderer.Beast.

Erou inhaled sharply when he saw the sudden change in the other vampire, one that gave him a tiniest taste of fear. This was no longer someone to be reasoned with.

The door opened, Zari coming out, confusion clouding her eyes when she saw Alexandru and Erou in the hallway.

Alarm struck Erou when he saw the door open and the human girl step out. “Zari—-” But the moment he said the girl’s name, Erou knew right away it had been the wrong thing to do.

Hearing the name ofhispet on another man’s voice acted like a trigger, and with a furious growl, Alexandru launched himself at the younger vampire. He would have had Erou in a stranglehold when suddenly a slip of a girl stood in his way.

She looked frightened and determined, and her voice shook when she said, “Master, no.”

Chapter Five