Jude’s POV
"Patch me through to Daryl. Now," I shouted as I was really pissed at where I was sitting, just at the back of my seat.
"Yes, Boss," my driver replied. He pressed a few buttons on the screen in front of him, and the car filled with soft beeping sounds. The line connected, and it rang... once... twice...
"Boss," Daryl's voice finally came through as he picked up. Calm as always, but I knew he wasn't.
"There are men outside my mansion," I said as I was way pissed. "They're not mine, and they don’t look like Dante's either. But they move like him."
There was silence for a beat. Then Daryl sighed. "They are his. I did some digging. They're definitely Dante's men. I had no idea why Dante was actually in front of my mansion, but I needed them one!!"
My hand slammed into the side panel of the car, hard. "So that bastard thinks he’s grown wings? He really thinks he can move against me? When did all this non
Jude’s POV“Run!” I shout, shadows shooting forth to shield Raymond as scouts fire charmed arrows, the city blurring around us. The streets are a mess—cars honking, lights flashing, people screaming as we dodge by. Those guild bastards are on our tails, their cloaks flapping like vultures, and my blood’s boiling. “Stay close, sunshine!” I shout, clutching his hand, his light flashing wild under his flesh.Raymond’s panting, eyes wide yet angry. “They’re fast, Jude!” he says, voice hoarse, ducking an arrow that burns the air with malevolent power. “Where the hell we going?” His light flashes, sending one scout back, but more are coming, their knives glinting under lamps. I can feel our relationship humming, linking us together, and it’s the only thing protecting me from losing my shit.“Away from these pricks!” I snarl, yanking him into an alley. My shadows wrap around us, covering our footprints, but the scouts are merciless, their boots pounding behind. I’m enraged—pissed at them, pi
Raymond’s POV“The sun feels amazing,” I giggle, stepping into the light, Jude’s hand firm in mine, his shadows winding around us like they’re jealous of the warmth. The city’s alive around us—cars honking, people yelling, odors of coffee and asphalt mixing in the air. My skin’s tingling, hybrid abilities flashing under it, light and dark grappling but not battling anymore. “Jude, you feel this? It’s like… I’m alive, very alive.”He’s squinting at the sun, grumpy as hell, yet his eyes soften as they settle on me. “You glow in the sun—beautiful,” he adds, voice all scratchy, like he’s afraid to say it. His shadows flutter, wrapping closer, and I grin, leaning against him. “You too—my grumpy sun,” I taunt, and he snorts, but his hand squeezes mine, warm and steady. Damn, I love him, and the way our relationship hums, I know he feels it too.We’re in some mortal metropolis, maybe Chicago, I don’t know—tall skyscrapers, unclean sidewalks, normal life. After the shrine fight, we needed a r
Jude’s POV“That damn Hollowkin’s from Calix’s shit,” I growl, pushing Raymond through the portal, his hand sticky in mine. The air’s all weird, humming like a broken engine, and my gut’s yelling we’re headed for danger. The portal spits us out in some busted-up ruin—cracked stones, plants everywhere, and a weird light coming from a shrine up ahead. “You feel that, sunshine? It’s tugging us.”Raymond’s eyes are enormous, his new hybrid glow flickering, like light and dark are struggling inside him. “Yeah, it’s… calling me,” he replies, voice trembling but forceful, like he’s terrified but won’t back down. “That temple—it’s in my dreams, Jude. Calix’s curse is here.” He squeezes my hand, and gosh, our bond’s humming, linking us so tight it’s like we’re one guy. I wanna grasp him, kiss him till the world goes quiet, but there’s no time.“Stick close,” I mutter, shadows wrapping around my hands, ready to crush anything that moves. The shrine’s a mess—broken pillars, old carvings, Seraphi
Raymond’s POV“Goddamn, my head hurts,” I say softly, hardly opening my eyes. Jude is right there, and his face looks tense and scared, like I'm going to crack. My body feels like it has been through a meat grinder. There are fangs stabbing my gums and this strange hot-cold thing coursing through me. “Jude, what the hell is wrong with me?”He is on his knees next to this old bed, holding my hand so tightly that it hurts, yet I don't move away. Raymond, you're changing. He continues, "It's freaking me out," and his voice sounds rough, like he hasn't slept in days. His dark eyes are looking me over, as if I may suddenly disappear. "That transformation ritual is messing with your Seraphin blood. You’re a hybrid now, like me. But it’s… it’s rough, man.”I try to sit up, but my muscles scream, something wild tearing through me—light and gloom clashing in my veins. I suck in a breath, holding to his arm. “Rough? It’s like I’m being ripped in two, Jude. I feel you, though—like you’re inside
Jude’s POV“No—Raymond!” I yell, my voice all fucked up, cracking like I’m some scared kid, catching him as he drops, his blood soaking my hands, hot and sticky, the Seraphin blade’s glow fading where Calix stabbed him. The temple’s dark as shit, air thick with dust that chokes me, that sour magic stink burning my nose. Raymond’s face is white as a ghost, eyes fluttering, breathing all shallow, blood pooling under him on the cold stone floor. My chest’s killing me, like someone’s squeezing it tight, my arm throbbing where Calix’s blade cut me, but fuck that—it’s nothing compared to the bond screaming in my head, Raymond’s heartbeat fading, weak, like… like it’s gonna stop. “Raymond, hey, stay with me,” I say, voice breaking bad, cupping his face, his skin cold but his eyes finding mine, still fighting, still him. “You… you can’t leave me, okay? You hear me?”He gasps, small and shaky, his hand grabbing mine, weak as hell but holding on, blood mixing between our fingers, warm and gross
Raymond’s POV“Fuck, it’s… it’s back,” I choke out, grabbing my chest, the curse burning like someone jammed a hot coal under my ribs. I’m down on my knees in the vampire realm’s dirt, all cold and muddy, my hands sinking into the muck. Jude’s right there, crouched next to me, his hand rough but warm on my shoulder, holding me so I don’t fall apart. His blood’s still smeared on my shirt from that fortress fight, his side bandaged quick but leaking red, and his eyes are sharp, staring into mine, scared shitless. The air’s cold, smells like wet moss and rusty iron, but my head’s spinning like crazy, a vision hitting me—a glowing relic chunk in Calix’s hand, some temple in the mortal world, vampires screaming their lungs out. The bond’s thumping hard, our heartbeats all jumbled, keeping me from totally losing my shit. “J-Jude,” I stammer, voice all cracked and wobbly, “it’s… it’s showing me something. A-a temple. We gotta… gotta go.”Jude’s grip gets tighter, his claws brushing my skin,