After a few more attempts to enter my apartment, Arsen has either gone silent or left, but I’m not getting close enough to the door to find out. I put on my headphones, the sound track from King Arthur with Charlie Hunnam playing, whisking me away to a magical world where the bad guy loses and good things happen to deserving people.

I’ve gone over and over my tests. All my levels are either elevated or so far out of the norm that there’s no way for me to even get a baseline reading on what my new normal would be. Not without asking other vampires for their samples. And even then, I’d need someone with my same blood type and medical history.

I’m basically flying blind. Suuuper.

I push my hair out of my face, frustrated that I couldn’t get more from my first round of tests. But at least I know what I need to do next . . . I think.

Jesus. I don’t know any more. Normally I’d research it and learn everything I can until I’m practically an expert in it. But becoming an expert on vampires . . . immortal creatures? It’s not something I can learn in a few all-night study sessions.

I lean back against the arm of the couch, closing my eyes to wrap my brain around my new normal. The music in my ears lulls me into a sleep-like state until the loud crack of wood snaps me out of it.

My door is kicked in and three men wearing black approach me with lightning speed and toss a bag over my head. I scream, kicking and fighting, terrified that my attacker is back to finish the job. They lift the hood, shoving a rag in my mouth, quieting my screams. I struggle against them as they bind my hands behind my back.

“We’re not here to harm you. Only to protect you. Please stay calm and you’ll understand soon.”

My entire body shakes, a mix of adrenaline and terror pulsing through me like the bass at a rave. Someone tosses me over his shoulder and I lose my breath, struggling to breathe through my nose.

They take me downstairs, and then I’m seated on a plush seat. I smell leather and motor oil. I’m in a car. Where the hell are they taking me?

I think of every trick I’ve seen in the movies and TV shows, but nothing comes to mind. I’m not a trained assassin and these guys clearly know what they’re doing. Someone’s talking in the front seat, but I can’t hear what he’s saying. Something about we had to do it and she’ll be better off this way.

Please, dear Jesus, don’t let me be better off in a ditch somewhere.

After about twenty minutes, the car halts and the engine turns off. I brace myself to be tossed over another shoulder, but they pick me up and place me on the ground, one of them gripping my elbow and leading me along.

Freshly cut grass tickles my nose and the sound of cicadas greet me before the sounds of shouting do.

“How could you bring her here?”

“How could I not, Claudette?” A deep voice rings out. A familiar deep voice.

“She’s not one of us. She’ll never be one of us,” the shrill female voice cries.

“This isn’t up for discussion.”

I grit my teeth. As soon as they untie my hands, I’m going to deck him.

“You can take off her hood. She hasn’t changed yet, and judging by her posture, she knows where she is.”

The hood comes off my head, leaving my hair tangled in my eyes. The rope around my wrists falls to the ground behind me with a slither, and I rip the cloth out of my mouth.

“You son of a bitch.” I point my finger at him, advancing until I’m nose to nose with him. “You did this to me? I told you no.”

“Sasha, see reason. My people need you. And you need help. You can’t go through the change alone.”

“This is so not okay, Arsen.” I laugh mirthlessly. “Do you have any idea what you just put me through? Kidnapping me after I was attacked? Not your brightest idea.” I’m shouting at him, furious at his actions.

“You can’t speak to him like that. He is the Master of the Draugur.” The woman’s voice from earlier chimes in and I hold up my hand, my palm only inches from her perfectly upturned nose.

The woman huffs in affront. “Arsen, you aren’t going to let her speak to me like that, are you?”

I turn on her. “Arsen’s a little busy right now. He’s about to apologize for kidnapping me!” I turn my scowl to Arsen. “Aren’t you.”

Bastard better apologize, pay off my student loans, pay for the rest of my college and then some for this bullshit. And then, maybe I’ll decide to help them. Maybe.

He smirks at me, the amused tilt of his lips only fueling my ire. “I do apologize, Sasha. It was not my first choice to do things this way. But we are in dire straits.” A hush falls over the room full of vampires at his apology and I take a second to look around at my surroundings.

I’m standing in the middle of a luxurious entryway with a chandelier above me that’s got more sparkle on it than Edward Cullen in sunlight. Twin staircases lead up to the second floor and old paintings line the walls. How the hell did I not know about a palace in the middle of Portland? How does anyone not know about this place?

“Where exactly am I?” I ask, hoping that I’m not too far from home.

“We’re just outside of Portland. We own one hundred acres of land, and this is the main building on the estate,” Arsen answers. “Would you like a tour?”

“Sure, I’ll take a tour of your castle. While we’re at it, we can talk about how you’re going to right this wrong.” I step forward, linking my arm through his and he leads me away.

We pass at least fifty vampires, all with small smiles on their faces. I recognize the look. They’re cautiously hopeful, each of them nodding as we pass. I feel like there’s a brick on my chest.

“Tell me that they don’t all know who I am.” I look up into Arsen’s sapphire blue eyes.

“They do. They’ve been talking about you since I got back from bringing you home. They’re hoping you’ll find a cure to save their loved ones. Their family.”

Guilt crashes over me like a twenty-foot wave and I know that even though I’m disheartened at his actions of trying to take my choice away, I can’t say no to these people. If I had the chance to save my parents, my loved ones, I’d do everything I could to make it happen. Who am I to take that chance away from all these people?

“Arsen, what if I can’t find a cure? What if I fail all these people?” We turn down a hall, the lush tapestries and paintings, turning into a barren concrete expanse.

“Just let me show you something and then you can make a decision. I won’t push you any further.”

I nod, and he leads the way down two flights of stairs to a vault door. He nods at the guards standing there, and they unlock it, twirling levers until a loud click-clang-click sounds and the door opens.

I peer around Arsen’s broad shoulders and brace myself for whatever I’m about to see.

Row upon row of beds with people strapped down to them, IVs with blood bags attached, each lined up next to them. Each vampire is gaunt, the skin around their eyes an angry red, their fangs fully extended as they hiss at us.

“These are those affected by the virus.” He takes my hand, walking me to the end of the line, to a woman with long, blond hair and pale skin. “This is my sister, Annabelle. She was one of the first few infected.”

She was probably stunning before she was sick. You can see remnants of it in her sharp cheekbones, her high arching brows, and her petite frame.

Annabelle hisses at her brother when he rubs a cloth over her damp forehead, wiping away the beads of sweat.

“Shh, sweet Annabelle. Soon you will be better and this will be just a bad dream.” He continues talking to her and I turn my back on them, giving him privacy as I survey the rest of the sick.

So many of them are affected. So many of them seem tortured. I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose control of all faculties and be strapped down to a bed, an IV drip the only thing keeping me alive.

A few minutes later, Arsen whispers a goodbye to his sister with a promise to return later, and we leave the room, the clang of the vault door echoing off the walls behind us.

“Arsen, you really have no idea where this virus came from? Do you have any enemies?”

He laughs, the sound hollow. “I’m a very old vampire. Of course I have enemies. But this isn’t just about me.”

“Then what is it about? I need details so I can try to figure out the origin of the virus and fix it.”

Arsen glances at me quickly, surprise evident on his face. “So you’ll help us?”

“I’ll try.” I hold up my hand before he can get too excited. “But I need complete honesty from you and full access to the sick so I can run tests. I also won’t be able to do this alone. I’ll need someone to help me. You mentioned doctors? Could one of them assist me?”

He nods. “Whatever you need, it’s yours.”

“Let’s start with where this all started. Who could have come up with something like this?” We walk back up the stairs in silence until stopping at a thick wooden door. Arsen ushers me inside, seating me on a plush leather couch before sitting down next to me, his warm leg against mine.

“Do you remember that I said there are two covens in Portland?”

“Yes, vaguely.”

“We are the Draugur. And they are the Baetal. And for years our clans have fought. Over territory, over artifacts, over pretty much anything we can argue about.”

“Why?”

“It’s a very long story, but recently we called a truce due to the virus affecting so many of us. We agreed to work together to find a cure and stop whoever did this from doing it again.”

“Just like that? You guys are suddenly best friends?” I chuckle. “Call me jaded, but I’m not buying that.”

“You are correct. It’s a truce only in name. The tension is only barely at bay.” He runs his hands through his hair and sighs. “That is why it’s so important that we find a cure.”

“Is this some sort of game of whoever finds it first is the only one who gets to use it?” The thought of that doesn’t sit well with me and I shift away from Arsen.

“No, I would not do that. I have friends who are Baetal despite our coven’s inability to see eye to eye.” He lays his hand on my thigh, and a shiver of desire goes straight to my core at his touch. “However, I’m not sure the leader of the Baetal will be so giving with the cure should he find it first.”

“He’s not a good guy, I take it?”

“Ha! You could say that. He rules his coven in the old ways. Like we’re still hiding in castles high up on the mountains and unable to access technology that makes feeding easier than ever.”

“Right, I guess old habits die hard.” I look down at his hand, unsure if he’s even realized he’s touching me. Or if he’s affected like I am by our proximity.

He flexes his fingers, and my breath catches. I look up to see him watching me closely. He leans forward, stopping mere inches from my lips, and runs his hand up my thigh to grip my hip.

“If you do not wish for me to kiss you, Sasha, now would be the time to tell me.” His voice is rough and scrapes over my nerve endings like a caress.

I lick my lips. And before I can respond, he seals his mouth over mine. His tongue tangles with mine in a dance as old as time. We explore each other, teasing and taunting with our tongues. He nibbles on my lip and I sigh in pleasure. His kisses are like a drug to my senses. My body thrums with electricity from his touch and it only makes me want him more.

He pulls me over his lap until I’m straddling him and we keep kissing, his hands roaming over my back, down to my ass where he grabs two handfuls and squeezes.

I pull at his hair, coming up for breath for a moment before I pepper kisses down his neck, nipping at it as I go. He moans in pleasure and palms my jaw, pulling me up for more of his mouth on mine.

A knock sounds on the door and before I can jump off his lap, someone enters the room. My face heats in embarrassment and I push at Arsen’s chest, but he keeps me in place with his arms around my waist.

“What is it?” he growls.

“The Baetal are here.”

“Fucking hell.” Arsen stands, placing me on my feet, but keeping his arm around me. “Did they say what they want?”

The guard nods at me. “They say they’re here for her.”

I rock back on my heels. “Me?” How the hell do they even know I exist?

“I was afraid of that. We’ll be right out.” Arsen waits until his guard has closed the door behind him before he tips my chin up so I’m staring up at him.

“How do they know who I am, Arsen? I haven’t talked to any other vampires other than you.”

“I’m sorry, Sasha. It would appear we’ve run out of time.” He places a sweet kiss on my lips before he leans back. “I formally make a request for your hand.”

I can’t even get a “what the heck are you talking about” out before he leans in and bites my lip and dips his tongue into my mouth. Instinctually, I kiss him back, the tang of blood on my taste buds. It’s not as revolting as I thought it would be. After a moment, he steps back, wiping his thumb on my lower lip before wiping his own.

There’s a cut on his lip as well.

“Did I bite you?” I ask in confusion. I hadn’t realized that I did.

“No, I bit my own lip before biting yours and sealing my request for your hand.”

“I’m not sure what that means exactly.” It doesn’t sound like I’m going to like it very much. Arsen grabs my hand, towing me behind him as we leave his study.

“It was the only way I could think of to keep you safe. Just remember that.” Arsen glances back over his shoulder, lines of tension between his brows.

“What’s going on? Please talk to me,” I say.

“We don’t have the time right now, but I’ll explain it all to you. I promise.” We round the corner and come face to face with a group of blond-haired vampires, covered in head-to-toe leather.

I don’t hear whatever the vampire in front of me says. My vision tunnels and my ears ring as I stare at the man in every single one of my nightmares since the attack.