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Slowly, Bayer released my arm.

I didn't move because I understood.

Christopher must have sensed something because his head jerked up.

Too late.

Bayer launched himself forward with a roar that seemed to shake the walls themselves.

His fist connected with Christopher's jaw with a sickening crack, sending the vampire flying backward and tearing him away from Ben.

"You think I'm a coward?" Bayer growled.

The sound was deeper than I'd ever heard before, thick with the presence of his bear.

"I'll show you what real fear looks like."

Christopher recovered quickly, baring his fangs in a snarl. "You think you can beat me? I'm faster, stronger—"

"But you're arrogant," Bayer interrupted, circling him like a predator. "And you underestimated everyone in this room."

And then I saw it. Ben surged to his feet, blood trickling from the puncture wounds in his neck, but he wasn't the same person who'd been chained to that wall moments ago. The transformation was breathtaking—his skin seemed to glow, his features sharper, more refined. His silver eyes blazed with an otherworldly light that made Christopher stumble backward.

"What—" Christopher began, but Ben moved with impossible speed.

In a blur of motion, Ben had Christopher pinned against the wall, one hand wrapped around his throat with a strength that made the other vampire's eyes widen in shock. Christopher struggled, clawing at Ben's arm, but he might as well have been fighting a statue for all the good it did.

"The mistake you made," Bayer said calmly, moving to stand beside Ben, "was assuming Ben was weak because his abilities never manifested." He met my eyes, and I saw the fierce intelligence there that I'd somehow missed in my panic. "When blood-born silver-skins are born, their sire always feeds from them immediately. In return, they transfer some of their own blood to the baby. It's what awakens their powers. It’s a closely guarded secret because they’re all paranoid bastards."

Christopher's struggles grew more frantic.

"But Alessandro wasn't there when Ben was born," Bayer continued. "Estrelle's servant escaped with him before the ritual could be completed. So, Ben's powers have been dormant all this time, waiting for Alessandro’s blood."

“Not possible,” Christopher rasped. “Alessandro is dead.” I watched in horrified fascination as Ben's fangs lengthened, far more pronounced than Christopher's had been. There was something ancient in his expression now, something that spoke of power I couldn't begin to comprehend.

“But he fed on you,” Bayer said calmly, as if he was explaining basic grammar to my kindergarten class. “And when a silver-skin feeds there is always blood transference, which is why Alessandro was very careful not to drain you and ordered your disposal. Unfortunately, Ivan got greedy. It was Alessandro’s blood in you that made you so irresistible to him.”

"Thank you," Ben said, eyes glowing as he stared at Christopher, his voice resonating with an otherworldly quality, "for waking me up."

He struck with the speed of a rattlesnake, his fangs sinking into Christopher's neck. The older vampire's scream was cut short as Ben began to feed, and I could see the color draining from Christopher's face at an alarming rate.

The metal door burst open with a deafening crash. Phoenix charged down the stairs, followed by Rhys, Matthew, and several gammas I recognized from patrols. But they all froze at the bottom of the stairs, taking in the scene—Ben feeding on Christopher with a ferocity that was -terrifying.

"Ben!" Rhys's voice cracked with panic. "Ben, stop!"

But Ben was lost to the bloodlust, draining Christopher with single-minded intensity. Christopher's struggles grew weaker, his skin taking on a papery, desiccated quality.

"Ben, please!" Rhys tried again, moving forward.

Matthew stepped past them both, his weathered face calm despite the horror of the scene. He walked slowly toward Ben, each step measured and deliberate, until he was close enough to rest his hand on Ben's back.

"Son," Matthew said quietly, his voice carrying a gentleness that seemed at odds with the violence surrounding us. "That's enough now. Let him go."

Ben didn't respond, didn't even seem to hear him.

"Don't let Alessandro turn you into him," Matthew continued, his hand moving in slow circles on Ben's back. "You're better than this. Better than him. Better than what he tried to make you."

For an endless second, nothing changed. Ben continued to feed, Christopher's body growing more lifeless with each passing moment. I held my breath, my hands pressed against my stomach where the cubs were still moving frantically.