The moon hung high in the obsidian sky, its silvery glow casting an eerie light over the dense forest. The wind whispered secrets through the gnarled branches, and the soft crunch of Aurora Wynters' boots against the dirt was the only sound in the deadly silence. Her chest rose and fell with calculated breaths as she clutched her crossbow, every fiber of her being honed to the hunt.
Her fiery red hair, tied into a practical braid, spilled over her shoulder, and her emerald green eyes scanned the darkness with a sharp intensity. She was the predator tonight—or so she thought.
A rustle to her left made her spin. "Show yourself, you bloodsucking parasite," she hissed, her voice low but full of venom.
The figure emerged from the shadows like smoke materializing into solid form. He was tall—towering, really—with an air of unshakable confidence. His black leather attire hugged his lean but muscular frame, and his piercing ice-blue eyes glinted in the moonlight, locking onto hers with a chilling intensity. His dark hair was unruly, falling over his sharp cheekbones and framing a face that could have been carved from marble.
"Quite the mouth you've got there, little hunter," Zach Darkhaven said, his voice a rich baritone, dripping with mockery and menace.
Aurora's breath caught. She wasn't the type to be rattled, but there was something about this man—or vampire—that threw her off balance. Perhaps it was the sheer power he radiated, or the way his lips curled into a smirk that was equal parts infuriating and devastatingly attractive.
"Quite the ego you've got there, leech," she shot back, her sarcasm sharp enough to cut.
Zach's smirk deepened, but his eyes flickered with something else—amusement? Intrigue? He'd encountered countless hunters before, but this one… She was different. Her defiance, the fire in her gaze, and the way she stood her ground despite knowing she was outmatched—it stirred something dormant within him.
Before Aurora could react, he moved. One moment he was several feet away, and the next he was a breath away, his hand closing around her wrist with a grip firm enough to immobilize her but not harm her.
"You've got fire, I'll give you that," he said, his icy gaze boring into hers. For a fleeting moment, he caught a glimpse of vulnerability buried beneath her tough exterior.
Aurora yanked her hand free, her heart pounding in a confusing mix of fear, anger, and something she refused to acknowledge. "You're going to regret not killing me right now," she spat, raising her crossbow again.
Zach chuckled, a deep, rich sound that sent a shiver down her spine. "Oh, I think I'll enjoy keeping you alive far more."