The scream cuts through everything.
Not the kind of scream people fake. Not the kind you ignore.
The kind that freezes your blood before your brain can even catch up.
I don't think.
I just run.
My boots slam against the floor, my breath tearing out of my chest as I follow the sound down the hallway.
Then I see her.
Princess Sameen.
Her eyes are wide, wild with panic, her hands clawing uselessly at the arm locked around her throat.
And the thing holding her…
A Strigoi.
Its skin looks too pale under the dim lights, its mouth curled like it's enjoying her fear.
My stomach drops.
I should call it in.
I should wait for backup.
I don't.
My body moves before my head agrees.
I rush forward, blade flashing as I swing for its side.
The metal bites flesh.
It hisses.
But it barely reacts.
It turns its head slowly toward me.
And in that second, I realize something cold and terrifying.
It's not scared.
It's annoyed.
I barely have time to brace before it moves.
Fast.
Too fast.
A hand clamps around my wrist like a vice.
My bones grind.
Pain shoots up my arm.
I twist, try to break free, but it yanks me forward and slams me into the wall.
My vision bursts white.
Then I'm on the floor.
Air gone.
I gasp, dragging breath back into my lungs like I'm drowning.
Sameen makes a choking sound.
Her breathing is breaking apart, quick and uneven, like she can't find enough air.
"Sameen!" I shout, forcing myself up.
My knees shake but I push through it, charging again.
The Strigoi hits me before I even reach it.
A hard blow across my ribs.
I hear something crack, or maybe it's just my breath.
I stagger.
Try to stay up.
Try to swing again.
It backhands me like I'm nothing.
I hit the ground.
This time my body doesn't respond right away.
My head spins, my mouth tasting blood.
I blink, trying to focus.
Sameen's face is twisted in terror, tears spilling, her chest rising too fast.
She's going to pass out.
She's going to die.
I force my palms against the floor, trying to push up.
Then—
a shadow moves.
A blur.
A stake drives straight through the Strigoi's chest.
Clean.
Precise.
The Strigoi jerks, snarls, then collapses like its strings were cut.
For a second, everything goes silent.
Then I see him.
Xavier.
He doesn't even look at the body.
He's already catching Sameen as she falls, his hands steady, his voice low.
"Hey," he says, calm but urgent. "Sameen. Look at me. Breathe. You're okay. You're safe."
Sameen tries.
Her lips tremble.
Her eyes roll slightly.
"No… no…" she whispers like she can't stop.
Then her body goes slack.
She faints.
"Sameen," Xavier mutters sharply, gripping her tighter.
Footsteps approach.
I lift my head, still on the floor, still struggling to breathe properly.
Demari steps into view.
Quiet.
Still.
Watching like he's measuring the scene.
Xavier rises slowly, Sameen in his arms.
His face is tight, fury barely contained.
I'm sorry" his voice calmer "I should've been watching you"