Chapter 2: The Thirst of Three
The night was still electric, the city a blur of neon and muffled sounds, as Cardell and Johari stumbled into a forgotten warehouse. Their breaths were heavy, their bodies still buzzing from the tension that had ignited in the alley. Cardell pressed Johari against a metal pillar, his hands gripping the man's hips with a possessive strength that made Johari shiver.
"You think you can handle me, huh?" Cardell growled, his crimson eyes gleaming.
Johari smirked, his hands sliding under Cardell's shirt, fingers tracing hard muscle. "You talk too much. Show me."
Before Cardell could respond, a voice cut through the heavy air, thick with a rich Jamaican lilt and an edge of amusement.
"Well, well. I thought I was coming to handle some council enforcers. Instead, I find two pretty boys about to devour each other."
Both men froze, their heads snapping toward the shadows. A figure stepped into the faint moonlight streaming through a cracked window. He was tall and lean, his dark skin gleaming like polished obsidian. Long, tightly braided locks framed a sharp, angular face, and his smile revealed fangs that glinted wickedly.
"Who the hell are you?" Cardell demanded, stepping in front of Johari protectively, his shadows flickering to life around him.
The man raised his hands in mock surrender, his golden eyes twinkling with amusement. "Relax, big man. Name's Keenan. I've been tracking those council dogs you sent scurrying back to their masters. Looks like I'm a little late to the party, though." His gaze slid to Johari, lingering with interest.
"And who's this?" Keenan asked, his voice smooth as silk, with a hint of mischief. "You're not one of us, but you've got fire. I like that."
Johari smirked, crossing his arms. "You like what you see?"
Keenan's grin widened. "I might."
Cardell growled low in his throat, stepping forward. "What do you want, Keenan?"
Keenan cocked his head, his locks shifting as he moved closer. "Same thing you want. To bring down the council. To take back what's ours. But I'm thinking maybe I found something even more interesting tonight."
The air between the three of them was charged, a mix of tension, danger, and undeniable attraction. Keenan's gaze flicked between Cardell and Johari, his smile deepening.
"You're both beautiful, you know that?" Keenan said, his voice dropping, thick with desire. "Strong. Hungry. But together... I bet you'd be unstoppable."
Johari raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a grin. "Is this your way of flirting, or are you trying to recruit us?"
Keenan stepped closer, his golden eyes locking onto Cardell's crimson ones. "Why not both?"
Before Cardell could respond, Keenan moved, quick as lightning, pinning Cardell against the pillar with surprising strength. Their faces were inches apart, Keenan's lips curling into a wicked smile.
"You've got that Ebonborn fire," Keenan murmured. "I've heard the stories. But I don't think anyone's seen what happens when fire meets passion."
Cardell snarled, but there was no malice in it--only heat. "You're playing a dangerous game."
Keenan leaned in, his lips brushing against Cardell's ear as he whispered, "I like danger."
Johari cleared his throat, stepping closer, his own confidence undeterred. "So, what? You're just going to ignore me now?"
Keenan turned to Johari, his grin softening into something more genuine. "I'd never ignore you, love. You're the spark in all this."
Cardell's shadows rippled around them, pulling Keenan and Johari closer. The three of them stood together, the air between them crackling with tension. Cardell looked at them both, his crimson eyes blazing.
"If we're doing this," he said, his voice low and commanding, "we do it my way. No games. No lies. Just truth... and power."
Keenan smirked, his golden eyes gleaming. "You've got yourself a deal, Ebonborn."
Johari stepped between them, placing a hand on each of their chests, his grin wicked. "And I get to have a say too, right?"
Cardell and Keenan exchanged a glance, then nodded.
The night was theirs, a collision of strength, desire, and purpose. Together, they would burn brighter than the stars, their bond as fierce as the vengeance that drove them. And as the hunger in their eyes deepened, it was clear this was only the beginning.
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