Victor’s skin felt as if it were about to ignite into an inferno, his throat as dry as the damn Sahara, and his cock hard as steel as he stalked through Central Park. Every single one of his enhanced senses were firing on all synapses, sending signals to his brain at breakneck speed which he processed simultaneously as his eyes scanned all around as he fought to control the need to sink his fangs into every damn human that strode nonchalantly past him. He felt as if he were losing his mind and his control over his dark side, and that wasn’t something he could comprehend.

He always had steely domination over that part of him, the dark and dangerous side inside all Vampires but his was far more powerful than most. He was older, ancient, and that caused him to be faster, stronger, deadlier than any others he knew. Hell, he was probably the deadliest Vampire alive . . . bar one. The Directive’s leader himself, Magno Zara, and even then there wasn’t much difference between them. But right now, Victor felt his resolute constraint slipping and that scared the fucking daylights out of him. The death and destruction he could rain down on these humans would be catastrophic if he lost it and all that stood between that was his own restraint that was slowly slipping away . . . along with his sanity.

“Fuck,” he cursed under his breath, fighting once again for control as a beautiful young woman strode toward him. Her long dark hair reminding him of the vision he’d experienced in his pool earlier. His cock remembered the encounter too, throbbing with desire and begging for release. Shit, he was grateful that he’d thrown on a light overcoat before leaving, shoving his hands in the pockets he drew it forward, hiding his raging erection, a snarl breaking free as she passed by completely unaware of how close she came to having her throat torn out by his razor-sharp fangs that ached to be set free.

“Do I have to take you home before you do something we’ll all regret?” Flint snapped out harshly, motioning with his head to several of his team who flanked them. Only one of them being another Vampire, the others made up of a powerful Mage and Wolves.

Victor looked at the men, all large, powerful and deadly but he’d have no problem taking them all down with ease, especially with the mood he was in, and definitely if his barely restrained darkness broke free. “I’m fine.”

“Yeah, and I wasn’t born yesterday. You’re ready to snap and don’t think I didn’t see how you looked at that girl, boss. Your fangs were almost out and your eyes began to shine red. Shit, you wanted to feed from her, right here in the middle of the damn park. What the fuck?”

“I said . . . I am fucking fine!” Victor growled, striding away quickly before he punched Flint in the face, because that’s what he had the urge to do. Hit, pummel, and crunch the bones in his face until he shut the hell up. Damn it to hell.

He was losing it . . . the control over the darkness he kept hidden, contained deep within, and it was breaking free fast. He wasn’t sure if he was strong enough to fight it for much longer. He had to find her before it was too fucking late and he turned into the monster he’d fought so hard to contain all those centuries ago.

Flint rushed to catch up, huffing out a grunt and shaking his head, his dark eyes full of concern. “You’re not fine, Vic. I’m worried you’re not up for this right now. Maybe you should return home until later when there’s not so many people around.”

“I can’t,” he ground out, his jaw aching as he clenched his teeth hard. “I need to find her before I lose control completely. It won’t be long before I do, Flint. I feel it slipping away and when it does . . . you know what’ll happen. We both know what will happen and I cannot allow that.”

Flint’s hand shot out, clamping hard on his arm and halting him, forcing him to look at him. His friend’s face was a mask of shock and horror as he stared hard at him. “It’s that bad?”

Victor stood, relaying through his mind the feelings cascading through him, his craving for blood growing as the seconds ticked by and the yearning to sink his fangs into soft skin and feel the thick viscous crimson as it flooded his mouth and down his throat. All as he drilled his cock inside a warm sheath time and again . . . hell yes, it was that bad. No. It was worse.

“It’s worse, Flint,” Victor admitted to his friend. “I won’t last until evening. I have to find her and soon.”

“Fucking fuck and shit!” Flint’s hand released his arm to run down his face that was filled with worry and concern. “I guess we better find her then.”

“Yes, we better.” Victor inclined his head, the merest hint of a scent wafting toward him, tantalizing and hypnotizing. “Wait . . . I think . . . yes!”

He turned, his senses completely hypnotized by honey and wildflowers. “This way!” he yelled, his feet taking off at a dead run, leaving Flint and his men behind as he ran toward the one person he knew would save him, mind, body, and soul.