I never knew silence could be so loud. It is though. Maybe it's because I have spent the past two weeks with a human, listening to her heart thump, thump in her chest day in and day out.

It's not beating anymore. It's silent as she lays there motionless on the floor where she dropped. My venom has reached her heart.

What have I done?

The smooth metal and glass in my hand pulls my attention away from the stillness that now inhabits Kinley. This syringe is my last hope of saving her. I jab the needle into one of my pulsating black veins, ignoring the way it feels like something is trying to rip me apart from the inside.

I pull the plunger back, the barrel of the syringe filling with pure black blood instead of red. I don't have time to keep taking draws to see if red will come. In a fraction of a second, I am kneeling over Kinley, my hand over where her silent heart should be. Nothing I do now can make it worse than it already is.

"If this works, it's going to hurt like hell, human."

I stop the needle right before it can even break skin, the distinctive sound of a raging heartbeat roaring back to life halting my hand. I've never heard a heart beat so fast before. It honestly sounds like it is about to explode in her chest.

"Kinley?" I lean over her, watching for other signs of life.

Her eyes fly open and blood goes everywhere-all over me, all over her, all over the floor. She's throwing up so hard, she's having a hard time dealing with the spasms it's causing. By the time she is done, she is a trembling, fatigued mess in my arms. She doesn't even care that a spawn of Haysha is the one who is holding her.

There is so much blood that came out of her, it's like her body expelled all the tainted blood in her system. How? How is that possible?

"What happened?" Kinley asks, her head resting on my chest as she has no strength to support it.

"I almost killed you," I answer, my vocal cords tightening.

I've always enjoyed killing humans, but this time I found no pleasure in it.

"Oh." Kinley closes her eyes, seemingly enjoying the coldness of my skin against her feverish body. "You sound upset about it," she mumbles her words, too tired to speak at a normal volume.

That's because I am.

I glance down at the black in my veins. It is receding for whatever reason. I don't understand why I care. I've slaughtered more humans than I can count. Why do I care that I almost killed this one?

What I do know for sure is these black veins are caused by Kinley. They react to her, as does the thing inside me.

My mouth pulls into a deep frown. A human shouldn't have the power to cause a dark being to react to them. The laws of predator and prey are not designed as a two-way street. A lion doesn't wake up one day and question why he hunts and eats lamb just as a wolf and snake don't question their innate need to kill their prey. It is survival. It's the law of nature and the creed of my kind.

"Let's get you cleaned up." I stand, taking Kinley with me as I head to the incinerator.

I can taste her cinnamon blood on my lips. It's laced with my venom. This human in my arms can expel vampire venom as if it were a bad case of food poisoning.

Setting Kinley down, she sways forward until she falls against me. "Is this where I die?" She turns her face in the direction of the massive machine that has disposed of many of her kind for me.

She must be assuming now that I have seen her immunity I have decided to get rid of her and "clean up" was code for, you're about to die.

"No." I bite out, tearing Kinley's shirt off her because it's the fastest way. Her eagerness to end her life irks me, and my reluctance to let her infuriates me.

Once I get Kinley stripped down to her underwear, I take off my clothes too and throw them in the incinerator. They will be a pile of ash in no time.

"How are you feeling?" I ask, hoping it will give me more information to pair with what I just witnessed.

"Like I died and came back to life only to be molested by a demon."

I turn around, an old dusty blanket in hand as I stare at Kinley. I left her where she could lean against the wall while I try to find something to wrap her in. It will raise some brows if we come out of the cellar as we are.

Dorian already knows too much. The last thing I need is for my sisters or Kalista to find out the main reason I am so interested in this human.

I can keep trying to fool myself, but even if this human wasn't immune and could be compelled, I'd still be unable to leave her alone.

I don't like being out of control, and that is how Kinley Shea Rylan makes me feel-out of control and so damn thirsty.

Kinley stares back at me like she's waiting to see if her comment is going to send me over the edge and I will send her to meet her maker. That would be me then who violated our deal and not her. All she did was answer my question like I asked her to.

For a scared little thing, she sure does have some moments of bravery or stupidity depending on which way you look at it.

"Don't tempt me, human." I grab a pair of black pants from the stack I keep down here.

It's much easier when I bring bodies down here to just burn my clothes along with them than it is to try and get all the blood out of them.

"Whoa, no way." Kinley puts the breaks on when I try and lead her into the open shower down here that I carried her over to, her gaze staying glued to the red that stains the concrete by the drain.

"Yes way. I'm not having you drip blood all over the house." I hang up her blanket and my pants on the hook near by.

"Who is dripping blood? You burned our clothes so there should be no blood dripping," she shrieks, gaining a little energy back due to a burst of adrenaline hitting her system.

"You are. It's all in your hair."

I was too busy trying to keep Kinley from falling face first onto the floor to bother messing with holding her hair back when she was puking. I just let her dark curled tresses fall in the puddle of blood beneath her.

Turning the handle attached to the wall, water climbs the pipes before bursting from the showerhead. Kinley looks ready to bolt away from me as I test the water temperature. She doesn't, probably because she is too scared to. Either that or she has entered a stage of paralyzing shock from the thought of having to shower with me.

I think I like that last thought a little too much.

"Oh, no." Kinley spins around like a top when she sees me hook my thumbs into the waistband of my briefs. "You...you can go first. I'll just wait." She wraps her arms protectively around her exposed stomach.

Odd choice considering she should be more concerned about protecting her neck instead.

Kinley's body lurches forward when she feels the water droplets trickling off me fall onto the small of her back. She wasn't expecting me to get so close.

"I'm finished," I say directly into her ear.

"I'll take your word for it." She gulps, keeping her chin up and her gaze focused on the wall in front of her.

"Kinley?" Her name rolls off my tongue in a deep, drawn-out husk that almost sounds like a seductive purr.

The only way I feel I have some control is by messing with Kinley's head. She makes me feel things I shouldn't. I think it is time I return the favor so she can understand the confliction of wanting something you shouldn't.

"Y-yes?"

"I think you are going to need help getting the blood out of your hair. It can be quite tricky." Shivers coat Kinley, and it is anyone's guess if it's due to my suggestion or that I allowed my lips to graze her ear while I said it.

Next thing Kinley knows, she's under a stream of warm water with my hands and soapsuds in her hair.

The wonderment of vamp speed and supernatural strength.

Kinley coughs out the water and soap that enters her mouth when she gasps finding herself in a new predicament. She wipes at the soap going in her eyes. "I could have managed on my own."

"You're still weak. I don't need you fainting and busting your head open. Neither does Maya."

Kinley doesn't say anything; my mentioning of Maya cutting off whatever lashing her tongue was ready to give me. That's a terrible way for me to phrase that. I don't need to be thinking about Kinley's mouth when I'm naked in a shower with her in only her underwear.

"It's okay to look." A warped smile lines my face as Kinley tries exceedingly hard to keep her gaze from dropping below my neckline. It's difficult for her to do considering soapsuds keep falling into her face. It is a calculated move on my part.

"I value my eyesight." Kinley narrows her eyes at me, more determined than ever to keep her gaze locked on mine. "For all I know, seeing you undressed would make me go blind as you kissing me nearly killed me." Kinley's pupils dilate, her skin growing pale. "Wait, can seeing a demon make someone-" Kinley abruptly stops talking, the thought apparently too horrifying for her to finish.

"Want to bed them?" I take a stab at guessing where her mind must have taken her.

You can practically see the splintering of Kinley as if she were that cartoon character on those hideous sleep pants of hers.

How I wish I could compel her to look down. Her reaction would be priceless.

"Oh my gosh, it's true!" Kinley turns her back to me and wraps her arms around herself, taking my smile as confirmation. Little does she know, I'm smiling because I'm thinking of the anxiety-filled and dramatic expression she would be wearing if she did happen to drop her gaze and catch sight of me.

"That's why you keep undressing in front of me, isn't it? You are the worst kind of monster, Tristan Darkos."

"I could be much worse, believe me." I shut off the water, leaving Kinley soaking wet as I retrieve the items I placed on the hook.

"Relax, human. I'm clothed," I say as I drape the blanket around her shoulders. She's refusing to give me anything but her back.

"I don't trust you. You're a demon. You trick people."

I grab Kinley's hand and place it over me. "See, I'm covered. And, for the record, I am a vampire. Demons are different, though not by much."

She yanks her hand away from its placement over my covered crotch. "You are truly despicable." Kinley seethes, stomping her way to the stairs as she pulls the blanket tight to her body.

I try not to laugh, but damn it I do. I shouldn't be as I currently have a hard-on for a human, yet I am. I'm laughing because this whole situation is ridiculous. I've lost my damn mind. It's in hell where I should be, only I'm pretty sure hell is here where I'm lusting after a human.

"Everything all right there, Tristan?" Dorian asks when I emerge from the basement. I had to wait till my situation calmed down.

"Just another useless day searching for answers."

"This just came." Serena walks over to me holding a black envelope with a red wax seal. There is no name written on it, but it bears the Norvak crest. I don't need to open it to know it's an invitation to Kerrien and Damian's cousin's pairing ceremony.

"Why are you wet?" Serena's brow creases.

"It's a long story."

"I'll bet." Dorian chuckles to himself.

I shoot him a look that says, shut it.

"There is a pre-party at Deviant House Seven tonight. All us young vamps are invited." Serena informs me.

"Absolutely not."

"It's a little late. Sabrina accepted and said we'd all be there." Dorian stands, which causes Maya to slip off his lap. He likes to keep her there just to piss Kinley off. It's his way of taunting Kinley and reminding her of what he uses Maya for when she is not around.

"You what?" I turn sharply around to address my other sister.

"It's not like I had a choice. You know if we don't go, it will cause issues. It will be seen as us being rude. It's time to put the past in the past. It's been five centuries since-"

"Don't." I hold up my hand. "Don't ever say that name in front of me. Don't even think it."

"She's right." Kalista comes over to the living room where we all are gathered. "If we go, it will show we don't harbor ill feelings toward the Norvak. Us not going only gives them more reason to pursue the uprising they are stirring."

"Is that so, Princess?" I break into Kalista's personal space. "And who do you think is going to have to be the one to watch over your royal, pain in my ass butt? Yeah, that's me."

"Some members of the Kazimier bloodline will be there as well. The Norvak wouldn't move against us with them there."

A loud scoff erupts from me. "Assuming they are not aligned with the Norvak."

"Vaden Kazimier is a good friend and ally. He would never betray us."

"He...he being the key word. His sons may feel differently, and they are the ones who will be there, not their father."

"I tried to tell them it's probably not the best idea," Dorian says.

"Either decision we make, we are screwed. Look if we go, we can feel things out. If an uprising is going to happen, we need to know who we can and can't trust. Besides, Tristan, you and Kerrien will be the oldest ones there followed closely by Dorian. If things start to feel off, we leave." Sabrina places her hand on Kalista's shoulder. I think as a warning to Kalista to keep her mouth shut.

"Are you guys talking about a party?" Maya approaches us. "If so, I so want to go. I'm tired of being cooped up here."

Dorian puts his arm around her waist. "You hear that Tris, we already have one human to bring. We just need one more to gain entry. You know House Seven requires a certain human to vampire ratio to help keep the peace. Two virgins will be more than enough to cover all of us."

"Are you being serious right now?" My jaw tightens as I slit my eyes at Dorian.

"Maya is our meirru which means she can't be used unless you allow it and, since Kinley can't be compelled, we will lie and say she is Kalista's meirru and future chalice."

Red. I see only red and taste copious amounts of venom in my mouth.

"It's a good plan, brother." Serena extends the invitation to me.

I snatch it from her. "Good plan. No, it isn't, but I see all of you have already made up your minds. We will go for no more than two hours, and when I say I'm ready to go, we go." I stalk off to my room, slamming the door so hard the wooden frame cracks.

Kinley spins around immediately, a pair of clothes in her hands. Seeing my current state causes her to rush toward me. "Oh my gosh, Maya! Did something happen to Maya?"

Kinley puts on a brave face, but her panic makes it clear Dorian's games have gotten under her skin.

"No," I snap, pressing forward as all my muscles flex and the cords in my neck become visible. "No, human. Nothing happened to your precious Maya."

The back of Kinley's legs hit the bed. She falls down on top of it because she doesn't have a choice. I'm too close and down is the only direction for her to go.

I place my hands on either side of her and bend down so that we are eye level. "You are really starting to bother me with your incessant worry. Maya is fine, and she will stay that way as long as you mind. But, I swear on the Dark Prince, I will rip her damn heart out if you ask me one more time if something happened to Maya, or if Maya is all right, or if you can stay with Maya in her room. In fact, from this point forward, I don't want you to even utter your friend's name in my presence."

Kinley's mouth falls open on that last part. "But-"

"No but's. The only words I want to hear from your mouth until I say otherwise are yes, Tristan."

"What if-"

Point zero zero two five seconds is all it takes for me to unclasp the hook on Kinley's bra. I do it so fast she doesn't even realize I have moved until her bra falls down for I have never once taken my eyes off of hers.

I bite the inside of my cheek, drawing blood to keep from looking down. I'm too worked up, too angry at everything that is happening. Part of me just wants to end this all right now so I don't have to keep feeling this way. Yet, I can't, and that only angers me more.

Kinley shrieks loudly, my ears ringing as she kicks at me and covers herself with her arms. I catch her foot and yank her to me, which makes her fall almost onto her back.

"I said I only want to hear two words out of your mouth. So let's try this again, shall we? What are the only two words you are permitted to speak until I say otherwise?"

"Y-yes, Tr-Tristan."

"Correct. Now, because this century apparently wants to be my undoing, I need you to get dressed. We are going out tonight, all of us. I expect you to stay plastered to my side the whole evening. You will not talk to anyone. You will not make eye contact with anyone. You will keep your head down at all times, do you understand me?"

Kinley swallows hard, my current state scaring her as much as it unsettles her. "Yes...Tristan."

"Good." I stand straight. "I will send Maya in to help you get ready."

I can't get out of my room fast enough. My blood is burning so hot in me it might as well be bubbling.

I almost lost Kinley today, and now I have to protect her and Kalista in a room full of potential enemies.

My stomach tightens. I have a bad feeling about this, a very bad feeling that tonight is going to end in bloodshed.