AFTER MATTIAS HAD CONVEYED Lucan’s message, Elise ran into the ballroom. She didn’t think about the danger until she was deeply entrenched. Eyes turned and stared at her from all directions. Some curious, some hungry, and some feral.

She gulped. Bad idea.

His brothers called after her and followed her in, trying to get her to retreat.

Elise pulled her arm back. She needed to find Marguerite.

She spotted Lucan at the opposite end of the ballroom, looming over the vampires. Although they were the predators, he prowled toward her like one, pinning her with his gaze. Never had she sensed such virile masculinity. With his dominant prowl, he all but declared to every vampire there that she was his. And damn, in that moment she wished it were true.

But then cold fingers touched her shoulder. She turned with a shudder.

A vampire with golden hair and eyes that almost matched in an eerie sort of way, smiled at her. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you at one of these events before. Allow me to introduce myself—I’m Evan Rochester.”

“Excuse me,” she said and spun out of his touch.

She headed toward Lucan. His glare turned to volcanic fury.

The vampire appeared before her and she had to stop before running into him. He’d moved too quickly for her to register.

“Now that was quite rude, don’t you think? I introduce myself, and I expect a proper introduction in return. I pay a lot of money to attend these gatherings and I will not be snubbed.”

She exhaled, flustered, and brushed her hair off her forehead. Although her body revolted at the idea of small talk with a vampire, she didn’t want to worsen the already tense situation.

Avoid eye contact. Don’t let him mesmerize you, she told herself.

“I’m Elise. Sorry, but I’m not here as part of the ball, and I’m in a rush.”

“Well, I can make it worth your while if you slow down. I pay quite well. Many courtesans are eager to return.”

When she dared a glance at him, he leered at her with a cold smile and hungry eyes.

“I wouldn’t mind a change of diet. It’s been a long time since I’ve tasted witch blood.”

Revulsion bubbled through her and her throat tightened. “No, thank you.”

Lucan appeared behind the vamp and placed a large hand on his shoulder. “She’s not interested.”

The vamp sneered at Lucan, giving him a side long glare. “She might be when she hears what I have to offer. Why don’t you let her answer for herself?” He ran his cold finger over her cheek, headed toward her lip.

Lucan vibrated with rage. “Because she’s with me.”

The vamp eyed Lucan with a challenging look before turning back to Elise. “Vampires have the most exquisite—kiss. The sensuality is unparalleled. One night with an immortal and you’ll never return to cold, hard stone.”

Lucan growled with lethal fury and tossed the vamp across the ballroom.

The vamp skidded across the floor, but rolled to a stop before slamming into the wall.

She gasped and stepped back.

Nearby vamps turned to see the source of the ruckus. The vamp leapt to his feet and hissed. His eyes glowed with blood-red anger. Extending fangs and claws, he lunged for Lucan.

Mattias slammed into the vamp, knocking him to the ground.

Lucan grabbed Elise’s arm and steered her toward the exit. “Come on, before this gets ugly.”

It had already seemed that way to her. Although she was in a room full of vampires, seeing him in full on guardian role was reassuring.

And at least he’d gotten her away from the repulsive vampire.

Countless angry accusations and protests surrounded them.

Danton said, “We mean no trouble. We’re searching for a girl who we tracked here.”

A woman with blonde hair and silver eyes said, “The hybrid?”

Lucan groaned at the reference. “Where is she?”

“She left with Soren.”

Who the hell was Soren?

Mattias snapped, “He took a child?” He flashed a look of disgust.

Lucan’s breath came out in audible bursts. “Where did they go?”

“Probably in one of the private rooms upstairs.”

Lucan grabbed her hand and rushed to exit the ballroom. She ran to keep up with him, casting a look over her shoulder to see if any angry vampires were in pursuit. Danton and Mattias appeared to be in a heated conversation with vampires, including Rochester.

She covered her heart. He’d taken on an immortal to protect her.

They had to find Marguerite. Who was Soren and what was he doing with her? Damn, she knew what he likely wanted, but she couldn’t bear the idea of the vampire drinking her blood. And would that be enough to sate his lust?

Once they were in the lobby, Lucan bypassed the elevators and headed up the stairs. He took them two at a time. She had a hard-enough time keeping up with him on level ground, but there was no way she could do so at that pace heading upstairs.

She attempted to release his hands. “You should go without me. You’ll be quicker.”

He held onto her hand more tightly. “I’m not letting you go, Elise.”

But the resolve in his eyes—she could almost swear that she heard his unspoken word in her head—ever.

She shook her head and replied, “Okay.”

He slowed his pace to single steps, which made it easier for her to keep up with him.

“This way,” he said, leading her onto the fourth floor.

He must have tracked her scent.

“Do you know Soren?” she asked.

His jaw tightened. “Probably the least tolerable vampire I’ve met.”

“And why is that?”

“Let’s just say he’s toed the line over what’s tolerable.”

When he stopped before room 432, he pounded on the door. “Open up, Soren.”

After about ten seconds with no reply, he shook the door handle. “That’s my daughter in there. I’ll break the door down if you don’t open the door by the time I count to five.” He took a deep breath and then counted, “One—two—three.”

The door opened. A vampire with a messed-up man bun, scraggly beard, and tattoos covering both arms gave Lucan a pointed glare. “You have a daughter? Kind of hard to procreate in stone, isn’t it? Well, at least you’re already hard.” The vampire smiled at his joke.

Lucan pushed passed him and they entered the room. Marguerite stood by the window with her eyes stark wide.

“Aunt Elise. And—Dad.”

***

LUCAN’S TENSE BODY softened at that word. It was the first time Marguerite had called him that.

Dad. He repeated in his head. Something he never thought someone would call him. It had a warming tone to it, calming all his inner turmoil while escalating his protective instincts to shoot higher. He’d destroy anyone who attempted to harm her, his daughter.

“Get away from her,” he warned Soren.

Soren sneered, revealing more of his hideous fangs. “Oh, you always have the worst timing. Interfering with my pursuits.”

A protective rage swirled like a tornado within. No one would hurt her. He’d destroy anyone who’d even think it. Lucan curled his fingers. His body vibrated with heated rage.

“Your pursuit is my daughter.” Lucan advanced, fists throbbing at his side.

Lucan had run into Soren in the past during an incident in which he’d come to vamps and lured a young woman out with him. She’d barely been old enough to enter the club. Sensing the young woman’s distress, Lucan and his brothers had shifted. They’d tracked Soren and the overwhelmed woman outside the club. Soren had found a shadowed space in between buildings and had already begun to feed on the woman. Mattias had yanked him away and Soren had been prepared to fight. With three gargoyles surrounding them, Soren had given up his meal that evening and ventured elsewhere. The gargoyles had warned him never to return to Vamps. Luckily, he hadn’t dared since.

Was Soren’s intended conquest this evening vengeance on the gargoyles? Or, was it merely a coincidence? Surely, he could scent the gargoyle in her.

Soren arched a brow. “Your daughter presented herself as fair game. She willingly entered a vampire ball.”

“I didn’t know,” Marguerite protested. “I heard music and it sounded cool and I just went in there to see what was going on.”

“It’s okay,” Elise said. Putting her hands on Marguerite’s shoulders. “You’re safe now.”

“Leave,” Lucan demanded.

Soren’s sneer turned threatening. He raised his claws. “This is a vampire’s venue. You have no business interfering here.”

Lucan took a deep breath and hardened his body, preparing for the altercation. They circled each other as each sized up their opponent.

Soren yanked the lamp off the side table and hurled it at Lucan with vampire speed. Lucan turned and the lamp grazed his shoulder before crashing into the mirror over the dresser. As the shattered glass rained down, Soren lunged.

He aimed his fangs at Lucan’s throat. Lucan pulled the vampire off before the sharp points pierced his flesh and then slammed Soren into the floor. The hotel room seemed to vibrate on the impact. Marguerite shrieked and Elise gasped.

Soren made a wincing sound and then rose to his feet. He eyed Lucan, scanning him as if assessing his weak point. Soren dropped and swooped in from below, knocking into Lucan’s legs. He dropped, but prevented worse damage just in time by pushing out his arm to break his fall. The damn vampire was too fast. He had that advantage. He straddled Lucan and reared down, ready to rip his throat. Lucan lifted him off him and mustered all his gargoyle strength to hurl Soren toward the window.

The vampire crashed through it as the sound of breaking glass echoed around them. Marguerite screamed. Lucan stared at the jagged edges half-waiting for Soren to leap back through the opening.

No, it was too far down. Although the fall wouldn’t kill him, the impact on hitting concrete from several floors up would slow him with a need to recover.

Lucan surveyed the room. It was destroyed. Shattered glass everywhere.

“Come on, let’s go before we attract more attention,” Lucan said.

“Thank you for coming for me.” Marguerite ran over to him and hugged him. “Dad.”

Elise followed. “Oh, Lucan.” She sighed. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”

She threw her arms around him as well. He embraced them both, overwhelmed by feelings he’d never experienced. It was as if suddenly the world had revealed everything he needed in his life before him.

A yearning rose to linger and savor the moment. His daughter, who hadn’t seemed to have been his fan since she’d met him, now hugged him and called him dad. The woman whom he yearned to touch and kiss and be near was finally back in his arms.

But, a pissed off vampire outside would likely return, or any of the vampires downstairs.

With reluctance, Lucan urged them to move. “We have to get out of here. Now.”