Page 60 of Vameer

It’s like all the others.

But instead of gripping the edge of the paper and turning the page, my fingers move to the image.

My eyes follow.

This painting looks like all the others. But it feels different.

There are horses and helmets. Fallen bodies. Spears aimed.

Swords.

It’s a battle. Full of humans. But my eyes move over the page. To the back row of painted soldiers.

My breath hitches.

And my heartbeat increases.

Because there, painted into an image from two centuries ago, standing with his hair flowing in the wind, his sword in his hand, and his horns gleaming in the sun, is my vampire.

Chapter 22

Three Letter Agency Nerd

Istare at the blinking light in the corner of my screen.

“Uh…” I glance around the room, but I’m the only one here. I’ll be the only one here until morning.

The red light keeps flashing.

On. Off. On. Off.

“Gods dammit.” I drag a hand down my face.

These alerts are always bullshit. Always annoying. Never worth the paperwork. But automatically documented, so there’s no pretending I don’t see it.

I drop my hands to the keyboard and type a series of commands to open the alert.

My brows furrow.

This… isn’t enough information.

Usually an alert comes with an arrest warrant, a case number, attachments… Something.

I stare at a phone number, a code name, and a series of words that can’t mean anything good.

A bad feeling gathers in my gut.

And before I can think too long on it, I pick up my phone and dial the number on the screen.

It rings three times.

“What?” I don’t recognize the man’s voice. And I don’t ask for a name.

“Hello. This is…” I hesitate, wondering if I’m supposed to tell him my name. “I have an alert, sir.”

The man sighs. “What for?”

“It’s for Haystack Protocol.”