Warm memories blanketed Asher as his consciousness ebbed. Death didn’t greet him yet. Bite marks marred his flesh, piercing into his protective tattoos. Moonlight mocked him in the pitch black sky, and Asher reached out for it, as if it could steal him away from the bloodthirsty bastards latched onto him.

It wasn’t his first time being a vampire’s bloodbag. When Asher escaped his hometown that fateful day, he vowed to never let them steal his blood again. Yet there he found himself bent to their will, draining him of every ounce in his body. Even his magic wavered and he couldn’t get a spell to work. Was he on the verge of death?

“What the fuck are you all doing to him?”

An unfamiliar male voice echoed in Asher’s ears, almost mistaken as a mere hallucination. He strained his neck toward the road. Amid his blurry vision, a man emerged from the snow. Asher reached a trembling arm out in his direction, mouthing for help as his voice betrayed him.

The vampire at his neck unlatched with a soft pop, wiping at his mouth. “Just a little midnight snack. Want to join us, doctor?”

“Release that poor mage now.” The man crouched down beside Asher, examining him. “For fuck’s sake, how much blood did you idiots drink? Get off him, now!”

“Put your fangs back in.” The female vampire snickered. “He’s an illegal. Nobody’s going to know. Come on, I know you want a bite.”

“Leave before I report you all to Monarch Colette.”

“You’d seriously rat us out to the council? You fucking-”

Something broke the vampire’s sentence, but Asher couldn’t concentrate on their voices any longer. Maybe that doctor threatened him? Hopefully killed him, but that was wishful thinking on Asher’s end.

Whoever the doctor was, he prayed that he’d get him someplace safe. He needed to seek refuge. Perhaps taking on that job to kill the vampire Sebastian was too much for him to handle. As much as he hated the thought of disappointing his father, he needed to pass the job offer to someone more capable.

Asher still wasn’t strong enough to defeat those bloodsuckers and that hurt more than any of the bites inflicted to his cold body.

                                                                                     🔮

When Asher sat up, waves of fatigue crashed through his aching body. Peach-colored walls surrounded him and a faint smell of citrus lingered in the air. He flexed his hand, careful of the IV tube connected to his arm, and let magical energy pulse through his veins.

Pain gnawed at his head as he craned his neck toward the window, where slithers of sunlight pooled in. Duke must be worried about him. Probably starving too. Asher tried to force his sore body out of bed, groaning before laying back down. Everything fucking ached. Despite how he channeled healing magic through his body, it wasn’t enough to soothe the bites they left behind, but Asher recognized that pain all too well.

Whoever cared for him flushed the venom out of his body. Which was understandable. Had they left it inside him, he’d be begging for vampires to tear their fangs into his flesh. Another skin-crawling sensation Asher didn’t like to reminisce on.

He gazed down at his arm, covered in bite marks, and cringed. It would take a while to heal them all with his magic depleted. It wasn’t like that was the first time Asher visited the pub, but nobody ever questioned his legal status before. Was it possible someone sold them information about him?

Considering the recent hunters out for Sebastian’s blood, he wasn’t surprised. That bloodsucking vampire probably planned that trap for him. Asher groaned again, trying to shift to a more comfortable position.

The door creaked open, and a man in his late twenties stepped inside. From his white overcoat and stethoscope around his neck, Asher reckoned he was the doctor who saved him. However, as the man moved toward his bed, crimson irises caught his attention. Familiar features came into view and Asher gaped. It was Sebastian Wraith. Panic pulsed through Asher as he searched the room like a frantic mouse pursued by a hungry cat.

“Finally awake, how are you feeling?”

Asher’s instincts to survive kicked in and he reached out for a tray on the little cart by his bedside. He launched it at the vampire’s head, scrambling to unhook himself from the IV. He had to escape. That bloodsucker would keep him prisoner and do godforsaken things to him. Ragged breaths echoed over the thunderous beating of his heart as tried to plan his escape. That vampire must’ve kidnapped him!

“Look, I know you must be frightened but you’re safe here. Please don’t yank your IV out either. I can unhook it if you want me to.” The vampire doctor cradled the side of his head.

Asher sunk back down in his bed, crossing his arms over his chest. It probably wouldn’t be wise to do that.

“Can you tell me a little about yourself? Is there anyone I can reach out to? I can make sure to get you home.”

“You don’t fool me, leech.” Asher hissed. “There’s only one thing vampires want. Bloodbags. Just because you helped me, it doesn’t mean I owe you jack shit. You could’ve just left me there to die.”

“That’s not my intention. I built this clinic to prevent situations like that. I want to keep humans, wizards, and mages safe while also ensuring my kind don’t starve. A starved vampire is the most dangerous.”

Asher narrowed his eyes at the vampire doctor. “I don’t trust you.” He looked down at the blue pajamas that covered his achy body. “Where did you put my clothes?”

“The remains are in that basket.” Sebastian gestured toward the closet. “They ripped your shirt to shreds.”

Asher nodded. “I’m leaving as soon as I can.”

“Understandable.” The vampire crept toward his bedside, then halted when Asher stirred. He raised his hands in mock surrender. “I promise I won’t hurt you, okay? Are you not from here?”

“I live up in the mountains,” Asher said with caution, not wanting to give too much away. “You probably don’t get many mages or wizards in this frigid hellhole you call home, so it’s easy to assume I’m illegal.”

“Did you ever tell them you’re a mage?”

Asher froze, awkwardly rubbing at his sore neck. “No, I found that strange. I think someone knew I was coming here.”

“Most vampires can’t tell the difference between mages and wizards. And it’s certainly not easy to tell by looks if you’re from around here. Your accent isn’t perfect, but you could fool many locals. Are you from Izzacot or Rotterburgh?”

“How do you know..?” Asher pursed his lips, not giving away more information. That sneaky vampire tricked him.

“Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me. So, do you want to cut the chase and just tell me who sent you to kill me? You’re the fourth hunter already. Pretty pathetic, honestly.”

Asher froze. “You’re Sebastian Wraith,” he said, as if he didn’t already know.

“Who else would I be?” Sebastian scoffed.

“They want you dead for killing that defenseless mage, you bloodsucking sicko.”

Sebastian raised a brow. “Ah, I remember a friend mentioning the kid’s death. I didn’t kill her, but we believe someone’s using a potion to alter the killer’s appearance like some of the vampires around here to cause mayhem.”

“Seriously? That’s your pathetic defense?”

“It’s the truth.” Sebastian’s crimson eyes pierced through him. “Someone attacked me, wearing my own friend’s face.”

“How do you know your friend didn’t want you dead?” Asher countered.

“Because he stepped out just in time as his clone disappeared into the night.”

“Oh.” Asher gazed down at his nightshirt, fiddling with the buttons. “That does make sense. Clever too. The people who hired me also claimed they found your blood at the scene of the crime, which would be difficult to find.”

“Vampire blood evaporates within six hours, usually less, in cold conditions like these. If I had to guess, that evidence was falsified. Vampires rarely leave much blood behind as it is, and I can’t imagine one would if they killed a child.”

“Why would someone frame you for it?” Asher asked, wagging a finger in his direction. “Don’t think I trust you, because I certainly don’t. You’re just making some good points, and I need to look at all angles here.”

Sebastian turned his head toward the window, a pensive look ghosted his face. “Could be anyone.”

“Real helpful,” Asher muttered.

“How much did they pay you to kill me?” Sebastian asked.

“Does it matter?” Asher pale. “I already failed.”

“You could always attempt it again,” Sebastian pointed out. “I’m willing to pay double the cost if you’ll help clear my name and get your hunting pals to leave me the fuck alone.”

“I’m not getting anymore involved in this mess.” Asher glowered. “Like I said, I don’t trust you. Keep your money.”

“Just give me a price.”

Asher groaned. “Fine. They paid me a retainer’s fee of four gold bars.”

“That’s all?” Skepticism crossed Sebastian’s scrunched up face. “Damn, you’re cheap.”

“Look here, you human-sized mosquito-”

Sebastian reached into his pocket, producing a small rucksack of golden coins. “It’s all I have on me at the moment.”

Asher didn’t hesitate to accept the small bag, inspecting one of the coins in the light to ensure it was real. Many folks in Marusticia didn’t obtain gold bars like in Valorath, but Asher knew the offer presented to him was more than he’d make in a lifetime of working for the hunters.

“Why didn’t you offer this to the other hunters?” Asher asked.

Sebastian shrugged. “I’m feeling generous.”

“Bullshit.”

Sebastian bared his fangs, and Asher recoiled in the bed. He seemed to notice, then retracted them. “I think this can be a mutual partnership between us. You help me get rid of these hunters and I give you enough gold to live peacefully out in the mountains.”

“How do you know I won’t stab you in the back?” Asher fiddled with the small bag of coins.

“I’m taking a risky chance with you. Honestly, you might take that pretty little silver dagger of yours and jab it right through my chest. Or I’ll overpower you and snap your neck.” Rage smoldered in his wicked eyes.

“What if the hunters realize I’m working with you? You know they’ll murder me, right?” Asher asked with a note of fear creeping in his voice.

Sebastian raised a brow. “You better not be stupid enough to get caught again.”

“I wasn’t stupid. That was an ambush.” Asher glowered. “Right now, I could kill you.”

“If you say so.” Sebastian took a step closer to his bedside. “I’m just checking your IV since you damn near yanked it out.”

Asher scooted to the edge of the bed, watching him suspiciously. He was prepared to strike if Sebastian dared to try anything. Pity filled those evil eyes as he gazed down at him like a wounded bird. Sebastian reached into his lab coat, revealing a small bottle that looked like lotion.

“What’s that?” Asher asked, frowning.

“Healing potion,” Sebastian explained. “For your bite marks. You can apply it yourself.”

Asher accepted the small bottle, gently rubbing the lotion over each bite mark he found on his body. Within seconds, the marks faded away as if they were never there. While he worked on his thighs, Sebastian turned around to give him privacy, rummaging through his cabinets.

“Do you want something to eat? Drink?” Sebastian asked. “We serve some human food here, but not much. Mostly snacks. It’ll help get some of your strength back.”

“Not hungry.” As if on cue, Asher’s stomach grumbled like a mountainbear. Color tinted his cheeks as he averted his eyes to the window, contemplating if he’d survive jumping out it.

“I won’t poison you,” Sebastian said. “If I wanted you dead, I would have let those vampires drink you dry last night.”

Asher cringed. “Alright, fine. I could eat. I’m not picky either, so just bring me whatever you want.”

When Sebastian stepped out of the room, tension released from Asher’s shoulders. He wanted to escape. Despite Sebastian’s reassurances, he couldn’t trust those damned vampires. He tried to stand up again, careful of his IV, but dizziness fought to keep him bed-ridden. Asher remembered a time when he was a child when the vampires drank too much of his blood, leaving him too weak to even crawl out of bed. He wouldn’t let that happen again.

The room spun, and Asher struggled to stand on his wobbly legs, but he gently unhooked himself from the IV. Blood dribbled from the site, but he ignored it. Each step toward the door was another step closer to freedom. All he had to do was find his jeep. Then, he could drive back into the mountainside, where he was safe from those bloodsuckers.

Sebastian could shove his deal up his ass. With those gold coins, he could just fake his death and live a cozy life away from everything.