Page 49

“Yes, sir.” The vampire hurried back to the car.

“Adam?” Victor asked, still holding me off my feet. “Are you alright?”

“Hm?”

“My dear, are you aroused?”

“What?” I croaked through tight teeth. “No. What?” A little bit. Maybe a lot.

His smirk was worth it. “We shall explore this later.” Turning, he carried me down the steps, opened the car door, and flung me in the back, then ducked in behind me. “Did I hurt you?”

I spluttered, and rubbed my throat. “No, I’m good, just . . . scratchy.”

“We really must get your power back.” Now we were in the snug, atmospheric back of the luxury car, when he spoke, the posh lighting caught in his deadly fangs. “So we can explore your sexual preferences in finer detail.”

“Yes, that.” I coughed.

But back to the moment . . . and our plan appeared to be working. The vampires appeared to be fooled, and we’d soon be on our way.

Victor noted me checking out the other cars through the windows. “The royal guards are excellent at following orders, but less so at thinking for themselves.”

And he controlled weak-willed people like puppets on strings. “You’re so damn hot, you know that, right?”

He tugged his cuffs back in line and smoothed his hair. “I’ve had a great deal of practice.”

Mercy.

The car’s engine hummed, and the vehicle pulled away from the curb, in line with the others.

“We will arrive at the mansion in approximately forty-five minutes,” the driver said, glancing in the rear-view mirror.

“Good.” Victor acknowledged.

“Depending on traffic. We’re hitting the bridge right around Friday night peak time.”

Victor gave the driver a nod. “Acceptable.”

We watched the quaint city streets give way to a more industrial location, and then as we approached the bay, the enormous Golden Gate Bridge sparkled above the water in the distance. With any luck, we’d hit it at exactly the right time of night.

“Gideon will not wait for you to be locked behind the vampire gates. He’ll not want Daisy to hold that much sway over him. Are you prepared?” Victor asked softly.

The background drone of the car engine and the snug back seats lulled my mind into believing we were safe. But all that was about to change. “I think so.” I checked the rear window. Strings of headlights blazed back, but I couldn’t’ tell whether any of those beams came from the Love Wagon. Zee might—should be back there somewhere.

“We will only get one chance at this.”

“I know.” I faced ahead again. “But Cain won’t kill me, he needs me.”

“He needs you temporarily.” Victor scooped my hand off my thigh. “It goes without saying that I do not like this course of action, but I’ve never been able to stop you, and I do not intend to try now. Your choices are your own. The best I can do is vow to protect you with my own life, and I have no doubt Zodiac will do the same.”

“You are both stronger than you know.”

“Because of you.”

“Who knew dragon sex amplified Lost Ones talents.” I huffed a little laugh.

“I doubt anyone has survived a dragon long enough to become intimate with them.”

That was likely true.