^
"Who the hell are you?" Steve spat, glaring at the two men who had interrupted his feeding.
Ethan's eyes flared with rage. "Shut up."
Without hesitation, he shoved Steve across the room. The force sent him crashing into a table, drawing stunned gasps. Riley, still under compulsion, swayed beside Ryder.
Emily's voice trembled. "What did they do to her?"
Ethan's eyes scanned her,stopping at the deep red mark on her arm where Steve had gripped her too tightly. Rage twisted his expression.
He turned back to Steve, who staggered to his feet and lunged. Ethan didn't flinch. With preternatural speed, he dodged the vampire's clumsy punch and struck back once, hard. Blood sprayed from Steve's mouth as he dropped.
"Take them out of here," Ethan growled.
Ryder, smirking, took Riley's hand and moved. Emily watched in awe as they disappeared from view like vanishing shadows, too fast to follow.
Ethan stayed behind.
Steve's friends rushed in, but Ethan was faster. Much faster. They couldn't touch him. Every movement he made was sharp, lethal. The room was too loud, too chaotic,no one even noticed the battle taking place in the corner.
Soon, they were all down.
Ethan grabbed Steve by the collar, dragging him to his knees.
"I don't like when others touch what's mine," he hissed. His eyes burned crimson. "I don't share."
Steve trembled, fear finally breaking through his cocky facade.
With one swift motion, Ethan dug his claws into Steve's chest and crushed his heart. The vampire's body stiffened, then turned cold.
The bartender arrived just in time to see the body drop.
"Clean this mess," Ethan said coldly, wiping the blood from his hands with a white kerchief.
He walked out, not sparing them another glance.
⸻
Outside, Emily sat in the car,shaken, silent. Riley slept beside her, still under the compulsion.
"She's the one?" Ryder asked as Ethan stepped up.
Ethan didn't answer. He simply walked to the passenger side and crouched beside Emily.
"Are you okay?" he asked gently.
Emily didn't speak. Instead, she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him.
Her hug was warm. Desperate. And Ethan didn't pull away.
"I don't know who you are," she whispered, "or what they were,but thank you for coming."her voice shaken.
"Little lamp," he murmured, holding her tighter. "I will always protect you."
For reasons she couldn't explain, she believed him. In his arms, she felt safe.
"I want you to forget everything," he whispered, locking eyes with her. "Forget how you met Steve. Forget what happened tonight. Go home. Get some sleep."
His eyes glowed red as the compulsion took effect. Her fear began to dissolve.
Before she could speak, Ethan touched the wound on her arm. In a second, it closed,healed, as if it had never existed.
Ryder watched, arms crossed. "You know I could've killed her tonight."
"But you didn't," Ethan replied simply.
Ryder shrugged. "Didn't know your magic was still that strong."
"It never left."
They stood in silence, watching as Emily started the car and drove away.
"She's powerful," Ryder muttered. "You gonna tell me your plan to get her on our side?"
"Soon," Ethan replied.
Ryder smirked. "What about her friend? She's... difficult."
Ethan gave a small, knowing smile. "Good luck with that."
"Shut up," Ryder grunted, and both brothers turned, walking back into the bar.
⸻
Emily woke up the next day feeling normal. Whatever memories she'd had of the night before were gone,buried deep. She got dressed, tied her hair in a quick bun, and returned to her usual work at the orphanage.
Late in the afternoon, one of the little girls tugged at her dress. "Miss Emily, you have a visitor. He's sooo handsome!"
Emily blinked. "A visitor?"
She walked out, expecting Alan or maybe someone from the city council. But the moment she stepped into the courtyard, her breath hitched.
There he was.
The sexy stranger.
Gone was the formal suit. Today, he wore a fitted black t-shirt and dark jeans, his broad shoulders and sculpted frame completely visible. His black hair was combed back effortlessly, and his eyes...those dark, intense eyes watched her closely.
"Little lamp," he greeted.
Emily froze, her heart suddenly racing. She swallowed hard, realizing she was staring.
"You know," he said, walking closer, "staring is bad for your health."
She blushed and dropped her gaze.
"How... how did you find me?"
"You never called to fix my car," he replied casually. "So I came to collect the coffee you owe me."
Emily blinked. "Coffee?"
He smirked. "Yes. Coffee. That's the price for damages to my car."
She hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. One coffee."
"Good." He stepped back, motioning to the sleek, limited-edition sports car parked near the gate. "Let's go."
Emily frowned. "You brought a different car?"
"No chauffeur this time," he said, walking to the driver's side.
She followed, half in a daze, half in curiosity. Everything about him was rich, smooth, calculated. Yet... not once did she feel in danger.
Inside the car, the scent of leather and subtle cologne filled the space.
Ethan gripped the wheel. "Ready?"
She glanced at him. "I don't even know your name."
He didn't answer.
Instead, he smirked.
And drove.