At first I wasn’t sure I’d even be able to write. Trapped in this strange place, my life likely literally in danger. But somehow, to my surprise, I was able to dive right in. Lose myself in the story. In fact, I wrote all afternoon and when I finally heard the knock at the door, I looked up, shocked to realize hours had passed since I sat down. The window outside was pitch black.

Night had fallen.

The knock came again. “Um, come in?” I stammered, not sure what to say. My pulse skittered at my wrist as my nerves amped up with a vengeance.

I heard a clicking sound, a key being inserted into a lock. Then the door squeaked open and Logan stepped into the room.

I drew in a breath. Logan. The vampire who had kidnapped me. Who’d kept me locked up all day. And yet looking at him now, I felt such a rush of relief. Which was crazy, right? I mean, I should be furious with the guy—and I was! I really was. But at the same time I couldn’t help this weird feeling of gratitude. He had saved my life last night. Though, to be fair, he was the one who had put it in danger to begin with.

Also, he was carrying a plate with a piece of yummy smelling pizza on it. He set it down on the desk. “I thought you might be hungry,” he said.

I looked down at the gooey cheese, sorely tempted to shove the entire thing in my mouth. Despite the snacks I was starving for real food. But in the end I managed to restrain myself. Taking the pizza would be telling Logan everything was okay. And this was definitely not okay.

“You need to let me go,” I said, rising to my feet. “Now.”

I started to the door, not waiting for his answer. But he was too quick, moving at a speed I could barely catalog with my eyes. Like one instant he was at the desk. The next he stood in front of the door, blocking my path.

Vampires, man.

“I’m sorry,” he said, to his credit looking quite contrite. “But that’s impossible.”

Anger, mixed with a healthy dose of fear, rose inside me. “You can’t just keep me here!” I protested.

“I have no choice,” he replied. “They’re out looking for us. If they find us they will take us in—or worse.”

I raked a frustrated hand through my curls, trying to keep my composure. I had no idea, of course, what he was talking about and half of me wanted to demand answers. The other half didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. Didn’t want to play into all his games. I just wanted to go home. To my old life. My small, cozy apartment. My poor hungry cat.

“Look, I believe you, okay?” I said, deciding to try a different tact. “You win the bet. Vampires exist. I’m utterly convinced. And they’re nothing like the creatures in my book.” I paused, looking up to meet his eyes with my own. “So can I go now?”

He groaned. “Hannah, I’m so sorry,” he said. “I never meant for you to get hurt. I just thought it would be fun to show you my world. To freak you out a little and maybe give you a little fodder for your next book. I never thought…” he shook his head mournfully.

“Never thought what?”

He turned back to me, his eyes dark and serious. “How much do you remember about last night?” he asked. “About what happened after you ran outside the club.”

I shrugged uneasily. “I ended up in an alley. And this vampire attacked me out of nowhere.”

Not exactly out of nowhere, my mind niggled. You cut yourself. He was attracted to your blood.

But no way was I mentioning that pesky little detail to Logan.

Logan paced the room, his steps eating up the distance between walls. I looked longingly at the door, now unguarded. Should I try to make a run for it? But no, he’d catch up to me in a heartbeat.

“It’s so strange,” he muttered. “Why would he bite you?”

“Duh. Cause he’s a vampire.”

He shook his head. “Contrary to popular belief most vampires don’t just attack random people. Remember what I told you at the club? We have licensed blood donors who are well paid for their services.”

I nodded, remembering. “Maybe he was out of cash and forgot his ATM card?”

Or maybe some stupid girl went and opened up a vein for him.

Yes, I was the ultimate idiot, wasn’t I? Cutting myself outside a vampire bar, of all places. Though, to be fair, I hadn’t yet realized that vampires were a real thing.

“Anyway, he’s dead now,” I reminded Logan. “So what’s the big deal?”

Logan turned to me, his eyes flashing fire. “What’s the big deal?” he repeated. “Are you kidding me? A vampire is dead. By my own hand.”

“Oh. Right.” I pursed my lips. “I suppose you have laws about murder, too, huh?” That hadn’t actually crossed my mind.

“Very strict laws,” he said. “And when his coven finds out what we did, they will be out for blood. And if they find us, they will have every right to kill us in revenge.”

I sank down onto the bed, staring at my hands. “Oh,” was all I could manage to say. But inside my mind was racing with terror. One vampire had been bad enough. Now we were essentially on the run from an entire coven of them? Would I ever get back to my real life?

“This is a disaster,” Logan moaned. “A total disaster.”

“But couldn’t we just tell them it was self-defense?” I suggested. “I mean I was minding my own business. And he shows up and starts chomping on my arm! He would have drained me dry if you hadn’t shown up. Doesn’t that count for something?”

Logan nodded absently, still looking distressed. He ran a hand through his tousled hair and I tried and failed not to notice how the black strands fell through his long fingers. Suddenly I was back at the club, my body pressed up against his, his mouth moving against my own. Why, oh why had I gone and run away? Sure, I’d been freaked out about the whole making out with a vamp thing. But that was way less bothersome than being a fugitive, on the run from pissed off paranormal creatures of the night.

Logan groaned, dropping down into a nearby chair. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Trust me--I never meant to drag you into any of this. But now you’re a part of it, whether you like it or not. By now they’ll have reviewed the video footage from the cameras outside the club. Maybe even sent it to Slayer Inc.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Slayer what?”

“Slayer Inc.,” Logan repeated. “Basically a police force for the otherworldly creatures on this Earth. The Consortium made a deal with them a long time ago, to help us live peacefully amongst humans and other paranormal creatures. If a crime is committed—like a murder, for example—they’ll get a commission to track the perpetrator down and take him out.”

I made a face. So now I had to worry about a vampire coven and a group of Buffy wannabes? This was sounding more and more like a plot from one of my books. And not one I wanted to live in real life.

Anger rose inside of me, a desperate attempt to squash my fear. “So now what?” I demanded. “I’m supposed to just stay here, at your house, forever then?”

“No.” He shook his head. “It won’t be forever. Just until I can arrange a meeting with the Consortium House Speaker, Magnus. We’ll go to him and we’ll explain what happened. He’s said to be very fair. He’s also the former Master of the Blood Coven so we have that at least.”

“Lucky us.”

He gave me a rueful smile. “In the meantime, is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?”

“I think you’ve done enough,” I snapped.

His smile faded. A shadow crossed over his face. He rose to his feet. “Right,” he said stiffly. ‘Well, let me know if you change your mind.”

“I’m good thanks,” I muttered, dropping my gaze so as not to look at the hurt I caught in his eyes. He saved your life, something inside me nagged. And now he’s putting his own life at risk to shelter you. Maybe a little gratitude?

I shook my head, pushing the voice away. Maybe he had saved my life. But without him my life wouldn’t have been in danger to begin with. He had compelled me to come against my will. If he hadn’t, I would have been safe and sound at home, sipping tea and writing the latest chapter. Because of him my life had been turned upside down.

So no. Gratitude was so not going to happen. Not on my watch. And no sad puppy dog eyes were going to change that.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m right in the middle of a chapter,” I said, gesturing to my laptop. Total lie, of course. But all I could think of to say. I needed him out of the room before I changed my mind. Before I tried to seek comfort from the enemy.

“Very well,” he said, picking up the uneaten plate of pizza.

My stomach panged in protest; I’d been hoping he’d leave it there when he left. And while I knew he still would if I opened my mouth to ask him, my pride was too great to beg. I might be stuck here, but I refused to grovel for favors at his feet.

“I have some calls to make,” he added. “Shall we rendezvous in the dining room in an hour?”

I looked up, surprised. “You’re not locking me in my room?”

“No. Now that you’ve been made aware of the situation, you’re free to roam the house. You’re welcome to use anything you find. TV, books. I have a well-stocked library. And if there’s anything you do need, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“How about a cell phone?” I said automatically.

He sighed. “Anything but that. We cannot risk contact with the outside world. It’s too dangerous.”

I groaned. “Why did I have a feeling you’d say that?”