He rattled off the directions. I committed them to memory, my teeth grinding hard enough to crack.
“And Rocco?” Angelo’s voice dropped. “Don’t disappoint me. Your mother is counting on you.”
The line went dead.
I stood there for a moment, phone in hand, staring at Selena’s unconscious form on the floor. Her dark hair fanned out around her. The bite mark on her neck was already healing, but I could still see the faint imprint of my fangs.
I’d done that. I’d bitten my mate. Knocked her out. And now I was going to kidnap her.
Monster, a voice whispered in my head. You’re no better than the demon that possessed you.
I shoved the phone in my pocket and grabbed the Lapis Umbrae from the safe. It pulsed faintly in my palm, warm and humming with ancient power. I tucked it inside my jacket, against my chest.
Then I lifted Selena over my shoulder, one arm locked around her thighs to keep her steady. She was lighter than I expected. Or maybe the adrenaline made her feel that way.
I slipped out the window and dropped to the ground below, landing in a crouch. The night air was thick with the scent of magnolias and the distant thrum of music from the party.
They’d notice she was missing soon. They’d notice I was gone.
I had to move.
I took off across the grounds, using every ounce of vampire speed I had. Trees blurred past. The wind roared in my ears. Selena’s body bounced against my shoulder with every stride.
It was going to take all night to get to the bayou, even running flat out.
And I just hoped she didn’t wake up before I got there.
Chapter Twelve
Vex
Rocco flew out of Academy grounds, literally like a bat out of hell. So easy to track.
I left Steve's body in front of the gates of Red Rose Academy, turning into black smoke to follow him. He'd wake up in an hour or so with no memory of the last few days.
Poor bastard.
But back to my quarry.
I followed Rocco. He wouldn't even notice.
Not at night.
Not in this dark form.
He headed toward the bayou.
I kept a little distance. The shard's power reached me, even in this form. Its presence clawed at me even from here—cold seeping into my essence, weakening me with every mile.
He finally stopped at Angelo Santi's houseboat and slipped inside.
I smiled. It was isolated.
I shifted into my physical form and waited. The shard's cold still bit into me, draining my power, threatening to tear me apart. But I didn't need to stay long.
Just long enough to take what I came for.
I slipped through the walls of the houseboat, grabbed the shard with my obsidian container, and vanished before they ever knew I was there.
