Chapter 3
LORENZO DEVON
T he CEG skyscrapers were equally daunting as they were lackluster. They parted the sea of trees and concealed the burning afternoon sun. They stood as the middle point between Albany, the human city, and Syracuse, the vampire city. But everything inside it was plain. Cookie cutter. Stark white.
And every time I visited, an eerie chill crawled up my spine. It was a warning, but for what?
Six years and I still didn’t have the answer to that stupid question.
Distant, obscure memories danced in the back of my mind, a gust of wind speeding past me as sliding doors parted. Not much had changed in the last five months since I left for my post. From the bustling employees to the mishmash of half-humans, humans, and slightest hint of vampires in the air.
With consecutive short-term posts, it meant my senses became accustomed to human scents enfolding every corner. No half-humans. Definitely no fucking vampires. But their rot-like scents filled my nostrils the moment I entered CEG territory. Why was it so strong?
‘Cause you fucked up.
A crisp, clean scent drowned the muddled smells in an instant. It was a wave that cleared my surroundings and brought focus to one thing. One person.
“Lorenzo.”
Lace’s voice had a way of creeping up on me since his smell hit me first before anything. By the time words escaped his lips, my stomach had already tightened into itself. And when I faced him, my skin welcomed a running fever.
But it all diminished the moment I processed the formal way he called me.
“Lace.”
Alongside the CEG population, he was average height, defined by lean muscle and deep, tawny skin, and while many shrunk when next to my towering height, he didn’t. His head met right above my shoulder, but it didn’t deter him. He held himself as if we were eye to eye.
‘Cause we were.
Instead of the gym clothes he liked to wear to unify himself to guardians, he wore a crisp suit, similar to the ones his brothers and father wore. He even had a stick up his ass in the way he strutted.
A sudden spike of awareness cleared my vision.
“Good to have you back,” he said as he extended a hand. His grip was tight enough to cut my circulation.
“Good to be here.” Something going on? I scrunched my eyebrows at him.
He squeezed once more and released, warm, hooded, brown eyes meeting mine. Can’t say right now.
My senses sharpened to my surroundings. At first, nothing was out of place. But then— there . The rot-like scent grew overwhelming. Guardians were recognized as half-humans because of the way they were engineered to take vampire blood as an enhancement. Never did they smell like this. Neither did the CEG-employed vampires.
And if Lace’s second brother was building a new force, I would have known by now. Lace wouldn’t have kept it from me. We didn’t lie to each other.
“Let’s meet in my office to discuss a few matters.”
An elevator beside us dinged open and Lace took the opportunity to waste no more time. His crisp scent renewed the enclosed space, but tension strung the air around us. It shadowed us as we stepped through windowless hallways parted by closed doors, except for one at the far end.
His office was never changing, a disaster with papers crowding the floor, but he knew how to go around. Even with the years, I still couldn’t make my way through it without his lead. The one time I diverted, stacks on stacks of files tipped over, resulting in a disaster.
Never again. Especially thanks to my cousin.
The only one who knew how to operate in this space beside Lace was her. If Nina hadn’t been assigned to. . .wherever she was outside of Syracuse since Lace couldn’t tell me the exact location, she would have tagged along to ensure I didn’t make a mess. It was a habit she developed, especially since Lace had a tendency of guilt tripping her into organizing his office.
After closing the door, I stepped closely behind him and took the seat in front of his desk. He hovered beside it.
His soft yet gruff voice broke the strained silence. “There’s been an increase in visits.”
“From the Ministry?” Vampire blood was all the same to me, no matter if “royalty” or not. But status was everything in their world; parting elite vampires from the lower class was like night and day. They carried themselves like they owned the world with elaborate outfits and a matching attitude.
Fucking pampered pricks.
Like your doll?
The man from the vampire parlor had that air around him, confidence lining his posture and sustaining each stride, but. . .no. No way was he a part of the Regal Families.
They were the elite of the elite. And based on what Lace has told me in the past, they didn’t frequent those “offensive” locations.
“Yes. The Two-Species Treaty feud has worsened. The Premier is trying with all his efforts to make amends to avoid war, but he continues to meet opposition from both sides—mostly the vampires because of the Mubaraks’ disappearance.”
I lowered my gaze at him. “They care about one little royal family enough to spark a second Cold War?”
“It’s not about care. It’s about sustaining power where imbalances divide the world,” Lace affirmed.
The roll from my eyes went far into my skull. It’s the same spiel as always. It didn’t change my cemented opinion: power was as sensitive as the ego.
“Enzo.” There it was. My name on his tongue. The way to reel me back to him. Warmth flooded my system every time I heard it. It was like coming home to a heated blanket under a cold night. Comfort and security bundled into one.
I cleared my throat. Since when was something lodged there? “I know, I know. It’s just, Lace, doesn’t it sound ridiculous? One family vanishes into thin air and the entire vampire political state goes haywire.”
“The last time this happened, a Vampire Regal Family ceased to exist.”
“The Epides.” History wasn’t my thing, but when my boss loved emphasizing the repercussions of losing a Regal Family, I had no choice but to know it by heart.
“With the years, the Vampire Ministry has hardened the remaining six pillars, but it doesn’t mean they’re made of impenetrable stone. While the foundation of their body can withstand one missing family—one pillar—it can’t do another, because then it tips over and everything crumbles.”
“Has Mallory played a role?” My jaw hardened. Just saying his name set me aflame in the worst way possible. The only loose end that escaped me.
After that night, the week of my last post dragged like hell. Every waking moment was spent beating myself up over it.
Which meant it was all fucking day and all fucking night.
I should have killed him when I had the chance.
“No,” Lace released with a heavy sigh as he shook his head. “Like I’ve told you countless times, Enzo, no one outside the Vampire Ministry knows about the Mubaraks’ disappearance. Mallory went radio silent after your visit and hasn’t made an appearance since. You accomplished your mission. Don’t waste more time worrying about him.” His words echoed, exhaustion carving lines next to his eyes.
Even as his words of affirmation warmed my skin, the situation shrunk me into a pit of shame because I’d failed. I had never failed a mission—or Lace—ever.
An itch crawled in the back of my mind as something else withered inside me ever since Mallory. He was able to debilitate me with a piece of metal. The sharp ringing was one I’d never heard before, and the pain? Worse than anything my body has gone through. It was enough to blur my surroundings.
“Did you find the device?”
He shook his head. “Since we disabled the cameras, it’s been hard to trace it. I’ve had different groups sweep the parlor from all corners and nothing. Are you sure he dropped it?”
“Lace,” I muttered, an edge sharpening my tone. It had been a split second, but I saw the device vanish from Mallory’s hand.
A sharp grin relieved his hardened expression, a glint shining in his dark hooded eyes as he raised his arms. “You’re right. I’ll send another group. Hopefully, it turns up.” He cleared his throat. “Moving on. There’s a new assignment that came up relating to the Premier.”
He placed a few sheets of paper on the table, each one filled with information covering front to back. I’d just got back and he already wanted me to do the worst thing imaginable: homework.
“What’s the rundown?” I grumbled. No need to pretend I was interested when Lace knew better.
“With opposition comes death threats, and these threats have extended to his children. There has been an attack on the Sephtises. Thankfully, only one guardian sustained an injury.”
“How many guardians are posted currently?”
“Two-hundred and thirteen.”
“And they need one more?” While it was a ridiculous request, it wasn’t unheard of. These pompous vampire fucks thought everyone was out for them—human and vampire alike. I couldn’t blame the Premier, the head of the Vampire Ministry, but it was a little overkill.
“No, but I do,” Lace stated, his eyes leveling onto mine. “It’s for Nina. She’s stationed there.”
I hadn’t seen or spoken to my cousin ever since I left for my ongoing post five months ago. While I’d received updates through Lace, it didn’t bury the worry I always had for her and her. . .condition. Although she forced Lace to promise not to tell me, I recognized her signs.
Maybe we weren’t exactly the same, but we were similar. And that was a blessing and curse all on its own.
Tension lined my muscles as panic twisted in my gut. “What happened to her?” A deep edge coated my voice.
“She’s okay. She handled the situation as a guardian should, but it triggered her other state. The fact she hasn’t been feeding also didn’t help.”
“ What? ” I roared. “What about the medication?” It was a never-ending battle between us. She hated taking pills, but it was the only fix that helped maintain her condition. She had a chance to be stable. I didn’t.
“Increased, but she’s been consistent on taking it for the past few months since she’s stationed under the Sephtises.”
Inhaled. Exhaled. The red that stained my gaze vanished as I regrouped myself. “So, you need me to keep an eye on her?”
He nodded. “And the Sephtises. They’re known to. . .play games on their indoor guardians.”
“What type of games?”
“The ones where they manipulate their targets into thinking they’re an item and get heartbroken at the end.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Are you serious?”
“I wouldn’t lie to you, now would I?” He smirked, any form of amusement absent. He pulled out a few sheets from the stack, showcasing detailed assessments of past guardians assigned to the Sephtis family. “Don’t be fooled. Their mind games are so deliberate, guardians vanish into thin air once they return. Our reputation has deteriorated because of these men. You leave on Thursday.”
A sigh escaped me. “You think I can get a new one, then?” I pulled out the phone from my back pocket. While it still worked, the glass pinched my skin every time I used it. It was starting to piss me off.
“Anything for you, Enzo.” The usual warm smile reflected on his face.
My cousin always had a certain gleam in her gaze when she was with Lace and me. Not because of how we were as a trio, but how me and him were as a duo. She never verbally said it, but it was all in the way she observed us, as if there was more to our relationship. As if I had a crush on Lace.
But she was wrong. What I had for Lace was nothing more than admiration. Respect. Duty. He took my cousin and me in after Mom died when no one else did.
I owed him my life. I couldn’t fail him.
“And please,” Lace’s voice softened with each word, “promise me you won’t tell Nina I sent you to keep her in check. I don’t want her thinking we don’t trust her.”
Whatever was lodged in my throat earlier tripled in size, my swallow dry. It was another truth I had to omit from my cousin. Not by want, but by necessity.
“Of course, Lace. I promise.”
Deafening roars oozed from my motorcycle and echoed into the looming forest. Woodstale, a small settlement outside of Syracuse, was known for its greenery. But there was a side to it that no human knew about. And for the most part, based on Lace’s report, vampires were kept in the dark to keep the Premier’s heirs safe from threats.
But my take? Lace was doing a favor to vampires by keeping the Premier’s seven offsprings away from civilization. For once, the clients’ reputation made for entertaining homework.
The Sephtises were nestled deep in the wilderness, where mountains stood proud, and bodies of waters mingled. Musk and cedar fought for dominance. Tranquility was supposed to be in the passing wind. But instead, dense air pressed against my shoulders as I drew closer.
A tall, dark gate with a security house neared in the distance. Suited bodies loomed across the grounds. Lace probably notified them about my arrival since it was protocol, but I swiftly turned out of view.
Guardians weren’t supposed to have transportation outside of the CEG assigned taxis and drivers. And while Lace gifted my baby to me after my first year at the CEG, he was strict on keeping her out of sight. I was the secret exception, and to keep Lace out of the limelight, my outside work needed to be under wraps.
“Where to head now?” my whisper drowned as I closed in at an edge of the territory. There wasn’t much of a road left over so I turned my baby off. The remaining dirt path merged into a dissipated river and led to a dead end that— wait.
In a swift motion, I parked and retrieved the map from Laces’ documents. It detailed most of the terrain and routes in and around the Sephtis property. He’d lent it to me to study since I’d be stationed as a new offensive guardian, focused on ground protection. I kept it to probe the area for my baby.
Nowhere did it show a cave carved into the side of a mountain.
Perfect.
With a large opening, lance-shaped glossy green leaves crawled on it. Moonlight crept into the wide space and reflected on the limestone with a small glow, highlighting flowers in the dirt. They reached my thigh in height, but I nearly stepped on them since their pitch-black petals camouflaged in the dark.
Humidity clung to the damp air, a slight powdery-like scent trailing the deeper I walked inside. Why was it familiar? I shook it away, my line of focus centering as I tugged my baby inside through thin layers of mud. At the far end, where shadows met, the sleek exterior of my motorcycle obscured itself.
There was no way the naked eye could detect it.
With suitcases in hand, I headed back the same route, but instead of entering from the front, I eased into the off-end entrance. Guardians were taught to distinguish camouflaged doors at any corner, but this one wasn’t supposed to be easy for half-humans. It was for superior eyesight that could notice the minuscule difference in the hardware, the obscure hollow outline that appeared from three meters away.
But why?
I stored that thought for later. Right now, I had a different priority. And I’d wasted enough time, so each security point would be handled tomorrow.
A four-story building met my eyesight as I stepped through. Further down, another tall gate enclosed the space, guardians posted within centimeters of each other. But what caught my attention was the short figure with black hair that, even in a high braid, reached below her kneecaps, as she crossed and didn’t notice me in the distance.
Adrenaline pumped through my chest as my body sprinted into action. She stopped before the other tall gate in high alert, shoulders raised and back straightening as she faced me. Quickly, I closed the gap between us as she whirled right and into me.
Furrowed, soft, yet angled features against deep, umber skin suddenly eased. Wide forest green eyes fell on me. Recognition softened her gaze and plump lips pouted as she jumped onto me. Her short, muscular build easily weighed into my embrace.
“Lorenzo!” Katerina Eli’s familiar low, silvery voice reverberated in my ears.
“I’ve missed you, Nina.”
My cousin pulled away and hopped onto the ground. It had been months since we last saw each other, yet there was a different air to her. In gym clothes, she’d always been relaxed. Casual. But with the newest edition of the black guardian uniform, she stood taller and authoritative. It had also been a while since I’d seen her in uniform.
Her eyes shimmered as they took me in, but a hint of wariness shadowed them. As if I was a ghost from the past. Like I was the last person she was hoping to see.
I lifted the metal suitcase that had weighed down my ride. “Don’t think Lace didn’t warn me about your non-feeding habits.”
“It’s not a habit,” she said as she took it from my hand. Ah, there was the typical defense. “It was a mistake.”
I wrapped an arm around her neck and smoldered her into my chest. My other hand rubbed against the top of her head like I always used to do as a kid. She hated it. I loved it. “‘Cause of that, you owe me two laps.”
She tugged, trying to get away from my hold, but that only worsened my grip on her. “But! You just got here!”
“There are no buts, Nina,” I said and pulled her away from wherever she thought she was going. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”