Moments later, a deafening whoosh of wings cuts through the air, followed by a shrill, screeching noise that chills my blood. I whip my head around, searching the dark sky.
I don’t see anything. My stomach twists with fear.
The world around us blurs as the bike speeds faster and faster, the wind screaming in my ears. But no matter how fast we go, I can still feel the creature’s presence, its relentless pursuit like a shadow hanging over me.
“Kael,” I say, my voice trembling. “What happens if it catches us?”
Kael’s jaw tightens. “It won’t.”
I risk a glance over my shoulder, and my breath catches in my throat. The creature is in the sky, not too far behind us, the flapping of its wings fluid and unnaturally fast, especially given its hulking frame which ripples with muscle.
Its glowing red eyes lock onto me, like a predator zeroing in on prey.
“You’re telling me that thing is a vampire?!” I scream.
“In the form of a giant bat, yes,” Kael responds.
“Not now, Tiffany!” Kael screams back.
The bat lets out another bloodcurdling screech, the sound of its wings beating closer and closer.
Kael suddenly veers left off the main road, the bike skidding as it cuts sharply onto a narrow dirt path flanked by dense trees. The moonlight barely penetrates the canopy overhead, the forest closing in around them like a living thing.
“Why are we going in here?!” I shout.
Kael doesn’t answer, his focus locked on the winding path ahead. The bike bounces over roots and rocks, the rough terrain jarring me with every bump. Behind us, the bat’s screams grow louder, more frenzied. It’s closing in.
“Hold on!” he barks, his muscles tensing as he twists the throttle, pushing the bike even harder.
And then, just as I feel a whoosh of air on the back of my neck, Kael jerks the handlebars to the right, skidding the bike into a clearing. He kills the engine, the sudden silence is deafening.
Kael jumps off the bike in one fluid motion, pulling me down with him. His grip on my arm is firm but not harsh as he pushes me behind him. “Stay back,” he instructs.
The bat bursts into the clearing, wings spread, its massive frame silhouetted against the moonlight. Up close, it’s even more terrifying — its blood red dyes, its dark black fur, its sharp fangs glinting like knives in the pale light.
Its glowing eyes burn with an unnatural intensity, locked on Kael with a feral hunger.
Kael’s stance shifts, his body tensing like a coiled spring. “You’re not getting her,” he snarls, his voice laced with a dangerous edge.
The bat lets out a deafening scream, flapping its massive wings, its claws digging into the dirt as it crouches low, ready to pounce.
And then, to my utter disbelief, Kael’s body begins to change.
It happens so quickly. If I had blinked, I might have missed it.
One moment he’s a man, standing between me and the vampire like a shield. The next, his form twists and shifts, bones cracking and muscles rippling as he drops to all fours. His clothes tear away, replaced by thick, golden fur. His face elongates into a wolf’s muzzle, sharp fangs bared in a snarl that rivals the vampire’s.
I stumble back, my legs giving out beneath me as I stare in shock.
Kael isn’t a man. He is a werewolf.
The two creatures lunge at each other with a force that shakes the ground, their growls and screeches filling the air. Kael moves with a precision and speed that is almost impossible to follow, his claws flashing as he strikes the vampire.
But the vampire is just as fast, its fangs snapping inches from Kael’s throat.
I can only watch, frozen in place as the battle unfolds before me. My mind is a whirlwind of confusion and fear, but one thought cuts through the chaos like a knife.
Why me? Why is all of this happening, because of…me?
Kael lets out a ferocious growl, slamming the vampire to a tree with enough force to crack the trunk. The vampire yelps but recovers quickly, swiping at Kael with its massive claws. Blood sprays across the clearing as the strike connects, but Kael doesn’t falter. He pushes forward, his jaws closing around the vampire’s neck.
The vampire thrashes wildly, its wing beating out of control, but Kael’s grip is unrelenting. With a final, savage twist, he snaps the vampire’s neck. The creature collapses to the ground, its body twitching once before going still.
Kael steps back, his chest heaving as he shifts back into his human form. His body is covered in cuts and bruises, blood dripping from his arms and chest, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
His glowing golden green eyes lock onto me, his expression unreadable.
“Tiffany,” he says, his voice rough and low. “Are you okay?”
My mouth opens, but no sound comes out. I can’t think, can barely breathe. I not yes.
Kael crouches in front of me, his expression softening. “I know you’re scared,” he says gently. “But we need to talk. Do you trust me?”
I swallow hard, my voice finally breaking through the haze of shock. “Y-yes,” I stammer. “Thank you for saving my life.”
Kael flashes that lop-sided grin again, revealing the dimple on his left cheek. He nods.
“You’re welcome,” he says.
Then his jaw tightens, his gaze flicking toward the lifeless vampire. “I have a feeling that’s not the last time one of those is going to be coming for you,” he says, his voice low and steady.
My heart stops. “But…why?”
Kael meets my gaze, his eyes burning with an intensity that makes my chest ache. “Because you’re not just anyone, Tiffany.”
I stare at him, my breath catching in my throat. “What do you mean? I’m…I’m just an ordinary girl! Less than ordinary, really. Today’s my 18th birthday, and I was just home alone, waiting for my mom to be home, so — ”
My throat catches, and I choke out a sob. Kael’s gaze softens, and he moves closer to me, both of us still sitting on the ground.
“Oh Tiffany,” he says, putting his arms around me. “Happy Birthday.”
“Thanks,” I manage. The feeling of his strong, muscular arms wrapped around my body, squeezing tight, makes me want to melt into him completely. I breathe in his scent, and my whole body quivers.
He pulls away from me, and his lips press into a thin line.
“You’re not ordinary at all,” he says. “You’re part of something much, much bigger than you realize.”
My head spins. None of this makes any sense.
“What?” I ask. “What is it that I’m a part of?”
Kael glances at the vampire’s body as though its very presence is a ticking clock. His voice is still soft, though tinged with urgency.
“I will tell you everything once we’re safe. I promise.”
Kael stands slowly, his towering figure casting a shadow over me. He holds out his hand.
“We need to move, now,” he commands.
I clasp my hand into his, and he pulls me up to my feet.
“Does my dad have anything to do with all of this?” I ask, unable to keep the question inside.
Kael hesitates, his glowing eyes scanning the shadows of the forest, as if expecting something — or someone — else to appear. “Your father is…or was, a leader. A powerful one. And when he disappeared — ”
“Disappeared?” I interrupt.
Kael flinches but his voice remains steady. “When he disappeared, he left behind enemies. Enemies who want to make sure his bloodline is wiped out.”
The air leaves my lungs. “Bloodline?” I whisper. “You’re saying they’re after me because of…who I’m related to?”
Kael nods grimly. “You’re more than just related to him, Tiffany. You’re his legacy. And in our world, that makes you a target.”
The words hang in the air between us, heavy and unreal. My laugh is sharp and humorless, more a reflex than an expression of disbelief. “This is insane.”
“It’s your reality now,” Kael says, his tone firm but not unkind. “Whether you believe it or not.”
My mind spins, fragments of the night crashing together in a chaotic mess. The baby’s cries, mom’s cryptic texts, the glowing red eyes of the bat that chased me, Kael’s transformation — all of it pointing to one inescapable truth.
“What about my mom?” I ask, my voice trembling. “Does she know?”
Kael nods slowly. “She’s been trying to protect you, to keep you hidden.”
I press my hands to my temples, trying to process the impossible. “I never even really knew who my dad was…and now all of this?”
Kael steps closer, his presence grounding despite the chaos swirling in my mind. He places a hand on my shoulder, and a tiny current courses through me. I look at him and wonders if he feels everything I’ve been feeling, too.
“You don’t have to believe it all right now,” he says softly. “But if do trust me, then we need to go. Now.”
The sincerity in his voice gives me pause. For a moment, I let myself focus on him — his steady gaze, his broad, protective shoulders. There’s no doubt, no hesitation. He is telling the truth. And I trust him.
I swallow hard, my pulse roaring in my ears, “Okay. Let’s go.”
Kael nods, relief washing over his face. He grabs my hand and together, we get back onto his bike.
And as we ride towards a place I’ve never known, I cast one last glance back in the direction of the only place I’ve ever known.
