Xavier blew out a whistle. “You always did have a way with crowds, Novak… It’s amazing how easy it is for you to both attract and repel them.”

Despite the tension of the situation, I looked his way and grinned. “I can’t believe you would doubt me, my friend.”

“I’m sorry that we did.” Xavier shrugged. “But it’s been crazy in here since the news of the fall of The Oasis broke out.”

“Let’s discuss it at the dome. It seems we have a lot of issues to take into consideration.” I looked Cameron and Liana’s way. “Could you make sure that Corrine and the human leaders are informed that I have returned? I want them present at the council meeting.”

I mentally tapped myself on the shoulder for keeping up a good act of leadership and control even though I was fighting my own battles inside. I scoped my surroundings, heaving a deep sigh. This is just the calm before the storm, Derek. Don’t fool yourself into believing that things are about to get better.

At that moment, the only refuge that calmed the storm inside of me was the image of my beautiful Sofia—her smile, her eyes, the sight of her laughing. I knew then that there was no way I could survive what was to come without her.

What have you done, Derek? What made you think you could get through all of this without her? What are you going to do now?

Hopelessness and despair began to overtake me as I saw the island I fought for—my kingdom—for what it was—a place absolutely devoid of light.

CHAPTER 9: INGRID

The hunters were resentful about how I was ordering them around. I could hear them murmuring amongst themselves, because not only did Aiden allow me to have a shower and a companion, he actually moved not only me, but also the impetuous blonde vampire to our very own quarters.

The bedroom reminded me of my dorm room in college. Two beds, closets, a shared bathroom… It wasn’t the kind of room or space I was used to having, but it certainly was better than the cell. The moment I was brought to the room, I first noticed the sealed windows. Definitely no sunlight coming in through those… The next thing I noticed was the surveillance cameras. They were going to watch our every move. I was certain that the room was bugged so they could hear our every conversation too.

I didn’t really care. I grabbed a towel from a closet and stripped to my underwear, looking up at one of the cameras before striking a pose and winking at whoever was watching me.

I then stepped into the bathroom and took a long bath. By the time I stepped out, Claudia was already seated on one of the beds, a blank expression on her face.

I wasn’t pleased about spending time with the little twerp, but I guess she had to do. I fought the urge to roll my eyes at the petty conversations I was certain I’d have to endure with her.

I got dressed, not really caring who saw me naked before taking a seat on the bed across from hers. I perused her form as I towel dried my hair. I could tell that just like me, she wasn’t given any favors when it came to personal hygiene either.

“Aren’t you going to have a bath?” I asked.

She sighed haplessly. “Maybe later.” She then stared at me in a way that really irritated me.

“What?” I snapped at her.

“You’re Ingrid Maslen. Sofia’s mother.”

I frowned. “What if I am?”

“I hope Sofia really does get to escape this place. She really wants to, I think. She and Derek are so in love with each other.” Her gaze left me as she bowed her head. “I really hope she takes me with her. I want to go back to The Shade. Yuri is back there.”

The news about Sofia’s escape was something I found delightful, but I knew that asking further about the escape would draw suspicion. Claudia went on with her own soliloquy, spouting question after question, musing after musing. “Have you ever felt like you’re unworthy of the love of a man?”

Yes.

“He’s done everything for you and yet none of it seems to be enough…”

My life’s story.

“I’ve always felt that way about Yuri. He always came through for me. Always. And all I did was hurt him, betray him, and make a fool out of him for holding any affection toward a broken creature like me.”

Broken creature. The words struck such a chord with me, so much so that I couldn’t pry my eyes away from Claudia. She was echoing my very soul, verbalizing what I could never speak out. Suddenly, the little blonde vampire became fascinating.

“Then suddenly, you lose him,” Claudia continued, her gaze distant, her eyes moistening. “And you mess up so bad, you feel as if nothing you do could ever get him back. You start to wonder if he could ever forgive you, if he could ever love you again, but all the while, you know that you don’t deserve that love…”

She paused and I could practically feel exactly what she was going through, and I found myself finishing her sentence. “You don’t deserve it, but it doesn’t mean you don’t want it.”

Claudia nodded in agreement, her eyes shifting toward me in surprise. “Exactly. How did you know?”

“I feel the same way about someone.” The truth hurt. I found that truth always did hurt. I’m in love with Aiden. I will always be in love with him. There’s no escaping it, but it doesn’t mean that I have to be prisoner to that love. “Claudia, if you had the chance, would you try to go back to him and make up for everything? If he welcomed you with open arms…”

Her face lit up, hope sparking in her eyes. “Yes! I would do anything. I’ve been such a fool…”

I immediately saw the difference between me and Claudia. She wanted love more than she wanted power. I, on the other hand, chose power over love a long time ago. I stared at Claudia—someone I perceived to be strong, independent and capable, yet turned into a pathetic weakling by love. I refuse to be like her. I can’t be the way Camilla was—a whimpering housewife, lovesick over her husband. I don’t want to be the needy weakling she was when she was with Aiden. Not anymore. I’m Ingrid Maslen now. Camilla Claremont is long gone.

I looked at the room I was in, a favor I didn’t deserve—faint proof that Aiden still held affection for me. Should I choose Claudia’s path, I knew I could somehow get him back, but I also shuddered at the thought. Camilla was in love with Aiden. Not Ingrid.

If I’m to be Ingrid Maslen in all her glory and beauty, then Aiden is my greatest weakness. I swallowed hard at the next thought that gripped my convictions. That only means one thing… He must be destroyed.

CHAPTER 10: SOFIA

No matter how tired I was, there were nights when sleep completely eluded me. Moments spent with Derek haunted me. Is he safe at The Shade? If he is, why hasn’t he tried to get me back? Is he even thinking about me?

Sometimes, I’d get so overwhelmed with the questions, I could barely breathe. I would then hold the diamond pendant he gave me for my birthday, thumbing along its fine edges, drawing comfort from the promise that came with it: “I want you to have it. Wear it always. It will remind you of me. Take it as a promise from me—a promise that I will find a way to be with you.”

I didn’t know where he was or if he was in danger. I couldn’t understand why he thought it best to leave without even saying goodbye, but I was sure of one thing… I could never doubt his love for me. That was the hope that carried me to the next day.

Aside from Derek, one more thing bothered my every waking moment: I am the immune. It was one thing I didn’t know how to find the answers to. Telling the hunters about it didn’t seem like the best idea, considering how I had no clue how they would possibly react to me revealing that I should’ve been turned into a vampire many times, but here I am—so completely human still.

Only one other person at hunter headquarters knew that I was immune: Ingrid. The thought of speaking to her, however, made me shudder. I came to the point of desperation, however, and found myself asking my father to let me speak to her.

“Why on earth would you want to talk to that insane woman? The same woman who gave you as a gift to Borys Maslen, and still very much wants to, even now…”

“I want to speak with her. In private. No bugs.” I’d been at headquarters long enough to know that it was difficult to have any conversation in private.

“You can’t trust a word that comes out of her mouth, Sofia.”

At that, I couldn’t help but scoff. “You mean the same way I can’t trust a word that comes out of yours?”

He seemed genuinely offended by the comment. “Why is it so hard for you to believe that I’m on your side? I’m keeping you here for your own safety. I’m your father.”

“You say that like it means something. You’re my father by blood. So what? You abandoned me with the Hudsons for nine years, Aiden! And you said so yourself… Camilla practically offered me up as a sacrifice to Borys Maslen and she’s my mother!”

Aiden’s face reddened, his lips twitching as he obviously tried to reel in his temper. He stood up, his hands gripping the edge of his desk so tightly, his knuckles turned white. “I am nothing like Ingrid. Do not compare me to her. What I did for you, I did because I thought it was the best thing to do. I didn’t want you involved in all this. I wanted you to have a normal, happy life… Something I was deprived of because of the double life I had to live as both a hunter and a businessman.”

I wasn’t in the mood to discuss his shortcomings as a father. “It doesn’t matter. The past is the past. We can’t change it. For now, do you really want to gain my trust?”

He looked relieved and sat back in his seat. “I would do anything to gain your trust, Sofia.”

I raised a brow. “Anything? How about you take me to Derek.”

“I can’t do that and you know it. Even if I could, I wouldn’t know how to find him. I don’t know where the Novak is. He might be at The Shade, but I doubt you’d trust me with that information.”

“So much for anything. Well, if you can’t take me to Derek, then take me to Ingrid. Let me talk to her.”