Hunting Allegra

He makes the first move hitting me in the jaw. I stumble back, but I manage to dodge the next blow. He’s swift, having two hundred years on me and a natural born vampire, but I’ve been training for this day. I deliver a kick to the side of his head, sending him into a table. We both center ourselves, wiping the blood from our mouths. Vlad comes again, attacking me quickly, punching me in the ribs, I uppercut him, sending him backward for a second. “It won’t matter for long. I’ll be the most powerful vampire around, and you will be dust,” he scoffs, then turns his head to the side.

If he thinks he’s fooling me, he’s wrong. I can’t lose; I won’t fail because that means I lose Allegra. I’ll move heaven and Earth to make sure it doesn’t happen. I take a calming breath and listen to the noise around us. Centering myself, I sense his movements before he finishes them. The next three strikes are blocked.

His frustration is mounting, and he loses his control, making him vulnerable. His body lunges forward at me again, but I move quicker, shoving him back against the wall and thrusting a hidden stake filled with liquid nitrogen into his heart. With a press of my thumb, I release the gas inside his body, then I step back and smile. “Your frozen heart couldn’t handle her.” With a spinning kick, I shove the stake through him and nailing him to the wall. His body starts freezing from the inside out and then for good measure, I punch off his frozen head.

Now to find my mate. I run through the woods, but their scent is gone. I return to the apartment, hoping that somehow Alessandro saved her. I enter and sitting at a table are Alessandro, the fucking warlock, and a young woman with grey eyes and long white hair. “Ah, you’ve made it. Hoped you would make quick work of him.”

“Where is she?” I growl, snarling at them.

“Getting ready for your hunt in the most beautiful blue gown I could make,” the white-haired woman utters. “This is for you,” she adds, handing me a black tuxedo with a blue tie.

Tonight, they are having a ball of sorts, and she will be there. I change quickly and make my way there. The ability to move faster than the speed of light is worth a lifetime of drinking blood. Now, to claim my mate. I enter the main hall, greeted by the doorman who directs me to the ballroom the hall that is decorated in purple, black, and silver—an elegant Halloween. I nod, moving into the ballroom. I close my eyes and breathe in the air, and my eyes dart open as I smell her. That is when I see her flee the room through the farthest doors from me. I give chase…

Chapter 5

Allegra

Something in me four years go understood that he was different, unique. Even before he became a vampire, I felt something for him—like a school girl crush. I had a hard time staying away from him at the festival, even staying out well past my curfew.

I look myself over to make sure nothing is out of place. I’m meeting my fate with pleasure. Everyone smiles at me. Then my father takes my hand, and before I know it, we are standing in front of the mansion. He bends down and kisses my cheek. “Goodbye for now,” he says, disappearing into the night. There’s much discussion to come between us, but for now, I have a date with destiny. I enter the party, greeting old acquaintances. I may not have been in Manchester long all those years ago, but these people seem to have the minds of elephants. “Allegra? Is that you? I haven’t seen you in years. My you are so lovely. You should meet my son.”

I smile graciously, but I make my excuses, “Thank you, Mrs. Fernbach. I’m only in town briefly. I leave by morning.”

“Pity, he’s a handsome man.”

“Thank you, I have a boyfriend,” I inform her. It’s not quite a lie, but my life is so much more complicated than that. “Please have a wonderful evening.”

“Yes, you do as well.” I move through the crowds to find a place to watch the scene around me. Several men come up to me and ask for a dance. I politely refuse because my mind is solely focused on waiting for Alaric.

He’s here. I felt him before I saw him. He looks hotter than I remember. Everything about Alaric is bigger. He’s standing there in a black tuxedo with a white dress shirt open at the collar and no tie. A moan softly passes my lips, and our eyes meet. He smiles knowingly, and although I’m glad that he conquered Vlad, I’m not going to make it easy for him to claim me…not one bit. It’s been four long years, and yet I’m more anxious than I was when I learned that I would be mated to him. The whole thing is coming to a head.