“I know nothing about that side, so whatever you’re trying to say, get on with it,” I bite out. Debating telling her to just bite me and get it over with, I pick at my nails inside my sweatshirt. She would be here with Nico if she did it the proper way, so I don’t want to tempt her.

“I knew her during peace. When your kind only hunted those who didn’t know how to clean up after themselves.”

Victoria stands, glances at the door, and moves toward me faster than I can blink.

“I was there when it all started. When the first hunter avenged the death of a loved one by slaughtering an entire coven.” She reaches out and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, smiling at me. The woman has an adorable gap between her two front teeth, but her eyes are dark as they dart all over my face.

“Do you know how we work, darling? The thirst?” I nod, leaning back as much as I can without being too noticeable. “So you know it’s blood we crave, we thirst for? Regardless of who or what it belongs to?” I don’t bother nodding this time, but I don’t take my eyes off her.

“Do you, are you thirsty? Is that why—” I barely breathe as her hand reaches out and covers my mouth.

“This is important to the story. Don’t interrupt.” When Victoria deems me properly silenced, she draws her hand away and takes a step back. She wraps her arms around herself and looks at the camera in the room's corner.

I wonder what time it is, because I already know someone checks the security system at least once an hour. Based on the interaction with Roman the other day, I suspect it’s more often. But there’s no way he’s watching now, or he’d already be here.

Unless he sent her.

“I was a fledgeling then. In my coven, we did the same thing with our new vampires as we do now. Isolate, ingratiate, initiate. I was being isolated when your great-grandmother slaughtered everyone.” She waves her hand, dismissing whatever she thinks I might say. “A few of my friends died, the ones who convinced me to turn. I didn’t know what I was, what I was doing, how tobe. And your ancestor found me in the holding cell, saw my teeth when they snapped out upon smelling her blood, and do you know what she did?”

I swallow, knowing whatever it is my kin did in the past isn’t benefiting me at this moment. “No,” I whisper as she waits for my reply with a raised brow.

“She laughed. And then she left.”

I sigh slowly, not sure if she wants me to reply. Searching her eyes, I wonder if she expects an apology.

“So, I did what I do best. I survived. It took me days to break through a wall, and by then I was so gripped by the thirst, I fell upon my ruined friends like a beast starved.” She grabs my chin, forcing me to meet her eyes. “I licked their blood off the ground, drank from their severed necks, swore blood oaths to those who could never claim my loyalty. Alone with my new body, my only company were those who turned me and were left like carrion. Because of Jane.”

Victoria is breathing hard, her fingertips holding my face tight, and her teeth are sharpened points, turning this woman wearing goddamn slippers into the thing that will take me out.

I’m almost too relieved to fight my way out of it.

Slowing herself, she takes one giant deep breath and steps backward three measured paces. Smoothing her hair down with one hand, her eyes are locked onto my pulse point, and I try to slouch down farther into my hoodie.

“I’m not going to kill you.”

“Why not?” I ask, my heart racing. “I—I understand the feeling. You didn’t deserve that—”

“I’ll give you the same courtesy she gave me.” When she eyes the hinges on the door of my cell, I hold my breath. “She didn’t kill me, but she sure as hell didn’t show me mercy.” She launches herself forward, breaking the door right off the hinges.

She’s gone, and I’m off the bed, running into the bathroom as fast as I can and slamming it shut. It won’t be long until they come.

20

ROMAN

EARLIER

I’m watchingGwyn eat her dinner on the monitors when I get the notification that Margot has pulled into the parking garage. It’s rare that I’ve had a moment alone the past week to watch her without someone—Margot—having some dumb shit to say. So I’ve been taking advantage of it, and as long as I don’t think about why, it’s been…nice.

I’ve noticed Gwyn doesn’t like her food to touch, and she eats things in counterclockwise order. It fascinates me. She’s on the mashed potatoes now, after finishing the green beans, and she always leaves the meat for last—if she eats it at all.

Two days ago, she told Nico that the chicken tasted “too chickeny.” Whatever the fuck that means.

She tucks a strand of loose hair behind her ear and stifles a yawn. I can tell it’s exhausting, but she’s done everything as agreed upon when I made that goddamn stupid fucking deal. Hasn’t put up a fuss, has been willing to let my blood sworns drink from her, and she’s even been kind to some of them. I can tell it takes Nico by surprise.

Though she hasn’t been perfect. She told Emile to eat glass when he popped his head in one night. I’m lucky I didn’t have to intervene because I was laughing my ass off after the shock passed.

When Margot’s key turns in the door, I stand, peeling my eyes from the monitors as I carefully put weight on my bad leg. It’s not as bad as I’d expected. The silver was in my skin for so long before Margot came to retrieve me, it’s impeded my healing. I’m lucky the firefighters didn’t find me in the trees while I was knocked out. Nico is convinced I’ll be back to normal by the end of the night, and judging by the improvement in the last few hours, he might be right. When Margot walks inside, she leans back against her door and closes her eyes. She looks haggard as fuck, and it’s not like her, so I give her a minute to relax.