Adrian Chen was absolutely certain he was going to die.
The alley behind the university library was dark, the streetlight conveniently shattered, and the three men blocking his exit looked like they'd stepped out of a horror movie. Not because they were particularly scary-looking—all business suits and slicked-back hair—but because of the way they moved. Too smooth. Too predatory.
"Wrong place, wrong time, little human," the tallest one purred, and Adrian's blood turned to ice when he saw the man's teeth. Fangs. Actual fangs.
"Okay, so either I'm having a psychotic break, or you're all really committed to the vampire aesthetic," Adrian said, backing up until his spine hit the brick wall. His voice shook despite his attempt at bravado. "I'm hoping for option one."
The vampire laughed. "Viktor will pay well for you. You smell... different. Old. Like you've died before."
Adrian's hand tightened around his phone in his pocket. No signal. Perfect. "Listen, I'm a broke college student. I literally have twelve dollars in my account. Whatever you think I am, I'm not—"
The vampire lunged.
Adrian closed his eyes, waiting for pain that never came.
Instead, he heard a wet, tearing sound, followed by a scream that cut off abruptly. When he opened his eyes, all three vampires were on the ground, and standing in the center of them was the most beautiful man Adrian had ever seen.
And he was absolutely covered in blood.