I hadn’t wanted to stop kissing Claire but knew it was the right thing to do. She was in a fragile state of mind, whether she admitted it to herself or not, and I never wanted to be accused of taking advantage of her because of it.

As I started toward my apartment, I caught a whiff of perfume that had me suddenly on high alert. I recognized the scent. It was sickeningly sweet and brought with it too many bad memories to count. My stomach grew rock hard as I neared my front door. The scent became stronger the closer I came. I knew who it belonged to, but I didn’t know why she was here. Better yet, how?

My hand shook as I gripped the knob and twisted. I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed I was wrong. I prayed my maker wouldn’t be inside, waiting for me. The instant I opened the door and stepped inside, I knew it was true, though.

The air was saturated with Aurora’s scent.

How in the hell had she found me? I’d come to Willow Harbor to hide from her, but to also hide from those like her—vampires who had gone dark and lost themselves to bloodlust. I didn’t want to be like them. I didn’t want to be like her.

I strived every day not to.

My fangs descended as I stepped farther into my apartment. Where was she? I didn’t bother flipping on a light. I could see fine without it. Besides, the darkness gave me a small sense of comfort even though I knew her eyesight was as good as mine, if not better.

I stilled my breathing, listening for any sound of Aurora. She was quiet, waiting for me somewhere. I could feel her presence hanging heavily through the apartment. The blood of hers that ran through my veins ached to be one with her again.

“My, my… I nearly forgot how deliciously handsome you are.” Aurora’s words whispered over my skin like silky velvet.

My feet faltered the instant I spotted her at my desk.

Dressed in skintight black leather pants and a jacket to match, Aurora trailed her gaze over me. Her red hair spilled across her shoulders in delicate waves and her piercing green eyes attempted to pull me in, but I refused to let them.

She was evil, and I wanted nothing to do with her.

“What are you doing here?” I asked without hesitation.

Her head tipped sideways while her eyes remained fixated on me. “You’re not going to say hello first or ask me how I’ve been?”

“I don’t care how you’ve been, and I damn sure don’t care to say hello. All I want to know is what you’re doing here?” My words made me sound braver than I felt.

She laughed, and I knew then she’d picked up on my emotions. “Fine then, we can skip the chitchat.” Her long fingernails tapped against my desk. “I was called here by a multitude of factors.”

My brows furrowed. What was that supposed to mean?

“Oh, pet, you look so confused.” She recrossed her legs as a slow smile formed on her face. “My blood runs through your veins, which means I can feel you. Always. I feel all the little minions I’ve created. Granted, you’re only one of a handful, which might make it easier to feel you as well as find you. Then again, it could have been the sudden shift in your power recently.” She arched a brow as the words dripped off her tongue.

A hollow sensation centered in my chest. I would never be able to hide from her. Aurora would always be able to find me. We were tethered by blood.

“Oh, come now. Don’t look so disheartened. Just because I can find you whenever I like doesn’t mean I care to.” She waved my worries away with a flick of her wrist. “You’re not my type. There’s too much heart and soul inside you still.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because like I said, I felt a sudden shift in your power. A strength passed through you unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. It intrigued me. So, here I am…”

It didn’t take long to figure out what she was talking about. Somehow Aurora had been able to sense when I’d drained the hellhound.

“Tell me, what was it?” She leaned forward, eager to know my secret.

Admitting I’d drained a hellhound would lead to questions of why one had been lurking in Willow Harbor, which would lead to the guide we’d found. I couldn’t let Aurora find out about that guide. She was bloodthirsty and power-hungry. I knew all of this from the few drops of her blood that floated through my veins.

“I have ways of making you talk, you know? I’m merely asking as a common courtesy. Don’t get a big head about my curiosity regarding your little rush of power. Other things have brought me to this desolate town as well, things that do not include you.” Her bright green eyes narrowed. “However, I do find it somewhat intriguing a certain thing occurred at the same time you’re rush of power happened as well. It makes me question if the two instances are connected.”

She knew about the guide. Something in her eyes told me so.

I licked my lips as another thought occurred to me: If she knew where the book was, she wouldn’t be wasting time with me right now. I knew Aurora well enough to know she’d be performing the ritual to make herself into a psychic vampire. She craved power too much not to.

Maybe I could make this all play in my favor.

“I drained a hellhound. That’s where the sudden rush of strength you felt came from.”

Her fingernails paused in their rapid movement across my desk. I had her attention.

For once, I felt as though I had power over her. It was an odd sensation I was unfamiliar with. I’d always thought of myself as a victim. Of hers. Of circumstances. I was weak. Helpless. Never in control because of her and what had happened to me.

Until now.

“Would this particular hellhound have been guarding something?” Her green eyes flashed.

My stomach knotted. I’d been right. She knew about the book. “Maybe.”

“Something like a book perhaps?” Her eyes willed me to spill everything I knew, but I fought against her mind tricks. I was stronger. Her lips twisted into a wicked grin that had fear eating away my short-lived confidence. “A book that happens to be in this very building?”

Aurora hadn’t come here because she’d felt a rush of strength and power surge through me. She’d come here for the guide. My being here was an added bonus.

“If you know where it is, and I think you do, I suggest you tell me. Now. If not, I can guarantee a lot of people will get hurt in my search for it. Supernatural and human. Their blood will be on you, pet. Is that what you want?”

My throat grew dry. She wasn’t bluffing, I could tell from her harsh gaze and the wicked twist of her plump lips. She’d go on a massacre until she found the guide, and she’d enjoy every second of it.

“I’ll start with the dark-haired panther you were strolling the lovely beach with earlier.”

At the mention of Claire, I felt my fangs descend. My hands clenched into fists at my sides. I was ready to fight if need be. Aurora lunged at me. Her fingers wrapped tightly around my throat and she squeezed, choking me before I could get out of her way. Her scent invaded my nostrils as she positioned her face inches from mine.

“Where is the book?” Her grip on my throat tightened. “It’s mine and I’ve come to claim it.”

“I don’t have it,” I admitted. Claire did, though.

“While it might not be in your possession, I can sense you know where it is.” Her fangs became visible as the green of her eyes disappeared to be replaced by solid black. She was letting go. Whatever shred of humanity she’d held onto seconds before had disappeared. “I could end you right now.”

I knew she could, and for a moment, I wished she would. I wished she’d end my misery. It would be poetic in a way for her to be the one to do it, seeing as how she was the one who’d started it all.

Everything would come full circle.

There had to be something better waiting on the other side, even for someone like me. I thought of Claire’s brother. While he might not be in an ideal situation being stuck here in spirit form, it had to be better than what I was currently living.

An image of Claire popped into my head. One of her walking with me on the beach tonight, looking more peaceful than I’d seen her in days.

No. I refused to let Aurora end me. The second she did, she’d move on to Claire in order to get her hands on the guide, and I couldn’t let that happen.

I wouldn’t.

I gripped Aurora’s wrist and focused on breaking her hold on my throat. If there was any chance the hellhound had transferred its strength into me, there was no better time than now to find it and tap in.

“You cannot fight me. I’m stronger than you.” My ears picked up on the tremble in her voice.

Aurora was scared.

A smirk twisted at my lips. “That’s where you’re wrong.”

I forced her hand away from my throat with one final push. Her dark eyes widened as her mouth fell open. It was clear she’d never encountered another she’d created who was stronger than her.

Until now.

My hand went for her neck. I gripped her by the throat and walked her backward until she pressed against the wall behind her. The movement was swift, which surprised even me.

“I won’t tell you where the book is because you’re a monster even without it. I’d rather die before I let you have it.” My face was as close to hers as she’d been to mine seconds before.

Aurora shoved me. Hard. I slid across the room and flung into the kitchen counter, cracking my back against it.

“You know what the contents of the book are. I’m surprised at you, my little minion.” She grinned.

“Don’t be.” I charged forward, but by the time I reached where she’d been standing, Aurora was no longer there. She’d dashed across the room and positioned herself at my front door.

“That book is mine. I will get it back. Make no mistake.” She swung open my door and left my apartment in a blur.

Damn it. I couldn’t believe I’d let her get away.

My fingers ran through my hair as I released a long breath. Aurora would be back. The guide was too important to her, but I’d do everything in my power to make sure she didn’t get her hands on it.

Ever.

Even if it was the last thing I did.