The Flames Between Us

ALEXANDER

Aya’s terror was a palpable force, and it propelled me back toward her. My mind was filled with thoughts of her safety, my instincts screaming at me to reach her. Who could possibly scare her?

My family, maybe. Another pureblood? It was a possibility. A group of turned vampires looking for trouble? Or something even worse.

I ran faster, throwing caution to the wind, not caring that I might be running into a trap. Aya’s fear was escalating, and I had to get to her.

I pushed myself to the limit, my eyes scanning the horizon. In the distance, smoke spiraled into the night sky. Fire. A sight that would strike fear into the coldest vampire’s heart.

As I got closer, the scene became clearer—a gathering of humans, the distinct scent of another vampire, a circle of raging fire. And in the middle of it all, her.

She was growling, hissing, her crimson eyes flashing with desperation. Then she screamed, and I felt it—her fear reaching its zenith.

I stood on the hilltop, observing. She was soaked, the smell of gasoline reaching me even from this distance. My heart pounded against my ribs. One spark—just one—and she’d be engulfed in flames.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath.

“Alexander!”

Her scream tore through the night, raw and desperate. I felt her pain, her anger, her fear. She didn’t want to die. Just like the first time.

I propelled myself forward, my heart pounding. Her gaze locked onto mine, and I felt her relief, her hope.

At the same moment, some fool charged at her with a torch. I threw myself in his path. The flame hit me in the stomach as I rolled across the dirt. The fire caught, heat searing my skin, but I quickly patted it out.

The humans around me froze, their eyes wide with terror.

“Alex,” Aya whispered, reaching for me. Her heart was racing.

I didn’t spare a glance at the humans. I grabbed her, ignored her protests, and lifted her into my arms before throwing her over the wall of fire, deep into the vineyards.

A split second later, I turned to the turned vampire holding a flamethrower. He bared his fangs at me.

“You want to try taking me down?” I hissed.

“Bloodsuckers should all die,” he spat back.

I ignored his delusional rant and lunged. He fired the flamethrower, but I dodged, grabbed the weapon, and tossed it into the crowd. Then I grabbed him by the back of the neck and forced him to his knees.

“Your treason ends here,” I growled.

The humans rushed at me, but I drove the traitor deeper into the dirt, ignoring their feeble attempts.

“I, Alexander Night, former Prince of Vampires, sentence you to death.”

I yanked his head back, exposing his throat, and sank my fangs in. Bones cracked. Veins burst. He screamed, his voice raw with pain.

I gripped his greasy hair, wrenched his head back—clean off.

The humans froze. I turned to them, my crimson gaze flashing.

“Run.”

They did. Within seconds, the clearing was empty.

I wiped the blood from my mouth, picked up a fallen torch, and tossed it onto the corpse. The fire roared to life, lighting up the night.

“Why the hell did you throw me?”

Aya’s voice cut through the air. I turned as she stormed up the hill. She smelled of gasoline, her dress was torn and bloodied, her crimson eyes blazing with anger. Her long, dark hair clung to her face, damp with fuel.

She looked miserable.

I had never been so relieved to see her alive. I grinned.

“I needed you safe,” I explained.

She pursed her lips, scowled, then muttered, “Right. Thanks.”

My grin widened.

“I told you, Aya. You are mine. I protect what’s mine.”

She rolled her eyes. “Who the fuck was he?”

“A renegade. Vampires like him think they’re above the rest of us—siding with humans. Dangerous idiots.”

My gaze raked over her. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m healed,” she said, waving me off.

“You reek.”

“Well, ~jeez~, thanks,” she snorted.

I smirked, enjoying how she squirmed under my scrutiny.

“Alex, shouldn’t you be chasing Caroline?” she asked, nodding northward.

I gave my head a little shake. “Your fear is still palpable,” I told her, my voice softer now. “I’m not going anywhere until it’s gone.”

There was a flicker in her eyes—was it hope? Or maybe recognition?

She paused for a moment. “I ~despise~ being rescued by you,” she grumbled.

Her words stung more than I was willing to acknowledge.

“Sometimes,” I whispered, moving closer, “a prince is needed to save the day.”

She rolled her eyes, but I caught a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth.

“Enough. I need to get out of this dress. The gasoline is irritating my skin.”

She lifted her arm, revealing the redness that marred her usually perfect skin.

“Let’s go,” I said, taking her hand before she could protest.

I guided her through the trees to a hidden lake.

Aya’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, ~yes~,” she sighed, breaking into a run. “Don’t peek! Turn around!”

She didn’t bother to see if I obeyed.

So, I didn’t.

I watched.

She unbuckled her belt, pulled her dress down her shoulders, and let it drop to the ground. My eyes roamed over her body—the long, graceful lines, the curve of her waist, the fullness of her hips. Her skin, a warm light brown, appeared darker under the moonlight.

She stepped into the water, her movements slow, elegant. The water rippled around her. When she was knee-deep, she unhooked her bra, slid her panties down—

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to look away.

I sat on a rock, focusing intently on a cypress tree while listening to her splashing behind me. Every fiber of my being was screaming to join her.

I tilted my head back, gazing at the constellations instead.

And then—there it was. An emotion I hadn’t sensed from her in over a century.

Joy.

I heard her muttering curses as she scrubbed her skin, switching languages as she went, but there was no real anger in her tone.

“Alex,” she said suddenly, her voice softer. “You didn’t have to… Thanks again. I really thought—”

She paused. “I thought it was over.”

I turned slightly, stealing a glance at her. Aya stood shoulder-deep, her jet-black hair cascading over her bare shoulders. Water droplets glistened on her skin.

Her earrings sparkled, reflecting the moonlight. She was looking at me, lips slightly parted, fangs pressing into her lower lip. A single drop of blood appeared.

Her tongue darted out, catching it. My blood heated.

“Tell me why you despise me, Aya,” I said, standing up. I moved toward the water.

She remained still.

“How can you ~not~ know?” she whispered. “You’re oblivious to the pain you cause.”

Her gaze hardened. “You can’t apologize for what you’ve done. Until you understand that actions have consequences, there’s no redemption.”

A wave of sadness radiated from her, enveloping me like a shroud.

“You were right,” I whispered, sinking onto the bank. “I messed up. I left to find my sister, but I also just…needed to escape. I ~couldn’t~ stay there.”

I let out a breath. “It was my fault.”

Aya gasped. ~“I knew it!”~ She grinned. “You always mess things up.”

She pushed her wet hair back, lifting her body slightly from the water. My eyes dropped—her breasts barely visible before she sank back under.

“So,” she said, “what did you do?”

“I set the manor on fire. I killed my father.”

Her expression changed. ~“Oh.”~

Branches cracked behind us. I picked up the scent before the voices followed.

Aya stiffened. “That’s Tom and his friends. ~Alex, I don’t have any clothes.~”

I smirked and began unbuttoning my shirt. It was a bit charred and stained with blood, but it was better than a dress soaked in gasoline.

“Toss it to me,” she extended her hand.

“I’d prefer if you came to get it,” I smirked.

Her dark gaze met mine, and I saw the stubborn tilt of her shoulders. In the distance, we could hear the other vampires getting closer.

“Not the time,” she hissed.

“Come get it,” I taunted.

She glared. Then, slowly, she emerged from the water, droplets clinging to her like precious gems.

I let my eyes wander over her, taking her in.

“Don’t get too attached,” she purred.

Her beauty was a sight to behold—her full breasts, her flat stomach, the curve of her hips, the junction of her thighs, her long legs slicing through the water. She rose from the water like a goddess, water droplets cascading down her bare skin as she sauntered toward me, a playful smirk on her face, her earrings chiming gently.

She was a little temptress. She snatched my shirt from my grasp and draped it over her body, buttoning it up swiftly.

I watched with a pang of regret as her stunning figure was hidden from my sight.

“I missed you,” I found myself saying before I could stop the words from tumbling out.

She smirked. “You never could resist me,” she whispered, winking at me.

The voices were getting louder, and soon the rustling of the trees signaled the arrival of the turned vampires. The Canadian’s eyes widened as he took in Aya, her wet body barely covered by my shirt.

“Aya?” he questioned, his voice filled with uncertainty.

“Tom, we were attacked—”

“Holy shit, that’s Alexander Night!” one of the turned vampires exclaimed, his blue eyes nearly popping out of his head.

“What?” The Canadian reached for Aya just as she stepped away from me. Without thinking, I grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

Tom’s eyes flickered between Aya and me, his face a mask of shock. “Alexander Night? The banished prince?” he stammered. “Aya, you were turned by the prince?”

“Tom, please—” She raised a hand to soothe him, but one of the others stepped forward, his red eyes shining with aggression.

“Damn,” he snarled, a grin spreading across his face. “Permission to kill on sight.”