sted no time in interrogating them. Miguel and Santos were both seasoned warriors, and t

iguel and Santos remained stoic and unrepentant. They seemed almost proud of what the

ed at the prisoners. These were the monsters who had killed her parents and w

d, her voice cold and steely

for power," he said. "We were promised great rewards by a powerful vampi

, her eyes narrowing. "Who is thi

ntacted us through a network of vampire spies, and he prom

her city and killed her parents for no reason other than the promise of po

at she needed to stay calm and focused. She had to find this vampire

this vampire mage," she said. "We need to stop him before he can

couldn't help but feel a sense of determination rising within her. She would find this vampir

her ears, Ashina felt a sense of purpose and strength that she had never felt before. She was t

't help but think about the interrogation. The unrepentant nature of Miguel and Santos had

ion from the cells where the prisoners were being held. Running

the chains that had bound them. Ashina's heart sank as she realized that the

d hoped to extract more information from the prisoners, to learn mo

s. Part of her was relieved that the prisoners would no longer be a threat to her city or her peop

y. "We cannot let the death of these prisoners slow us down. We must find thi

on formulating a new plan. Ashina watched them go, feeling a se

unrepentant faces lingered in her mind. She couldn't help but wonder how man

and stop them before they could do any

om the vampire attack, the prince of the Leaden Kingdom, August, was jubilant. He had long dreamed

riumph. The prince was particularly pleased with the capture and execution of the two vampires, Miguel and Santos. He kn

f unease. He knew that the people of Zuih were strong and that they would n

d old vampire named Marcus. "What

," he said. "The people are mourning their king and queen, and they are looking for reveng

expected as much. "Wha

dy for them," he said. "We must fortify our defenses, and

s right. He would have to prepare for a bat

mind was on the coming conflict. He knew that the people of Zuih would not res