Raina's POV
My mind scrambled for an excuse—something, anything—that wouldn't land me in the back of a police squad car.
“I heard about the news,” I said quickly, watching as his eyes narrowed, “so I came to see if there were any missing clues. You know, in case what happened to my parents is the same thing that happened to her.” I dropped my gaze, hoping to play pitiful.
Sheriff Grant's face softened, but his scowl remained. “Raina, it's been seven years. The police are still looking into your parents’ disappearance, but that doesn't give you the right to go around town playing detective.”
I sighed, forcing a regretful expression. “I'm sorry. I.. I should probably get to work then.”
Brushing past him, I hurried toward the steps, but his voice stopped me before I could leave the porch.
“Raina, did you, perhaps, deliver a package to Miss Agnes yesterday? Maybe saw something?”
My stomach clenched, panic clawing its way to the surface. The last thing I needed was a run-in with the law, especially not here. Not now.
“What makes you think I delivered a package to Miss Agnes yesterday?” I asked, my voice laced with defensiveness.
Sheriff Grant shrugged. “You usually do, don't you?”
“Yeah.”
“So, did you stop by yesterday and see anything?”
For a moment, I considered telling him everything. But then another thought took hold—one that was worth asking.
“Sheriff, If I may ask… what makes you think Miss Agnes is missing? It's barely been twenty-four hours.”
He studied me, then glanced past my shoulders as if checking to see if anyone was behind me. “Always answering questions with more questions,” he muttered. “Follow me.”
Reluctantly, I stepped inside after him, stopping when he reached the kitchen. Extending a finger, he pointed.
“There, there, and there. You can see the signs of a struggle. A neighbor came by this morning and found she wasn't home. Her bed hadn't been slept in, which struck them as odd. Everyone knows Miss Agnes barely leaves her house, so they called us to check on her. That's when we found fingerprints in one of the rooms—prints that don't match Miss Agnes'.”
I tried to steady my breath. The counter bore deep scratch marks, as if she had clung to it, trying to stop someone from dragging her away. The cupboard near the sink had a fresh dent that hadn't been there before. But what disturbed me the most was the absence of blood.
If I hadn't seen it for myself, I might've thought I'd hallucinated. The kitchen was spotless. Too spotless. Just like upstairs, now that I thought about it.
“Come on,” Sheriff Grant said, heading toward the stairs. “Let me show you more.”
I couldn't let him see my note.
“I think I'm already running late, Sheriff, but I get it now.”
He exhaled, then gave me a hard look. “Just keep your eyes and ears open for anything, and don't hesitate to report to the police.”
“Sure.” I turned to leave, but hesitated, glancing back at him. “Sheriff, one last thing…. how much do you believe in vampires?”
His brows lifted slightly before he stroke his moustache, one hand resting on his holster. “They've only ever been stories to me. But I do believe vampires may have lived in this town… once upon a time.”
“Do you think?—” I hesitated, then forced the words out. “Or maybe assume.. I don't know, that they might have returned? That they could be responsible for these disappearances?”
He watched me for a long moment before answering. “That could be a possibility. Unless someone has seen one recently—”
“I have.”
The words were out before I could stop them.
“Excuse me?”
“I saw one. Last night.”
His eyes darkened. “Where?”
“Here. I came to deliver a package, and I found it feeding on Miss Agnes. But when it saw me…it ran.”
For a second, Sheriff Grant went rigid. Then, suddenly, he burst out laughing.
“Jeez, Raina, you almost had me there for a moment! With that timing, and seriousness—damn, that's some crazy good acting.”
I frowned. “I'm serious. I thought you said if someone had seen one, you'd believe them?”
“You didn't let me finish,” he said between chuckles. “I was going to add, ‘and has evidence.’ Well, do you?”
“No. But—”
“Stop it, Raina,” he snapped, his scowl returning in full force. “This case is already giving me a headache. I don't have time for dumb pranks. You're twenty-two now, maybe focus on getting a spouse instead of believing old fairytales.”
I clenched my fists. To think I actually believed someone would listen to me.
“Fine. Have fun looking for someone who's already dead.”
“If I were you, I'd watch what you say next,” he warned. “I could use your words against you and have you arrested.” He paused, humming as if in thought before continuing. “Think about it, Raina. Vampires don't care about being caught. So, why would they bother cleaning up their tracks when they could just compel people to forget? If you'd really met a vampire, you'd either be dead or have no memory of last night. So it's probably something else you saw.
“And I'm not taking you to the station—yet. But I'll let you go on one condition: stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong.”
I nodded, swallowing down my anger as I turned to leave.
“And one last thing,” he added, his tone dropping. “Let's just say you're right. If you can bring me actual, untempered proof that vampires still exist, I'll grant you access to any place in town for your investigation.”
I didn't reply, just stepped out into the fresh morning air.
As I rode to work, I kept replaying our conversation, my mind circling back to one unsettling thought: I hadn't fought that vampire and won.
He had let me go.
The sinking realization twisted my gut, but I pushed the fear down. No. It wasn't luck. If I was still alive, it was probably because I was useful in some way. And if I was wrong… I still had the Vampire's protection necklace. That meant I was more valuable alive than dead.
Pulling into the compound of SwiftDrop Logistics —the delivery company I worked for—I sighed. My usual parking spot near the back door was taken, forcing me to park in the last lane, the farthest corner from the entrance.
After locking my bike, I crouched to check the gas level for my deliveries when a presence loomed behind me.
The hairs on my arms stood on edge. My pulse quickened, my heart hammering in my chest.
Something about the presence wasn't normal. If I so much as opened my mouth to scream, I knew—I knew—I'd be gone before the sound escaped.
Steeling myself, I turned.
Dark, empty eyes bore into mine, the veins beneath them black and spreading across his face. His fangs lengthened as he exhaled one word:
“Mel.”
Raina's POV A cold chill ran up my spine, choking the breath from my lungs. The vampire stood unnervingly still, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that sent my instincts screaming. Every muscle in my body tensed, but I couldn't move, fear rooting me in place.Mel.The name curled around me like a whispered curse. I didn't know any Mel. At least, I didn't think I did. But the way he said it—like it was a name that belonged to me—sent a ripple of unease through me.I forced myself to speak, drawing in a shaky breath. “You've got the wrong person.”His lips curled, his fangs gleaming under the pale morning light. “No, I don't.”My pulse thundered in my ears, my mind racing through options. Run? Scream? Attack? None of them seemed wise against a creature that had already proven it could kill. And from last night's research, I was outmatched in strength and speed. I didn't stand a chance.“What do you want?” I asked, stalling for time.The vampire titled his head slightly, his b
Raina's POVI opened my eyes with a start to see the vampire leaning over me, his lips pressed to mine—again. “Eww,” I jumped, shoving him away. “Stop doing that.”“Doing what?” he asked, looking genuinely taken aback.“Kissing me! It’s rude to do that against someone’s will.”“You were unconscious. I don’t think you would've answered if I had asked. I only did it to save your life.”“Oh.” I rubbed my arms, the wind biting against my soaked skin. “I didn’t know vampires could give CPR.” He raised a brow. I shrugged. “You’re dead. How can you give me oxygen when you don’t even breathe?” “I’m a wind vampire. I manipulate air.”Okay. That wasn't in any of the research I did last night.“So, there are different types of vampires?”“Yeah. Reaper, Augustine, wind—wait, you seriously traded your memories for this?” His gaze scanned me.“Hey! This”—I gestured at myself—”is Windshade’s fastest and strongest fighter. I can have you on your ass in less than a second.” I bluffed.He smirked.
Raina's POVThe wind howled between us, rattling the bridge like a warning, its steel frame groaning beneath our weight. For a split second, I thought it might give way, just like the control I had over my own shaking limbs while I tried to get up.Liam picked himself off the ground, wiping the blood from his mouth. His eyes gleamed with fury as he glared at the other vampire. “What are you doing?” he growled, his voice dripping with venom.“Stopping you from making a mistake.” The newcomer—still standing between me and Liam—retracted his fangs, his claws sliding back as if he hadn’t just tossed aside someone just as deadly, like it was nothing. “I know how you feel, Liam. But she’s not Mel.”Liam stiffened. For the first time since this nightmare began, his rage wavered, like a fracture in glass. “What are you talking about?” “It's just her lookalike. She’s not the one. Don’t harm someone innocent just because her doppelganger hurt you.”Silence stretched between them, thick and suff
Raina's POVI stood rooted to the ground, my mind unable to comprehend what I was staring at. Ava’s neck was torn open, blood soaking her right side in a gruesome cascade. I wanted to turn away, to erase the sight from my mind—but I had to be sure.Pushing past the sheriff, I reached for the wound, my fingers trembling as they hovered over the blood. I needed to see. I needed proof.“What are you doing, Raina?” Sheriff Grant’s voice was sharp, his grip firm as he yanked me back.Tears burned at the edges of my vision. Ava had been a bully. She’d wanted me dead. But I couldn’t bring myself to hate her—not like this. She was too young to die.I struggled against his grip, desperate to check the wound again, but he was stronger. With a heavy breath, he pulled the sheet over her face, blocking her from view. As if that would make this any less real. As if the image of her lifeless body wasn’t already seared into my memory.“Raina.” His voice grounded me, and I forced my gaze to meet his.
Liam’s POVThe night clung to me like a second skin—cold, unforgiving, relentless. Even as I moved through the rooftops of Windshade Hollow, the town’s silence gnawed at me. My mind still couldn’t accept the truth. One more second in her presence, and I would have ripped her apart despite Ian’s words.She wasn’t Mel.A blunt reality I couldn’t ignore. Raina looked like her, fought like her—wild, determined—but she wasn’t the woman who turned me, the one who cursed me into this existence. The realization should have eased the tightness in my chest. It didn’t.Even after everything, a part of me still loved Mel. I couldn’t bring myself to forget her face—that was why I hadn’t switched it off. I wanted to remember. Wanted to cling to what it once felt like. I didn’t hesitate—I wanted to find Raina. Maybe, just maybe, if I couldn’t have Mel, then….Morning bled into the horizon by the time I caught a trail of Raina’s scent. I followed her, watched as she moved through the city delivering p
Liam’s POV I sat alone at the bar, my mind a storm of chaos. A devourer who didn't know what they were—those were the worst kind. I could bet my life Raina had no idea what she was. Not with the confusion in her eyes after I kissed her.I downed my drink in one go, the burn doing nothing to dull the ache gnawing at me. The glass hit the counter with a soft thud. I knew my clan wouldn't take this news well—it was my duty to report anything that could threaten us—but how to deliver it without setting off a bloodbath? I hadn't figured that out yet.The scrape of a barstool broke my thoughts. Another vampire slid into the seat beside me.“I see you're drinking again,” Silas said, his voice laced with dry amusement. “This can't be good.”I didn't bother looking at him. I didn't need to. I was the one who summoned him. Vampires rarely gathered like this—unless there was a problem.“I think we have a problem,” I muttered.Silas arched a brow. “We already do, don't we?”He turned to the bart
Raina’s POVMy head throbbed as I woke up to the early morning sun streaming in through my window. I groaned, flipping over to bury my face in the pillow, willing myself back to sleep. But the events of last night came rushing back, each memory a sharp jolt—Liam’s fangs sinking into my neck, the flash of his silver hair, and the way his expression twisted into something unreadable before he fled. A sting flared against my skin, I winced. I hadn’t looked in the mirror yet, but I didn’t need to. The marks would be there, raw and red—proof for the Sheriff that what I saw wasn’t some delusion.With a deep breath, I pushed myself up, only to stumble the moment my feet hit the floor. The room lurched, a sudden blur of colors and shapes that sent me grasping for the dresser. I clung to it, my fingers digging into the wood until the dizziness faded. Something was wrong. Liam’s reaction last night hadn’t been normal—vampires didn’t flinch from blood. If anything, they latched on harder, feedin
Raina’s POVI kept staring, twisting my head at different angles, pressing my fingers against the skin where the bite should have been. My pulse hammered. It had been there. I had felt it—raw, aching.Now, nothing.Sheriff Grant was still watching me, his expression shifting from frustration to concern. His fingers drummed against the steering wheel. “Raina, you wanna explain what's going on?”I forced myself to breathe, but every inhale felt too shallow, like my lungs had forgotten how to work. “I…I don't know.”Sheriff Grant sighed as he lifted a hand to his forehead. “Raina”“Mmm," I answered absentmindedly, too focused on trying to make sense of how a bite could simply vanish to fully register what the sheriff was saying.“I can see you're hardly listening to a word I'm saying, but Raina, you're like a daughter to me and that's why I'm saying this—” he paused looking me in the eye till he was sure he had gotten my attention. “Stop digging.”“You don't underst—” “Don't.” He held up
Raina’s POVI kept staring, twisting my head at different angles, pressing my fingers against the skin where the bite should have been. My pulse hammered. It had been there. I had felt it—raw, aching.Now, nothing.Sheriff Grant was still watching me, his expression shifting from frustration to concern. His fingers drummed against the steering wheel. “Raina, you wanna explain what's going on?”I forced myself to breathe, but every inhale felt too shallow, like my lungs had forgotten how to work. “I…I don't know.”Sheriff Grant sighed as he lifted a hand to his forehead. “Raina”“Mmm," I answered absentmindedly, too focused on trying to make sense of how a bite could simply vanish to fully register what the sheriff was saying.“I can see you're hardly listening to a word I'm saying, but Raina, you're like a daughter to me and that's why I'm saying this—” he paused looking me in the eye till he was sure he had gotten my attention. “Stop digging.”“You don't underst—” “Don't.” He held up
Raina’s POVMy head throbbed as I woke up to the early morning sun streaming in through my window. I groaned, flipping over to bury my face in the pillow, willing myself back to sleep. But the events of last night came rushing back, each memory a sharp jolt—Liam’s fangs sinking into my neck, the flash of his silver hair, and the way his expression twisted into something unreadable before he fled. A sting flared against my skin, I winced. I hadn’t looked in the mirror yet, but I didn’t need to. The marks would be there, raw and red—proof for the Sheriff that what I saw wasn’t some delusion.With a deep breath, I pushed myself up, only to stumble the moment my feet hit the floor. The room lurched, a sudden blur of colors and shapes that sent me grasping for the dresser. I clung to it, my fingers digging into the wood until the dizziness faded. Something was wrong. Liam’s reaction last night hadn’t been normal—vampires didn’t flinch from blood. If anything, they latched on harder, feedin
Liam’s POV I sat alone at the bar, my mind a storm of chaos. A devourer who didn't know what they were—those were the worst kind. I could bet my life Raina had no idea what she was. Not with the confusion in her eyes after I kissed her.I downed my drink in one go, the burn doing nothing to dull the ache gnawing at me. The glass hit the counter with a soft thud. I knew my clan wouldn't take this news well—it was my duty to report anything that could threaten us—but how to deliver it without setting off a bloodbath? I hadn't figured that out yet.The scrape of a barstool broke my thoughts. Another vampire slid into the seat beside me.“I see you're drinking again,” Silas said, his voice laced with dry amusement. “This can't be good.”I didn't bother looking at him. I didn't need to. I was the one who summoned him. Vampires rarely gathered like this—unless there was a problem.“I think we have a problem,” I muttered.Silas arched a brow. “We already do, don't we?”He turned to the bart
Liam’s POVThe night clung to me like a second skin—cold, unforgiving, relentless. Even as I moved through the rooftops of Windshade Hollow, the town’s silence gnawed at me. My mind still couldn’t accept the truth. One more second in her presence, and I would have ripped her apart despite Ian’s words.She wasn’t Mel.A blunt reality I couldn’t ignore. Raina looked like her, fought like her—wild, determined—but she wasn’t the woman who turned me, the one who cursed me into this existence. The realization should have eased the tightness in my chest. It didn’t.Even after everything, a part of me still loved Mel. I couldn’t bring myself to forget her face—that was why I hadn’t switched it off. I wanted to remember. Wanted to cling to what it once felt like. I didn’t hesitate—I wanted to find Raina. Maybe, just maybe, if I couldn’t have Mel, then….Morning bled into the horizon by the time I caught a trail of Raina’s scent. I followed her, watched as she moved through the city delivering p
Raina's POVI stood rooted to the ground, my mind unable to comprehend what I was staring at. Ava’s neck was torn open, blood soaking her right side in a gruesome cascade. I wanted to turn away, to erase the sight from my mind—but I had to be sure.Pushing past the sheriff, I reached for the wound, my fingers trembling as they hovered over the blood. I needed to see. I needed proof.“What are you doing, Raina?” Sheriff Grant’s voice was sharp, his grip firm as he yanked me back.Tears burned at the edges of my vision. Ava had been a bully. She’d wanted me dead. But I couldn’t bring myself to hate her—not like this. She was too young to die.I struggled against his grip, desperate to check the wound again, but he was stronger. With a heavy breath, he pulled the sheet over her face, blocking her from view. As if that would make this any less real. As if the image of her lifeless body wasn’t already seared into my memory.“Raina.” His voice grounded me, and I forced my gaze to meet his.
Raina's POVThe wind howled between us, rattling the bridge like a warning, its steel frame groaning beneath our weight. For a split second, I thought it might give way, just like the control I had over my own shaking limbs while I tried to get up.Liam picked himself off the ground, wiping the blood from his mouth. His eyes gleamed with fury as he glared at the other vampire. “What are you doing?” he growled, his voice dripping with venom.“Stopping you from making a mistake.” The newcomer—still standing between me and Liam—retracted his fangs, his claws sliding back as if he hadn’t just tossed aside someone just as deadly, like it was nothing. “I know how you feel, Liam. But she’s not Mel.”Liam stiffened. For the first time since this nightmare began, his rage wavered, like a fracture in glass. “What are you talking about?” “It's just her lookalike. She’s not the one. Don’t harm someone innocent just because her doppelganger hurt you.”Silence stretched between them, thick and suff
Raina's POVI opened my eyes with a start to see the vampire leaning over me, his lips pressed to mine—again. “Eww,” I jumped, shoving him away. “Stop doing that.”“Doing what?” he asked, looking genuinely taken aback.“Kissing me! It’s rude to do that against someone’s will.”“You were unconscious. I don’t think you would've answered if I had asked. I only did it to save your life.”“Oh.” I rubbed my arms, the wind biting against my soaked skin. “I didn’t know vampires could give CPR.” He raised a brow. I shrugged. “You’re dead. How can you give me oxygen when you don’t even breathe?” “I’m a wind vampire. I manipulate air.”Okay. That wasn't in any of the research I did last night.“So, there are different types of vampires?”“Yeah. Reaper, Augustine, wind—wait, you seriously traded your memories for this?” His gaze scanned me.“Hey! This”—I gestured at myself—”is Windshade’s fastest and strongest fighter. I can have you on your ass in less than a second.” I bluffed.He smirked.
Raina's POV A cold chill ran up my spine, choking the breath from my lungs. The vampire stood unnervingly still, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that sent my instincts screaming. Every muscle in my body tensed, but I couldn't move, fear rooting me in place.Mel.The name curled around me like a whispered curse. I didn't know any Mel. At least, I didn't think I did. But the way he said it—like it was a name that belonged to me—sent a ripple of unease through me.I forced myself to speak, drawing in a shaky breath. “You've got the wrong person.”His lips curled, his fangs gleaming under the pale morning light. “No, I don't.”My pulse thundered in my ears, my mind racing through options. Run? Scream? Attack? None of them seemed wise against a creature that had already proven it could kill. And from last night's research, I was outmatched in strength and speed. I didn't stand a chance.“What do you want?” I asked, stalling for time.The vampire titled his head slightly, his b
Raina's POV My mind scrambled for an excuse—something, anything—that wouldn't land me in the back of a police squad car.“I heard about the news,” I said quickly, watching as his eyes narrowed, “so I came to see if there were any missing clues. You know, in case what happened to my parents is the same thing that happened to her.” I dropped my gaze, hoping to play pitiful.Sheriff Grant's face softened, but his scowl remained. “Raina, it's been seven years. The police are still looking into your parents’ disappearance, but that doesn't give you the right to go around town playing detective.”I sighed, forcing a regretful expression. “I'm sorry. I.. I should probably get to work then.”Brushing past him, I hurried toward the steps, but his voice stopped me before I could leave the porch. “Raina, did you, perhaps, deliver a package to Miss Agnes yesterday? Maybe saw something?”My stomach clenched, panic clawing its way to the surface. The last thing I needed was a run-in with the law,