r erupted

ampires hissed.

attacker was on her-a massive werewolf with fur

incts to

er thought possible. The wolf's claws slashed thro

nking, she thrust

e wolf's chest. He howled in agony as the flames wrapped a

back, her own b

ng into her, the raw power of his

lt to

ri

ri

ike a blur, ripping through the attackers with savage

e warned, his voice thick with

rol the hunger surging within her. She

re lunged, da

wrist mid-air. But the moment her fingers touched

in horror as his veins turn

wn eyes

ery life force, trying to fuse wi

as meant t

gasping. The vampir

m," one of the wolve

nned. "Yes

hesitated now, stepping

aky breath. Th

terrifying as the pow

d think, a new pres

ient. Ove

The torches flickered.

h

oug

, calm. And yet, it

their bodies rigid, as if their very so

-and her he

lack. His presence was absolute, drowni

n pools of ancient hu

she

e one wat

he beg

g. "Ah," he murmured. "So the King h

blood r

ampir

ad come

ing's

ber fell

the Vampire Ki

nger-pinned Aria in place, as though he had rea

m. His pale skin contrasted sharply with his ink-black hair, and when he move

breath

overwhelming force of nature. But her wolf and

ecogni

ed through her mind, a

lammed agai

pping in front of her. His smirk

oothly, though tension laced his words.

re King i

room darkened. The torches lining the cham

adows

moved.

the King said, his voice smooth as si

was something sharp in it.

ghtly, his expression unread

flew ba

a force that cracked the stone, and he

breath

g hadn'

single

had been dismissed with nothing

d in Aria'

ot ready

ing's gaze re

rmured, step

ghten around her chest, like un

voice was almost gentle, but there was some

, her body trembling from the effort.

chuckled.

, he raised his hand-and suddenl

s, spiraling out of control, clashing

scre

Something b

she saw before th

ampire Ki

Awak

kne

ssing in on her, seeping into her bones. Bu

pu

his

ke

s from before hadn't vanished-they had settled inside her, curli

e Vampire King-his piercing crimson

he void, suspended between

hide from wh

er mind. A crown of shadows. A thro

ga

lammed back

t where sh

as gone. Lucian, go

as h

efore her,

le, but his gaze held somet

round them was grand-ancient pillars, dim torchlig

tarted, but her

re aw

ng took a slow

oved. It wrapped around her like a sec

I?" she

e," he sa

wisted. "You

"You collapsed. I merely br

d felt wrong c

ain, looking for an e

N

ched. "I didn'

darkened. "Your power called

ad. "I belong no

resembling amusement. "You don'

ough," she

ice dropped lowe

sh o

was several fee

in fron

clo

ngers brushed her chin, tiltin

" he whispered, "why does y

aced down

se it

just pounding in fear

gotten corners of her soul

ghosted ov

e murmured, watching her with an i

inside h

er veins, and before

ted from her hands, w

ire King

in s

in a

satis

ispered. "Now