Chapter 4
The torches in the forest multiplied quickly.
Ariana watched as dozens of lights moved through the darkness beyond the shattered windows. The trees flickered with orange light, and long shadows stretched across the ground. There were too many of them.
Her chest tightened. "They're coming here."
Kael Vaughn kept his eyes on the forest, studying the movement with calm focus.
"Yes," he said after a moment.
His voice was quiet, but tense.
"They're hunting."
Ariana pushed herself up from the floor, though her legs were still unsteady. "Hunters?"
Kael shook his head. "Worse."
The silver light beneath Ariana's skin flickered again, faint but visible.
Kael noticed. His jaw tightened. "You need to control that."
"I don't even know what it is," Ariana said, panic rising in her voice.
"Your power," Kael replied. "Or the thing that will get you killed."
Outside, the torches moved closer. Branches snapped. Voices echoed through the trees.
Ariana's heart pounded faster. "How many are there?"
Kael didn't look away. "Too many."
Her stomach dropped. "You said they're from the council."
"Yes."
"Then why are they here themselves?"
Kael's eyes darkened. "Because the Fifth Blood isn't supposed to exist anymore."
Ariana wrapped her arms around herself. "What does that mean?"
Kael finally turned toward her. For the first time, something showed beneath his usual control.
Conflict.
"The bloodline was meant to die centuries ago," he said.
Ariana shook her head. "I was born twenty-three years ago."
"You're thinking about yourself," Kael said. "I'm talking about your bloodline."
The words settled heavily between them.
"Long ago, the four ruling bloodlines made a decision," he continued.
Ariana felt a chill. "What kind of decision?"
"They decided the Fifth Blood was too dangerous to exist."
Her pulse quickened. "So they hunted them."
Kael didn't answer. He didn't need to.
Ariana felt it anyway. Her family. Her ancestors. All hunted. All erased.
"And now they're coming to finish it," she said.
"Yes."
The torches reached the edge of the clearing. Ariana could now see figures moving between the trees.
They were tall, armed, and fast.
Too fast to be human.
"How long do we have?" she asked.
Kael stepped toward the broken doorway and studied their movement. "Two minutes."
Her breath caught. "Two…"
"We're leaving."
It wasn't a suggestion.
Ariana blinked. "You're taking me with you?"
Kael looked at her, his expression unreadable. "For now."
"For now?"
"If the council finds you first," he said, "they'll kill you."
"And if you find me first?"
Kael didn't answer.
Ariana's stomach tightened. Before she could say more, a voice echoed from the forest.
"Alpha Vaughn."
Both of them froze.
The voice carried easily through the air. Calm. Controlled. Used to being obeyed.
Ariana felt Kael's body go still.
"We know you're inside."
Kael's expression hardened.
"Who is that?" Ariana whispered.
"Someone we don't want to deal with tonight," Kael said.
The forest grew brighter as more torches appeared. More figures stepped out from the trees.
Ariana's eyes widened. There were at least thirty of them. They were surrounding the house.
"You're trapped," the voice said.
The speaker stepped forward. A tall man in a long black coat. His silver hair caught the light, and his eyes glowed red.
Ariana felt a chill.
Kael's jaw tightened. "Lord Cassian."
The vampire smiled slightly. "So you remember me."
Kael didn't return the expression. "What are you doing in my territory?"
Cassian's gaze shifted to Ariana. The moment he saw the light beneath her skin, his expression changed.
Interesting.
"Well," he said quietly. "There she is."
Ariana's chest tightened.
"You see the problem now, Alpha?" Cassian continued. "The council has already confirmed it."
Kael moved slightly in front of Ariana.
Cassian noticed. His smile widened. "That's unexpected."
"Leave," Kael said.
Cassian gave a soft laugh. "I'm afraid that's not possible."
He raised one hand. Behind him, the hunters moved closer.The house was surrounded.
"You know the law," Cassian said. "The Fifth Blood must be eliminated."
Kael didn't move. "And if I refuse?"
Cassian's eyes sharpened. "Then you become a traitor."
Ariana's breath caught. Kael stayed silent for a moment. The tension in the air grew heavier.Then he spoke.
"You're not taking her."
Cassian's expression slowly lost its amusement. "You're making a mistake."
"Maybe," Kael said.
Cassian exhaled. "That's disappointing."
He lowered his hand.
"Kill them."
The hunters moved instantly. The forest erupted with motion. Ariana's heart slammed against her ribs.
Kael grabbed her wrist. "Run."
He pulled her toward the back door before she could react. Behind them, the hunters burst into the house.
Claws, weapons, and fangs filled the space in a rush of movement.
Kael pushed Ariana outside into the cold night air. "Don't stop."
"What about you?" she asked.
Kael's eyes locked on hers. "I'll deal with them."
Before she could argue, something dropped from above.
A massive shape slammed into the clearing, shaking the ground. Dust rose into the air.
Both of them froze.The creature lifted its head slowly. Silver eyes glowed.
Large wings unfolded behind it.
Ariana's voice shook. "What is that?"
Kael's expression hardened. "Something that shouldn't be here."
The creature spoke, its voice deep and steady.
"We finally found you."
Its gaze locked on Ariana.
"The Fifth Blood."
Ariana felt her blood run cold. Then it spoke again.
"She belongs to us."
Kael stepped forward immediately.