Gideon hovered outside the Shadow Pack’s compound, invisible to human—and werewolf—eyes. He had dissolved into mist on leaving Kay, had followed her and the werewolves when they left the hotel. A taxi had awaited the four of them at the curb. It had been easy to stow away in the trunk.

The cab had stopped a short time later at a local airport, where Kay’s father had ushered her and the others into a private plane. Victor and his father, both silent on the ride to the airport, remained subdued as Kay’s father took the controls and taxied down the runway.

It had been an odd experience, taking to the air in a plane when he wasn’t in corporeal form. The flight from Vegas to a small landing strip outside the Pack’s compound had taken little more than an hour. He had stowed away in the trunk of the waiting car, only to be jerked out of it when the car passed through the gate in the fence. Someone—Kay’s father, no doubt—had rescinded Gideon’s invitation, rendering it impossible for him to cross the fence line.

A minor setback. He had more pressing needs at the moment; namely, to obtain something to wear. And something to eat. Not necessarily in that order.

When he returned, he would open the mind link between himself and Kay and let her know he was nearby.

And God help Russell Alissano if the man laid so much as a finger on Kay again.

Kay felt like a condemned felon as her father escorted her to one of the tiny rooms in the basement. They were little more than cells, really, a place where he confined new wolves who were having difficulty making the transition, or wolves who wantonly disobeyed pack rules. She supposed she fit the latter category.

Sitting on the narrow cot, with her knees drawn up to her chin, she stared at the wall. She had been locked up three times in a remarkably short period—first by Verah, then by Victor, and now by her father—and she was getting mighty damn sick of it. She was on her honeymoon, for crying out loud. She should be with Gideon, not locked up like a common criminal.

She growled low in her throat when she recalled the way Victor had looked at her, as if she was some kind of whore. Where did he get off judging her when he had kidnapped her? She frowned, certain he wouldn’t have dared such a thing without her father’s approval. And just as certain that her father had given it.

As if conjured by the thought, the door opened and her father stepped into the room.

One look at his face, and she went cold all over. She had only seen that expression once before, when he had sentenced a rogue werewolf to death.

He closed the door behind him. “We need to talk.”

Those four words always meant bad news. Unable to help herself, she began to tremble.

“You have defied me at every turn. You have humiliated me in front of our people, and what’s worse, in front of the Green Mountain Pack.”

She stared at him, her mouth dry, her palms damp. She would have been less frightened if he had slapped her or yelled at her. Anything would be better than his soft words, the quiet menace in his eyes.

“You ran away with that bloodsucker, and then you shamed yourself, and me, by sleeping with him.”

“We … we’re …” She took a deep breath; then, hoping the truth would make him think better of her, she said, “We’re married.”

“I guess you’ve forgotten that marriages performed outside the pack aren’t valid. In nine days, the moon will be full. You will wed Victor at that time.”

Gathering her courage, she said, “Father, I’m begging you, please don’t make me do this.”

He squared his shoulders, his hands clenching at his sides, his expression implacable. He wasn’t her father now, but her Alpha. “If you openly defy me again, Kiya Marie, I will have no choice but to sentence you to death. Do you understand?”

She nodded, unable to speak past the thick lump in her throat.

“I have rescinded the vampire’s invitation. He will no longer be able to enter the compound or any of the houses inside the fence. Nor will anyone else be able to invite him in. If I see him again, I will destroy him.” He fixed her with a hard stare. “I am aware of his ability to communicate with you telepathically. If he contacts you, you will tell me immediately. Is that clear?”

Kay bit down on her lower lip.

“Is that clear?” the Alpha repeated, his warning as sharp and clear as glass.

She nodded. It was hard to lie while meeting her Alpha’s gaze, but Kay knew she would die before she betrayed Gideon into her father’s hands.

* * *

Chapter 27

Verah glared at the Alpha’s son. “I gave you the information you desired. Alissano has the girl. Now, let me go.”

Victor shook his head. “Not yet.”

“What more do you want from me?” she asked impatiently.

“I find I rather like having a witch at my disposal. I have plans for the future and it occurs to me that, with your help, I’ll be able to achieve them much faster.”

“And if I refuse, will you threaten my familiar again?” She shook her head. “You can only play that card so many times.”

He scowled. She was smarter than he gave her credit for. “Perhaps we can strike a deal.”

“What do you have to offer?”

“What do you want?”

She held out her bound hands. “My freedom.”

Victor made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “What else?”

“I need the vampire that accompanies the girl.” She was addicted to his blood, not only the vile taste of it, but its effect on her health and outward appearance. Vanity might be a sin, but she didn’t care. She had always been proud of her fine, clear skin, her thick pale blond hair, the slender figure that growing old had stolen from her.

Victor frowned. “What possible use can you have for a bloodsucker?”

“My reasons are my own.” And they grew more urgent with every passing day. “I need the girl for bait.”

“That’s why you broke into the house?” Victor exclaimed. “You were looking for Kiya?”

Verah nodded. “If I have the girl, I’ll have the vampire, as well.” And she needed him desperately. She didn’t have to see her reflection in a mirror to know that she was growing older, more feeble, more hideous, with every passing day. Her ugliness was evident in the revulsion in the boy’s eyes every time he looked at her.

Victor frowned thoughtfully, then nodded. “Agreed, but with one condition.”

“I’m listening.”

“Once you have the vampire, I want you to kill the girl.”

“My pleasure.”

Victor grinned. “There’s just one other condition. The girl must live long enough to give me an heir. Until then, you’ll remain here.”

“No!” she shrieked. “I need the bloodsucker now!”

“That’s my deal, witch. Take it or leave it.”

She hissed at him, but in the end, she knew she had no other choice. Forcing a smile, she said, “I’ll take it.”

“Make that two conditions,” Victor decided.

“What else do you want?” She hissed the words at him.

“Tell me why you need the vampire.”

“I need his blood.”

“Very funny,” he muttered, then frowned thoughtfully. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

She didn’t answer, just glared at him.

With a shake of his head, the Alpha’s son left the basement.

“You’ll rue the day you were born,” Verah murmured. “When I am free, you will curse the man who spawned you and the woman who gave you life.”

* * *

Chapter 28

Kay sat on the edge of her bed, staring at nothing. She was, for all intents and purposes, a prisoner in her own home. She wasn’t allowed to leave the house. There was a guard outside her bedroom window, and another at her door. She was never alone, except in her room. She supposed she should be grateful her father hadn’t left her in the dungeon, but at a time like this, it was hard to summon any feelings of gratitude.

At her father’s request, Victor had moved into the house. If her father hoped that spending more time in Victor’s company would make her care for him, he had been badly mistaken. The more she saw him, the more she despised him. He was a vain and selfish man. And he was hiding something; she was sure of it. Why couldn’t her father see that?

Not only was she forced to endure Victor’s company at mealtimes, but her father insisted she remain downstairs on those nights when he called the pack together, whether it was for a movie night or to discuss pack business.

Victor, who had always been arrogant, grew more so with every passing day. And the days leading up to her wedding were passing far too quickly.

She had never been more miserable in her whole life, not even when she’d been locked up in Verah’s basement.

She spoke only when spoken to. On the few occasions when she was given a choice, she opted to stay in her bedroom, preferring her own company to that of her parents, members of the pack, and most especially Victor Rinaldi. The thought of being his wife, of having to bear him a child, made her physically ill. She longed for someone to talk to, a girlfriend she could confide in. For the first time, she realized she had no close friends within the pack. And even as she wondered why, she knew it was because she was the Alpha’s daughter and that her standing placed an invisible gulf between her and everyone else.

The only bright spot in her life came late at night, when Gideon opened the blood bond between them and spoke to her mind, promising her that, somehow, he would get her safely away, assuring her that he loved her, would always love her.

But the days hurried by, one after another, and all too soon, eight days had passed. She was in tears when Gideon opened the link between them the night before she was to marry Victor.

He didn’t have to ask what was wrong. We still have time, he said.

She shook her head. I’m to be married tomorrow afternoon.

Gideon swore a vile oath. He should have expected that her father would arrange for the wedding to take place during the day, thereby assuring that Gideon couldn’t crash the wedding and steal the bride. Hardly necessary, since Alissano had revoked his invitation. Damn the man.