The choker’s still around my throat, and right now it feels heavier than before. Colder against my fevered skin.
His gaze darkens on me. “You’re going to learn the rules for your new life one way or the other, Monty, but for now? You’re not ready to be in the world.”
Life goes on as normal, or is that unlife? Regardless, it goes on for everyone apart from me.
When we got back that night, Lucian dumped me unceremoniously in his penthouse atop the VMR building, one where the views take in the entire city and beyond, from every angle over the breathtaking expanse of space.
I had thought vampires lived in darkness, in the tight confines of their coffins, but it isn’t true. When I hold my hand in front of the tall window as the light pours through, nothing happens.
It isn’t even warm.
Just bright light that doesn’t seem to touch me at all.
I don’t know where Lucian is, but hunger claws at me like…like I want something other than blood. It’s a hunger building from my core, something that calls for him to satisfy.
There was a moment of fulfillment at the de Santis compound, when he took me against the tree with a rough, brutal intensity. But it was stamped out when he left me on the verge of orgasm, unable to reach that peak. Left me ravenous and wanting more.
I sigh. Where is the kitchen, anyway? Is it a vast room full of blood and vampire protein bars?
Something dings, and I turn as the wall slides open, revealing a hidden elevator. And that that excites me more than the thought of food.
It’s a way out, the thing I’ve been looking for. Well, apotentialway out, since I highly doubt Lucian would have easy access in and out of his sanctuary. Getting into his office is bad enough, so where he actually lives is going to be a fortress.
What am I thinking? The entire headquarters of VMR is a fortress.
And jobs at VMR, here in the mecca of media, are coveted.
The reason, I remind myself, I’m here.
I might have been turned into one of the vile creatures andcrave blood as though it’s all the drugs in the world, but I’m aware of what I am.
What I can do.
What I could do.
Like find Kayla.
What steps out of the elevator finally is something I want even more than escape.
Lucian.
It infuriates me to the point my vision blurs.
“Where’s my friend?” I demand.
Behind him is the redheaded vampire, Vittoria. Cold, calculating. I didn’t entirely understand her when I was human. Now?
I do.
The cold she exudes streaks through me, too. But I don’t want to be like her. I don’t want to lose my humanity completely. When I was first turned, I didn’t care. But after the incident with the child…
Vittoria flips her hair over her shoulder and gives me a small, knowing smile. “Your friend?”
“Vittoria.” One word from Lucian. A warning. One she heeds.
I’m not sure why. She’s dangerous. Very much so, and it’s a bright thing I can almost see now that I’m one of them.
She could walk away from him. She doesn’t like his control, his owning her. At least, not all the time.
