Nikolai stared at Ivan in disbelief. “You always told me your maker was dead.”

Ivan glanced away, not meeting his eye. “I lied. I was ashamed of what created me. He’s an evil being, and he wanted me to follow in his footsteps. I pushed him away a long time ago, but it seems he’s tracked me down. I’m afraid it may have been my connection with the club that put Lauren on his radar.”

“What? Did you know this before?”

“When we found out the vampire who’d taken Lauren could fly, I suspected—”

Nikolai lunged to the other side of the room, grabbed his maker by the throat, and thrust him up against the wall. “And you’ve waited this long to say anything!” he roared.

Ivan’s fingers wrapped around the wrist at his throat. “I didn’t know for sure, Nikolai,” he managed to choke out. “Only the description you gave made me certain. I was hoping the spell would work, and I wouldn’t have to say anything!”

“What tangled webs we weave,” muttered the werewolf from behind Nikolai.

He noticed none of The Directive had made a move to step in.

“You mean you knew nothing of what they planned at the club? You didn’t know what they were up to?”

Ivan clawed at Nikolai’s fingers, but didn’t remove them, even though Nikolai knew he could if he really wanted to.

“No, never. I would never have been involved in something like that. You know me, Nikolai. I’ve made my mistakes, but I’d never work with someone who abducts and sells women.”

“You wanted me to work with him!”

“A mistake. A stupid mistake. I was just trying to get on his good side because of his daughter, but even that is over now. You might have found your Bloodmate from this, Nikolai, but I’m the one who’s come out of this with nothing.”

“I’ll have nothing, too, if we don’t find Lauren.”

“So put me down. Stop fighting me, and let’s start working together instead.”

With a growl, Nikolai dropped Ivan. The other vampire could have stopped him at any moment if he’d wanted to—Ivan was older and stronger—but his maker had allowed him to get it out of his system instead.

Ivan rubbed at his throat. “You said she’s somewhere old, with thick stone walls and narrow windows?”

He nodded. “That’s right.”

“I think he’s taken her to the Tower of London. He was always obsessed with the history of the place. It would be a fitting setting for him.”

The ancient vampire Delia frowned. “Wouldn’t it be full of tourists?”

“Maybe during the day, but perhaps he’s found a part that’s empty.”

The Scottish werewolf, Mac, had already pulled his phone out of his pocket and was searching the location.

“Here,” he said, showing the screen to Nikolai. “There’s a part of the Tower of London that’s been shut off to the public for refurbishments. That might be where he’s holding her.”

Nikolai nodded. “Yes, that could well be it. We need to leave. Now.”

He hesitated then bent to pick up the hourglass from where it had landed when he’d thrown it. The amount of sand in the bottom was now more than in the top. He was running out of time. Just out of curiosity, he tipped it one way and then the other, but no matter which way up he held it, the sand continued to flow in the same direction.

He didn’t want to think about his own life, but if he didn’t find Lauren in time, his sanity and the safety of those around him would be in jeopardy, too.

Nikolai looked around at the others. “What are we waiting for?”

Delia lifted a finger. “Wait one moment. I know you want to go racing in there, Nikolai, but we need to put together everything we know about this vampire, Sergei. He shouldn’t be a match for us. After all, we are a strong company and far outnumber him, but he also has the girl. Is he likely to cause her harm in order to escape?”

Ivan’s gaze darted nervously to Nikolai. He took a breath. “Yes, I believe he would hurt Lauren if he thought it would save himself.”

“Aye,” said Mac, “And remember he can fly, and he’s sure to use that to his advantage.”

Delia nodded. “Those are the two main advantages he has over us. Henry, do you know of any spells that might be able to ground him?”

Henry nodded. “Yes, but they take time.”

“We can try to delay him,” Ivan said. “I’ll use my history with him if it helps.”

Nikolai looked to him. “Do whatever it takes.”

Together, they left the penthouse—two bodyguards, three vampires, a witch, and one enormous Scottish werewolf.

Delia and Mac had brought their own car, so they didn’t need to worry about driving Nikolai’s with the ruined windscreen. Mac drove one vehicle, while Ivan drove the other. Though he was still feeling frustrated with his maker’s lack of openness, he preferred to ride with him than the members of The Directive. They crossed East London, heading into the city. When they reached the location of the Tower of London, they stopped far enough away that the vehicles wouldn’t be noticed by the vampire, Sergei, and did the remainder on foot. They moved at a fast trot, sticking close to the shadows to avoid being seen.

The area of the tower was huge, the main building surrounded by tall stone walls. Other ancient structures made up the castle—turrets on the corners of each of the walls, and numerous towers. Nikolai was relieved they at least had some idea of where Sergei might be holding Lauren. If they had to search this whole place, room by room, they might never find her.

“The area that’s being renovated is on the south side,” said Delia as they kept moving.

Tall walls were no problem for their kind. The vampires were able to leap to the top, and then jump down the other side, while Henry found a gate and used a quick unlocking spell to open it for the others. Mac glanced from side to side, checking the coast was clear, and then shifted in the form of a huge russet wolf. The wolf clearly wanted to be prepared for a fight.

They hadn’t seen any sign of guards so far, but they were bound to be around. There would most likely be CCTV as well, which would capture some of their movements, but they’d worry about that after they’d located Lauren.

The Thirst chewed at Nikolai’s nerve endings. His throat felt as narrow as a straw, and he constantly made a hacking sound to clear it, though nothing made any difference. He wanted blood now. Hot and pouring over his tongue and into his stomach. The beat of his pulse was too loud, crowding out his thoughts, and he wanted to put both hands over his ears to try to keep it out. He was grateful none of the people around him now were human. He didn’t completely trust himself not to attack.

But what about when he saw Lauren again? His Bloodmate. Would he immediately feel better, or would he see her and scent her blood and attack? Could he trust himself to be around her?

It was an impossible position to be in. To need to be close to her in order to get better, but being afraid that getting too close would cause her harm.

Either way, they needed to get her away from Sergei first. If that son of a bitch had caused her any harm, he’d tear the other vampire’s skin from his body.

They reached the tower that was being renovated and came to a halt. A heavy wooden door with iron casings blocked the way. The windows were narrow slits high from the ground, a guarantee that anyone who squeezed from them would fall to their death. How many people had been kept prisoner here over the years? Royalty who were then executed out on the Tower Green. The names of the prisoners would be carved into its stone walls after endless years of incarcerations before they met their death. He wouldn’t allow Lauren’s name to join them.

“This Sergei can fly, so he’ll have taken her to the highest point,” Delia said.

They all looked up at the ancient structure, reaching high into the London night sky. Nikolai didn’t like the idea that the older vampire might be watching them from above, already aware and plotting for their arrival. If he grabbed Lauren and took to the skies, Nikolai might lose her forever.

Henry put out his hand and closed his eyes. “Aperi portam!”

Something cracked, and the door creaked open. Nikolai stepped forward to push it open further. Even with his vampire’s strength, he could feel how heavy the door was, and its hinges creaked with the movement. Behind the door, a curved stone staircase was revealed, rising up into the tower.

He could scent her, that scent he had caught that first night. But now there was something different as well, something dark and earthy, something wrong...

“She’s up there,” he growled, heading for the staircase.

“Slow down, Nikolai,” Delia warned. “We don’t want to give him cause to take flight with her.”

But, despite the warning, Nikolai’s pulse raced in anticipation. He only wanted to be with her.

I’m coming, baby, he thought. Just hang in there. I’m coming.