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Countless vampires waited in the shadows for a chance to kill him. To make their name in vampire society as the one who ended Vegas’ ruler.

Julian sat down against one of the warehouse buildings, pulled out his phone, and dialed Bryan.

The fae picked up on the third ring. “How did it go? Is Vegas a safer place for vampires?” Only Bryan could make death not sound morbid.

“Not bad, but I have too much silver in my system,” Julian said, hating to admit that he needed help.

“Oh?” He should punch Bryan for the amusement he heard. “Must be bad if you’re calling me.”

“Would you just shut the fuck up and come get me?”

“A little please would be nice.”

“Bryan…” A growl rumbled up his chest. He was in no mood for the dark fae’s teasing.

“Okay, fine, but only because I’d have to make another friend to entertain me if you died. Where are you?”

While Julian waited, his mind wandered back to Leah. He knew she was a spy, but not the reason. Did it matter? She was his soulmate, when he’d long given up looking for one.

When he’d been a young vampire, he used to think about what it would be like to meet the one meant for him. To have his heart beat again. To have his soul back to fill the empty blackness inside him.

Then Felix, an Ancient who had fought by Julian’s side through countless battles, had found his.

Gabriella, Felix’s mate, had destroyed his friend when she left.

He never understood why Felix had allowed her to leave. If it had been Julian, he’d have locked her up, always in his sight.

Now Felix stayed cooped up in his house in Texas, wasting away the days until his mate returned to him.

How fucking pathetic.

Then and there, Julian had decided against a soulmate. He didn’t want someone who could affect him that way. Someone whom he cared enough about to change his entire personality. Someone who had the power to break him completely.

That was why he would stay far, far away from Leah. While he had no intention to care about her in any way, shape, or form, he didn’t wish to tempt fate. She was his soulmate, even if he didn’t intend to claim her and complete the bond. Maybe fate would be nice enough to have a car run her over.

Just then, Julian sensed the shadow beside him move as Bryan stepped out of it.

His friend let out a low whistle at the surrounding carnage. “Why couldn’t my guy have had backup?” he asked as he bent to help Julian stand up.

“How did your side go?” Julian grunted, forcing himself to focus on the conversation, though all he wanted to do was to close his eyes and welcome oblivion.

“Boring. The guy didn’t put up a fight. He hadn’t expected to be caught.”

“Did the vampire survive?”

“Yeah, she left when she realized what the guy was. She gave me an earful about allowing Hunters into the clubs. Now, where to?”

His rooms, Julian almost said on reflex, until he recalled that he’d left Leah at the club. He could send someone else to retrieve her, yet the image of her trapped, helpless between two vampires flashed in his mind. His muscles tightened with restrained fury.

One more time. He’d retrieve her, then leave her alone for her remaining time in Vegas.

“Back to Cherie’s.”

Julian trained his attention on Bryan as their surroundings whirled and reshaped. They’d crossed into another realm. He’d traveled this way before, but this place always raised the hair on the back of his neck. That was saying something, since it took a lot to unnerve him.

Something about this in-between realm didn’t sit right with him. Every time he was here, he felt weaker than normal. A hazy fog shrouded his brain, and he wanted to wander off and embrace the darkness. It promised peace and quiet. An end to the mindless killing that was his life.

Shadowy figures lurked in the dark, waiting for a moment of weakness to prey on the unwary traveler. If Julian looked, he knew he’d see Leah beckoning to him. Bryan had once told him that the shadows could delve deep into a person’s mind and find their deepest and darkest desires. It used that to lure the travelers into its midst and devour them. The traveler’s soul would be trapped forever, joining the countless others in preying on the next person.