My knuckles whitened as I squeezed the phone, my grip so fierce I might have crushed it into my palm. Those old fools had no idea they were playing with fire. The so-called "threat" they saw was the only treasure I would ever have. Eliminate her? We would see who dared lay a finger on her.
I turned the key, and the sports car let out a low, rumbling growl. I slammed my foot down on the accelerator, and speed surged. My heartbeat matched the roar of the engine. I was going to her. Now. Immediately.
Her smiling face flashed through my mind. She was always so bright, so unspoiled. Her world deserved no stain from these filthy power struggles. That power… when I first sensed it, I had only felt awe. I never imagined it would draw this much trouble.
We had been walking in an ancient forest deep within the Sacred Mountains. The sun was setting, golden light filtering through the treetops and spilling over her. She hummed a nameless tune softly, and her fingertips brushed a withered nightshade grass.
In an instant, the plant surged with new life, sprouting fresh shoots and glowing with faint blue light. Danifae froze. So did I. We thought it a coincidence. But similar things kept happening. Small animals grew gentle around her, dying flowers bloomed again at her touch. It was pure life force, ancient and overwhelming. I had never heard of a vampire possessing such an ability. I realized she was not ordinary. And I buried the secret deep.
I thought I could protect her. I thought if no one knew, she could live in peace and joy. I had been naïve. Within the Council, there were always eyes watching me, watching everything I held dear. How had they found out? I recalled recent banquets, how I'd kept Danifae away from certain clan elders. But no one was perfect.
The car stopped at the corner by Danifae's café. I did not go in directly. Carlos's men should already be in position. I needed to assess the situation outside. My gaze swept the area. Several seemingly harmless passers-by held themselves with trained alertness. One man, pretending to read a newspaper, kept his elbow slightly loose, ready to draw a gun at any moment. Good. Carlos was always efficient.
I dialed Carlos's number. "Report."
"Master Charles. Miss Danifae is unharmed. But we've detected several unfamiliar presences lingering near the café," Carlos said, his voice heavy. "Not ours. Not the Council's. More like… outsiders. Gifted trackers, or maybe… the Wraiths?"
Wraiths. My heart sank. Greedy and bloodthirsty, they craved any form of great power. Had word from the Council leaked so quickly? Or had they been watching Danifae all along? I had focused too much on internal threats and ignored the outside.
"Keep them under watch," I said, my voice icy. "Protect Danifae at all costs. If anything happens, I want to know exactly who is responsible."
"Yes, sir."
I ended the call and took a deep breath. The situation was worse than I'd imagined. Now I faced pressure from within my clan and predators from without. Danifae had become a target. And she had no idea.
I pushed open the car door and walked toward the café. I had to take her away. As soon as possible.
The door opened, and the familiar scent of coffee washed over me. Danifae stood behind the counter, smiling as she packed a cup for a customer. Sunlight streamed through the window, gilding her chestnut hair. She wore a light-blue apron, dotted with a few coffee stains. Adorable.
"Charles!" She lit up at the sight of me, her eyes bright. "What are you doing here?"
She hurried over, a shy smile on her lips. No matter when I appeared, she always reacted as if seeing me for the first time. That untainted joy softened me, and strengthened my resolve to protect her.
"I missed you," I said, stepping forward to wrap my arm around her waist and press a kiss to her forehead. She stiffened slightly, then melted into my embrace.
"You're being silly again," she murmured, her cheeks flushing. She reached up to straighten my collar, her touch gentle and careful.
I felt the warmth of her palm. Real. Warm. She was everything. I could not lose her.
"Busy today?" I asked, keeping my tone light.
"Not too bad," she said, tilting her head. "Oh, but there was a strange customer this afternoon. He just stared at me. Didn't order anything."
My heart jolted. They had come.
"What did he look like?" I asked, calmly scanning the room. Only a few other customers were present, none acting suspicious. Carlos's men were outside.
"Tall and thin. Wore a hat and sunglasses. Kept his head down," Danifae said, confused. "He scared me a little. Then he left."
Wraith or gifted? Either way, they were dangerous. They were already closing in.
"It's nothing," I said, gently patting her back. "Probably just nearsighted, or lost in thought. Don't worry."
I could not let her fear. Not even a little.
"Danifae." I held her face gently, making her look into my eyes. "Things… might be unsafe for a while. I want you to move in with me, temporarily. Okay?"
She blinked, surprised. "Move in with you? Why?"
Her question was direct, innocent as always. How could I explain? I could not tell her people wanted her dead. That my own clan targeted her.
"I… miss you," I said, choosing the simplest and most tender lie, laced with quiet possessiveness.
She paused, then laughed, a clear, bell-like sound. "But you come to see me every day."
"It's not enough," I said, my voice low and firm. "I want to wake up to you every morning. Hold you every night. Give you everything."
Her blush deepened. She avoided my gaze, yet stole quick glances. I knew her too well. She liked when I was this unyielding.
"But… what about the café?" she hesitated. "I only just opened it."
"We can close temporarily," I said, already prepared. "Or I'll hire the best staff. You can run it whenever you want."
"Close?" She sounded reluctant. "We'll lose customers."
"Money doesn't matter," I said firmly. "You do."
She lowered her head, twisting the corner of her apron nervously. I knew she valued her independence. It was one of the things I loved about her.
"I promise it's nothing bad," I said, softening, my thumb brushing her cheek. "I've just been busy with work, and the place feels empty without you. I can't rest properly unless you're there."
A perfect lie, half-truth and half-devotion. I did miss her. I did want her with me. But more than that, I had to hide her.
She lifted her head, her clear eyes filled with trust and concern. "Your work… is it very hard?"
"Yes," I nodded, letting a hint of weariness show. "So will you stay with me? I need you."
It always worked. She was too soft for me.
"Alright…" she agreed quietly after a moment's hesitation. "I'll go pack my things. Wait here for me."
I exhaled in relief. It was the first step.
"No need." I took her hand. "Keep that on. I'll send someone for your belongings. Just come with me."
She stared, confused. I knew it sounded harsh, almost cruel. But I had no time to explain.
"Charles…" she whispered, hurt.
"Be good for me," I kissed the top of her head. "Trust me. I won't let anything hurt you."
I led her straight out of the café. She did not resist, only followed silently. She did not understand, but she chose to believe me. That trust ached in my chest. I would not break it.
A tall, sharp-eyed man in a black suit stepped forward at once. One of Carlos's men.
"Master Charles, the car is ready," he said respectfully.
Danifae tensed, glancing at the man, then at me. I gave her a reassuring look.
"Let's go." I opened the door and gestured for her to enter.
She hesitated, then climbed in. I sat beside her on the back seat and pulled her close.
"To my villa in the suburbs," I told the driver, my voice low and clear. "Stay alert. Move quickly."
The car pulled smoothly away. Through the window, I saw the man pretending to read a newspaper lower it, his gaze cold and piercing as it followed us. Another man, pretending to tie his shoelace, lifted his head as well.
We had left just in time.
Danifae snuggled against me and whispered, "Where are we going?"
"Somewhere no one can find us," I said, stroking her hair, my voice gentle enough to melt. "There's a large garden where you can grow flowers. A sunroom too, so you can enjoy sunlight even in winter. You'll love it."
I spoke the truth. The villa had everything. It had been meant as a quiet retreat. Now it would be her sanctuary.
She did not ask again. She simply rested against me. She had no idea how many eyes were fixed on her at that very moment. Nor did she know that the noble werewolf elders of the Council had already gathered for a second secret meeting.
"That boy Charles dares to take her away!" an old werewolf snarled, slamming his fist on the table. His beard trembled with rage, his face ashen.
"Does he really think he can hide her?" another elder scoffed, disdain in his eyes. "Power of that level draws too much attention. He's digging his own grave—and dragging our clan down with him!"
"What of Carlos's movements?" Elder Charles's voice boomed, low and authoritative, casting a shadow over the hall.
"Elder, Carlos's investigation has revealed something unusual," a young werewolf reported, sweat beading on his forehead. "Around Miss Danifae Romanov, we've detected not only our own men but also Wraiths and several gifted outsiders."
Silence crashed over the council chamber. The report was far graver than anticipated.
Wraiths. Gifted hunters. Far more ruthless than they. They cared nothing for order, nothing for tradition. Only power. Only gain. They would show no mercy.
"It seems this piece is far more valuable than we imagined," Elder Charles said slowly, his tone unreadable but chilling. His gaze was deep, as if seeing through every lie.
"We cannot wait," an elder urged, breaking the quiet. "If the Wraiths seize her power, the consequences will be catastrophic! We must take control."
"Therefore," Elder Charles's eyes swept the room, finally resting on the flickering candle at its center, "we must move faster. If Charles chooses to protect her, he becomes an obstacle. If necessary… remove him."
Remove. The word echoed again in the cold hall. Not only Danifae — even I had become a disposable pawn. Such was the cruelty of clan. Such was the ruthlessness of power.
Meanwhile, I held Danifae as we drove toward an uncertain "safe" place. I set my phone to silent, unwilling to let any noise shatter this fragile peace. I looked down at the girl in my arms. She had fallen asleep, her breathing soft and steady. A healthy flush colored her cheeks, her long eyelashes casting small fan-shaped shadows. Her sleeping face was pure, untouched, utterly alien to the chaos of the world.
She was a fragile fledgling, sheltered beneath my wings. She did not know those wings bore the weight of mountains. I pressed a light kiss to her hair. My Danifae. My moonlight. No one would hurt you. Never.
But my heart would not calm. The Council, Wraiths, gifted hunters… I had pulled her from open danger, only to lead her into another battlefield — quieter, yet far deadlier. The world was unfair. She had done nothing wrong, yet she must bear it all. And I? I would be her unfairness. I would be her only favor.
For now, I could only pray Carlos brought useful news soon. I needed more information. I needed to know who had leaked the secret. Who was pulling strings. Who was toying with her fate.
My hand tightened unconsciously. Danifae murmured in her sleep, shifting closer, pressing her small, warm body deeper into mine. A warmth I could never bear to lose.
As I looked at her, a wilder, more desperate thought took root. If this world refused to let my Danifae live — if they insisted on dragging her into the abyss — then I would rather burn the world to ash first. I would destroy everything before letting her suffer even a single wound.
The car continued deeper into the suburbs. Buildings thinned, replaced by dense, ancient forest and rolling hills. My villa lay hidden within this deceptively peaceful landscape. Once, it had been my escape. Now it would be my fortress. My battlefield.
Sunlight vanished completely behind dark clouds, and the world outside dimmed. The sky turned black as ink, the air heavy with tension. A true storm was coming — one that would engulf every race, every secret, every life. And I was ready to stand against the entire world.
My love. My rage. They would be the storm's most violent force.