Four vampire lords remained.
Lord Feng in Guangzhou had barricaded himself in an underground fortress with fifty loyal followers. Lord Ishida in Tokyo commanded a network of assassins. Lord Konstantin in Moscow was ancient—nearly two thousand years old—and notoriously paranoid. And Lady Morgana in London was a seductress who'd turned manipulation into an art form.
"We take Feng and Ishida first," Kieran strategized, maps spread across the table. "Then Konstantin and Morgana together—they're the real threats."
"Divide and conquer?" Adrian asked.
"Exactly. Marcus takes Ishida with the werewolf pack. I take Feng. We coordinate the attacks simultaneously so neither can warn the other."
"And me?" Adrian crossed his arms. "Don't say I'm staying here."
Kieran's jaw tightened. "You're not combat-ready—"
"I killed a vampire with a glass shard. I'm not helpless."
"That was luck and adrenaline."
"Then train me. We have time before the attacks." Adrian moved closer, looking up at Kieran with determination. "I'm going to be a vampire soon. I need to learn how to fight like one."
Kieran studied him, then sighed. "Fine. But you follow my orders exactly. No improvisation, no heroics."
"Yes, sir," Adrian said, and the way his voice dropped on 'sir' made Kieran's eyes flash red.
"Don't," Kieran warned.
"Don't what?" Adrian's smile was innocent, but his eyes were wicked.
"Don't use that voice unless you want me to throw you on this table and make you regret teasing me."
"Promises, promises."
Kieran moved faster than sight, pinning Adrian against the wall, his body a cold line of pressure. "You're playing with fire, little human."
"Maybe I like getting burned," Adrian breathed, his heart racing.
Kieran's hand slid up to Adrian's throat—not squeezing, just holding, possessive. "The things I want to do to you would make you blush for a week."
"Then do them."
For a moment, Kieran looked genuinely tempted. Then he stepped back, his control reasserting itself. "After. After you're turned, after you're immortal and can handle vampire strength. Then I'll show you exactly what a thousand years of pent-up desire looks like."
Adrian whimpered. Actually whimpered. "That's cruel."
"That's restraint. Be grateful for it." Kieran adjusted himself discreetly. "Now come. If you want combat training, we start now."