The forest was silent.
Too silent.
Even the birds had stopped singing, as if the entire world was holding its breath, waiting for the chaos to begin.
Kai crouched low behind a thick tree trunk, heart hammering against his ribs like a war drum. Adrian was a shadow beside him, every muscle coiled tight, ready to strike. His crimson eyes glowed faintly in the dark, a beacon of death and love.
"Remember the signal," Adrian whispered, voice like silk laced with razor wire.
Kai nodded, gripping the small dagger Adrian had pressed into his hand earlier. It was an old thing, silver edged, worn from countless battles, and humming with old magic. It was far too big for Kai's smaller hand, but he'd be damned if he let that stop him.
He wasn't weak.
Not anymore.
Through the trees, shadows began to emerge figures cloaked in black, moving in tight formation. Vampires. Hunters. Adrian's enemies, coming for them with greedy hunger carved into their faces.
Adrian tilted his head, listening. A cruel smile curled his lips. "They're cocky," he murmured. "Good. That'll make them sloppy."
Kai barely dared to breathe. His palms were slick with sweat, but he tightened his grip on the dagger, anchoring himself to the promise he'd made.
No more running.
No more hiding.
Adrian's fingers brushed over Kai's knuckles in a fleeting touch. "Stay with me, mi amor. Right until the end."
"Always," Kai breathed. "Always."
A howl split the night air an unearthly, bone-chilling sound that sent a jolt of pure electricity down Kai's spine. From the other side of the clearing, dark shapes moved: werewolves, allies Adrian had called in from the old packs.
The trap was sprung.
The vampires hesitated, confusion flashing across their faces. In that split second of hesitation, Adrian struck.
He was a blur of motion, tearing through the first line like a blade through silk. Blood splattered the trees, painting the world red.
Kai followed, heart in his throat, darting in and out of the chaos, striking where he could, distracting where he couldn't. He wasn't the strongest or the fastest, but he was clever and right now, clever was enough.
"Kai, behind you!" Adrian shouted, voice raw.
Kai spun just as a vampire lunged for him, fangs bared. Without thinking, Kai drove the dagger upward, feeling the sickening jolt as it found its mark. The vampire shrieked and crumbled into dust at his feet.
Shock and adrenaline pumped through Kai's veins, making him dizzy.
He'd done it.
He'd killed one.
"That's my boy!" Adrian roared, pride and fury mingling in his voice.
Together, they fought, side by side. Blood and bone, fangs and claws.
They were unstoppable.
They were legend.
When the last vampire fell, a broken heap at Adrian's feet, the forest fell silent again.
Kai swayed, exhaustion slamming into him, but Adrian caught him, arms wrapping around him protectively. "Mi vida," he whispered, voice thick with emotion. "You were incredible."
Kai managed a tired smile. "We did it."
Adrian pressed a fierce kiss to his forehead. "No, love. You did it. You stood your ground. You fought like hell. I'm so fucking proud of you."
Kai leaned against him, trembling, but victorious.
And for the first time, he truly believed it
He wasn't a victim anymore.
He was Adrian's equal.
His partner.
His warrior.
Kai sagged against Adrian, the dagger slipping from his blood-slicked fingers and thudding into the dirt. His whole body ached a deep, bone deep weariness but he couldn't stop smiling.
Adrian cradled his face with both hands, forcing Kai to look at him. His eyes, usually sharp and merciless, were burning with something softer now. Something raw. "You scared the shit out of me," Adrian rasped. "If that fucker had gotten closer"
"But he didn't," Kai whispered, cutting him off, pressing his forehead against Adrian's. "You were here. You always are."
Adrian let out a shaky breath, hands sliding down to Kai's waist, anchoring him there. "Damn right I was. Damn right I always will be." His voice cracked slightly, and for a second, the terrifying vampire looked utterly human. Vulnerable.
Around them, the werewolves moved through the battlefield, gathering the wounded, burning the dead. The air reeked of blood, sweat, and magic, thick enough to choke on. But Adrian only had eyes for Kai, like the entire universe had shrunk down to the boy trembling in his arms.
"You're not just brave," Adrian said lowly. "You're fucking feral when you need to be. Beautiful and deadly, just like I always knew you could be."
Kai flushed under the praise, and something hot and heady stirred in his chest. Pride. Lust. Love. A storm he could barely contain.
"You taught me how," Kai murmured, voice hitching. "I'm not the boy you found in that coffee shop anymore, Adrian."
Adrian's mouth twisted in a wicked smile. "No, mi vida. You're mine. My warrior. My mate."
Without waiting for permission, Adrian kissed him hard, desperate, full of all the things he couldn't say. Blood smeared between their mouths, the taste of victory and violence coating their tongues. Kai whimpered into the kiss, gripping Adrian's shirt with bloodstained fingers like he'd never let go.
"Mine," Adrian growled again, biting gently at Kai's lower lip until he gasped. "Always."
"Always," Kai breathed back, dizzy with it.
They broke apart only when footsteps crunched nearby. One of the wolves battered and bruised but alive approached, bowing his head.
"Alpha," he said to Adrian, his voice rough. "The area's clear. For now."
Adrian nodded, his hand never leaving Kai's waist. "Set up camp. We're staying here until sunrise. Then we move."
The wolf hesitated, glancing at Kai. "And... the omega?"
Adrian's grip tightened possessively. "He stays by my side," he said, voice brooking no argument. "Anyone who tries to take him answers to me."
The wolf swallowed hard and nodded, retreating back into the trees.
Kai leaned into Adrian, exhaustion pulling at him again. "Will they come back?" he asked quietly.
Adrian ran a soothing hand down his spine, gentling him. "Let them try," he whispered into Kai's hair. "Let them fucking try, mi amor. I'll tear the whole goddamn world apart before I let anyone touch you again."
Kai smiled against his chest, lulled by the brutal, bloody promise.
Safe.
Loved.
Fiercely, violently protected.
For the first time since the nightmare had started, Kai let himself believe they might actually survive this.