Despite everything that was going wrong, I couldn’t deny being in Prince Drake’s chambers was better than being locked up somewhere underneath the castle with the other unclaimed humans. Here, at least, I had my own bedroom, my own bed, regular clothes, and real food … the steak was buttery and on point, and the baked potato was covered in a sweet and sour sauce I had never dreamed of before—and it was oh so good.

However, I had no idea how I would continue my plans.

Thomas eyed my empty plate. “Done?” He had been standing along the wall like a perfect statue while I took my time eating. I tried engaging him in conversation once or twice, but he didn’t say more than half a word to me, so I gave up. Besides, he was too young and probably innocent. He wouldn’t know anything.

“Yes,” I said, not ready to go back to the bedroom, where I was sure I would be locked in again.

Like a gentleman, he pulled out my chair and gestured for me to walk toward the hallway. Like a lady, I stood and headed that way.

But instead of letting him escort me to my bedroom, I cocked my head at him. “Why haven’t you tried to escape?”

Thomas didn’t seem fazed by my question. He was young, but he was already taller than I was. And probably stronger too. “Because I owe Prince Drake. He is a good master. You’ll learn that if you do as you’re told.”

I scrunched my nose, not liking the idea of having masters or doing as I was told. “It can’t be just that.”

“It is. Didn’t you hear him? If I didn’t stay here, I would have been moved down to the slave quarters, and believe me, you do not want that.” He shuddered.

“I’m not talking about that; I’m talking about escaping.”

“No one tries to escape and lives,” he warned. “I mean it. Everyone who has tried was brought back to the castle and drained right away.” He gestured once more to the hallway. “Now, please.”

I sucked in a sharp breath and dragged my feet toward the hallway. With each step that echoed on the beige stone floors, the desperation inside me grew.

I couldn’t be locked in the bedroom. I would go crazy, and it wouldn’t help my cause. I had to do something.

I stepped into my bedroom and turned to Thomas, my eyes pleading. “Please, don’t lock the door.”

He looked down as if the weight of my gaze was too much for him. “I’m sorry.”

Damn it. I didn’t want to have to do this. “No, I’m sorry.” I grabbed the vase from one of the small tables decorating my bedroom and slammed it into his head.

The boy fell to the floor.

My heart reared for a brief moment, hating what I had done, but there was no time to waste. I pulled the big black key from under his shirt and raced to the front door.

Praying the locks would be silent this time, I unlocked the door, opened it slightly, and spied out. To my surprise, the guards weren’t standing by the archway on the other side of the room. I took that as a sign.

My heart hammering in my chest, I ran.

I had paid attention to the corridors and staircases we had taken to get here, but the castle was much bigger than I anticipated. When I had to turn away from the corridor we had first come through because a vampire guard was coming that way, I entered another long hallway lined by many doors and more archways leading to other corridors. I was instantly lost.

Damn it.

I stopped in the middle of a dark corridor and glanced from side to side. What now? Test the doors? What if I opened one and ended up face-to-face with a vampire?

I had to find a stairwell or some other way to go down.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway and my heart stilled.

Eyes wide, I glanced at the many doors, doing a silent eeny meeny miny moe in my mind, trying to decide which one to use, until I saw a door that wasn’t closed. Holding my breath, I pushed it open a little more and spied inside.

The dim light from the corridor illuminated long shelves with linen and buckets and brooms. A closet.

I slipped inside and closed the door, being careful with any sounds, then retreated to the back of the small room. I put my hands over my nose and mouth, trying to control my erratic breathing. With the vampires’ enhanced hearing, it would be a miracle if they didn’t find me in here.

The sound of the footsteps got closer and closer, and when they finally were upon the closet’s door, I stopped breathing all together.

The footsteps slowed and my heart went into overdrive. I closed my eyes and prayed—it was all I could do right now. Holding my breath for too long, I was sure I was turning blue, until finally, the footsteps continued down the hall, in the same normal rhythm as before.

I was purple when I dared to breathe again.

Tears of relief and desperation filled my eyes. Holy crap, how would I make it through this castle like this? First, I was lost, and second, this place was crawling with vampires. They would hear me coming a mile away.

But I had to try. By all sacred things in life, I had to try.

I leaned on the door and listened, but no other footsteps or voices reached my ears. With trembling hands, I opened the door and spied out. I sneaked out of the closet and resumed my trek, my heart thundering faster inside my chest, my hands shaking harder, and my breathing uncontrollable.

I ran the opposite way the vampire had gone and stopped by the next archway connecting with another long hallway.

What now? Which way would I go? How could I keep running inside this damn castle and not expect to get caught?

It didn’t matter. I had to try.

Taking a long, shuddering breath, I turned toward one of the corridors and marched on. I didn’t stop at the next intersection. I didn’t let myself. I had to keep moving, to keep going, to finding a way—

I bumped into a hard wall and bounced back, losing my balance.

A hand closed around my elbow before I could fall on the stone floor and kept me upright.

My breath caught.

Drake watched me with rage in his eyes.