Chapter 7 alastor
I found her. I truly found my mate.
The thought repeated in my mind like a sacred chant as bullets tore through the air around us. The sharp cracks echoed across the battlefield, splitting the sky as soldiers shouted and metal clashed. Smoke curled in the wind, stinging my eyes, but none of it mattered. The only thing that mattered was her.
Lexie.
We ran side by side, boots pounding against dirt soaked with ash and blood. She moved fast. faster than any human should. Her tail flicked behind her in agitation, and her dark wings flared once before she forced them down again. Even in chaos, she was magnificent.
We dove through the flap of the nurse’s station just as another round of bullets struck the wooden posts outside.
Inside, the air was thick with herbs, antiseptic, and the faint metallic scent of blood. Nurses scrambled around cots filled with wounded soldiers. Alice stood near the back, her face pale when she saw us.
Lexie quickly tied her hair up into a messy knot, her fingers trembling slightly. She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and forced herself to calm down. I watched in awe as her tail slowly vanished and her wings folded inward until they disappeared completely. Within seconds, she looked almost human—if you ignored the faint shimmer beneath her skin and the small curve of horns that refused to fully hide.
“Lexie, they can’t be here,” Alice whispered urgently, glancing at me with fear.
Lexie turned to her, her expression firm despite the chaos outside. “He needs my help,” she said steadily.
“But he’s a vampire,” Alice insisted, lowering her voice as if the word itself was dangerous.
“And he’s my mate,” Lexie replied.
The room fell silent around us for a brief moment. Even the wounded seemed to pause.
Alice stared at her, then slowly nodded. Without another word, she guided me to an empty cot near the back of the tent.
I sat down heavily, adrenaline finally fading enough for the pain to settle in. My side burned where a blade had grazed me. Blood soaked through my shirt.
Lexie stepped closer. Her hands were gentle but efficient as she peeled the torn fabric away and examined the wound. Her touch sent a strange warmth through me—something deeper than instinct, deeper than hunger.
She cleaned the injury carefully, her brows furrowed in concentration.
“You’re adorable with your horns,” I teased softly, watching how they peeked through her dark hair.
She looked up at me sharply. “I’m not cute,” she said, her voice firm.
I smiled despite the pain. “You’re terrifying.”
“Good,” she muttered. “I’m supposed to be scary.”
I laughed quietly, and she tried to hide the faint smile tugging at her lips.
Destiny stepped forward from across the tent. “I’m going to head back,” she said, glancing between us.
“Be safe,” Lexie told her sincerely
Destiny nodded once before slipping out of the tent.
Lexie disappeared into the supply area and returned moments later with a spare shirt folded in her arms.
“Here,” she said softly, handing it to me.
I pulled it over my head carefully while she sat beside me on the cot. For a second, the war outside didn’t exist. It was just us.
“You’re my mate,” I said, unable to keep the excitement from my voice. I looked at her like she was something sacred—something I had been searching for my entire existence.
She smiled, and my undead heart felt like it beat again.
“I’m glad it’s you,” she said quietly.
I studied her face. Her eyes were light blue, almost icy, but there was warmth inside them—a small sparkle that caught the light whenever she smiled. They were the kind of eyes you could get lost in.
Suddenly, the tent flap burst open.
“They’re coming!” Alice shouted.
Lexie immediately pulled away from me, her expression hardening.
“Go,” she ordered, pushing me toward the exit.
“I’ll be back,” I promised.
She nodded once, though worry flickered in her eyes.
I sprinted back toward vampire territory, weaving through smoke and scattered fighters. When I reached my tent, I barely had time to sit before Destiny rushed in.
“There are soldiers attacking,” she said quickly.
I stood. “Tell the troops the demons have called for war.”
Her jaw tightened, but she nodded and left to spread the order.
I stepped outside just as the battlefield erupted again.
Across the open field, demon soldiers gathered in formation. Their armor was dark, etched with crimson markings. And there, at the front
They had Lexie by the arm.
Rage exploded inside me.
“Let her go!” I snarled, my fangs extending instinctively.
The soldiers laughed.
“Surrender,” their captain called mockingly.
“Don’t!” Lexie shouted, struggling against their grip as she looked at me.
Before I could respond, an arrow suddenly pierced through the captain’s side. He staggered back with a roar.
I turned to see a line of angels descending from the sky, their white wings cutting through smoke and ash. Light seemed to follow them.
At the front ran Ben.
“I know a couple of angels,” Ben shouted over the chaos, “and they agreed to help us!”
Hope flickered in my chest.
Lexie stumbled forward as her captor lost grip, and I rushed to catch her.
“I’ve got you, little deer,” I murmured, steadying her.
She rolled her eyes faintly. “Don’t call me that.”
Destiny and Ben stood nearby, waiting for my signal to release the vampire forces.
A gruff voice rang out from the demon ranks.
“Kill every last bloodsucker!” an older demon roared as they charged forward.
“Vampires, fight!” Ben shouted.
The battlefield erupted.
Lexie stepped away from me, her body beginning to glow faintly red. In seconds, she transformed fully into her demon form. Her wings burst free, stretching wide and powerful. Her horns curved proudly from her head, and flames flickered around her fingertihe launched fireballs into the advancing demon lines, each explosion sending soldiers scattering.
I leapt into the fight, claws slashing, fangs tearing. Vampires and angels fought side by side against the demon army.
Ben clashed with one of the corrupted nurses—her eyes black, movements twisted by dark magic. An angel swooped down and shot her cleanly through the heart with a glowing arrow. Ben nodded in thanks before turning back to the fight.
“Prince Alastor!” a voice boomed.
I turned to see Olsen stepping forward, his armor gleaming darkly. His presence radiated power and cruelty.
“Give your kingdom up, and we’ll retreat,” Olsen called out calmly.
“Never,” I snarled.
Behind him, demons began overpowering our lines.
A scream cut through the chaos.
I looked over to see Destiny being forced down by two demons, her sword knocked from her hands.
“Lexie! She needs help!” I shouted.
“I’m busy!” Lexie called back, surrounded by enemies as she fought fiercely.
Olsen stepped closer to me, lowering his voice.
“We can stop this. All I want is the kingdom.”
I glanced across the battlefield—
And my heart stopped.
Demons had forced Lexie and Destiny to their knees.
Blades pressed against their throats.
Time seemed to slow
Lexie met my eyes. There was no fear there—only defiance.
“Don’t,” she mouthed silently.
Olsen’s voice echoed in my ears.
“Choose, Prince.”
My hands trembled. My kingdom. My people.
Or my mate.
I slowly lowered my hands.
Then my head.
The battlefield fell quiet.
But something inside me broke.
And I knew this war was far from over.