“You're not the only one who wants my head on a pike at the moment. Take a number and get in line.”

“Flopping down in the chair I had been seating in only moments ago, I put my elbows on my knees and dropped my head into my hands. What a fucking mess!“Women.” A heavy voice sighed from above me. “Who understands them?”

“Fan-fucking-tastic. Not only were Jo and Trixie in danger from this master vampire, but Trixie's beleif in my prickishness was fading fast.Priorities. I need to focus on getting Jo free of Chester permanently while protecting Trixie from any backlash from the master vampire. I could always prove to her later that I was a dick.”

“You're mine, vampire, from here until the end. You are mine.”

“I didn't mean it to sound so challenging, but I needed to try to reassure my friend. Gritting my teeth, I tried to think of some way to placate Gideon. It was as if I was standing in quicksand, the earth slipping away from my feet the more I spoke. A smart man would keep his mouth shut. I wasn't always a smart man.”

“You cannot leave me. The world would never survive my wrath.”

“We’ll find a way,” I whispered. “I always do.”Danaus leaned forward and brushed a kiss against my temple, sending a wave of peace deepinto the marrow of my bones, helping to ease some of the pain. “And then we’ll kill each other asGod intended.”