He stands close to the frame, but jumps when Gael knocks louder—two curt, sharp beats with his large knuckles. Haruka waits, standing still. Barely breathing. Silence. For a long moment, they both stand like this, with Haruka sensing the commanding first-generation presence on the opposite side of the door.
Losing his patience, Haruka turns to walk away.
“Asao—”
There is a loud crash, and Haruka isn’t sure what’s hit him first as his body lunges forward—the broken wood of the door or Gael’s massive form. Before he can even blink, his body is slammed down hard into the stone floor, an unbearable pressure heavy against his back and restraining his movement. Haruka chokes. Thick fingers are gripping and wrapping tightly against the back of his neck.
Clenching his eyes shut, he tries to push himself up, but Gael is too heavy, too imposing over his leaner frame. Haruka’s ear is pressed against the cold stone as Gael grips his neck even tighter, making him lose his breath from the intense burn of it.
“Meu lindo, me mostre o livro,” he whispers, his deep voice threatening but teasing. Evocative. His breath is damp and hot against his ear. Haruka thrashes as Gael drags his rough, wet tongue up the side of his face—like an animal tasting its prey. Staking its claim.
Beautiful, show me the book.
Haruka’s eyes shift, burning fierce against the darkness as he concentrates. He unravels the heavy knot of his aura in his core, willing it to flourish and come alive.
Defensively pushing his energy outward like this, in a castle full of hungry, shameless vampires, isn’t wise. If the scent of his unique nature attracts the others, there is no way Haruka can defend himself from multiple assailants in his current state. He hasn’t fed from another purebred in years, and it’s been six days since his last bag from Elsie.
But what other choice does he have?
Haruka focuses and manipulates his energy deep within him, allowing it to rush from his core and tightly wrap itself around Gael’s body. The enormous vampire tenses from the subjugation, but digs his fingernails deep into Haruka’s neck. Haruka winces, the pain searing hot as Gael scratches his flesh. Haruka pushes his energy even further, strictly holding Gael and shifting him up so that he can move from underneath his weight.
He quickly crawls away from his attacker’s frozen, elevated frame and moves toward the wall. Gael is physically powerful—the mass of him substantial in Haruka’s mind. This isn’t like quickly shifting his energy outward to stop the young Amelia in Oxford. That had been like holding and restraining a fawn with his psyche. This… this is restraining an angry bull.
Gael’s eyes are frantic. Haruka can’t subdue him completely and already his throat feels raw, his chest aching from breathing heavily. He’s too weak. He reaches up, touching the wetness of blood trailing down into his shirt. His body’s healing capabilities are also failing. What the hell am I going to do?
And where is Asao? His essence has been exposed for at least a minute now, he needs to do something before—
Haruka’s glowing eyes widen. He draws further into the wall as Gael independently moves his fingers, breaking through the defense. Haruka narrows his eyes, trying to wrap his essence even tighter around him. But soon, Gael jerks his neck, eerily craning it toward him.
“Asao!” Haruka calls out, louder this time.
There’s a sound by the door. Haruka looks up, hoping to see his manservant. But Nino is standing there, a look of unfiltered shock on his face. His expression shifts into something indiscernible as he breathes in Haruka’s flooded essence and scent. Nino’s irises flash and burn with rich golden light—like honey lit with fire. A new sense of panic fills Haruka’s entire being. He can barely subdue Gael, so there is no way in hell he can subjugate a purebred.
Like an ominous flash of lightning in a moonless sky, a singular thought cuts through the dense fog of his terrified mind.
I will die here.
Fourteen
Nino can’t believe his eyes as he stands in the doorway. It’s like a scene from an intense action movie.
Gael is frozen and hovering in mid-air at least a foot from the ground. His body is outlined in a bright, extraordinary red haze that seems to be the cause of his levitation and motionless state. Nino looks at Haruka. He’s huddled with his back pressed into a far wall, his eyes blazing crimson in the dimly lit room.
Haruka looks outright horrified. Nino takes a step forward and something hits him. Not physically, but emotionally. A strong scent stirs him fundamentally and deep within his core, making his eyes alight from the sheer pleasure of the sensation. It’s Haruka. This rosy, cool and earthy scent that’s always subtly wafting from his body is exposed in full force. It is truly divine, swirling into Nino’s nose, down his throat and through his veins to arouse and warm his entire body.
Gael suddenly drops hard to the floor, free from the magical levitation. His face is twisted in anger. Nino hesitates only for a second—the danger of the moment and innate fear flashing in his mind. But he firmly shakes his head. He takes a deep breath.
Frantically, Nino glances around. When he sees a massive, antique-looking ceramic vase atop a nearby pillar, he makes a quick decision. Just as Gael is shifting to his knees, Nino swiftly grabs the vase, rushes toward Gael and slams it down over the large vampire’s head. He thrusts it hard. Full force. Gael flops back down to the floor in a heap. Nino waits for him to move. He doesn’t.
Straightening his back, Nino blinks. He’s honestly amazed that this worked. He’s seen this done in action movies too, but he wasn’t sure if it would truly be effective. He looks up and takes a step forward, but when Haruka holds his hand up, Nino halts.
“Do not—don’t come closer.” Haruka’s deep voice is ragged but stern in the frigid silence.
They both remain still, their glowing eyes warily examining each other. Nino’s stomach is tense as he gasps. Haruka is bleeding from his neck. He mechanically takes another step forward. “Jesus, you’re—”
“I said stop.” Haruka’s voice rises. He haphazardly scoots along the wall, trying to put more distance between them. He looks ashen and ravaged, his night clothes disheveled and stained with blood.
Nino stands completely still but raises his palms. He keeps his voice low. “Haru… I am not going to hurt you.”
“Then why are your eyes alighted?”
Nino frowns, thinking quickly. “Because it smells nice in here?”
There’s a sound behind him and Nino turns. Asao walks into the room and stops dead at Nino’s side, taking in the scene. He exhales a heavy sigh. “Oh hell.”
“What took you so long?” Haruka fumes, his voice bitter as he scowls at his manservant. Asao walks past Nino and leans down to touch the side of Gael’s neck.
“How many times did you call me?” Asao asks absently, standing upright.
“Twice.”
“I didn’t hear you the first time, Haruka. I’m sorry, but I actually sleep sometimes too. Are you okay? What would you like me to do?”
“I—I am fine. Please wake Emory,” says Haruka, leaning his head against the wall and closing his eyes. His chest is quietly heaving from stress. “Tell him Gael attacked me, and please request that Elsie come here to provide sustenance for me as soon as possible.”
Nino’s throat tightens. Oddly, he and Asao exchange a pointed moment of eye contact. Asao looks back at Haruka, his voice serious. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Please do as I have asked.”
