CHAPTER ONE

TEREZA

 

“Tonight, you and me are living dangerously.” Arms up, Jenny tossed her waist-length blonde hair back and shimmied around the living room, slipping on the area rug as it slid across the wooden floor under her socked foot. 

One wildly swinging hip crashed into an end table, sending a vase full of flowers wobbling. Jenny overcorrected her balance and fell onto the couch, almost squashing her long-suffering cat. Fortunately, poor Goliath had been through this before, and the black cat fled before he was crushed. Everyone around Jenny lived dangerously when she danced.

Tereza held in her sigh as she caught and righted the vase. Nightclubs were not her thing, but if she didn’t go Jenny wouldn’t either, and how often could she turn down her best friend’s entreaties to live a little? When Tereza had refused to go out last week, Jenny had relented for a movie night at home. It was Tereza’s turn to give in.

“All right. I’ll go with you. But only for a couple of hours.”

“I can’t wait for you to meet Vaaaaaalooooo,” Jenny sang — as badly as she danced — and the screeched, drawn out name sent Goliath scrambling from the room.

Jenny had been raving about her new man all week, since they’d met at a coffee shop. She popped to her feet, unashamed of her fall, and undeterred from dancing. She sashayed toward the hallway. “And he’s got friends!”  

That was not better, but it was hard to resist Jenny’s sheer exuberance. Tereza allowed herself to be made up and stuffed into a little black dress that was a bit too short, matched with stiletto heels that were more than a bit too tall.

The dimly lit club was packed. A crush of bodies gyrated to the rhythmic, pulsing music that rang like a hammer on her skull. She was hardly through the door before she was looking for a reason to leave. 

A headache coming on? A sudden need to organize her closet? 

“There he is!” Jenny gushed.

Hopes of an easy escape poofed as Jenny waved at someone and plowed through the crowd, Tereza in tow by an unrelenting grip on her wrist. 

Two men stood beside a booth. They were tall and broad-shouldered, with raven-black hair, chiseled cheekbones, and sharp black eyes that watched their approach. Their skin had an unnaturally smooth alabaster hue.

Tereza didn’t find them hot in the least. Icy magic welled inside her, urging her to get far away. She frantically tried to stuff her magic back down. If the men knew what she was, she would wish for death long before they were through with her.

Because they weren’t men. They were vampires.

“Valo!” Jenny practically leapt into his arms for a kiss. He obliged her, but his eyes stayed on Tereza. 

Awkward.

Jenny didn’t notice. Valo murmured something in her ear, and she relaxed against him. He handed her off to his friend, and watched Tereza all night. When she went to the bathroom. When she maneuvered away from him in the booth. Every inch she scooted away, he took back. 

“Tereza.” Valo infused every syllable with lust. He was a snake studying his prey with hypnotizing eyes. “Tell us about yourself.”

Compulsion inched into her as he spoke. She had to go along with it without letting his power control her. If he knew she could resist him, he’d know she wasn’t human. 

With the way he kept touching her, it was a miracle he hadn’t already figured that out. She was grateful the Fae glamour she’d learned to use was holding up.

Even knowing what Valo was doing, it was difficult to focus on anything but his eyes. Her mind felt distant, almost dull. He leaned into her personal space, eyeing her neck. 

His nostrils flared, and he exchanged a look with his friend. Had she buried her magic deep enough, fast enough? Could he smell it? His kind and hunted her kind back home.

Out! Get the hell out! 

There was no ignoring her instincts that time. The vampire might not know exactly what she was, but he suspected something. 

Tereza attempted a drunken titter and lurched out of the booth. “We need to visit the little girls’ room.” She slurred her words and reached for Jenny, but her friend’s eyes were vague and unfocused. She was thoroughly enthralled.

Valo’s lips curled in a cold smil that flashed fangs at her, and slid out of the booth. “Take care of Jenny,” he said to his friend. “I’ll see to Tereza.”

See to her sounded bad. She backed away, plunging into the crowd. What could she do? Anyone she asked for help would just end up compelled. Humans had no defense.

There! A fire exit! That would make an alarm go off. The noise would make it harder for Valo to use his compulsion. She hit the door and slammed down the handle. 

No alarm went off, but the door swung open, sending her stumbling into an alley. Her sweaty hands slipped off the bar, and the door slammed shut. No handle on this side. She’d have to go around to the front to get Jenny out.

After Valo’s oppressive presence, the chilly temperature was a relief. Her head cleared as she gulped fresh winter air. 

She broke into a run toward the street, cursing the high heels with every step. A glance back revealed only shadows. When she faced forward again, Valo was right in front of her. 

She dodged to one side, but he was fast. Too fast. He grabbed her upper arm, one hand squeezing tight to bring her to a stop.

“Leaving so soon?” Valo stroked her cheek with a cold, clammy fingertip. His nails, perfectly groomed before, were now claws digging into her skin. 

Tereza waited for her doom. She wished with all her might for her father’s magic to come out. It never had, and normally she didn’t miss it, but this one time, it would really help! 

Iele froze when caught. Procilici fought to the death — typically to the death of their enemies.

Valo tucked some hair behind her ear and slid his fingertips down her neck. She struggled to break free. He only smiled and gripped her harder. 

His hand curled around her nape, pulling her close as his head tilted. A glint of red rimmed his black irises. The look of a hunter, eager to play. 

That’s what did it. She remembered her human self-defense lessons, and rammed a knee into his groin, then twisted her wrist free. 

As he doubled over, Tereza stumbled away, heading for the street. She still had to get Jenny out of here. 

A prickling sensation where Valo had grabbed her nape told her she was anything but free. More like a fox released just long enough to make for a better chase. His eyes had promised as much. 

Had Jenny told him where they lived? Probably. They’d have to get out of that house.

“Hey baby, join the party!” A friendly drunk grabbed her arm and pulled her along with his friends.

She went willingly as Valo’s eyes bored into her back. A police car rolled by, and she nearly screamed for help. But what would she say? 

A vampire wants to drain me of blood because I’m a fairy. You can’t talk to him. Don’t even look at him, or he’ll make you forget.

They’d probably arrest her, not him. Hello, padded room.

Tereza flashed her hand stamp at the doorman and re-entered the club. She had to hurry. Valo wouldn’t be out of commission for long. 

Jenny sat alone in the booth, slumped against the leather seat back. Too still and too pale. Tereza knew before she reached the table and looked into lifeless eyes that her friend was dead. 

Rage and sadness welled up in her. Why had they killed her? It made no sense. Poor Jenny who loved life so much hadn’t deserved to die so young.

Eyes hot with unshed tears, heart heavy with grief, Tereza exited the club and jumped in her car. In less than an hour, she’d withdrawn as much cash as her cards would allow, packed a few things into a suitcase, Goliath into his cat carrier, and hit the road. 

She headed west, toward a place she’d heard of but never been, that she hoped would provide sanctuary.