Chapter 84

**ADAM**

The scent of blood filled the air, thick and intoxicating.

I ducked under a swing, feeling the heat of the blade as it sliced past my cheek. The hunter barely had time to react before I drove my fist into his ribs, hearing the satisfying crunch of bone. He staggered back, gasping, but I didn’t give him a chance to recover. One sharp twist and he crumpled to the floor.
I barely had time to catch my breath before another came at me, but before I could strike, a blur of movement passed in front of me. The hunter let out a strangled gasp before his head was torn clean off his shoulders.

I turned, fists still raised, and came face to face with a vampire.

He was tall, lean, and dressed in dark, tattered clothes. His eyes gleamed red in the dim light, and his mouth curled into a sharp grin, exposing elongated
fangs still dripping with blood.

"You're efficient," he mused, flicking the hunter’s blood off his fingers. "But you fight like a werewolf."

I scowled. "And you fight like a savage."

His grin widened. "Fair enough. Come—this way."

I hesitated for only a second before following. The enemy was human, but they were trained, organized. If I wanted to find Aria, I needed to be armed, and I needed backup.

The vampire led me through a series of corridors, moving like a shadow, barely making a sound. As we descended deeper into the castle, the sounds of battle grew more distant, muffled by thick stone walls.

We pushed through an iron door and into a dimly lit room lined with weapons—an armory.

"Take what you need," he said, already reaching for a wicked-looking sword.

I grabbed a silver dagger and a handgun, checking the magazine. Fully loaded.

Another group of vampires spilled into the room, their expressions wild with excitement. One of them, a woman with jet-black hair and eerie silver eyes, let out a delighted laugh as she lifted a crossbow.

“Humans,” she purred, running a finger along the bolt’s tip. “So fragile, so warm. I can’t wait to taste them.”

The others murmured in agreement, their hunger palpable.

I clenched my jaw, pushing down the part of me that understood their craving. I wouldn’t be like them. I wouldn’t give in.

The vampire who had led me here smirked. “Having trouble, hybrid?”

I shot him a glare. “I don’t drink human blood.”

He gave me an amused look, but before he could comment, I stepped closer. “I don’t care about any of this. I need to find Aria.”

At that, his expression shifted slightly. “Ambrose has her.”

I stilled. “Where?”

He leaned against the wall, watching me like a cat toying with a mouse. “You do know he always gets what he wants, right?”

A growl rumbled in my chest. “She’s mine.”

That made him raise an eyebrow. “Possessive.”

I wasn’t in the mood for games. “She’s my mate.”

That seemed to amuse him even more. “And yet, you’ve already shared her with a wolf.”

I bared my teeth. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I?” He chuckled. “Your situation is… unique, I’ll give you that.” He sheathed his sword and tilted his head. “Fine. Let’s go find your mate before Ambrose decides he wants to keep her.”

I exhaled sharply, nodding. Maybe having a vampire ally wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

**ARIA**

The silence in the hidden chamber was suffocating. A single chandelier flickered above us, casting long, dramatic shadows across the stone walls. The room was lavish in a way that only an ancient vampire’s lair could be—velvet drapes, gold-trimmed furniture, and a chaise lounge that looked like it had seen centuries of scandalous behavior.

Lord Ambrose draped himself over said chaise, his silk robe still hanging loosely from his shoulders, offering more of himself to the room than necessary. His pale fingers toyed with the rim of a glass filled with something dark and thick. I didn’t want to assume it was wine.

“Well, my dear,” he said, stretching like a cat. “Since we are here, tucked away from the chaos of the outside world, you might as well indulge me. Ask me anything.”

I crossed my arms, keeping my distance. “I don’t have time for games.”

His lips curved into a lazy smile. “Everything is a game, Aria. You just have to decide whether you want to play or be played.”

I exhaled sharply, forcing down my irritation. “Fine. Why are humans attacking your castle?”

Ambrose sighed as if the question bored him. “Ah, mortals. So persistent. So dreadfully predictable. It’s simple, really. Some people don’t like when others
have secrets. And I,” he gestured dramatically to himself, “have a great manysecrets.”

“Like what?”

He chuckled. “Oh, you’re sharp. I do appreciate that in a woman.” He leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “Secrets about power. About creatures who should not exist. About you.”

A shiver ran down my spine, but I kept my expression neutral. “Me?”

He took a slow sip from his glass. “You are a Scava, are you not? Blood of the infamous Alessandro?”

I stiffened but nodded.

“Fascinating,” he purred. “The young woman of the prophecy, standing before me. Do you have any idea how many people would kill to be in my position right now?”

I clenched my fists. “If you think you can use me for whatever you’re scheming, you’re wasting your time.”

Ambrose laughed, rich and genuine. “Oh, I don’t need to use you, my dear. You are already a force of nature. But I do find you utterly intriguing.” He tapped a finger to his lips. “And I do so love interesting things.”

I ignored his amusement. “How do I stop this? How do I make the hunters back off?”

His gaze darkened slightly. “That is the wrong question.”

I frowned. “Then what’s the right one?”

Ambrose stood, suddenly too close, towering over me with his unnatural grace. “The right question, Aria, is why now? Why attack tonight? What do they know that we do not?”

That made me pause. He was right. The timing wasn’t random. Someone had planned this.

I took a slow breath, trying to keep my focus. “And do you know the answer?”

Ambrose grinned, flashing sharp white teeth. “Of course I do. But where would the fun be in telling you?”

I glared at him. “Ambrose—”

He held up a hand, cutting me off. “Patience, dear girl. I promise, all shall be revealed in due time. For now, we must simply wait. Perhaps we’ll be rescued, perhaps not. It’s all terribly exciting, isn’t it?”

I hated how amused he was.

Talking to Adam through the mindlink. *Be careful. Ambrose knows more than he’s saying.*

A faint response came, sharp with tension. *Of course he does. Don’t trust him.*

As if he sensed the exchange, Ambrose smirked. “Oh, don’t worry, darling. I have no intention of harming you.”

I met his gaze, unflinching. “Good. Because if you try, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

For the first time, Ambrose looked truly delighted. “Oh, now I really like you.”