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“Oh, Mon Cher. You are my volunteer.” He leaned in, golden eyes swirling. “They’ll be the spare. After all, I’ve waited so long for you to be the one. And if it fails? I’ll simply kill you and you’ll be reborn again. I’ve learned patience, after all. Now, go get cleaned up so no one knows what happened here and forget about all of it. Then return to me in three mornings. That should give me enough time to procure the spare.”

“Okay,” I said, standing.

“Oh, Mon Cher, one more thing,”

I turned.

“Call me sire when we’re alone together. I believe I’ll enjoy hearing it from your lips.”

“Yes, sire.”

Chapter Fifteen

Bickering Friends

For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out where the day went. I hadn’t been at the vampire estate for long, as far as I recalled. I’d hoped the sleep I’d gotten would’ve helped, but I still felt lightheaded and bit wobbly on my feet as I finally settled in behind my office desk. Unfortunately, I hadn’t even started my computer when the elevator appeared and Sam stepped out.

His tawny hair was loose, his scruff as thick as ever, and his casual stance made me relax. I hadn’t realized how wound up I was from the trauma I went through in Arizona. Tears welled in my eyes at the sight of him. I was a complete and utter mess.

Sam rushed over to me and pulled me into a hug. He smelled dependable like earth.

“Hey now, what’s wrong?” he asked in his deep voice.

“I don’t know. I’m so sorry.” I pulled away and wiped at my face before sitting back down.

Sam shrugged. “You’ve been through a lot lately. I heard about Sedona—at least some of it. You get a pass. And since the vamp isn’t here for me to beat to a pulp for whatever he did, I’ve got plenty of hugs if you need them.”

“Thanks.” I smiled at him as he leaned back on the edge of the desk. “What can I do for you?”

“I wanted to know if you’ve heard any more about the bust the other night. It’s like SHADE disappeared Orpheus and wiped their hands of it.”

I frowned. “Other than him being in the brig, I haven’t, but I’ve been busy. I was hoping we’d have found something by now. We should put some pressure on Tittwell and see if he can help in finding the kids that were already moved off the island. He may have access to things I don’t.”

“I don’t trust that little rat.”

The elevator reappeared behind him, and Lydia stepped through, even paler than usual in torn, black lace tights, her heavy black boots, and a black leather corset top.

“I need to speak to you privately,” she said, glancing between me and Sam.

“Then you’ll have to wait,” Sam said, standing to his full, intimidating height. “Entitled vampires,” he whispered under his breath, knowing full well she’d hear him.

“We’re having dinner at the pub, right?” I asked her, hoping to diffuse the situation. “Surely it can wait a few hours.”

Lydia shook her head, making her choppy onyx hair bounce. “It’s a matter of life and death and…undeath.”

“You can say anything in front of Sam,” I offered. “He’s a friend.”

“He’s an alpha shifter,” she said, staring at him with unblinking eyes that softly glowed crimson.

“Yes, and a friend.”

Lydia sighed, taking a step backward. “Never mind, I’ll wait till later to speak to you in private. I…I can’t talk in front of anyone.” But the elevator had gone and not reappeared.

Well, this is awkward.

“Sam, this is Lydia. Lydia, Sam. Lydia was my assistant that was turned when my lab was destroyed. More than that, she’s my trusted friend.” I hoped explaining it to him would make him a bit less brash. I’d been wanting her back in my life for so long I didn’t want anything or anyone to ruin it.

“Ouch, I’m sorry that happened to you,” Sam said.