2. Lorna

When I came out of my self-induced coma, I was in a completely different room. The cement walls and solid metal door reassured me I hadn't escaped my prison. But I did have a bed—rough canvas stretched across a metal frame that was bolted to the floor—and a toilet and sink. No blankets. No pillows.

More importantly, I had no memory of how I got here. I swung my legs over the edge of the cot, and my bare feet hit the cold concrete.

"They took my fricking shoes," I grumbled. "What the hell?"

Speaking only made me realize I was really thirsty. I wanted water, not blood. Although, if good old Conrad sent a vampire to check on me, I'd probably settle for some blood.

I shook my head and rubbed my palms over my face. I was losing my mind. But at least I took the time I needed to quarantine my dhampir. I'd even taken the extra effort to completely seal her in a box rather than just giving her a compartment like Mallory or Gale. No matter what my dhampir thought, she couldn't lose control around these guys.

"I'm glad to see you're awake." Conrad's disembodied voice startled me.

My eyes darted around the tiny room only to confirm I was still alone. He obviously had a camera stashed somewhere along with a speaker. I wondered if the sound worked both ways.

"We need to establish some ground rules, dhampir," he continued. "Your room is outfitted with vents capable of filling your cell with gas. If you attack any of my people, you'll be put to sleep. If you attack them a second time, a more potent toxin will be used. If you attack them again, I'll kill you."

Now I knew how I got in my new cell. He must have had the same system running in the old cell, probably around the light fixture. I looked up at the light on my ceiling and flipped up my middle finger.

"Charming," Conrad drawled, confirming my suspicions. "You will do a blood exchange with me and awaken your magic. You will forget any thoughts of escape. The fae believe you're dead. So does Nathan Kaerne's pathetic excuse for a clan. No one is coming for you."

I glared at the light fixture for several seconds, making sure the bastard had every opportunity to see my hatred for him. Then I dropped my head into my hands while silent tears rolled down my face.

Yesterday I'd thought I lost everything. Today proved I had no idea what I really had. If Nathan's group really believed I was dead, no one else would come looking for me. My parents would have no idea where to begin. I wouldn't want them to risk their lives, anyway. Maxwell had already washed his hands of me.

Besides, even if Nathan thought I was alive, would he really look for me? If my suspicions about Kenrid were true, then the clan's part in this nightmare was over. I was truly alone with a monster who would force me to awaken my magic and then cage me while he used it.

Loneliness gripped my heart and squeezed as hard as it could. I didn't care that it stole my breath or burned my throat. It didn't matter anymore. Conrad wasn't giving me the option to be a partner or even a lover. He made it sound like we jumped right to blood slave.

No matter how strong I thought I was, I couldn't live like that. I wouldn't be that person … that animal. I shuddered and lay back down on the cot.

"Don't move from your bed," Jared's voice said from the speaker above me. "I'm bringing you food and water."

Could I jump on him when he opened the door? Or try to entrance him? My eyes drifted to the light on the ceiling. Was someone always watching? Maybe not, but they definitely would be when I had visitors. Maybe it'd be best to give them a false sense of security and lure them into thinking I was docile, then attack. I didn't want to waste my three chances on a plan that wouldn't work, so I needed to be smart about it. I'd wait.

When the door opened, I met Jared's gaze but didn't move. He set a brown bag on the floor along with several bottles of water. He paused with just his head in the door, watching me with the same longing he'd had earlier. I'd definitely be able to use him if only I could gain a little trust.

"Thank you," I whispered.

He smiled at me and closed the door.

I counted to three hundred before I got up and collected my meal. It looked like a ham sandwich with a bag of plain chips. Not much, but certainly better than nothing. The bottles of water were very welcome. I chugged the first one down, barely taking a breath, then quickly ate my meal. I put the garbage back in the bag and set it by the door.

It satisfied my hunger but only reminded me of the last meal I had with Kenrid, the one he'd cooked. Tears stung my eyes again. I didn't want to believe that he betrayed me. He'd said he'd been exiled by his people and tried to become the complete opposite of them. But he'd said a lot of things, and I'd started to trust him, especially after Maxwell confirmed that the fae couldn't lie. Had Kenrid danced around the lies, though?

I didn't know, and my heart really didn't want to accept it. The connection between us felt so very real. I sighed and started pacing my room.

I wasn't good at doing nothing. Boredom would drive me crazy, but it wasn't like there was a whole lot I could do. I had nothing in the cell with me, so I started an exercise plan. I'd be in kickass shape if nothing else.

What I guessed was several hours later, Jared brought me another meal. It wasn't enough. One sandwich barely kept my hunger at bay. We went through the same process as last time, including my quiet thank you at the end. I did a round of aerobics before washing in the sink—without soap—and falling asleep on my cot.

Three meals later—because that was my only way of counting time—Conrad's voice came over the speaker instead of Jared's.

"I'm coming in," Conrad said. "Do not move from the bed. If you so much as twitch in the wrong direction, my men will fill your room with toxins."

I sat on the cot I had grown to hate. It was hard, unforgiving, and sucked without a pillow. It was also beginning to stink. I needed a shower, which meant my cot needed one too. Now wasn't the time to think about my bed. I needed to keep my urges under control. This would be the first test of my dhampir's prison. A surge of sadness stabbed at me. I'd caged her the same way this man caged me.

It's for our own good,I told her. Our only chance of survival is to stay strong and stay away from him.

I don't know why I tried to talk to her. It wasn't like she could hear me, right? The sadness deepened, sharpening the pain in my chest. I sucked in a shallow breath and tried to push it aside. I'd think about it later.

The door opened, and Conrad entered with another man. Conrad's orange chocolate scent greeted me, but his was the only one. I could deal with just one vampire. I recognized my hunger, but it was nothing more than an acknowledgment.

My other visitor eyed me warily with dull gray eyes set deep beneath his bushy eyebrows. A full beard and mustache, the same color as his thick brown hair, covered the lower half of his face. He drew in a deep breath and took a step closer. I didn't move from my spot while the enormous man loomed over me.

"All I smell is fae," the new guy said. "And a little human."

"You're certain?" Conrad asked, not taking his eyes from me.

"Yep. I remember the dhampir, Conrad."

"Jared!" Conrad called over his shoulder.

The door opened again, and Jared stepped inside. He smiled at me, and I softened my scowl just long enough for him to see.

"Bring two more," Conrad commanded. "Have the last two waiting by the door."

Two male vampires joined Jared a moment later. Too many secondary smells mingled with the chocolate. I couldn't even distinguish the orange anymore. The box I'd sealed my dhampir in rattled, and hunger churned in my stomach, but I kept my expression neutral. I refused to show this asshole anything.

"I'm telling you, Conrad. She ain't dhampir," the bearded stranger said. "No way she'd be able to sit there all calm like that with four vampires in the room."

"The rest," Conrad growled.

Two females entered my room next, forcing the others closer. The smell of vampire blood thickened the air. My hunger turned into an intense need, a longing that threatened to break free, but I refused to let it go. I refused to let them see my dhampir. If I could convince this stranger I wasn't what they thought, maybe Conrad would let me go.

The bearded guy walked over and knelt in front of me. I drew in a breath, inhaling his scent. Pine and cloves diluted the chocolate, suppressing my hunger. Barely.

"You got a name, beautiful?" he asked.

While caging my dhampir—however long ago that was—I'd decided on a name for my new persona. I couldn't be Lorna or Mallory or even Gale while I was here. This place would kill all of them if I didn't find a way to protect them. So, I would be her until I left this place.

"D'laej," I replied.

He smiled at me and rose to his feet. "She ain't dhampir. Demon maybe, but not dhampir."

"She is no demon," Conrad spat. "Demons don't procreate, and you know it. Everyone out!"

The bearded guy winked at me and followed the others out of the room. Everyone but Conrad. He lifted a finger and pointed it at me. Before my eyes, his fingernail grew into a long, sharp claw.

"Fight this all you like, D'laej. I will have your magic, or you will die. There is no escape."

He pierced his forearm and dragged the pointed nail from his wrist up to his elbow. Blood pooled along the cut, and his fruity chocolate scent hit me like a fricking truck. This was worse than a room full of vampires. My hunger surged forward. The familiar feel of my fangs ached in my mouth. My dhampir's box rattled even louder than before.

I lay down on my hard ass bed and turned my back to him. I couldn't let him see me react. I refused to become what he wanted. I'd fight him until the very end. The door slammed a few seconds later, but the smell of his blood didn't leave with him.

I rolled over and nearly fell off the bed. He'd left a puddle of blood on the floor, a temptation to draw out my dhampir. Evil bastard. I didn't even get a sandwich this time.

I swallowed hard and dropped my head between my knees. What was the best way to get rid of it without implicating myself? I tried to think, but his blood called to me. My dhampir pounded on the walls of her cage, but I couldn't give in. I wouldn't.

What would a normal human do? What would my sister do? She'd puke her guts up over the sight of a little blood. Then she'd continue to throw up while she made her husband clean it.

Okay, I could do this. I still had a half bottle of water. Once it was empty, I could refill it in the sink and clean up the messy temptation on my floor. I could also bitch up a storm about nasty uncivilized animals. I tipped my head back and glared up at the camera.

"Who the hell leaves a puddle of blood on the floor?" I screamed at whoever was watching me. "You disgusting pig! Didn't your mother ever teach you manners? I don't even have a rag to clean that shit."

I muttered several curses under my breath and dumped water on the bane of my existence. I refilled the bottle several times in my little sink and washed the blood down the small drain in the floor. Another wave of sadness crashed over me. I suspected it was my dhampir. Maybe if I ever got out of this, she and I would find a compromise.