Chapter 31
Alexander
Alexander looked around him as the snow came down harder, the forest growing increasingly difficult to see. He didn’t want to call off the search, but he might have to. Moving blindly through the forest would be reckless.
He couldn’t afford to get hurt. Not again. Not when another infection could cost them everything.
He drew in a slow breath, exhaustion weighing heavily on his body. He had been out there for two days straight, with no sign of the vampires.
Doubt was starting to creep in. The possibility he had tried not to consider was becoming harder to ignore. Maybe they were too late. Maybe the vampires had already made it to Claremore.
He had hoped it wasn’t true, but now he was being forced to face it.
Greer appeared beside him, and by the look in his eyes, Alexander already knew the news would not be good.
“What is it?” Alexander asked.
“Mason was just at the castle. He managed to track the vampires from out of town,” Greer said.
“How bad is it?”
“Really bad,” Greer replied. “They massacred their entire family and fled.”
“How many were there?” Alexander asked, already dreading the answer. The demons were killing without even being present. They were losing this war before it had even truly begun.
“Six,” Greer said. “Do you think six of them might be able to open the veil?”
“There might be more,” Alexander said. “I was injured before, remember?”
“Fuck,” Greer said. “We should go to Claremore then. Staying here won’t help anything. Maybe we’ll get lucky and intercept the vampires before they’re swallowed by the underworld.”
Alexander nodded. “Go and brief Roland and Mason. Tell them to bring everyone. We’re going to need all the help we can get,” he said, looking around. “I never imagined I would leave this place so soon.”
“Don’t say that. We’ll win. No one is dying this time,” Greer said.
Alexander gave him a wry smile, then disappeared.
He reappeared in Manlius’ house beside the staircase, just out of view. The sorcerer was speaking with Boaz and Killan. Alexander only half listened, his attention caught by the werewolf.
His chest tightened at the sight of him.
He wanted to go to him. To hold him, stand there in silence for even a moment and forget everything else.
Just for a second.
But he didn’t move.
Boaz might think he was only using him as a distraction. When the truth was far deeper than that. Alexander needed him in a way he didn’t fully understand himself.
For two hundred years, Boaz had been there in his dreams, his scent wrapping around him, comforting and familiar. Even in the darkness, he had made the long sleep feel less empty.
He had always been there.
Alexander stared at Boaz, and he realized that it had always been him. Not Lyla. He might have seen Lyla in his dreams but it was because Boaz was seeing her. He saw everything that Boaz saw and felt Boaz felt because they were somehow connected on a deeper level.
It had always been him.
Alexander took a step toward him, but Boaz walked out of the house. Manlius turned and stared at him, stopping him in his tracks.
“Your Majesty, I don’t like people coming into my house unannounced.”
“Sorry, I’ll remember that next time,” Alexander said, walking closer to Manlius. “And I have some bad news. Ten vampires have been infected, and I can’t find them.”
Manlius paled. “Do you think they’re on their way here?”
“They might already be dead,” Alexander said. “And there might be more. I got hurt while training a few weeks ago, and…”
“Dammit. Is there more bad news? Because I can’t take it anymore,” Manlius asked, throwing his arms up helplessly. He pressed his fingers into his temples, groaning.
“Is everything okay?” Hansel asked as he walked into the foyer, his gaze moving between Manlius and Alexander. Alexander waited for the werewolf to say something, but to his surprise, he stayed quiet.
“No, nothing is okay, Hansel. The damn world is ending, and it seems we can’t do anything about it,” Manlius said in frustration.
“Calm down, Manlius. We haven’t lost yet,” Alexander said, though he didn’t feel calm himself. They couldn’t fall apart before the war had even begun. “We need to assess the situation first. Have you taught Blade what he needed to know?”
“Yeah,” Manlius wiped his face with his hand, pushing his hair back. “He needs sexual energy so I was going to…”
“Sexual energy? What do you mean?” Hansel asked, frowning.
Manlius stared at Hansel for a moment, scanning him from head to toe. Then he grabbed his arm and dragged him down the hallway.
“It’s all sorted now,” Manlius said as he dragged Hansel away. “We’ll see you in an hour or so.”
Alexander stared after them, one brow raised. He shook his head and disappeared.
He reappeared at the monastery. It was already busy, teeming with supernatural beings setting up tents and lighting fires. The fae stood in a circle across the field where Alexander remembered the war taking place, their hands glowing with blue light.
Killan stood to the side, his gaze fixed on the sky. Alexander looked up as well, but he couldn’t see anything.
“How did we manage to see the veil before?” Alexander asked, stopping in front of Killan.
“Manlius. He used his powers. He wanted everyone to be able to see it so no one would be left behind when we closed it,” Killan said, a sad look crossing his face. “I wish I had the power to make it visible again. If we can’t see it, we’re fucked.”
“And there’s no one else who can do it,” Alexander said.
“The High Priestess said she’ll bring as many witches as she can and try. We’ll have to wait and see,” Killan replied, then walked back to his people. A few seconds later, his hands began to glow blue.
Alexander moved through the field, scanning for a place where his vampires could set up camp for the night. It would only be temporary; they couldn’t stay under the sun for long.
More supernatural beings arrived and began setting up as well. Alexander had feared they might not come. But they were here, united, ready to defend the living even at the risk of losing more loved ones.
He spotted Boaz among them, helping set up and carrying heavy supplies. He moved with an easy grace, drawing Alexander’s attention without even trying.
Boaz looked up just then, and they stared at each other, the world around them fading for a brief moment. Then Boaz looked away, focusing on what he was doing. Alexander turned away as well and began helping with the preparations.
Greer arrived thirty minutes later with Ronald, Mason, and a few other vampires.
“The rest will come once the war starts,” he said when Alexander glanced at the small group he had brought.
“We can set up camp there,” Alexander said, moving toward the spot he had chosen.
Greer and the vampires followed, though most of them didn’t need much to set up, since they could easily return home if needed. Still, they settled in for the long wait.
Alexander kept glancing toward where Boaz was. For weeks now, they hadn’t spent a single moment apart. He had almost forgotten what it felt like not to be near him.
Then Alexander stood up. He needed to talk to him. He needed to be close.
He moved through the camp, weaving between tents and fires. The field and courtyard were crowded, leaving little space to walk. He dodged people carefully, trying not to trip over ropes or firewood or bump into anyone.
But he still bumped into someone.
“Sorry,” Alexander mumbled.
“It’s you,” a familiar voice said.
Alexander looked down to see Lacus. The human smiled as if genuinely glad to see him, a metal jug of water clutched in his hands. “You’re here too,” he said.
“Yes,” Alexander replied, still slightly confused. He had been nothing but rude to the man before, and had nearly killed him.
“I’m glad,” Lacus said, glancing around with a wary look in his eyes. “I’ve never seen so many supernatural beings in my life. Father Claremore’s writings spoke about strange creatures of the night, but I never believed it, even after I saw you.”
Alexander patted him lightly on the back. “You’ll get used to it,” he said.
“I guess,” Lacus said, looking around uncertainly. “It just feels like a dream.”
“Yes. It’s a dream,” Alexander said, squeezing his shoulder. “Pray it doesn’t turn into a nightmare.”
“You mean the demons. I’ve read about those too,” Lacus said, crossing himself. “I’ll go inside and light a candle for everyone.”
“Go do that,” Alexander said.
He watched Lacus hurry off toward the church, and when he turned back, Boaz was no longer where he had seen him.
Was he avoiding him?
Alexander didn’t have time to dwell on it. Manlius, Blade, and Hansel had arrived at the courtyard.
He watched the three of them get out of Manlius’ truck, his heart already pounding as he hoped for good news.
But one look at Blade told him otherwise.
Blade looked ashen, like he had seen a ghost.
Alexander moved toward him, his heart suddenly in his throat.
“What is it?” he asked.
Blade shook his head and turned to Manlius.
“I’ll announce the news to everyone,” he said, walking to the center of the courtyard. Those gathered in the field moved closer to hear him.
“Firstly, I want to thank you all for coming. I know this wasn’t easy, especially considering the pain many of you still carry,” he said. “We managed to help Blade have another vision.”
“Is it really happening? Are we going to have another war?” Killan asked.
“Yes,” Manlius said. “As we speak, the veil is halfway open. The demons are using their own magic to force it wider.”
“When will it be fully open?” the high priestess asked.
“I can’t be sure, but by my estimation, it will be open by tomorrow morning,” Manlius said. “We must prepare as best we can and hope for the best.”
Murmurs spread as people began returning to their camps. Sadness hung over the field, faces drawn with worry.
Alexander rubbed the back of his neck, feeling hopeless. He’d known it was bad, but this…
“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath.
“We won’t be able to fight with the sun out,” Greer said beside him.
“I know,” Alexander replied quietly.
A heavy silence settled over the field as everyone seemed to accept what might come. It was thick and oppressive.
Then suddenly, the silence broke with a scream.
“Yes… yes, I’ll marry you.”
Alexander turned toward the commotion and immediately wished he hadn’t. Across the field where the fae had set up camp, a young fae with blond hair was looking adoringly at his partner as he spun him around. Their laughter and tears blended into something both heartbreaking and beautiful.
“Damn, now I wish I had someone,” Greer said, shaking his head as he walked back toward their camp.
Alexander stood still, watching the couple a moment longer, his chest aching. Then he turned away and went in search of Manlius.
He found the sorcerer speaking with the high priestess in the courtyard.
“Can I have a word with you?” Alexander asked.
“Sure,” Manlius said. “We’ll talk later, Melanie.”
Alexander made his way down to the cellar. The damp, stale air filled his lungs as he descended the stairs. The metal coffin was still there, leaning against the wall.
He wondered whose idea it had been to put him inside it.
When he had first woken up in that coffin, he had wanted nothing more than to kill whoever was responsible. Now, though, he found himself wanting to thank them.
Watching the couple earlier had made something clear. He had been given a second chance. And even if it was about to end tomorrow, he would never trade the time he had spent with Boaz for anything.
Alexander turned to face Manlius.
“What would it take for you to get your powers back?” Alexander asked.
He walked over to the coffin and ran his fingers over the iron, pulling them back to find them coated in soot.
He tried to rub it off, but the smell of fire and smoke clung to him, reminding him how close he had come to death.
“Your silence is going to get a lot of people killed. We can’t fight what we can’t see. Everyone needs you.”
Manlius sighed. “Do you think I haven’t tried to get my powers back?”
“I’m sure you have. But it doesn’t hurt to try again,” Alexander said. “What is it going to take?”
Manlius stared at him. “A great sacrifice. A life.”
“Take mine,” Alexander said.
Manlius’ eyes widened. “You can’t,” he started, but Alexander lifted a hand to silence him.
“It’s mine to give. Besides, I should have died a long time ago,” Alexander said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I was given a second chance. I got to fall in love with the most incredible man I have ever met.”
He paused, his expression softening.
“He’s angry with me right now. He said I was using him as a distraction.
The funny thing is, he was right. And also so wrong.
Because he’s my comfort. When things were hard, I found myself going to him without even realizing it.
I needed his presence, his scent. Even when he was mad at me, just being near him calmed me.
“Why are you telling me this?” Manlius asked.
“Because I need you to help me save him,” Alexander said. “I like the idea of him growing old, finding love again, and being happy. Not dying here tomorrow. He gives so much of himself to the world and doesn’t take anything for himself. I want to give him what he gave me. A chance to live.”
“I can’t take your life, Your Majesty,” Manlius said, stepping back. Tears glinted in his eyes.
“I’m giving it to you,” Alexander said. “Please.”
Manlius shook his head.
“Please.”
“Fuck. Okay.” Manlius wiped at his eyes and shook his head. “You really need to tell Boaz how you feel.”
“I will,” Alexander said, turning toward the stairs. “Can I ask you for a favor?”
“After that? Anything,” Manlius said, following him.