"Yeah, like Maximus would assign just anybody to guard his new toy, slut. Oh, and you'll have to hand feed him." Amanda laughed. "Maybe you should puree everything next time." The guard resumed her phone conversation, throwing in a few insults about my food handler.

Footsteps approached. I smelled hot bread and other yummy aromas. My stomach gurgled though my heart beat a little faster from uncertainty. I had no idea who this new person was or what they might try to do to me. I felt lips brush against my ear and almost yelped.

"Don't react when you see me," a woman whispered ever so slightly in my ear. "I'll try to get you out of here."

A ray of hope warmed my body. The woman stood and smiled, though her brow wrinkled with worry. My eyes went wide with recognition and it took an effort not to shout with excitement as I smiled back up at Felicia Nosti.

She glanced behind me, toward the door, I figured. Then she touched the strap on my arm. I waited for sweet release. But nothing happened. She touched the strap at my neck. Again nothing. The furrows in her brow deepened.

She leaned down and whispered, "I can't release them. Maximus must have bonded them to himself."

My jaw went tight with frustration. Being so close to freedom only made my bonds chafe worse. Desperation rose in me, and it was all I could do not to freak out and fight the straps, no matter how useless the effort. "Isn't there some way to get me out?" I whispered back in the same low voice.

Felicia held an empanada to my mouth. "Here, take a bite and don't take all damned night," she said aloud. She leaned down. "I'm thinking."

I bit and chewed, swallowing carefully so I didn't choke. She put a flexible straw to my mouth. I sucked cool, sweet water down my parched throat. After finishing the meal and most of the water, I felt the urgent call of nature.

"I've really got to use the bathroom," I said. "And not just a number one."

Felicia's eyes widened. "Amanda, he's got to go."

"We put adult diapers on him," the guard said back. "Tell him to go to town. We'll put him in a sleeper collar to clean him up later."

"You have got to be kidding me!" I shouted. "What kind of prison are you running here?"

Amanda burst into laughter and started telling her friend on the phone all about it.

Felicia looked at me with horror and sympathy. "I'll leave you to—uh…" she gagged, and from the look on her face, probably puked in her mouth. When she regained some composure, she leaned down. "I think if I can get a few drops of Maximus's blood, I can open the straps. Don't worry, Justin, we'll get you out of here. I promise." She glanced back in Amanda's direction. "And be careful around her. She's effed in the head."

As if anyone needed to tell me that. I briefly wondered who this "we" was, if maybe there were other vampires who were on our side, but didn't have time to ask before Felicia left. I fought the urge to pee as long as I could, anger and humiliation raging inside me. I felt like a caged, abused animal sitting in dog pound and waiting for the axe to fall. The fury within me surged to the point I could feel my inner demon seeking escape. If I didn't give in, I might try to manifest again. Given what had happened last time, I knew such a thing would only lead to strangulation.

Amanda came in, a leer on her face. She held her phone's camera toward me. "You see him?" she said. "Any minute now and he's gonna crap himself."

Repressed anger exploded. I roared. A deep guttural voice came from my mouth, speaking in the strange language I somehow understood. You will be first to die, I translated. My body thrashed. Muscles expanded. My neck pressed hard against the strap, harder and harder. But I no longer cared. I would break my bonds or die trying.

The world collapsed to a tiny circle as my brain burned through its remaining oxygen. But it felt like something was giving. Like the strap might have loosened.

The last thing I saw was Amanda laughing at me.

Chapter 12

Elyssa

"What—how did you get in here?" Elyssa asked as shock rippled through her.

Underborn gave her a lopsided smile. "May we come in before someone notices our presence? I took a considerable risk coming to you."

"You're not coming inside until you explain what the hell you want." This man was responsible for leading Justin through a gauntlet of gray men, hellhounds, and god only knew what else all so he could test his mettle. Underborn's real name was Kevin Sorensen, but he'd also posed as Mr. Turpin, an English teacher at their high school. As a former Templar, this man had survived the massacre at Thunder Rock, unbeknownst to Thomas Borathen, the leader of the ill-fated mission to apprehend Vadaemos all those years ago.

The large man pushed past Elyssa like she was nothing. Underborn followed, slipping in like a greased eel. He pulled a chair from the table in the center of the room, spun it around, and took a seat, propping his arms on the back of it. The big man leaned against a wall and crossed his arms.

"You've got a lot of nerve coming to me," Elyssa said. The desire to smack the smile off Underborn's face threatened to overcome her good sense.

The assassin held up his hands in surrender. "Believe me, Miss Borathen, I did what I did to be sure Justin was up to the task at hand. So far, he has proven himself most capable, if a bit clumsy. He took down Vadaemos." Underborn seemed genuinely impressed.

"He wasn't alone." Elyssa didn't care about credit, but Justin wasn't infallible. Nobody was.

"I know, Templar. It is Justin's ability to form the unlikeliest of alliances and forge a resolution that makes him so remarkable." Underborn scratched his head and looked at the silent, looming figure in black for a moment before continuing. "Unfortunately, it appears we have been outsmarted."

"By Maximus?"

Underborn shook his head. "By Daelissa."

Elyssa smacked a fist into her palm. "I just knew that bitch was involved somehow." She narrowed her eyes. "And what do you mean by we?"

"Naturally, I mean all of us in the collective sense."

"No." She shook her head. "I know you wanted Justin to take on Maximus. Somehow, you have a hand in this mess, don't you?" She crossed the room and looked down at him. "Did you have something to do with the kidnapping of his sister?"

A grim-lipped smile crossed the assassin's face. "I assure you I had nothing to do with that. However, it would appear the entire kidnapping was an elaborate setup."

Elyssa felt a jolt of surprise. "Ivy wasn't kidnapped?"

Underborn shook his head. "As I said, this entire fiasco has Daelissa's fingerprints all over it."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"The plan your father detailed will not result in the outcome you desire, I'm afraid."

"What do you—wait a minute, the war room's doors are sealed against magical eavesdropping. How do you know what the plan is?"

The former Templar tapped his temple. "I have my resources."

Elyssa brushed aside his reply with a wave of her hand. "Whatever. I don't care. If you have a plan to rescue Justin, I'm all for it."

"That's the spirit, young lady."

Elyssa lashed out lightning-quick toward Underborn's chair with her foot. The man was out of the chair even before her blurring kick connected with it, and watched calmly as her foot splintered the chair into kindling.

He raised an eyebrow at the ruined furniture. "I take it you don't like being patronized."

Though she was shocked at the speed with which he'd moved, Elyssa controlled her expression and gave him an even stare. "You might say that. Treat me like an equal and maybe you'll have someplace to sit next time."

She heard a chuckle from somewhere behind her and turned to see Underborn's looming companion watching the pair of them. "Who's the slab of meat you brought with you?"

Underborn flicked his fingers as if her question were unimportant. "Just some muscle."

As if the assassin needed anyone else. Elyssa had never seen someone move as fast as Underborn. "Fine. Back to my original question. What's the plan?"

"I have resources on the inside, though it took some considerable effort to put them into place. They will free Justin and lead him out. We'll meet them outside the compound and make away with him."

Elyssa crossed her arms. "That simple, huh?"

"Indeed."

She had to admit it sounded pretty simple and doable. No need to sneak in, find him, and rescue him, like she and Justin had to do for his father. Maximus had captured Justin's father, David, and used him as his own special blood reserve. Vampires considered spawn blood something of a delicacy.

Elyssa took a minute to think. Maximus's desire for spawn blood had to be twofold. First, of course, he probably enjoyed the taste. Second, the vampire was too young to turn a nom into one of his kind and most likely thought drinking enough spawn blood might enhance his ability to do so. Elyssa had no idea if Justin's blood could do such a thing or not. She figured Maximus was simply a desperate vampire grasping at straws. Until his blood aged, he'd be unable to turn anyone, and those he tried to turn would be infected with a curse. One that would turn them into a member of the walking dead, a vampling.

"When is the rescue scheduled?" Elyssa asked.

"At four in the morning. Since your father plans to begin the assault at noon, we don't have much time."

"But won't the vampires be at their strongest during the night?"

Underborn nodded. "It can't be helped. We have to get Justin out before the assault or Maximus might move him to a secret location. A place we'd never find him."

The downside to this subterfuge was relying on someone else to rescue her boyfriend. Elyssa itched to get in on the action. To make sure all went to plan. She was a dhampyr, after all. She could hide her heat signature from the vampires and pose as one.