Maybe he’d read the expressions on her face or maybe he’d sensed her feelings through the shared chains, but whatever it was, his words calmed her down. “Right,” she whispered. And he was right. This had to be a one-step-at-a-time process.

“I was serious before. You can’t become an Ancestral just to make traveling easier on me. It would be so wrong. Once we’re done, and we get these chains off, then you can pick up your life again.”

She drew a deep breath, trying with all her heart to actually believe the words she’d just spoken.

* * *

While Lily showered, Adrien sat outside the bathroom door, his phone in hand. He’d ordered food from his favorite restaurant and now his stomach rumbled.

He’d spoken with the owner, a fine Parisian, a human actually, who had complained that Adrien had forsaken him. He was reminded that he’d had a life once upon a time, before his world had gone all to hell. He was also reminded that there were some humans he did value.

Now he had Lily.

And freedom.

Sort of.

He couldn’t believe he was out of that prison. Despite the chains and his bondage to Lily, at least he wasn’t hanging from wrought-iron chains so fat they could have dragged elephants.

He set his phone on the floor and rubbed his wrists.

He was healed up now but the memory was still there, as though the weight of the manacles lived in his mind. He thought of his brothers and it filled him with pain.

He touched the chain at his neck. Yes he was bound, but this was still much better than the cavern. He swore to himself that he would succeed in his mission with Lily so he could defeat Daniel and free them from the hell they were enduring.

“You okay?” Lily called out.

“Fine.” His head lolled back and thumped the door.

He closed his eyes and breathed, bringing his focus back to the present. The chains kept them in constant communication so that even now he knew she was worried. No doubt if she tuned into the chains, she’d sense his own sadness and loss.

“I ordered dinner,” he called back.

“Thank you,” came muffled through the door.

He reached down and turned his phone over and over. Smartphones were good, and he kept his close at hand. Always.

His thoughts turned again to rising to Ancestral level.

God help him, he would do everything in his power to keep from taking that step. He just had to figure this out. Since Lily could siphon his power, then it was possible he could work with her, strengthen her, build her up so that she could survive the next few days until they got hold of the extinction weapon and the situation was resolved.

As for altered flight, which was his primary concern, he would have to move her slowly. It would take them considerably longer to get from place to place, but he really had no other choice given her previous reactions.

However, there was one serious problem: While flying, he and Lily would be easily visible to other vampires. In such a large world, it wouldn’t normally be a problem, but he knew in his gut he was being tracked—not in an electronic sense, but through opportunistic surveillance. Needing to seek out Rumy, for instance, who knew every underworld bastard who existed, made it likely that his adversaries would stake out The Erotic Passage.

Gabriel, his longtime mentor, had also suggested he pump club patrons for information because it was a real gathering place for the dregs of vampire society. Someone was bound to know something about the weapon.

Of course the nature of the club—and the many times Adrien had taken advantage of any number of women there—set his cock in an uproar again.

Once more he leaned his head back, this time without banging on the door, and took several deep breaths.

He felt certain he’d meet up with a few assholes that needed offing, and he’d take care of business. But how the hell was he supposed to protect Lily? If she was incapacitated by the flight, or if several assailants attacked once they’d arrived, he didn’t know what he would do.

But then he’d been battling a long time, for centuries, keeping an uneasy peace all around the world, so he knew a few tricks.

He supposed that would have to be enough.

Lily.

My God.

Lily.

When she emerged from the now steam-filled bathroom, his cock stood at full attention. He rose to his feet and gave her a curt nod, at which she frowned. He pushed the door wide and said. “I need a shower.”

Wrapped up in a towel, she gave him space, stepping back as he all but shoved his way in. She barely had time to step outside when he closed the door perhaps more forcefully than he should have. He heard her slide down the door and sit outside to wait, just as he’d waited.

“I’ll make it quick,” he called out. “Dinner will be here in a few minutes.”

“Okay. But, hey, did I do something? You looked mad.”

He glanced down at his still-firm cock and rolled his eyes. “I’m in a hungry state,” he responded, willing her to understand. When she remained quiet, he added, “And not for food.”

“Oh.” Then he heard her chuckle.

He smiled. Dammit, he liked her.

He shaved quickly then showered as fast as he could so that within a handful of minutes he was back in the bedroom with her, both of them getting dressed. This time he donned his battle leathers, which could house several daggers and two different lengths of fighting chains.

Lily put on jeans and a shirt and now towel-dried her hair. She wore no makeup, and her large eyes tracked his movements as he slid daggers down the sheaths sewn into the leather, five in all. In bottleneck pockets, the shiny black tabs of the chains locked into black clasps that gave way with a tug. The short battle chains could take a man’s head off with enough strength. It was messy work, but sometimes necessary. The longer chains could wrap around and incapacitate an opponent, while a dagger finished the job.

When he’d donned a black tank, he turned to her. “You need to prepare yourself, Lily. I know in my gut this is going to get messy. Once we leave the safety of this apartment, there will be others.” He spoke for a moment about how long he’d been fighting and that he was used to killing. “And I’m sorry for what you’ll be going through as we press on.”

By now, she’d folded her arms over her chest and held her lips in a tight line. She nodded several times. “I understand, Adrien. I do. After everything that’s happened, I know this night won’t be child’s play. But thanks for warning me. I appreciate it.”

He stared at her for a long moment, once more taking her measure. Though he could sense what she was feeling, it helped even more to see the look in her eye. Though she was afraid, she also had a boatload of courage.

He heard the soft buzzing of the front door. On instinct, he held a hand up to her, very flat, a strong warning, then waved her toward him.

When she drew close, he picked up the documents from Trevayne then took her hand, walking with her in the direction of the living room. He didn’t head to the door but beelined to the office. “I need to check the security monitor,” he said in a hushed voice. “And I want to get these into the safe before we leave.”

He took care of the documents first, then went straight for his computer. He didn’t like that he had to release Lily’s hand, but he pulled up the security system and saw a familiar delivery boy, rocking to his music, as he readjusted his earbuds with his free hand, holding a large take-out bag in the other.

Adrien grabbed some euros and made for the door, Lily close on his heels.

He opened the door carefully and looked beyond the boy, but the hall was empty. He traded the money for the food and exchanged smiles.

When Adrien shut and locked the door, he breathed a sigh of relief. Lily took the bag from him and cooed. “I am so hungry, you have no idea.”

Since she turned around and headed back to the kitchen and dining room, he followed quickly. As soon as he caught a whiff of Jean-Paul’s famous roast chicken, he groaned.

Lily looked over her shoulder. “I know, right? Oh, God, let’s eat.”

* * *

Lily had finished the chicken dinner Adrien had brought in from a local restaurant and now made some notes on a pad and paper she’d taken from one of the kitchen drawers. “So we’re headed to The Erotic Passage. Where exactly is it in Italy? Como, right?”

“Lake Como, in the north.”

“It’s beautiful there, lovely hills, even mountainous in places. Lots of wealth.”

“And one extensive vampire cavern system dedicated just to Rumy’s club.”

“An entire system? As big as Trevayne?”

Adrien chuckled. “No, but big enough.”

“And do you think Rumy can help?”

“Rumy knows everything. He’s one of the hubs of our world. He’s connected to our extensive underground, and I’m not talking about our caves.”

“You mean illegal stuff?”

“Yes and much worse as well. He’s on good terms with every terrorist cell in our world.”

“You’re kidding.”

“That’s the nature of Rumy’s business, that he deals with powerful criminals of all kinds. He’s known for keeping secrets but if you need information, and if he can get it without acting against one of his other clients, then he’ll deliver. Given his clientele, though, this trip of ours won’t be a picnic.”

“Does your kind deal in drugs?”

“Mostly human, imported from your world.”

“I can’t fault you there, Adrien. That’s well-deserved censure. We have a terrible drug problem in the human world.”

Adrien frowned suddenly, placed his hands flat on the table, and looked slowly around.

“What is it?”

He met her gaze. “No, don’t be afraid. It’s just that I’m remembering something, from decades ago.” He turned toward the fireplace and frowned.

Lily followed the line of his sight and noticed an antique clock.

Also, for the first time, probably because she was rested and had a full stomach, she actually looked around at Adrien’s apartment. The room was a strong combination of modern furniture mixed with a few antiques. The dark leather couch fit Adrien well.