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Silas cleared his throat, and Dad turned, revealing a beaten and bloodied Tabitha on the table. I couldn’t hold back my gasp.

“No worries, Mon Cher. This is Tabitha. She is a psychic that will be available should something go wrong with the experiment. If not, you have a first meal ready and waiting.” He turned to me, and his golden eyes danced like the flames of his fire. “You will do as I say.”

A rush of wind disturbed the air, and my father was between us.

“What are you doing?” he asked. “That’s my daughter. Tabitha is the experiment.”

“Shut up and do your job,” Silas hissed, and Dad stepped aside and over to the machine.

“Tabitha and I have met,” I said, glancing at her. She seemed dazed, and I assumed she, too, was under his powers of suggestion. If he’d fed from her, he may have her telekinetic abilities now as well. But how to let the others know? “She’s a telekinetic from MorningStar. Was it difficult to break her out?” I asked.

Silas stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. I held my breath so I wouldn’t move away.

“Don’t fear, Mon Cher. I was careful, and no one knew I was there. I’ve learned much over the years when it comes to stealth. And I do so enjoy the adrenaline of the hunt. Now be a dear and get on the machine by your father. I am anxious to finish here. I have plans for us.”

I walked slowly to the slanted platform, making eye contact with Lydia. “Good morning, Lydia,” I said, invoking Julian’s cue as I climbed on as slowly as believably possible and leaned back for my father to strap my ankles, waist, and wrists.

To my horror, Dad reached for my belt and yanked it off, tossing it to the ground so he could secure the waist restraint tightly. I needed access to that—and where was Julian? My pulse pounded as I lay helpless, wondering how I’d thought this was a good idea.

“What’s that do?” I asked nodding toward the strange machine with the tubes in the corner that Dad had been glamoured to forget.

“That is going to be your new home if all goes as planned,” Silas said easily from my side, brushing my hair back as Dad lifted the helmet.

“What?” I asked, smile dropping from my face.

“You will be given transfusions from one side to keep you alive, and the other will collect bags of your blood in between my feedings so I can store a backup supply.” Silas motioned for my father to hand him the helmet.

“You’ll keep me forever in…that?” I asked, unable to hide my horror as I pictured an eternity of isolation and madness.

“I’ll take you out as a reward when I feed on you, likely daily for the first decade or so. But otherwise, I’m afraid you are most useful to me in there. It’s amazing, really. How did you manage to block my glamour, Cheri?” Silas took the helmet and leaned down over me as my heart tried to free itself from our bonds. “And why ever would you still agree to get on the platform?”

I searched around the room for help. Surely the others would portal in at any moment.

“You are looking for your friends?” Silas asked, peering over his shoulder then back again. “Did you imagine I wouldn’t have safeties in place? I know all about your sister’s abilities. Your father has shared everything with me. He helped me secure the lab so no portals can open inside.” He tutted as he raised the helmet and peered beneath. “Oh, and you are probably waiting for your lover as well.”

“Julian,” Silas called so loud I winced.

Julian strode in through the front door and over to us. Lydia stood and rushed toward him, but before I could register what had happened, Julian held her above the ground by the throat. Her feet scrabbled for purchase as the sounds of cracking bones filled the air.

“No!” I screamed. “Julian stop!”

But he’d already dropped her broken body on the ground at his feet where she lay motionless, head at an angle that was very wrong. I looked into his indigo eyes and searched for any sign of the man I knew.

“Julian shared everything with me last night, Mon Cher. I had eyes in place, and he was spotted feeding in the village. I’m sorry you had to learn the hard way that a sire bond is stronger than any other. But you’ll experience it soon yourself.” Silas opened his mouth larger than he should have been able to and three-inch fangs descended so close I could smell the metallic tang of his last meal. He leaned toward me, and I fought against my bonds, trying to move my head and make his target more difficult. But just as the tips of his teeth grazed my skin, he halted for a long moment then pulled back.

“As much as I wish to turn you myself, the promise of such delicious pain and betrayal from the hands of your lover is irresistible—almost poetic. And how lovely for him to watch you suffer at his own hand. I’ve been trying to teach him for centuries that he has no humanity left, and perhaps this is the lesson that will get through that thick head of hair.” Silas reached over and knocked on Julian’s skull.

“You won’t do this. You won’t get away with it,” I said, again struggling against the bonds I’d foolishly allowed to be fastened.

Silas turned to my father. “Go prepare the transfusion chamber.” He looked back to me as he raised the helmet above my head. “I do hope this works. It would be such a crime if after all this time I wasted your death.”

Why hadn’t Pythia tried to warn me? Her words from my dream last night stirred in my memory. She’d be unavailable after using so much energy to answer my stupid questions.

Then he set it on my head, the needles sliding through the skin as it snapped back magnetically to the platform. I screamed as he reached over to flick a lever that sent a jolt of energy through my brain so strong that my body began to convulse. It was MorningStar all over again, but worse. The sharp sounds of pounding broke through the sizzling in my head. It was my friends trying to get through the door. It had to be.

Hurry!

“Julian,” Silas said, watching me with glee. “It’s finally time to turn your mate. And don’t’ make it comfortable.”