less corridors. Her hands remained shackled, the silver biting into her skin with every move

doors, their heavy weight groaning as

moonlight to seep through. A massive canopy bed stood at the center, its sheets as black as the night sky. Intricate carvings of ancient symbols lined the

replace, his expression unrea

us," he

ent before bowing and exiting the r

was alone

ulders, forcing hers

asked, her voice steady despit

. "If I wanted you dead, I wou

of him radiated danger, but it was the way he looked at her-li

in. "Then what do

iosity, Zita Williams." His voice was smooth, almost hypnotic. "Most humans know their place. B

er fists. "I a

ear

ell to the floor with a sharp clang, leaving behind raw, reddened skin. Zita

arefully. "You will do as I say, when I say it. If y

ropped lowe

look away. "An

widened. He li

'll bre

ween them, thick with

been stolen from her home, ripped from everything she

freely, but know this, Zita-your defiance amuses me now,

ond. She needed to survive. A

small table of food had been set. Fresh bread, roasted meat,

ually, sitting on the edge

er than to trust a vampire's

eeding yourself," Ammar said,

over suspic

ever once turning her back on him. She was in the de

n silence. Then

mused, "why did you

words carefully. She couldn't trust him. But

d," she said. "Luca. I

"And you thought you

t I'd fin

lickering in his pale eyes. "And wha

the goblet in her hands. "It

tly, studying her. As if h

ing," he

e. Whatever he was thinking,

id, standing. "You'll

r w

eturned. "F

ther, he strode to the door, disa

taring at the empty sp

t she had a feeling her true b