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He dropped his hand as chuckles rose from the crowd. I remained still.

“Let’s test this, shall we?” Mordock said, spinning to soak in his followers’ adoration. “On your knees, bitch.”

I dropped to my knees, knowing I had to keep up the charade as long as possible. I had to give Julian time to take down the defenses and locate their stash of the drug.

“Now beg me to make you mine,” Mordock instructed, sauntering closer.

This was my chance to speak. But I didn’t take it yet. I didn’t trust that he couldn’t get to me before I finished my command. I swallowed hard.

“Please,” I whispered. “Take me to your bed.”

More chuckles erupted as Mordock squatted down to look at me. Had I done something wrong?

“You want me?” he asked, eyes narrowed.

“Yes,” I said without hesitation.

“Talk dirty to me,” he said. “Beg me to fuck you in front of all these people.” He spread a hand toward the circle that had closed in.

Shit. “Make me yours. I want the feel of you inside me, fangs and cock.” I couldn’t stop my body from trembling. I’d have no choice but to try and intervene if he planned to do something like that right here and now.

“Take her up to my room and secure her,” Mordock said, turning away suddenly.

Vlad lifted me to my feet and led me by the upper arm again through the parting crowd and up the steps. Lydia watched silently as she stepped aside to let us pass. I locked eyes with her, searching for some sign of the woman I knew. But my escort tugged on my arm, making me stumble as he continued up the stairs.

When we reached the top, he led me to the far end of a wide hall lined with unlit candelabras. Double doors with gold knobs opened for us, and a master suite the size of my house on the island spread out before me, the centerpiece an enormous bed covered in a burgundy duvet. The color wasn’t enough to mask the darker splotches of blood or the scent, coppery in the air. Manacles waited open, attached to the headboard. I could almost hear the phantom screams of his last meal, obviously not long gone, based on the heat that had come off of him. Thankfully, they’d removed the body at least.

As though Vlad read my mind, he threw me toward the bed and said, “We keep ‘em in the basement, so we can bring him fresh ones when he asks. He has a liking for redheads, so I reckon he’ll be pretty anxious to get up here.”

“Don’t put those on me,” I instructed as he picked up one of the heavy chains.

“Tsk tsk. Cheating, I see.”

I spun to face Mordock and the closed doors behind him.

“Say another word, and I’ll rip your throat out.” His tone darkened, a rumble coming from his chest. He circled me. “Did you somehow escape my glamour? Or are you just opposed to a little bondage? Don’t answer.”

I kept my mouth shut, spinning slowly in place with him to keep him in my sight.

“Let’s just test this out a bit further, shall we?” he asked, coming to a stop and lifting my chin with his fingertip again. “Strip for me.”

Triple shit. Godsdamn vampire has to connect blood with sex. I raised a hand to my blouse and undid the first button, which was hard with trembling fingers.

“Just a second, Pet,” Mordock set a hand on mine, stilling my progress. “Leave us.”

Vlad turned and exited the room, shutting the door behind him. Mordock pulled me to him, arm around my waist, pressing his mouth to my ear. “I don’t believe you’re pretending. Do you know why? It’s because of your fear. It’s palpable.” He inhaled loudly, tangling his other hand in my hair and pulling it partially loose from its careful pinning. “I smell it, and it arouses me like nothing else. That’s a secret I’m sharing with you, Doctor. There’s nothing that’s more of a turn-on than a beautiful woman blind with fear yet unable to resist me.”

Did he torture Lydia this way? No. She was already critically injured. He’d have had to turn her without the preamble. I pressed my eyes closed and tried to steady myself. I had to wait for Julian’s signal. I could do this.

“I’m going to bring you to orgasm. And as you succumb, I will drink my fill,” Mordock said, pushing his hardon against my stomach, “and drain you to near death while you beg for more. Only then will I turn you.”

He released me, pushing me against the bed, where I lost balance and flopped onto it backwards with a gasp.

“Let’s have some more fun first, yes?” he said, hand on my knee. “Try to run.”

I scrambled, rolling to the side and off the bed, then rushing toward the door. If I could have enough distance, maybe I didn’t have to wait for the signal…

Mordock blocked my way just as I reached for the golden handle. He grabbed my blouse and ripped it open, buttons popping off and flying across the room. “This is much better, don’t you think?” he asked, backing me toward the bed once again.