One thing I have learned from all my training sessions with Malik is that presentation in battle is an excellent weapon against opponents. It doesn’t matter how emotional I am on the inside. If I look the part of a warrior on the outside, I will instill fear in my enemy with little effort on my part. It’s all about playing on the impressions already instilled in their minds, like how wearing a suit automatically makes someone appear successful. I prepare myself to seem fierce and formidable, even if my heart is racing and my mind is hazy.
But as soon as I face him, I lose all confidence. Because the man looking back at me is no stranger at all. I have seen him before. In the depths of my nightmares, he has haunted me for weeks, for months even. He was there before I ever lost Will, before I ever hexed the witches.
This rogue vampire is no stranger at all—and he came for me.
Wearing only pants, the skin of his torso is smooth and pale. His hands are dirty, his jeans scuffed and shredded. His feet are bare, and his toes burrow into the earth as he watches me. I imagine he can see it in my eyes—the recognition, the fear. He knows I remember him, remember the first time we met.
A knot forms in my throat, and I force it down. It remains lodged in my chest, anchoring me to this moment. The rogue chuckles, his sunken eyes sparkling defiantly.
His head is shaved, his face scarred from cuts he must have sustained during the many years before he became a vampire. His irises are burning red, his nose creased by a sharp angle. It must not have been set properly after a break—again, happening before he became a monster.
His lips are pale and dry, and his teeth are stained pink by years of draining the blood of the innocent. Even now, his lips are smeared red, as if he only recently claimed a life.
He smiles at me, and my gaze lands on his dagger fangs. I suck in a sharp breath, but it doesn’t budge the boulder implanted in my lungs.
I am terrified of the rogue before me, yet I am unable to run. Rooted in place, frozen by the image of him before me, I simply stare back, replaying the vision I had of him that first night we met.
He first emerged in a nightmare, and even though he promised he was not a dream, I didn’t believe him when he told me he was real. Because it shouldn’t have been possible. Rogue vampires haven’t the capability to enter the astral plane where spirit is most powerful.
But he was there, and he wounded me. Even now, he holds power over me. I grab my arm, clasping my fingers over the spot where he marked my skin that night. The imprint of his strength is long gone, but I still feel it—the bruised flesh, the weakened muscle. All from one quick, effortless touch.
The rogue vampire before me is hideous, with malice practically dripping from his fingertips like streams of blood cascading from a gaping wound. As he walks forward, slowly, methodically, the darkness encircling him swarms, coming to life, buzzing all around like hungry bees. The sound grows louder the longer he stares at me, the closer he approaches.
I take a cautious step backward, desperate to distance us, and he shakes his head, tsking me playfully. With his index finger, he taunts me as it sways side to side.
His eyes narrow, but his lips curve into a smile. I wonder how long he has waited for this moment. Since my dream? Or has he known about my existence long before he conned his way into my visions?
I continue backpedaling until I back into something solid. I don’t need to turn around to know another rogue vampire is standing behind me. He growls as I lean against him, nose ruffling my hair as he inhales and exhales deeply. I wonder if he can smell my fear, like a cornered animal watching as a predator closes in on it.
He wraps his hands around my arms and slowly tightens his grip until I wince at the pressure. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more rogues lurking in this forest, and I even play with the idea that they have been stalking these woods, waiting until I finally returned to my nightly patrols. I bet my sabbatical from hunting irked them, which only brings me pleasure.
Not willing to give them the upper hand, I slam my head backward, making direct contact with the rogue’s nose. He shrieks and releases me, giving me more than enough space to withdraw my stake and jab it into his chest. It makes contact with his heart, and he sucks in a sharp breath before bursting into ash.
I return my gaze to the other rogue, and he makes his anger evident. He releases a ferocious roar that is so loud, so angry, the ground shakes. He thrashes forward, and I grip my stake so hard I fear it will snap in two.
The moment he is within striking distance, I leap into the air, twisting above him, flipping effortlessly so that I land behind him. I have practiced this very maneuver on Malik so often I can do it blindfolded.
I plant the sole of my boot into his back, slamming it so hard I hear the distinct sound of bones snapping. I smile as the crack lingers in the air because I know I have him right where I want him.
In my dreams, this rogue might have been my nightmare, but in real life, he will fear me.
The rogue stumbles forward, crashing to the ground in a grunting heap. Using the toe of my boot, I push him over. The desire to take his life and to ensure he watches me do so is all-consuming. It bubbles inside me, spilling from my lips in a giddy laugh. The amulet at my chest hums, and I find it calming, strengthening, rejuvenating. It’s as if it too is ecstatic over this kill.
But my excitement over gaining the upper hand is quickly extinguished when someone grabs me from behind. Bunching the loose hair from my messy bun in her palm, another rogue vampire appears suddenly, yanking my skull backward so forcefully, I yelp.
Leaning into her attack, I struggle to ease the pain. It relents only when she tosses my limp body to the side like I am nothing more than trash in her way. She growls at me, baring her fangs like a wolf challenging another’s territory, but she turns away before finishing the act.
With me out of the way, she jumps to the other rogue’s aid, risking her own life to save his. It’s clear who the alpha is in this pack, which brings to mind another lesson from Malik. Always kill the alpha first. With the alpha gone, gammas retreat and betas fight for leadership.
“Ava, remember, if you are ever in a tricky situation, find the alpha,” he’d said, his words swirling my mind now even though he is dozens of miles away.
I know what I must do, and the thought thrills me. I have never felt so energized while hunting, especially when facing multiple rogues, but I welcome these new feelings, intending to use them to strengthen my magic.
Calling upon the elements, I harness fire. I summon it so quickly, so easily, the injured rogue glances up as I am already throwing out my arms before me. Flames shoot from my palms, bellowing in waves so intense my skin sizzles at its proximity.
But with my attention focused on the alpha, I am not watching the girl. She screams and leaps forward, putting herself in the path of my fury.
She incinerates in seconds, and my shock is so overwhelming, I lose control of the magic I have summoned. Cut off from the elements, the heatwave is sucked back into my core, and all that remains is a pile of ash and the burnt, crisp brush between the alpha and me.
Still stunned by the vampire’s sacrifice, I barely notice the alpha has already jumped to his feet, his snapped spine healing far too quickly for my liking.
He pounces, gliding through the air and landing on top of me. Pinned in place, I struggle to free myself. He is stronger than I expected him to be. With one hand controlling my wrists, he wraps the other around my throat. The thought that he can end my life in one swift jerk thrills me, even though I know it shouldn’t. I know I should be afraid, but I’m not.
He leans forward, our noses touching. “I didn’t expect you to have a death wish.”
His pungent breath cascades over my face, his spit spraying across my skin. Bile rises in my chest, but I force it down.
“Let me go,” I seethe.
I think we are both surprised by my strength, because his eyes widen ever so slightly before he smiles and releases a deep, loud la
ugh.
But before I can react, he stops. Frowning, his gaze flickers to something in the distance. With my pounding heart and the blood rushing to my head, I can’t focus well enough to acknowledge what he hears, but from the look of annoyance splashed across his face, I can assume tonight didn’t go as planned.
Just as I’m about to call out, assuming whatever stole the rogue’s attention could be beneficial to my current situation, the alpha strengthens his hold over my throat. He squeezes so tightly, I am completely cut off from my air supply.
As I struggle to breathe, the hiss escaping my throat sounds nothing like me, yet I know that weak, subtle whine is coming from me. My vision blurs, my eyes swelling with tears.
The amulet heats so intensely, I am afraid my chest will melt and it will fall to the earth below, turning my body into a puddle of goo. Strangely, the rogue doesn’t seem to notice the fire growing against my chest, and I pray it stays that way. Even if he takes my life, I cannot relinquish the power of the amulet to him.
“Next time, you won’t be so lucky,” he seethes.
He releases me. The crushing weight of his body on top of mine is gone. My lungs fill with air, and they convulse painfully as they struggle to bring me back from the brink of unconsciousness.
I turn onto my side, hacking and sucking in sharp bursts of air. Dirt coats my lips as I try to claw my way toward safety, still unconvinced he is really gone.
But suddenly, I am no longer on the ground. I am floating through the air with only the pressure of something solid at my back. I roll against him, and he cradles me, brushing away the dirt and hair that has clung to my skin.
“Jasik,” I whisper.
I stare into his eyes, but as he looks back at me, my lover is gone. All I can see is the rogue vampire he is destined to become.
Chapter Six
Jasik smiles at me, and the vision of him turning rogue disappears. I reach for him, sliding my fingertips across the sharp angle of his jawline. How can something so beautiful actually exist? How can something so precious to me be taken away so effortlessly in my dreams?
“Were you attacked?” he asks, setting me down.
I wobble as I stand, but the fog in my head is slowly clearing. Rather than standing on my own, I allow Jasik to linger. His hand grips my waist firmly, almost possessively.
I nod, not speaking the words aloud, and press my index fingers against my temples. My vision might have cleared, but there is still a throbbing within my skull, and it worsens with every second. I imagine this particular pain won’t cease until I find and kill that rogue vampire.
Being bested is exceptionally annoying. It’s even worse to be beaten in such an embarrassing way. He had me pinned down, easily subduing me, and if Jasik hadn’t come for me… I shake my head, hoping to clear it. Because the last thing I need plaguing my thoughts is a rogue vampire ripping out my throat.
“What is it? Was it rogue vampires or…?” he asks, trailing off.
He glances past me, squinting against the darkness, but I know that final vampire is long gone. The only thing lingering is Jasik’s unfinished sentence.
“Or?” I repeat, making it clear in my tone that I want him to finish.
He meets my eyes, but something is different about him. His exterior is defensive and formidable, but there is a softness in his gaze meant solely for me.
“Or witches,” he says firmly. “Was it the witches who attacked you?”
I swallow hard. Of course he meant witches. Who else would attack me in the woods? It must be rogues or witches.
I shake my head and admit, “Rogues. One got away.”
“At least you’re safe,” he says. “That’s all that matters.”
“He will come back,” I warn. Noting this is moot. Jasik knows the rogue will return. They always come back for me. They are also contenders for the Worst Timing Ever Award.
“They always come back, Ava,” Jasik says, mirroring my thoughts. “What’s important is that we survive when they return.”
“I know,” I say, feeling ashamed.
Once again, visions of how easily the rogue subdued me flash in my mind. I break eye contact with my sire and step away from him, desperately needing space between us.
“Tell me about them,” Jasik asks.
Something in his tone alerts me to his seriousness. He is stiff, a bit harsh, in the way he orders me to relay details about a fight I have no intention of reliving. Still, I obey.
“There were three, I think,” I say. I hate that there could have been more and I was simply too distracted to notice. “I killed the first easily. He stood behind me, and I was able to quickly stake him. I used fire magic to kill the other.”
I frown, remembering the moment I summoned magic. I’m still shocked that she took a bullet meant for the other. While I can understand the unyielding desire to protect your sire, that emotion seems so unlike rogue vampires. My only encounters with them have led me to believe they’re merely monsters, and monsters don’t make friends.
“What is it? What aren’t you telling me?” Jasik asks.
I shake my head. “Nothing. There were just the three.”
“I know something about them was different,” Jasik says. “Ava, as good as you are at keeping secrets, I am better at noticing that you’re hiding them. So I will ask again, what was different?”
I cross my arms over my chest, sinking into my body for comfort. Jasik rarely takes such a fierce tone with me, and while I can understand why he would choose this particular moment to play on his role as sire, it irritates me.
“The one I killed with magic took a fireball meant for the other rogue,” I say. “That’s weird, right?”
Jasik’s brow furrows in shock. “Yes. That’s quite strange. Rogue vampires rarely showcase such devotion. I’d argue it’s almost impossible for them to feel such emotion.”
“Well, this one did,” I say. “I assumed the rogue she saved was an alpha rogue or something. Her leader. She died to save him.”
My voice is soft, the honesty of my words nearly crippling me. Jasik and I both understand why she did what she did, even if it was unusual behavior from a rogue vampire. I know, without a doubt, Jasik would have died to save Amicia if only given the chance, and I would stop at nothing to save him should his life ever truly be in danger. It’s the bond we have—the sire bond.
Suddenly, something occurs to me, and I could kick myself for not thinking of this earlier. After all, the signs were there.
“What if he sired her?” I ask.
“Rogues rarely turn humans,” he says. “That requires a great deal of strength.”
“But you changed me,” I say, confused.
“That was different,” he says. “I am not rogue.”
I gasp at his words, sucking in a sharp breath. He frowns, noticing the abrupt change in my demeanor. I consider telling him about my last dream, about the night he changed, the night he became a rogue vampire, but I can’t. Not yet. Simply hearing him speak about it causes a visceral reaction in my gut, and I’m about ready to spill my breakfast.
“How was that different?” I ask, still needing answers even though we’re walking a dangerous path.
“Rogue vampires are driven by their blood lust,” Jasik explains. “It would be especially difficult for a vampire suffering from blood lust to stop feeding long enough to swap blood. You have to do this at precisely the right moment for the transition to work. Have you ever wondered why the world isn’t crawling with vampires? That isn’t simply because we aren’t trying to make vampires. Nest leaders try often, actually. It’s because creating a vampire is difficult.”
“But the sire bond would explain why she would offer her life in exchange for his,” I say.
Jasik considers this, remaining silent. As the seconds tick by, I know I’m right. If that rogue vampire is strong enough to control his blood lust, then we have another serious problem on our hands. Because we’ve both already agreed that he will come back f
or me.
“I think we are dealing with a rogue vampire who is much more powerful than any we have ever faced,” I admit.
“Why?” Jasik asks. “Because he sired a vampire? Or did something else happen?”
“This particular vampire was in my dream,” I say.
Jasik frowns. “Has this ever happened before?”
I shake my head. “I mean, Will entered my dream too, but that makes sense. He was a spirit user as a witch. He had access to the astral plane, but rogue vampires… That should be impossible.”
“Yet somehow he found a way inside,” Jasik says.
“The only thing that makes sense is a witch granted him access, but still, that is a bit farfetched.”
“Because witches and vampires can’t be friendly?” Jasik asks, grinning. His all-knowing smile causes me to roll my eyes.
“Holland is different. I was different. You are different. We aren’t rogue vampires, Jasik. No witch would willingly work with rogue vampires. That idea is just insane. Rogue vampires are the very creatures we want to eradicate. We are born biased, and we spend our lives fighting them.”
“True, we may not be rogue, and we are far more civilized than you considered before you became one of us, but what other explanation is there? A witch must have aided him.”
I shrug and consider how desperate a witch would be to side with rogues. If this were true, something disastrous must be happening in his or her life to force her allegiance with them. That’s the only thing that makes sense. No one would willingly do this.
I stare at the ground, kicking the loose soil with the toe of my boot. We’re standing exactly where I fell, where I struggled to crawl away. I can see the imprints of my fingers in the earth. I shiver and glance back at Jasik.
“I need to speak with Holland. Maybe something in his books will have answers.”
Jasik nods. “Can I ask when he entered your vision? And”—he clears his throat—“why you didn’t tell me about it?”
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