I’m coming, baby...

Lauren sat up from where she’d been lying on the cold, stone floor, her heart lifting in hope. Was that really him, or had she dreamed it? He’d sounded so close. Her neck throbbed from where she’d been bitten, and the blood-taking had left her weak. She could hear him, though, and the sound of his beautiful voice made her heart sing.

Nikolai! I’m here.

Immediately, she sensed him pick up on her voice.

Where’s Sergei? Is he with you?

She looked around the dark space. No, I don’t think so. I don’t know where he’s gone. He was... She couldn’t bring herself to say the word—feeding—feeling such shame wash over her. And I passed out.

She knew she hadn’t needed to say it. From the emotions alone that she picked up from Nikolai, she knew he’d understood what she hadn’t been able to say.

We’re coming for you. Are you tied up?

No, I can move, but he keeps the door locked.

Don’t worry. I have backup. We’re getting you out of there.

Hurry, Nikolai. He might come back at any moment.

She wished she knew where the vampire had gone.

I’m coming, baby. You’re safe now.

Except she wasn’t, not really.

Shakily, she got to her feet. She wrapped her arms around her body as though to protect herself, and glanced around nervously. Lauren wasn’t normally a nervous person, but the thought of those fangs sinking into her flesh, the sucking feeling as he’d pulled the blood from her veins, the feel of his cold, hard tongue against her skin, filled her with revulsion.

Somewhere below her, she heard the sound of footsteps running.

Lauren hurried to the door. It was a thick, heavy structure with an old-fashioned lock and key, and she assumed bolts on the outside. They’d be able to undo the bolts, but they wouldn’t have the key.

Her heart pounded, and she glanced back over her shoulder towards the windows. Would he appear once more, a tall, menacing shadow crouching in the gap, silhouetted against the night sky? He was like every nightmare she’d had as a child all rolled into one horrifying entity.

“Stand back from the door, Lauren,” called a female voice she didn’t know. “We’re coming in.”

She took several steps back, her heart thrumming in her chest.

A crash, the sound of ancient wood, stone, and metal shattering.

The door opened to reveal Nikolai, and Ivan, several people she didn’t know, and, behind them, a giant wolf which appeared to be crammed into the small space.

“Oh, thank God.”

She took a step forward, but didn’t get any further as a gust of movement swooped in behind her, and in the next moment she was yanked off her feet and hauled backwards, a steely hand around her throat.

Lauren barely had the chance to scream. She knew who had hold of her.

Nikolai took a step towards them, his hand out held. “Put her down, Sergei.”

“Never. She’s mine now.”

“She’s a person. She can’t be owned.”

Delia stepped forward to join Nikolai’s side. “My name is Delia Costanzo, and I am part of The Directive. What you are doing is against all of our laws, and I order you to let that young woman go. Failing to do so will result in your death.”

The arm around Lauren’s neck tightened, and she sucked in a whistling breath. She took hold of the vampire’s forearm with both hands and tried to pull him away, but it was like trying to budge ice cold steel.

Frustratingly, the vampire laughed. “Come one step closer, and I’ll crush her throat like a piece of paper.”

“And then what?” Delia said, standing straighter. The female vampire showed no sign of intimidation. “You think we’re just going to let you get away?”

A shorter blond man standing behind her had his eyes closed and was muttering something Lauren couldn’t understand. But she could feel the energy coming off him, and strangely, she felt her own skin tingle in a similar way to what she’d experienced with Nikolai.

Sergei spat. “Try to stop me.” He looked to Nikolai’s maker. “I have to say, you’re such a disappointment to me, Ivan. I never imagined a creation of mine would turn out to be such a bleeding heart. I have to thank you for leading me to Deacon Thorn, however. I didn’t know a werewolf would prove to have such valuable connections.”

Delia lifted her chin. “So, you admit Deacon Thorn was the one who sold you Lauren?”

The vampire gave a one-shouldered shrug. “I could have just taken her for myself of course, but when they said they’d located a human with a touch of fairy blood, I figured this would be the more civilised route.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Civilised? I’m not sure you know the meaning of the word. You’re a disgrace to the vampire species!”

Through her fear and pain, Lauren focused on Nikolai. Something was very wrong with him. She sensed that the energy around him had changed, but it wasn’t only that. He looked different, too—his jaw rigid, his eyes burning with something that wasn’t just anger at the situation. She tried to lock him in her gaze, to connect with him, but something was different. Mentally, she threw her thoughts out to him, too, but his voice in her head had vanished.