Chapter 3

• Elias
• I shouldn't have revealed my powers in front of her, but when I saw the vampire attack, something primal took over. A fierce protectiveness surged through me, and I lost control. That wasn't like me - I didn't care about strangers, and I definitely didn't play hero. My mission was vengeance, driven by my sister's brutal murder. And now, my only lead was dead, thanks to my impulsive decision.
• The hunter approached me, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and fascination. "What are you?" she asked, her voice steady despite the tremble in her hands.
• I repeated my cover story, "I'm a royal enforcer," but she wasn't buying it.
• She took another step closer, her gaze piercing. "No, I mean, what are you? I've never seen anyone take down a vampire like that."
• I sensed her fear, but she stood her ground, refusing to back down. Most people would've run screaming or begged for mercy. This hunter had guts, and I found myself intrigued.
• Normally, I'd erase her memory and send her on her way, but something about her stayed my hand. Maybe it was the way she looked at me, like she saw beyond the mask I wore. Whatever the reason, I hesitated, and that was a mistake I couldn't afford to make.
• “You owe me two thousand dollars.” She put her hand on her hip and glared at me. “If you hadn’t shown up, I would have had him locked down.”
• Even covered in blood and gore, she was hot as hell. With silver hair, full lips, and bright blue eyes, she was captivating. Add in the curves of her athletic build and she was literally everyone’s type.
• In a different life, I might have pursued her. But that’s not possible here. I’m on a mission and she would be nothing but a distraction.
• I reached inside my jacket pocket and re-pulled out the envelope of cash. The enforcer gig might be my cover, but my real boss kept me well supplied in bribe money. “Two grand.”
• “You might as well keep your money. I’m telling the Guild this was my kill,” she says. “I’m not losing my perfect record on your account.”
• I froze. This was when I needed to erase her memory and send her packing. She could easily tell them she took care of Vincent or I could alter it so she didn’t even remember chasing him in the first place.
• My chest tightened. The thought of wiping our encounter from her mind completely sent an uncomfortable pain through me. I liked this woman. I didn’t want her to pass me in the street with a blank expression if we ran into each other again. And despite my training, and as much as I knew it was wrong, I wanted to see her again. Even if it was just in passing.
• “You can’t tell the Guild about me,” I said.
• She lifted an eyebrow. “And why is that?”
• “I told you, this whole thing was classified,” I said.
• “So? I’ll tell them I made the kill, and I’ll get paid,” she said.
• “Okay,” I said, then I passed the stack of bills toward her.
• “I told you, I’ll get my fee,” she looked at the money in my hand with disgust. “I don’t need your bribe or whatever that is.”
• “They gave it to me for this case, you might as well take it,” I said with what I hoped was a casual shrug.
• “Why?”
• “The royals are loaded, just take it,” I said. “I’m sure there’s something you could use it for.”
• She looked down at her clothes and wrinkled her nose before looking back up at me. “I don’t think you can dry clean vampire entrails out of leather.”
• “Get yourself some new pants.” I extended my hand again.
• Slowly, she reached out and I moved faster, grabbing her hands in mine.
• “What the hell are you doing?” She tried to pull away, but I was stronger and held her fast. While my memory magic was powerful, I couldn’t do it without touching my victim.
• I knew this was when I should be altering her memory. And that was my plan when I grabbed her, but I just couldn’t do it.
• “Let go of me, you freak,” she said.
• I could feel her hands trembling despite her tough words. Usually, the fear fed me, gave my magic more power. This time, it was sending me into a mild panic. I hated that she was afraid of me.
• “Look at me,” I said, my voice calm and steady.
• Her eyes snapped to mine and her breathing quickened. She was trying to fight me, but failing.
• “What are you?” she asked again.
• “You will leave this place and you’ll go home. You will not ever speak of this case again or tell anyone where you were or what you did tonight. You will not tell anyone that we’ve met or that you ever saw me.”
• Her lower lip quivered but her eyes didn’t release from mine while my magic seeped into her.
• “Tell me you understand. Not a word about any of it. Give me your word.”
• She nodded. “I understand. I give you my word.”
• With her answer, the magic snapped into place, binding her to my commands. I released my grip on her and for the first time in my life, guilt swam through me. I’d commanded hundreds of people. Taking away free will, memories, identities, livelihoods… I’d done more terrible things than I could count. But I’d never felt guilty until now.
• This woman was dangerous. She was making me weak. I didn’t know why or how, but she was.
• “What did you do to me?” she asked.
• “What I had to,” I said as I pressed the money into her hands.
• “I hope I never see you again.” She took the money and threw it at me. “Keep your money, asshole.” She walked away from me, her whole body tense. She probably wanted to scream at me more, but I’d commanded her to leave and go home. There was nothing she could do.
• It was the right choice to send her away, but a pang of regret flickered through my gut. There was something about her. I continued to watch her until she turned around the building and I lost sight.
• Then it hit me just how badly I fucked up. I let her walk away without making her forget my face or my powers. It was a moment of weakness. A mistake. I hadn’t fucked up like that since I was in training. And that was a very, very, long time ago.
• It was too late to change it now. Besides, soon enough, it would be like a bad dream to her. It wasn’t common for me to run into hunters in my work.
• I turned back to the destroyed room and shook my head. I should be questioning this piece of shit right now. Instead, I was staring at his pieces. What a waste. After years of dead ends, trying to find the leader of this crime ring, this was supposed to be my break in the case. Now it was nothing. I’d have to start over. Again.
• Quickly, I picked up my phone and texted my clean up guy. Then I left the room, closing the door behind me.
• There was nothing left to do but find a new lead and keep going.