Page 57 of The Nephilim's Finesse

"Then we need to find out who's leading them now," Trevan said. "Before they can launch another attack."

"I can ask Victorija," I offered. "She might know something or point us in the right direction."

The others voiced their agreement, and I let out a slow breath. The night wasn't over yet. We had work left to do. We disposed of any remaining evidence by lighting the bodies on fire. They burnt promptly as the magical flames devoured the leftovers. The frigid January night had turned even colder by the time we finished. Most of the group headed home to rest, but when I went to bed, I couldn't sleep. Not with this threat looming over us. At least now we knew for sure that there was a new vampire leader, and they already had grand plans to make us suffer. The question was, what were those plans? And how soon would they put them into action?

The scent of fresh sweat hung thick in the air of the training room. Azariel wiped a sleeve across her brow, panting as she leaned against the wall. We had two hours of intensive sword-fighting and hand-to-hand combat behind us, and I used my towel to dab myself dry as I listened to Nate update us on the other Nephilim children he had collected over the last few weeks.

"Most of the mothers wanted to stay with their kids instead of getting their memory wiped," Nate said, scratching at his beard. His brown eyes were troubled. "I’m happy to have them. However, it will be difficult to integrate such a large number in our community. Finding homes and jobs in such a short time is challenging."

"We'll figure something out."

Nate sighed in relief, giving me a grateful look. "Nancy and Hao will be the first to move to London at the end of the month. Nancy wants Hao to meet more Nephilim his age."

I nodded, picturing the quiet Chinese woman and her young son. Hao was only three but already showing signs of increased strength and speed.

“That's good. Hao will have others like himself to train with,” Azariel said.

"And to play with," Nate added with a small smile. "He's still just a kid, after all."

We fell into a comfortable silence, the three of us standing together in the dimly lit training area. Decades of friendship and trust bound us together, an unbreakable bond formed through our shared duty of protecting and guiding our kind. No matter what challenges arose, we'd face them as one.

Nate tossed me a bottle of water, his eyes sharp and watchful. Nate turned to me after draining half the bottle in a few gulps. "Did Victorija give you any clues about who might be behind these recent attacks?"

We heard from the witches and fae that the vampires and demons had targeted multiple neighbourhoods where mainly magical beings were to be found. I shook my head, and Nate’s frown deepened. "She claims to have no idea." I shrugged, rolling the cold bottle between my palms. "I think she's telling the truth."

Victorija might be cruel and power-hungry, but she valued our deal and told me the truth when I asked her about it last night.

"Maybe," Nate said.

Azariel pushed off from the wall, rolling her shoulders with a wince. "Whoever is behind this, they won't stop until they destroy us. We need to find them before they strike again." Her eyes were hard as flint as they met mine, a silent question in their depths. Did I trust Victorija? Did I believe she wasn't somehow involved?

I looked away, staring at the drops of condensation rolling down the water bottle. How could I tell them about Victorija and me, about the tangled web of lust and longing that now connected us? They'd never understand.

With a sigh, I met Azariel's gaze again. "We'll keep looking. But for now, let's assume Victorija isn’t somehow behind this."

Azariel’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. We had too many genuine threats to deal with; we couldn’t start to distrust each other now. Victorija's secrets were mine to bear, at least for a little while longer.

Guilt and shame washed over me in crushing waves. How could I tell them about Victorija and me? That our hands had explored each other's bodies, our lips and tongues tangled in a dance as old as time. That for a few blissful hours each day, I could forget the betrayal, the lies, the secrets—and simply be a man in the arms of a woman. But reality had crept back in. My brothers, my duty, my honour—all stained by this forbidden desire.

Azariel clasped my shoulder, her amber eyes soft with concern. "You seem troubled, Brother. What is it?"

I shook my head, unable to meet her gaze. My mouth opened, then closed again as the words died on my lips.

Nate folded his arms, patience radiating from him. "You can tell us."

The answer I longed to give froze in my throat. How could I tell them that every time I looked at Victorija, I was torn between hatred and longing? That she had infected me, body and soul, and I didn't know if there was a cure. The weight of deception felt like a stone in my belly, cold and unyielding. But the truth could destroy everything we had built.

I summoned a wry smile, hoping it reached my eyes. "Just thinking about the challenges ahead."

Azariel's concerned frown deepened, but she nodded. Nate grunted, apparently accepting my evasion.

As we walked toward the showers, my heart was leaden in my chest. Victorija had awakened something dark and primal in me, and now I was damned if I did—and damned if I didn't.

I walked into Victorija’s room and found her pale, freckled face brightening at the sight of me.

"You're early," she said, halting right before the bathroom. Her red curls were messy and unkempt, a few strands clinging to her forehead. She was beautiful, even in this state. There was no denying that. Victorija raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I was just about to take a shower. You could join me."

My gaze swept over her breasts and hips. I couldn't hide the hunger in my voice. Or my eyes. "Yes."

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