Chapter 15: Heat in The Shadows

The night air bit at Kai's skin as they stepped out onto the balcony of Adrian's penthouse. The city below buzzed like nothing was wrong, like two worlds weren't crashing together right above its blinking lights.

Kai leaned on the railing, fingers clenched, the echo of Lucien's threats still rattling in his head.

"Do they always talk like that?" he muttered. "All dramatic and cryptic, like they're auditioning for some Gothic soap opera?"

Adrian stood beside him, arms crossed, eyes locked on the moon. "Unfortunately, yes. And they're not bluffing."

Kai turned toward him. "So we fight back."

"You don't know what they're capable of."

"Then teach me," Kai said firmly, stepping into his space. "Train me, show me, bite me hell, I don't care. But if this is my life now, I'm not going to tiptoe around it."

Adrian looked down at him, the faintest spark of a smile tugging at his lips. "You'd let me bite you again?"

Kai arched a brow, the sass practically dripping off him. "That depends. Will it end in a snarl or a moan?"

Adrian's fangs peeked out as he smirked. "Both."

But before Kai could come up with another comeback, the wind shifted. Adrian stiffened, his head snapping toward the street.

"What is it?" Kai asked.

"We're being watched."

They didn't have to wait long.

The shadows across the rooftop shimmered and then a figure stepped out. Tall, lean, dressed in charcoal-gray with eyes that burned like coals. His scent hit Kai like a slap sharp, cold… wrong.

"Elias," Adrian hissed.

Kai stayed behind Adrian instinctively, but not out of fear just strategy.

"Well, well," Elias purred, gaze sliding from Adrian to Kai like he was deciding which one he'd eat first. "The rumors are true. Adrian Lazarus went and ruined himself for a pretty little pup."

"Leave," Adrian growled.

"Why would I? I'm just here to observe," Elias said, circling them like a predator. "Besides, the Council's curious. They'd rather see it with their own eyes. The vampire prince and the marked omega. It's... tragic, really."

"Touch him," Adrian warned, "and I'll tear your spine out through your mouth."

Elias chuckled. "Always so poetic. But you can't protect him forever. They'll send more than me next time."

"I hope they do," Adrian said coldly.

Elias tilted his head. "You've forgotten your place."

"No," Adrian said. "I've finally found it."

With that, Elias vanished, leaving only a cold gust of wind in his place.

Kai exhaled shakily. "So. That was fun."

Adrian pulled him close, his voice low and dangerous. "He won't touch you. Not while I still breathe."

Kai looked up at him, heart pounding. "You can't promise that."

"I can damn well try."

Then, just like that, Adrian kissed him. Hard. Fierce. Like he needed Kai's mouth to keep the fear at bay. Kai clung to him, fingers digging into his shirt, every part of him screaming mine.

And when they finally pulled apart, breathless and blazing, Adrian whispered, "Let them come."

Because the war had started.

And neither of them were backing down.

Kai paced the living room once they were back inside, muscles tight, mind racing. Every instinct in his body was humming—fight or flight, claw or curl. He had never felt this kind of threat before. Not with the pack. Not even during his worst days as a rogue.

This was something else entirely.

And gods, it pissed him off.

"Do they all talk like that?" Kai asked again, glancing toward Adrian. "So smug. Like he already knew how this would end."

Adrian, now perched on the arm of the couch with a glass of bloodwine in hand, stared at the swirling liquid. "They always think they're ten steps ahead. But they've never had me with something to lose."

Kai's breath caught.

Adrian lifted his gaze, his eyes gleaming with a hungry heat. "And they've definitely never had you in the picture."

Kai stepped closer, drawn in like gravity. "You make it sound like I'm worth starting a war over."

Adrian stood, stalking toward him with the grace of something ancient and lethal. "You are."

There was no teasing in his voice. No smirk. Just truth.

Kai reached up and traced the line of Adrian's jaw. "That's either the most romantic thing anyone's ever said to me… or the dumbest."

Adrian smirked. "I'm hoping it's both."

The moment cracked when a loud ping echoed from Kai's phone. He fumbled to check it, still riding the adrenaline high from Elias' visit. When he read the screen, his stomach twisted.

"It's from my boss," he muttered.

Adrian's expression darkened. "Trouble?"

Kai read the message again. "No… worse. They're moving the project timeline up. Apparently, some bigwig vampire sponsor is suddenly very invested in the merger." He looked up, eyes sharp. "That sponsor wouldn't happen to be someone you know, would it?"

Adrian's jaw clenched. "They're playing games."

Kai sighed, rubbing his temples. "Well, then it looks like we'll be seeing each other a lot more in the office."

Adrian stepped behind him, his hands settling on Kai's hips. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Kai leaned into him. "It is… if I want to focus."

Adrian leaned down, voice hot against his ear. "Focus is overrated."

Kai's breath hitched.

"You keep looking at me like that during meetings," Adrian murmured, "and I swear I'll bend you over that conference table and make the boardroom my personal playroom."

Kai flushed scarlet, twisting in his arms. "Adrian!"

"What?" Adrian purred, fangs flashing with a wicked grin. "You started it."

Kai shook his head, biting back a smile. "You're such a menace."

"And you're mine."

That shut him up real quick.