Mercenaries nearby...

Xueluo lowered her arm from Irina’s shoulder and slowly straightened up, eyeing the armed mercenaries gripping assault rifles.

*West: Zerich. East: mercenaries and that chubby kid.*

Guya’s voice remained calm in Xueluo’s mind, though its usual mocking edge now carried tension.

*This looks bad, Contractor.*

“I know.”

Muttering the words, Xueluo drew her Soulblade. A flash of crimson light sliced through the forest gloom.

“We’re breaking through, Irina.”

At Xueluo’s whisper, Irina raised her magic-forged Elder Sword, understanding dawning in her eyes.

In that instant—

Rifles snapped up. Sparks erupted violently in the night sky.

Amid the gunfire’s glare, Xueluo shifted her Soulblade to her left hand and charged straight into the hail of bullets. Blood Magic required human blood to activate, but her vampiric lineage had already sharpened her reflexes. Combined with her old Blood Hunter training, she deflected rounds effortlessly with her blade, closing in on the enemy line.

*If I can just feed first—*

Xueluo lunged into the mercenary ranks, driving her crimson blade into a man’s chest. She bared her fangs toward his neck—

*Whirr!*

A powerful yank tore her backward. She crashed to the ground, ripped away from the corpse.

“Don’t let her near you!” Zerich barked, lowering his hand. “Or you’ll end up dried husks. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

*He’s faster than I thought...*

Xueluo scrambled up, slashing a mercenary down. Ahead, Irina had already shattered their front line.

“Xueluo!” Irina shouted from the gap. Xueluo sprinted toward her.

“Running?”

Zerich stepped forward, chanting loudly. A massive blue magic circle flared in his palm. White energy rays shot out, twisting toward Xueluo.

She deflected them easily—Zerich’s training drills had denser barrages. But as she parried the last ray—

*Rat-tat-tat-tat!*

Dirt sprayed at her feet. Blood splattered from her ankle.

*Not Silver Bullets... but it slowed me.*

“Brother!”

Irina caught Xueluo before she fell. A stray ray slipped past Xueluo’s blade—

*Thud!*

—it pierced her thigh.

“Tch!” Xueluo clamped a hand over the wound.

“Advance! Seize them both!” Zerich roared. Mercenaries surged forward like a tidal wave.

Irina blocked bullets, glancing at the forest slope, then at the charging horde.

“Hold tight, brother.”

“Huh?”

Before Xueluo could react, Irina spun, retreating several steps toward the slope. As enemies closed in, she leaped backward—dragging Xueluo into a steep ravine.

“Damn it!” Zerich rushed to the edge, fist clenched. “Flank them from the sides! I want that Vampire alive. If not... eliminate her.”

---

Xueluo clawed at bushes and weeds during the fall, but the slope was too steep and slick. She tumbled into a shallow ravine, scrambling up on shaky legs. Above, mercenaries were already circling down.

*Afraid to jump straight down? Worried we’d ambush them at the bottom...*

*Zerich. Is this how proper Mages think?*

*You okay, Contractor?*

*...Mostly.*

Xueluo took a step forward—then froze. Her thigh wound hadn’t healed.

*Magic-inflicted... that’s why.*

“We’ll make our stand here,” Irina said, tying back her hair. “Fight back under cover of darkness. With your Blood Magic, we might win.”

Silence.

Irina turned. “What’s wrong?”

“I... haven’t fed.” Xueluo looked away, embarrassed. “I can’t use Blood Magic right now.”

No awkward pause came. Before Xueluo could flinch, Irina unbuttoned her shirt collar. Moonlight spilled over her pale shoulder, the curve of her chest barely visible.

“Take my blood.”

“But—”

*If your bloodlust awakens,* Guya whispered urgently, *you might lose control like when you first drank Zerich’s blood. Either you’d suppress the urge... or Irina—unable to break free like Zerich—would be drained dry.*

“I’m fine, brother. Master Zerich told me about you.” Unaware of Guya’s warning, Irina sat down, eyes closed. “I trust you.”

Xueluo stared at Irina’s slender neck for a long moment. Then she leaned down gently.

“Thank you for trusting me. And...” Her lips brushed Irina’s shoulder. “Call me Big Sis from now on.”

Irina’s breath hitched as strong arms locked around her. Words dissolved into a tender, biting kiss—a claiming. Cool teeth sank into flawless skin, drinking greedily. A soft whimper escaped Irina as the world faded away.

Xueluo’s wounds sealed before their eyes. Her veins thrummed like war drums, alive with stolen fire.