Cain did not stop walking.
He felt them before he saw them.
The air behind him changed first, growing tense, filled with the sharp intent of hunters who were no longer trying to hide their presence. Footsteps followed, fast and heavy despite the attempt to keep them controlled. The sound of armor brushing against itself, the faint clink of weapons, the low voices of soldiers speaking through clenched teeth as they moved through the halls.
Then he turned his head slightly.
They were there.
A squad of vampires, fully equipped, their bodies wrapped in fitted suits made for daylight, dark fabric layered with enchanted threads that protected their skin from the sun. Their eyes were sharp, their movements precise, and their expressions carried the same urgency that had begun to spread through the palace.
"Over there!"
One of them pointed.
"That human!"
Another voice followed immediately.
"Stop him!"
Their tone left no room for doubt.
They were not asking.
