I smiled. “Yes, you are. Totally.”

“He comes with us. Let us go, and he lives. Hunt us, and we’ll enjoy him before he dies.”

“You gonna stand for that, baby?” Dav snarled, his gaze locking with mine.

Gods damn, he was sexy with his fangs down and his vampire side unleashed.

My smile was just for him before I yanked my arms from my captors, spun and punched one square in the face, breaking his teeth before pivoting and kicking the other on the side of his head with my boot heel. They both staggered backwards.

Davlov moved.

A second later, he snapped their necks and flung their bodies aside. I looked away from that macabre sight. Instead, my gaze was pulled to Dav’s face. My heart slammed against my ribs, the pull I always felt towards him tugging me forward. He stepped close to me, leaving only a few inches of space between us.

“Hi,” I whispered, my mouth so dry I could barely speak.

A sexy smile curled his lips, and all I wanted was to claim them, but things were so uncertain between us I daren’t move for fear of him rejecting me. His eyes softened to that beautiful hazel that I loved.

“Hi, yourself.”

I started to speak, to tell him how sorry I was.

“Wait…” he said, and pulled something from the back pocket of his jeans. “Give me your hand, Elliot,” he rumbled.

I did. Immediately.

He blinked slowly, releasing a shaky breath. Taking it in a gentle grip, he placed something in my palm. Warm metal dug in my skin as he curled my fingers closed around the item.

“I thought you’d be on a plane to Europe by now,” he murmured.

I shook my head, so focused on him, nothing else existed. “Revenge doesn’t matter to me, Dav.” I lifted my other hand and cupped his face. “Only you do.”

His shoulders rose and fell as he released another shaky breath and gave a small nod. “You came here to find me? You risked your freedom, your life, for me?”

I swallowed hard and glanced at the Count, who raised his glass to me. “Yes.”

Dav held my chin and pulled my attention back towards him before leaning in. “Well, don’t do it again.”

I groaned at his closeness, gasping when his mouth brushed my jaw.

“But you can relax; you’re safe here. No one will hurt you in this club ever again, El. Not now they know…” he murmured against my skin.

Blood rushed in my ears, hunger rearing up as his scent surrounded me. My legs trembled. “Know what?”

“That you are mine. That you always will be.” His mouth slanted over mine in the most sensuous kiss I’d ever had. His tongue slid against mine, dominating me, tasting every part of my mouth. I was heedless of where we were or how many people watched. I didn't care. If this was him claiming me, then I was claiming him right back. I grabbed him, ready to fuck him right there on the floor. I didn’t give a shit who saw, not when it meant every godsdamned supernatural and human in our world would know who I belonged to and who belonged to me. But Dav gently drew back, catching my lower lip between his teeth and dragging it with him as he pulled away. I winced, so he let go, a satisfied look in his eyes as he licked my blood off his fang. He tapped my fist, the one holding the piece of metal.

“Not here. If you still want me, if you can forgive me for being such a stupid bastard, then I’ll meet you at home.”

Confused, I looked down and opened my fist. An old style key etched in vampire runes sat in my palm. I swallowed hard. There was only one door that it would fit. I looked up to ask him why he’d given it to me, but he wasn’t there. My heart lurched in panic, making me spin towards the Count, who smiled and gestured for me to go to him. Confused, I almost ran to the vampire lord, wondering if Dav had told him where he was going.

“Where is he? Where’s he gone?” I almost shouted, anxiety getting the better of me. Apprehension burst through me when I realised I’d just yelled at Count Balthazar Rossi. He merely looked at me, his disturbing eyes gleaming. He lounged back in his chair, an elbow on the carved chair arm, his fingers and thumb grasping his chin, and one leg crossed over the other. He was the epitome of a composed and lethal vampire lord.

“Calm yourself, young one. He is waiting at the castle for you.”

My heart sank. How the hell was I going to get back to the castle?

The Count gave a deep chuckle. “My car is already waiting outside to take you to the airfield. The helicopter will have you back home in just over an hour.”

I nodded, trying not to collapse to my knees in relief. Desperate to get to Dav, I turned away.