Chapter 109 Lucifiel's POV

Chapter 109 Lucifiel's POV
To think I had ever doubted having a true mate to bond with, and then I found one only for his so-called father to take him away.
It doesn't work that way.
I've heard of vampires and their vampire mate and even then, most never experienced a true mate bond. Most thought the stories were exaggerated, well before I was part of the "most". They weren’t. I was experiencing it so I didn't have a choice but to believe it.
I didn’t need any of Rahul's technological equipment to get to him. I knew Levi was alive. And I knew exactly which direction he was in and how to get to my man.
The car tore through the highway. Kael sat in the passenger seat while Derek occupied the backseat. Rahul was in another vehicle coordinating whatever remained of the operation. It was in his best interest to stay farther away from me, because he pushed for the stupid plan that went wrong and he was very much aware I was against it from the start.
“We’re close.”
Kael looked at me. “How close?”
I wasn’t entirely sure but I know we're close.
I slammed on the brakes. The car skidded to a stop with a sharp screech of tires. Derek nearly headbutted the seat.
“What the hell...”
I was already out of the vehicle. The pull wasn’t ahead anymore. It was somewhere off the road. Deep inside the forest.
Without waiting for the others, I moved. Trees blurred and branches snapped under my feet with dry, sharp cracks. The ground disappeared beneath me as I pushed my speed higher. Behind me I could hear Kael and Derek trying to keep up—they weren't exactly slow, they just couldn't match my speed.
I ran the fastest I could. The closer I could feel him the faster my speed. Then I smelled blood. It was fresh blood and I could tell it belonged to not just one being. Levi’s blood was certainly not part of it.
Why would anyone live in a place like this in the Middle of nowhere?
I stopped on a thick tree branch overlooking a large clearing. A compound stood in the middle of it. Stone walls, Security towers, armed guards and hidden cameras.
The security thing wasn't what caught my attention. There was already a battle happening. Several vampires were fighting near the eastern side of the wall. Not anyone I recognized. And they weren’t alone. They had humans with them, or at least they looked human. And obviously well trained from their speed and strength.
One of them drove a blade straight through a vampire’s throat. The wet sound of steel cutting through flesh was followed by a gurgle. The vampire’s body hit the ground with a heavy thud before a stake was used to pierce his heart. The steak was in the form of a wooden blade which was a smart move. Another human kicked a second vampire off the wall. Bones cracked on impact.
The whole thing looked interesting. If I wasn't about to go rescue my little chaos I would probably sit somewhere around and enjoy the show.
A tall man stood near the center of the fighting. Dark jacket, dark hair with calm expression. While everyone around him fought like maniacs, he looked bored. Like this was routine. One of the vampires lunged at him with a snarl. The stranger casually sidestepped. The air shifted. A knife flashed. It drove straight through the vampire’s eye with a wet, sickening pop. The body collapsed. Not once did he look down.
My arrival must have made noise because his head turned. Our eyes met. For a brief second neither of us moved. Recognition flashed across his face. I had a bit of a reputation so I wouldn't be surprised if he knew me , which also entails that he was definitely not human because he looked nothing like a hunter. He gave me a single nod and looked away. He returned to killing vampires like it was something he did regularly.
That was strange. I didn’t know who he was. I didn’t know why he was here. But one thing became immediately obvious. He wasn’t working with Levi’s father. His people were tearing through the compound’s defenses. Which made my job easier. I wasn’t about to complain.
Another explosion echoed from inside the estate—deep, rolling, followed by the sharp crack of stone splitting. A portion of the outer wall collapsed. Dust and debris filled the air. Stone shattered everywhere, raining down like hail. One of the strangers had apparently decided subtlety wasn’t necessary and I approved.
I could feel Levi really close and he was unharmed.
I dropped from the tree. The wall exploded beneath my landing. The impact sent a shockwave through my legs. Guards shouted and several weapons turned toward me. The sharp scent of gun oil mixed with fear-sweat. They died before pulling the trigger. Bodies hit the ground with dull, heavy thuds. Bone cracked under my fists as I didn't even give them the opportunity to defend themselves. Blood sprayed warm across my face from detaching someone's hand from the body. The compound erupted into more chaos. The air filled with dust, smoke, and the coppery stink of blood. None of it mattered. Every second wasted was another second Levi remained here.
A vampire appeared in front of me, fangs bared, eyes wild. I ripped his head off. The wet tear of flesh and the snap of his spine filled my ears. Another tried attacking from behind but his spine left his body shortly afterward with a sickening crunch. 
Did nobody ever tell these fools about Lucifiel? If someone had, they wouldn't be trying to scare me with baby fangs and strength like a piece of paper.
Then I reached the entrance. The doors shattered inward under my shoulder. Wood splintered. Several creatures occupied the lobby. They were not vampires. At first glance they did look like vampires but they were Ugly things with too many teeth. Their breath smelled like rot. I didn’t slow down. The first lost its arm—bone and muscle tore,the next didn't have it either.
I followed the instinct of the bond up two flights of stairs. The steps cracked under my weight. Down a corridor, I passed several locked doors that I tore open without slowing down. Then I found him.
Levi stood near a window. Completely unharmed. The relief lasted exactly one second. Because his father stood between us. Smiling.
“You’re quicker than I expected.”
I ignored him. My eyes went to Levi. “Are you hurt?”
Levi blinked. Then smiled. “No.”
Good. That was all I needed.
The older Levi sighed. “You know, most people would say hello first.”
I finally looked at him. “Move.”
His smile widened. “No.”
The floor cracked beneath my feet . Levi immediately took several steps backward. Good boy. But his father rolled his shoulders. “I’ve been curious.”
“About what?”
“What kind of monster earns this much loyalty?”
The room exploded. Neither of us bothered pretending. His fist collided with my jaw. Pain flared sharp and bright. Mine connected with his ribs. The impact was solid. Half the furniture shattered. Wood splintered and glass shattered in a high, ringing cascade. Levi swore loudly and dove out of the way. I did a quick once over to make sure he had no scratch on him.
His father was strong. Far stronger than the footage suggested. He slammed into me and for a second air left my lungs. We crashed through a wall. Then another. Wood and stone flew everywhere, sharp edges cutting skin. Dust filled my mouth and nose. I grabbed his throat then he drove an elbow into my face. Blood filled my mouth and my grip loosened. He immediately took advantage.
I hit him hard enough to launch him across the hallway. His body slammed into the far wall. He stood back up, still smiling like nothing was happening. “I understand why he likes you.”
I punched him through a pillar. Concrete exploded around us. The sound was deafening. “I don’t care.”
“Clearly.”The man laughed."I've been waiting for this day."His face turned serious " You made me like this."
He didn't give me time to speak before he attacked again. We tore through the building. Walls disappeared under our bodies. Several creatures tried intervening. They regretted it. Their screams were short and quick. At one point I threw him through an entire staircase. Wood and metal screamed as they collapsed. Neither of us stayed down for long. The man was exhausting and irritating.
It was the first time I was in combat with someone that matched my strength in centuries.
A sharp sound cut through the chaos but I doubt he heard it. It was an arrow. The projectile slammed into his neck. Levi's father blinked a few times, Looked down then touched the spot the arrow hit. Blood welled around his fingers.
“…Well.”
Then he collapsed. Just like that. The heavy thud of his body hitting the floor was almost anticlimactic. I stared.Levi had found his way down to where we were. The entire fight ended so abruptly it felt ridiculous.
“What the hell?” Levi sounded offended. Honestly, so was I. I had been enjoying myself.
Then footsteps approached from behind. I turned. The stranger from outside entered the ruined hallway. Several armed men followed him. Dust still hung in the air.
The stranger glanced at the unconscious man. Then at me and Levi. “Good.”
I didn’t like him already. “Who are you?”
The man ignored the question. Instead he looked at the body on the floor. “Finally.”
Levi stepped closer. “Do you know him?”
The stranger nodded. “Unfortunately.”
Something about his expression told me this wasn’t a casual acquaintance. Not even close. The armed people behind him immediately secured the unconscious man with restraints.
I moved slightly in front of Levi. The stranger noticed. His mouth twitched. Amusement. “Relax.”
I didn’t.
He sighed. “You’re Lucifiel.” it didn't sound like a question. Like I said before, my reputation precedes me.
The stranger extended a hand. I ignored it. His hand remained hanging there for several seconds. Then he lowered it. “I don't bite, you know right?”
Levi folded his arms. “Can somebody explain what’s happening here?”
The stranger finally looked at him. His expression softened slightly. “And you must be the famous Levi Cross”
“Unfortunately.”
A small smile appeared. “I like him.”
I liked him less.
The stranger gestured toward the unconscious man. “We’ve been tracking him for a long time.”
Levi frowned. “You mean my father?”
“Yes.”
That answer didn’t sound promising. The stranger crouched beside the unconscious man. Then checked the restraints. “He’s responsible for a lot more than you realize.”
I was already aware of that. Levi apparently wasn’t. “What are you talking about?”
The stranger stood. Then delivered the last answer I expected. “This man belongs to the NYPD.”
The hallway went completely still. Levi blinked. I stared. Even Kael, who had just arrived behind us, looked confused.
“The New York Police Department?”
“Yes.”
Levi looked down at his unconscious father. Then back up. “I’m sorry.” He pointed at the man. “The serial-killing immortal kidnapper belongs to the police?”
The stranger nodded. “Amongst other things.”
The stranger’s gaze shifted toward the unconscious man. A cold look entered his eyes. “We’ve been chasing him for years, he's killed humans and many more than you can imagine, and he claims it's for family revenge.”
Right then I remembered what he said to me earlier. "You made me like this."
How do you make someone like that when you can't even remember ever meeting them.
I wasn't interested in the rest of his sad revenge story, so I grabbed Levi's hand and let the police do their job even if I was pained I didn't put him down myself.