Obruche_Princess

The hum of the coffee shop was like any other a blend of clinking cups, hushed conversations, and the soft swish of the barista’s apron as they moved behind the counter. Adrian strode in, his sharp gaze barely flicking toward the order board as he walked past the line of people. His mind was preoccupied, his phone held firmly in one hand, eyes scanning through an email from his company’s legal team.

He was too distracted by his thoughts to notice the petite figure standing in his path until it was too late.

A gasp broke through the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of liquid splashing. Adrian's body jerked, the scalding hot coffee sloshing onto his dark gray suit just as his phone flew out of his hand.

“Shit!” came the voice, soft but hurried, as the person in question scrambled to steady their own coffee cup and avoid more damage. Adrian barely had time to react as a small figure stepped back, eyes wide with panic.

"I.I’m so sorry!" The voice trembled, and Adrian finally looked up to meet the wide, apologetic eyes of the person who had crashed into him. His gaze softened as he saw the clear panic on the other person’s face.

The person in front of him was a young man slender, with messy dark hair and a few stray strands falling into his face. His eyes, a warm shade of brown, flicked nervously from the coffee splattered on Adrian’s suit to Adrian’s face. His lips parted in a silent apology as he clutched the coffee cup, looking for something to say, but the words seemed to fail him.

Adrian’s frown deepened, his suit already ruined, but the surprise of the moment faded quickly. He tilted his head slightly, giving the man a once-over.

"Are you alright?" Adrian asked, voice calm yet with an edge of amusement, despite the ruined suit. He reached for the napkins on the counter to dab at the coffee stains.

The guy blinked rapidly, as if processing Adrian’s question. “Yeah, I... I mean, yeah, but oh god, your suit! I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying attention!” His hands fluttered in the air awkwardly as he stepped forward, his movements frantic.

Adrian couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. “It’s fine, really. I’ve had worse.” His voice held a quiet authority, but something in his expression softened. He took a breath and added, “Not the first time something like this has happened.”

The young man Kai, as Adrian now saw on his name tag bit his lip and exhaled a shaky breath. "I'm so embarrassed. I swear, I’m usually more careful." He finally seemed to calm down a little, though his nervousness lingered.

Adrian couldn’t resist. “Seems like you’re a little distracted. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Kai blinked again, almost flustered. "Huh? Oh. Just... life, you know?" He laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Work stuff... which is apparently bad luck today.” He pointed toward the stain on Adrian’s suit, his fingers twitching nervously.

Adrian’s eyebrow arched. “Work stuff, huh? What do you do?”

Kai hesitated for a moment. “Uh... marketing. At... uh, a company. Not nearly as cool as... whatever it is you do.”

Adrian chuckled again, shaking his head. “I’ll say this, though: I’m not in the marketing game. I’m actually... not great with people, so let’s just say you got me at a good moment. A coffee spill’s the least of my problems today.” His voice was smooth, almost teasing as he finally took in Kai’s nervousness.

Kai looked embarrassed but a little relieved. “Well, if it helps, I’ll pay for a new suit?”

“Too much of a hassle,” Adrian replied. “But you do owe me a drink. How about we get one sometime this weekend?”

Kai blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Wait, you mean... after spilling coffee all over you?”

Adrian smiled, a sly glint in his eyes. “Well, if you’re willing to make it up to me, why not?”

Kai’s hesitation was palpable, but there was a playful curiosity there now, his shoulders relaxing as he gave a half-hearted laugh. “I’ll be honest, I wasn't expecting that...

Between Fangs And Claws

The fight was fast. Brutal. A blur of steel and fangs, claws clashing against the edge of Adrian's blade. Every strike was a question of survival. Every dodge, a heartbeat closer to losing Kai.

Adrian moved like a shadow, lethal and cold, but the vampire was relentless smirking through the carnage, as if Adrian's fury only fed him.

Behind them, Kai had armed himself with a silver dagger Adrian had stashed under the bed a precaution neither of them thought they'd need so soon. His hands trembled, but not from fear. From rage. From the feeling of helplessness that burned through his veins like fire.

"You picked the wrong night," Adrian snarled, blade slicing across the vampire's chest.

The creature laughed, licking the blood from its lips. "I didn't come for you, prince. I came for him."

In that split second, Adrian's blood ran ice cold.

The distraction was all the vampire needed. He lunged claws sinking into Adrian's side, tearing through flesh. Adrian stumbled, blood dripping, but he didn't fall. He couldn't.

Kai let out a strangled cry, rushing forward before Adrian could stop him.

But Kai had already thrown the dagger.

It flew, spinning like a silver star and sank straight into the vampire's throat.

The creature gasped, claws flailing, trying to yank the silver free. Its skin sizzled, the smell of burning flesh filling the air. Adrian didn't hesitate. With a roar, he surged forward, his blade slicing through the creature's neck in a clean, final arc.

The vampire's body dropped like a puppet with cut strings, its head thudding against the ground with a sickening crunch. The hallway reeked of death.

Adrian stumbled back, pressing a hand to his bleeding side. Kai was beside him in a second, eyes wide with panic, hands fluttering helplessly.

"Adrian your side oh fuck, you're bleeding too much"

"I've had worse," Adrian muttered, teeth gritted.

Kai pressed against him anyway, helping him back into the apartment, their bodies both shaking from the adrenaline. He guided Adrian to the couch, grabbing a towel from the bathroom with trembling hands.

"This isn't happening," Kai whispered, voice cracking. "They found us. Already. It's only going to get worse, isn't it?"

Adrian winced as the towel pressed into his wound, but he reached out, grabbing Kai's wrist, forcing the omega to meet his eyes.

"They came for you," Adrian said. "Not me."

"You're not just my weakness," Adrian continued, his voice dark, heavy with guilt. "You're their target."

The words struck Kai like a blow, knocking the air out of him.

"I thought if I kept you close… if I handled it all, I could protect you." Adrian let out a harsh laugh, blood still dripping. "But I was wrong. Keeping you hidden didn't stop them. It only made them hungrier."

Kai's hands trembled harder. "Then what do we do?"

Adrian leaned in, bloodstained fingers cupping Kai's cheek. "We stop hiding. We take the fight to them."

"No more running," Adrian said, his voice fierce now, full of steel and vengeance. "No more shadows. If they want war, they'll get it."

Kai nodded, a tear slipping down his cheek, but his jaw was set, his resolve firm. "Then let's burn them to the ground."

They leaned into each other two broken pieces forged in fire and blood, hearts pounding with fury, fear, and something terrifyingly close to love.

Chapter 41: Blood Price