Page 183 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

“It’s a trap!” Frederick shouted, wheeling on his men. “Retreat! Retreat! We’re pulling out! There are too many of them!”

Frederick leaped down from his horse, face twisted in anger. Stalking to Zaiper, his fist smashed into Zaiper’s jaw, knocking him off his saddle.

Zaiper hit the ground with a grunt, dazed.

“You bastard,” Frederick seethed. “Our soldiers are being slaughtered like livestock—torn apart—because you ‘forgot’ to mention the four-legged beasts might be here! You’ve doomed us!” He punched him again—once, twice, a third time. “What are you going to do now, Lord Zaiper? How will you take responsibility?!”

Zaiper spat blood, trying to fight back, but the vampire was much stronger.Fucking eclipse moon.

“Get your filthy hands off me!” he snarled, trying to shove the vampire away.

“Kelvin!” Frederick barked, still breathing heavily. “Gather the rest of our men—we’re done here. Get them out—”

“You can’t leave!” Zaiper wheezed, struggling to rise. “We have a deal!”

Frederick turned, fangs flashing. “Deal. Is. Off,” he hissed, then turned toward Kelvin. “Move—before the First Ruler and the damn Werewolf King get here!”

But as he turned—

Zaiper roared, tearing his blade free with one fluid motion, driving it deep into Frederick’s back.

“Frederick!” Kelvin screamed, galloping toward them—but it was too late.

Zaiper stabbed again. And again.

Blood splattered across his face and hands, warm and wet. He leaned over the dying commander, eyes shining with a wild,savage light. “Let’s see how you retreat without a spine.” He licked the blood from his lips and spat. “Tastes like rotted meat.”

Kelvin dropped to his knees beside the corpse. “You... you bastard...”

Zaiper stepped over Frederick’s body, sword still dripping. “Listen closely,” he growled. “You will not abandon this fight. Even one Urekai life lost tonight is worth celebrating.” He leaned in. “And you’re going to get me out of here—without a scratch. Or I’ll have Kady rip your twin brother apart, piece by piece.”

Kelvin’s hands clenched into trembling fists. His fangs out, eyes red.

“I will kill you,” he said through gritted teeth.

Zaiper smiled coldly. “Get in line. Maybe in two centuries—if you live that long.” He licked a smear of blood from his wrist, just to drive the knife deeper. “What’s it going to be, Second Commander?”

Kelvin trembled, then spat on the ground. “Let’s go.” He turned on his heel and took off at a run.

Zaiper followed, smirking.

But the humor was fading. The streets were littered with bodies—many vampire bodies and a few werewolves,but not a single Urekai.How had my plan fallen apart so severely?Someone betrayed me.

They turned a corner, ducking into a narrow corridor, half-collapsed from skirmish.

“We’ll go through the North quarter,” Zaiper muttered. “There’s a tunnel entrance beyond the archives—”

“No,” Kelvin snapped. “This way. It’s clear. I just passed through.”

Zaiper narrowed his eyes. “And how exactly do you know it’s—”

“Trust me, or find your own damn way,” Kelvin snarled.

Zaiper bit down his response.I’m killing him the second I have my strength back.

He followed. The corridor narrowed.

Dead silence. Too much silence.

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