ADRIAN POV:
I want to kill. I want to rip someone apart with my bare hands. The rage inside me is uncontrollable, boiling through every vein. How dare he touch her.
I stormed toward my room, fists clenched, vision red.
A hand landed on my shoulder. Without thinking, I grabbed the intruder and hurled him against the wall. The Italian statue nearby shattered into pieces with the impact.
"You've gone mad! What if I died?!" Drek's voice rang out as he staggered to his feet, dusting himself off.
"I wanted to kill him!" My voice shook with uncontained rage. "How dare he touch her?"
Drek's eyes narrowed, his tone almost mocking. "Adrain, you've never cared about me like this…" He gave me a pitiful look. "You care too much about her. Are you… in—"
My glare sliced through his words. "I don't care about her," I snapped, venom dripping from every syllable. "Stop using your brain."
I shoved past him and slammed the door to my room so hard the walls shook.
EIRA POV:
His words kept echoing in my head. His voice. His eyes. That terrifying rage. I had never seen him like that before—so dark, so consumed, as if killing someone would've been as natural as breathing.
The memory made me tremble all over again. My body shook, my heart squeezed tight. He really would have killed.
A notification sound snapped me out of my thoughts. I grabbed my phone.
And froze.
It was a picture of Peter and Tessy—smiling, holding hands—under the headline announcing their engagement on Sunday.
My chest caved in. No… no, this can't be happening. This fast?
I can't let her marry him. I won't. Tessy's life will be destroyed. I have to stop this. But how?
I buried my face in my hands. Oh God, help me. I had no one. No friends left but Tessy herself.
Then it struck me.
Adrain.
Yes. He's the only one who can stop this. The only one strong enough. But… he'll never agree.
Still—I have no choice. I have to try. For Tessy.
ADRIAN POV:
I sat on the bed, my mind buried in the file Mike had given me. Fifteen people had gone missing in the jungle. No trace, no sign. Impossible. We knew every vampire in this territory. And yet, people vanished. My clan was the most powerful of all, and as their head, I needed answers.
The doorbell rang, cutting through my thoughts.
Then… the scent hit me.
I opened the door—and froze.
Her.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I growled, trying to steady my voice, to hold back the storm inside me.
"I… A-Adrain. Can I come inside?" Her voice was soft, hesitant.
"No. Tell me why you came here."
EIRA POV:
He was so cold, so turbulent, staring at me like a storm ready to swallow me whole. He didn't even let me step inside.
What does he think of himself? How arrogant can one man be? I came this far and he's treating me like this?
Before I could stop myself, the words burst out. "What kind of manners are these?"
His eyes narrowed dangerously. "Will you speak, or should I close the door?" His voice was sharp, scathing.
Panic surged. I couldn't lose this chance.
"Adrain! Thank you for today… for helping me. I'm very grateful."
"That's all? Leave."
My mouth dropped open. "What?! I can't go like this. How can you be so rude?" My voice rose without meaning to.
He glared, irritation sparking. "What is it you want? Tell me now."
I took a deep breath. "Please… help me stop Peter and Tessy's engagement."
The world froze.
His jaw tightened, his eyes flashing like lightning. "You. Get. Out." The words exploded from him in a roar.
The door slammed toward me, but I shoved my foot into the gap.
"Please, Adrain! Her life will be ruined!" I begged, forcing myself forward.
His strength pressed against mine as he tried to close it. His voice was low, deadly. "I will kill you. Leave."
"No! You have to help me!" My body shook, but I refused to move.
He pushed harder, about to shove my leg out. My mind screamed—think, Eira, think!
"AAAHH! My leg!" I cried out suddenly.
He froze, suspicion flaring in his eyes. Then he glared, realizing the trick.
I met his eyes, desperate. "Please, Adrain… think about Tessy!"
"I don't care about you. I don't care about her. Leave, Eira!" His voice was ice, cutting and final.
And then—
"Wow! Adrain, you two look so cute together!"
The voice came from the staircase.
Adrain's grip loosened. The door flung open.
I stumbled forward, losing balance—straight onto Adrain. We fell to the ground, my body sprawled over his. I tried to push myself up, but I couldn't.
And then I looked at him. His face was inches from mine, his eyes locked on me. My breath caught. His stare was… unreadable. Dangerous. Unnervingly intense.
A cough snapped us out of it.
Adrain shoved me off him harshly, standing tall again. My cheeks burned, my heart racing.
The boy at the stairs—around Adrain's age—looked delighted, almost teasing.
"I didn't realize you two were so close," he said excitedly. "My Adrain has grown up! Adrain, why didn't you tell me about her? Is she the one you've been hiding?"
My head spun. What is he saying?
I turned to Adrain, but his face made my stomach drop.
He was glaring at me—murder in his eyes, fury simmering like a volcano about to erupt.
Shit.
What have I done?