She had to be lying. He turned to Kip. “Can you tell how long it’s been since DBs have been here?” Because of their all-blood diet, they had a subtle but unmistakable stench that resembled rotten meat.

The man shrugged. “Not in the past few months, but I don’t know beyond that. The scent would be too old even for me to detect.”

Kip’s words sent Mateo reeling. If Selena hadn’t been drained by Darkbloods here at the dakai compound, then where had it happened? He’d been to her house and hadn’t picked up the scent there either.

The woman smiled coldly as realization dawned in her eyes. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you? Think you’re strong enough to resist the temptation night after night? Day after day? Good luck with that.” She laughed, and the sound was like an ice pick, chipping away at his heart.

He loved Selena. That much was true. But was he strong enough not to hurt her tomorrow? Next year? What about ten years from now?

His phone buzzed, and he absently pulled it from his pocket, his brain trying to sort out this new information. Since learning about the Sweet-laced rum, he’d assumed Selena’s client was the one responsible for her blood turning up on the black market, but now he wasn’t so sure.

He looked at the screen. The text from Selena nearly brought him to his knees.

It was one word.

Help.