Chapter 7

While spinning the dagger in his right hand, the silence was interrupted by the sound of his cell phone. Without shifting his gaze from the vampire preparing to attack, Nicholas answered the call, grumbling, "Now is not a good time!"

"Well, forgive me, but we have a situation here, and it seems urgent." Alleandro sounded a bit more euphoric than usual. He wasn't an elite warrior, but he was an exceptional hacker who had belonged to the clan for about thirty years.

Far from being a nerd, he was one of the best in his field. He rarely called, knowing he would be the target of Nicholas’s bad mood if it wasn't important.

"Start talking... and don't beat around the bush!"

His vision did not stray from the renegade who was looking around, seeing his ambush partner with a twisted neck.

The renegade's hatred was visible in the look he exchanged with Nicholas, but Alleandro’s words intrigued him, helping him decide to end that senseless fight immediately.

Spinning the dagger in his free hand, Nicholas struck the vampire square in the heart.

Without hesitation, he approached with long strides as the vampire fell to his knees, delivering the mercy blow.

The ashes quickly dispersed, leaving Nicholas with his full attention on the matter at hand.

"Are you sure? A Dhampir?" The presence of a half-breed seeking urgent asylum left him apprehensive, as well as curious.

Dhampirs didn't usually survive long without help. Rejected by their human mothers for being different and by vampires for not being pure, they were often unaware of their own existence.

Finally, something new to stimulate his interest. Being immortal had its advantages, but also its disadvantages; the nights were becoming identical, with nothing changing as the years went by.

Being surprised or even challenged was something he had not imagined was possible anymore.

After finishing off the last attacker, he ensured the perimeter was clear. Emerging from the shadows, he confirmed that the humans were still oblivious, having no idea what had just happened right next to them.

As always, there was nothing to worry about; the bar patrons might claim they saw a unicorn, something anyone would dismiss, blaming a night of alcohol and drugs.

Alleandro confirmed, almost shouting in his ear with excitement.

Her asylum was more than justified given the situation, yet Nicholas still liked to know the details of her clan and its respective Master.

Yes, anyone capable of admitting such abuse toward one of their own deserved to be investigated and punished. But he quickly abandoned the interrogation when groans sounded in the air. Observing how the female was painfully trying to get up, he decided she was the priority at the moment; she needed care and protection, and that was his function—his duty.

With a single blow, he disposed of the second attacker's body, approaching with caution, trying not to frighten the female as she slipped into semi-consciousness. With a blink, she looked up at him, her eyes of an almost transparent brown fixed momentarily on his, trying to say something, but no sound followed the movement of her lips.

Nicholas cradled her in his arms, conscious of the expression of pain on her pale face; he bet she had some serious injuries. When she almost screamed, Nicholas confirmed that one or two ribs were likely broken.

His movements left her unable to find a comfortable position, and she writhed in discomfort even while cradled in his arms, so he made a decision. He held her with a firm gaze, feeling her mind surrender to his will; her lips parted, indicating she had yielded to his power.

Restless, he appreciated the sight of her mouth, reddened by her own blood, for a few seconds; it attracted him deeply, which was not normal, just as her suffering disturbed him more than usual. Thus, he compelled her to sleep; it would be better for everyone if he delivered her as quickly as possible to the care of the clan, granting her the much-desired protection of the Independents.