It is my duty to obey, to give my body and blood to a vampire master until he no longer has use for me.

There is no escape.

Nowhere to run.

Follow the rules or die.

I don’t want to die.

Twenty-two years of conditioning has crafted the perfect poison—a weapon my enemies won’t see coming. I’ll break her, train her, and use her to take down everyone who stands in my way.

She’s alluring.

She’s perfect.

And she’s mine.

—

“Darius,” I breathed as darkness dimmed the stars. Some part of me knew we were heading down a dangerous path. I struggled to emerge enough to warn him, to beg him…

“D…” My mouth felt dryer than it should. Heavy. I tried to lick my lips but couldn’t move my tongue.

Everything felt so much cooler than moments ago.

Numb.

Darius.

Midnight consumed my vision as I blinked into a starless night.

So alone.

I always expected to die…

I never expected to want to live.

Until today.

Until Darius inspired hope.

Another cruel Vampire joke.

I should have known—