Chapter Five

Dregen’s P.O.V

“Hey, Dregen. I heard that there’s a new shipment of blood vessels at this auction. What do you think of buying one for yourself, huh?” Logan asked with a mischievous smile whilst driving. Logan was my very good friend and also my work colleague.

A notorious playboy, he was known to be a silver-tongued fox amongst the ladies.

“No. We are only going to the auction to buy a gift for Lora. Nothing else.”

Lora loved collecting relics and though she might have reviled the vampire race, she sought to preserve their history just like me. it was the only thing we had in common. History was meant to be remembered. The moment you allowed yourself to forget, you were doomed to repeat the mistakes of those who came before you.

“Dregen, come on. You fed on that Essence shit for too long. Your taste buds yearn for that warmness and you know it.” Logan kept teasing me.

“Quit bugging me!” I snapped, “You know how I feel about Feeders Corp. If not they have the permission of the council, I will be a part of the petitions for them to be demolished. Vampires like you and the owners of Feeders Corp are the reason vampires are viewed as cunny and shrewd by humans. You all agreed to stop taking human blood with the U.S. government and yet...”

He grew quiet for a minute before shaking his head, “You know what you sound like?”

“What?”

“A fucking hypocritical bloodhound.”

If not that he was driving, I would have punched him hard enough for his hand to swerve off the steering wheel and careen the car over the bridge into the black, icy depths of the canal.

He knew how much I hated being referred to as a bloodhound. How much I hate being reminded that I was a fucking abomination.

Soon we arrived at the Feeders Corp building. The house was solely for vampires of all breeds and was where auctions would be held regularly.

Usually, rare and precious relics were the star of events like these.

As we walked past the Dhampirs standing guard at various points throughout the building, I smelt their fear and heard their whispered murmurs amongst themselves.

A threat.

Two sets of fangs. He’s lucky to have them. Easier to tear out the throats of his prey.

Dangerous.

He doesn’t smell like the other vampires.

A fucking hybrid?

I turned my head as I caught wind of that last thought and my gaze met that of a Dhampir thirty or so feet away who studied me with intense curiosity. The female’s hazel gaze locked with mine and her lips curled into a wan smile as she recognized me. Then her pupils dilated as she breathed in the difference between my scent and theirs. She piqued my curiosity and I committed the female’s face to memory. One to keep an eye on for sure.

I turned forward and kept my gaze focused straight ahead as I did my best to block the thoughts of the Dhampirs who didn’t know any better than to think them out so blatantly, right at me.

I swallowed against the dry fire in my throat and focused instead on the thick soles of my boots as they made contact with the shiny industrial flooring.

This was why I stayed away from others. The fucking stares and whispers.

I pushed out a ragged breath. It wouldn’t do to lose control. I only had to remain here for the auction, get what Lora wants and hightail it out of here.

A few moments later, the auction began.

All kinds of items were displayed on the stage, taking turns at the center. All of them were precious and bidding prices began to soar.

After waiting for almost an hour and thinking that this was probably a waste of time, they announced that the next bidding item was a relic, the Obsidian Key. I forced away the satisfied smirk that threatened. Lora had the first third of the keys—the remaining two were said to have been destroyed. Anything with the power to transform Dhampirs into vampires and humans into demons wouldn’t be so easy to acquire and I could see everyone gawking with eager eyes.

But this would make Lora infinitely happy.

“One million!”

 I raised my voice, offering a price that was higher than the current bid. After a few seconds of silence, another voice resounded.

That voice I knew so fucking well.

“Two million---“

“Ten million!”

As soon as I named my price, the hall fell silent once and for all.

I could have sworn I even heard a faint gasp somewhere.

Two million dollars was already a high amount.

Spending ten million dollars on a piece of a relic was definitely crazy.

Just as I expected, no other voice came to bid after mine, including that piece of shit.

The host asked three times and confirmed that there was no higher bidding.

He then closes the deal with a knock of his hammer.

This was the last of the material items so I knew it was time for the final segment. Blood vessels were now brought on the stage.

Seeing this, I was no longer interested in staying at the auction.

I had gotten what I came for so I turned around to leave the hall when a piercing scream reached my ears.

The owner of the voice was scared shitless, horrified might be the right word yet.

The sharp scent of fresh blood invaded my nostrils as I filled my lungs with the heated air in the room.

Distinctively human.

From what I knew the human blood vessels were fiercely protected until they are handed to their buyers but an opened blood vessel in a house filled with thirsty vampires?

A Dhampir suddenly started towards the direction the scream came, and fangs protruded.

“Don’t move a fucking inch.” My voice resonated about the room.

All heads snapped to me as my eyes flashed hot.

For some reason, instinct urged me to save whoever it was.

It could have been using my authority as the Baron, but I sensed there was another reason I wanted to see for myself.

“Don’t bother, Master Dregen.” A female voice said, “It’s just a blood vessel that got hurt. We’ll handle it.”A warning tremor raced down my spine, “No need.” I fired off quickly and she slunk away.

With silent steps, I moved through the crowd, stalking the strong scent of blood down the hallway.

My heart picked up its pace, pounding against my rib cage.

The scent that drove me wild intensified, clouding my thoughts. The full moon was still two weeks away and yet I found myself giving way to the animal in a way that shouldn’t have been possible.

Hybrids have no access to their wolves until a full moon night yet I felt like I was an outsider in my skin.

Coming to a door, I eased it open and my anger flared as a bloody scene filled my eyes.

Blood. So much fucking blood gushed from the wound on her neck.

Who was she? Why did this asshole hurt her? Why was the word, “MINE” echoing in my psyche?

Not waiting to get an answer, I pounced.

I took the vampire to the floor, slamming the bastard’s head to the floor. A grunt of pain answered the blow but it didn’t faze the asshole. No. this one was damned strong.

He pushed me off him and we circled each other.

“Who the fuck are you?” he snarled.

“Leave right now and I’ll spare your life.” I spat back.

Suddenly, he lunged at me with lightning speed, his fangs bared and eyes flashing with hunger. I was quick to react, my body moving on pure instinct as I dodged his attack and countered with a swift punch to his jaw.

He stumbled back, his hand flying up to his face as blood dripped from his lips. I watched the rip in his lips seal back almost immediately, “I paid for that vessel so I can use it any way I want…”

I didn’t let him finish, launching myself forward and delivering a series of blows to his body.

My claws extended from my fingertips, slicing through his flesh as he grunted in pain.

I could feel my wolf’s power coursing through me, the primal need to protect the girl powering my hybrid strength to its max.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Logan in the room, applying pressure to the wound on the girl’s neck as the other vampires stood by the door, watching the scene with increasing excitement and anger.

The asshole fought back, his own claws now protruding from his fingers as we clashed in a brutal dance.

The fucker was strong, but I was faster and more skilled. I ducked under his swing and delivered a sharp kick to his knees, hearing the satisfying crunch of bone.

That would take at least five minutes to heal.

He roared in anger and lunged at me once more, but this time, was I ready!

I sidestepped his attack and drove my claws into his chest, ripping out his heart with a savage twist of my hand.

His eyes bulged as he collapsed to the ground, his already pale body turning sickly ash as it thinned before my eyes.

The black organ dissolved in my grasp.

With our inhuman speed, this fight probably lasted mere seconds but it felt like hours.

I stood there for a moment, panting heavily as the adrenaline slowly began to fade.

The girl. She was going to die without my blood.

Cursing under my breath, I rolled up the sleeve of my shirt and slit my wrist with the claw of the other hand and Logan immediately brought the girl to me.

Lowering her to a knee, I pressed my fingers on her lips—which were already turning blue—to a pucker and watched as my blood splattered against her teeth.

Twenty seconds later.

Nothing.

My pulse raced as I felt an agonizing pain in my psyche. Fuck was she dead? Was I too late? How do I fucking explain the death of my mate?