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“We were lovers,” he said softly. I guessed he didn’t want to shatter me with the truth either.

“But—”

“That doesn’t mean I expect anything from you,” he said at once. Then he was kneeling beside me, my hand in his, and dammit if it didn’t feel right. “I simply want to make up for the mistakes of the past, if possible.”

My chest ached as he stared up at me, vulnerable, searching. I had no idea what he’d done, all I knew was that I wanted him to let it go. After all, here I was, living a life, healthy and relatively happy. This explained so much of why he had tried so hard to protect me at every turn. Yes, I could picture falling in love with him. I smiled as I gently tucked a rogue curl back into place on his head. How I wanted to run my fingers through all those silky tendrils and pull his mouth to mine.

“Whatever it was,” I said. “I forgive you.”

A sound came from the French doors, and Julian was back in his seat before I turned my head. In strode a male vampire with pale blonde hair and ice blue eyes. He wore a white suit that completely washed him out. He looked like an albino snake as he glided toward us, and despite having no aura, I immediately felt a sense of revulsion and familiarity.

“Here to take our order, Carmichael?” Julian said.

“Very amusing. I’m here to meet the new scientist.” Carmichael turned toward me, stopping inches from my chair.

I stared at him, trying to puzzle out why every hair on my arms stood on end. The strangest part was the way he similarly studied me.

“You seem familiar,” he said, fangs extended just enough to show visible points.

“Perhaps you’ve run into each other on the island,” Julian offered from his seat. His voice seemed to break the spell. “Allow me to formally introduce you. Charlotte, this is Carmichael, the Vampire Sect Liaison.”

Carmichael offered a hand. “A pleasure.”

Julian visibly tensed, but he didn’t move to intercept, so I shook. Before I could pull away, Carmichael pressed cold lips to my knuckles, barely grazing me with his teeth.

I gasped, yanking my hand away, and Julian was in front of me faster than I could blink.

“What did you do?” he asked in a growl that barely sounded human.

“Just wanted a taste. No need to fuss.”

A glance at my skin showed two thin scratches where a bit of blood seeped through. The world around me muted as a loud buzz filled my ears. The lines of scarlet blurred and doubled beneath my vision as I hyperventilated. I couldn’t stop it. It was my biggest fear come to life.

You’re safe, Char. I told myself. He barely scratched you, and you didn’t drink his blood. You aren’t dead and you aren’t undead. You’re okay.

I repeated the words to myself until my breathing evened out and the buzzing subsided. When I came back to myself, I realized I was kneeling on the marble floor and neither vamp was around. Scrambling back into the seat, I fixed my dress and smoothed back my hair. A woman came out with a platter of appetizers and placed it in front of me. She had a tight, light pink aura.

A closer look revealed long dark hair and a simple black dress that fell to her ankles. Pale skin and thin in stature, she averted her eyes and turned to leave.

“What’s your name?” I blurted out, desperate for a distraction even as I cradled my hand.

She stopped like I’d stunned her and turned back toward me. “Michelle,” she said. “Is there something else I can get you?”

“You work here?” I asked.

“I…I’m pledged,” she said and pulled back her hair.

I held back the nausea at the sight of the bite marks in her throat, purplish bruises blooming around two dark spots.

“You let them…” I tried to keep the accusation out of my voice.

Michelle straightened, letting her hair fall back over her injury. “Just one. Carmichael. And I want him to. If he judges me fit, he’ll make me like him, and he’s one of the strongest.”

Her expectant gaze was too much. I couldn’t hide the shock and disgust on my face fast enough.

“I’ll be back with your dinner later,” she said and spun on her heels. But as she reached the exit, she stopped again. “Don’t judge me. You’re mated to one of them.” And she left.

Mated to one of them?