rd exploded

gh the air. The vampires moved as one, shad

to think before one

cked-t

process it. A movement so fluid, so unn

t a

vampire recovered, lunging again, hi

inside h

wild, hungry-erup

rred, her hear

th

mpire

yes widen

it before

er, unnatural-**il

ck, his skin smoking whe

ble," he

dn't understand what was ha

lm toward him-and

eamed as his bo

er vampire's neck before turning to her, his go

ghter cut th

mused.

murmured. "I was

, forcing the glow to f

chaos around them. "Why would I? You belo

e

was the

ing dark and ancient-something that didn't

her. "Come with me, and I'

etween them. "She's not

"Such a good li

ked his

ael, sending him flyin

asped.

ook at him. His focu

ng, Aria," he said softly.

round

er seemed to bend, pulling toward Lucian

ires fel

backe

ze in place, his golden eyes locke

rs tingled.

recog

uld sense it too. "See? Yo

extended

Aria. Before

wept through

pulse p

e her wanted to

w the

what s

ce snapped thr

a-do

yes gleamed. "Cho

made he

hat Cannot

came in sharp,

toward her, his silver eyes gleam

he was he

hing inside h

, steady-desperate. "

ffering her answers." His gaze flickered to Kael. "W

his throat, but Ar

of power-wild, unfamiliar-was still t

something was missing. Like she

s Lucian, offeri

gers tw

s. That's it, little one. Y

olden eyes burning into h

heart p

nted a

ed to un

th

ememb

en the vampires first attacked. She remembered the wa

his voice had shaken

sharply-and m

teppe

smirk v

s arm and pulling her behin

eyes darkened-an

used. D

, indeed,"

ir sh

surrounded them. The vampires who had been standing in t

inched, his

ned standing-comp

ly breathe. "Wh

"Your power is connected to mine. Yo

rk energy eru

with a snarl, crashing

scream before she felt s

ha

ch

ure e

g her toward Lucian-

eart

s. The force was stronger than a

struggle. "You think you have a choice, little

vision

hest

lood

's pained growl from

ast thing she heard befo

e mine,

ng in t

in and out like waves crash

tless, floating in

n-p

searing her from the inside out. She gasped, her eye

e wa

as bound. Not by chains or ropes,

ered against her s

re aw

h, rich like silk-b

ci

mber. Black stone walls stretched high above, and flickering torch

far end of the room-

s silver eyes gleaming as

expected," he mused. "Most

e burning hadn't stoppe

you do to me?

t do anything." He rose from his throne, step

hitched.

id you really think you we

inside h

too confiden

The fire in your veins. The hunger in you

ounded. "Yo

huckled.

nger-and the torches

casting shadows tha

r ran down A

t just vam

ng older. Some

ering his voice. "You are not just a wolf

sps. The pain in her body pulse

th

felt

nside her c

d door being

silver ey

hispered. "

-as the darkn