Jason's back hit the alleyway's filthy wall as Felix threw him out of the club's service entrance. His ass and half of his legs got drenched as he landed in a puddle of dirty water. It had rained earlier that day. Just his luck. Jason groaned while stumbling to his feet. Halfway through, he gasped as a burning pain flashed across his back.

Fucking vampire!

Leaning back against the wall, Jason rubbed his sore throat. The ass snuck into the club and nabbed Jason while he rested. After that, he dragged Jason out of the club so fast that his head was still spinning. However, his pain and suffering did nothing to halt the vampire onslaught. Yet again, he screamed out a broken cry when the fucker's fang sunk into his neck.

Not again.

The taste of iron filled Jason's mouth as the vampire continued to drain him; but seconds later, another vampire ripped Felix away from him.

Jason's legs buckled, and his head tilted forward into something hard. He tried lifting his head, but the wound on his neck screamed out in protest. Warm blood continued spurting out of his neck, causing Jason to slip in and out of consciousness. Suddenly, a tongue glided over his wound and then the pain disappeared.

"Delicious," said his savior. Was he, though?

A muscular arm wrapped around his waist. Jason opened his eyes and peaked over the shoulder of the person holding him steady to see several vampires surrounding him. His throbbing heart trampled the air out of his lungs. He pushed back and fell back against the wall and slid down until his ass met the wet concrete floor.

Why did this happen to him again? Just as he started to live again. It wasn't fair. What did he do to deserve this? Jason used the remaining strength he had and glanced up at the person standing in front of him. He had to fight down a gasp as he stared into the eyes of a gorgeous man. Yet a dangerous motherfucker at that. His dominating aura alone made Jason shiver up a storm.

The ageless god's silvery eyes pieced into his soul. The man kneeled before him, grinning sinisterly. "Well met, young man. My name is Alaric. What's yours?"

Jason gulped down his answer, too scared to answer. His eyes darted over to the club's side door, praying silently for a miracle.

Where's Ishmael and Astrid when you need them?

The tall, handsome man twisted his head toward Jason's gaze. "No one's coming to rescue you. If they do, they'll die." His threat flowed like silk down his ears. If Jason wasn't facing death in the eyes, he would have thought that the man had a sexy voice. However, it didn't. It only made his intestines twist in knots.

Fuck!

Jason didn't want that. He didn't want the only people he cared for to die on his behalf. Jason quickly withdrew his previous prayers and hoped that no one was foolish enough to stumble into his mess. The stranger was here for him and him alone. But what did the vampire want from a dying man? Jason couldn't offer them anything other than a quick meal. Well, half a meal. Felix, who lay sprawled out against the dumpster, nearly drained him of all his blood.

"I asked you a question," Alaric said, flipping from a charming gentleman to a vicious predator. A cold, strong hand gripped Jason by the jaw and lifted him up against the wall until Jason dangled an inch from the ground. "I won't repeat my question. What is your fucking name?"

Alaric's talons dug into his flesh, while the pressure from his grip threatened to shatter Jason's jaw.

"It's Jason!" he yelped out.

A smirk spread across Alaric's flawless face. "Was that so difficult?"

Jason wanted to whip back with a snippy remark, but the pressure on his jaw acted as a painful deterrent.

"Felix! Get your worthless hide off the ground," Alaric shouted at the crumbled mess of bones over at the dumpster.

"Yes, master," Felix replied. In a blink of an eye, the bloodsucker stood before him. A trail of dried blood clung to the right side of his mouth.

"Let's head out before Ishmael gets suspicious. I'd rather avoid an unnecessary confrontation," Alaric told him.

The black-haired vampire ushered all of his fellow vampires to evacuate the alleyway before he returned to his master. Leaving only a limo behind, two black SUVs drove off.

"Master, Ishmael won't let this one go without a fight." Felix stared at Jason with unquenched hunger in his red eyes. "What are we going to do with the warlock?"

Alaric turned his gaze onto Jason. "I'll explain to him that I'll be lending this young man for the foreseeable future. If my plans come to fruition, Ishmael will see him again. If not, I'll write him a check for his loss."

Are you fucking kidding me? He wasn't an object they could use and abuse as they saw fit. Even if Jason's life was heading for the crapper, he still wanted to live the rest of his days without this sort of shit messing up the time that he had left. Was it too much to ask?

"Just let me go!" Jason said with clenched teeth. The vampire still had him in a death grip. "I'm no use to you."

Alaric laughed and said, "Oh, that's where you're wrong, my dear pet. Soon you'll find out what I have planned for you. And if you survive, I'll even let you off your leash to visit your friends."

Survive? What the fuck? Dread pooled in the pit of Jason's stomach, but that soon took a backseat when Alaric threw him into Felix's arms. Jason tried to wiggle out of the fucker's grasp, but his weakened body refused to cooperate.

"Keep still, you little shit, before I break your neck."

To Jason, his threats sounded like a better option than a bunch of vampires dragging him off to gods-know-where. He didn't want to end up as another sick experiment. Jason would rather die a quick death and on his own terms.

He planted the ball of his foot on the vampire's toes and then elbowed him in the face. Miraculously, Jason ripped free from his captor. His freedom lasted only for a couple of steps before Felix grabbed him by the hair and yanked him back toward the limo.

Jason landed on the bonnet of the limo. The vampire bashed his head into the cold steel, causing Jason's vision to blur. "Try that again and you'll wish you were never born," said Felix.

"Enough!" Alaric shouted. "Touch another hair on his body, Felix, and I'll end your miserable life. I didn't wait centuries for someone like him," Alaric pointed to Jason, "only for you to fuck it up! Now let's get going."

Alaric walked over to the limo's door. His bodyguard opened the door for him, and he climbed in. Felix huffed and then yanked the struggling Jason to the opened car door and pushed him in.

"Lay there and keep your mouth shut," Felix told Jason, kicking his legs.

The limo's door slammed shut, and then a few seconds later the car lunged forward, speeding off into the night. Jason lay on the limo's floor, defeated, staring out of the skylight. He couldn't move, even if he wanted to. His body began to shiver at the blood loss, not to mention he didn't have a coat on. The city's street lights periodically bathed the limo in an orange glow. Jason stole a quick glance at his captors, who both stared back at him. He quickly lowered his head away from them and closed his eyes.

***

An hour later, the limo pulled into a driveway. Then it drove on for another five minutes before the limo swerved in a half circle before it came to a stop. The sound of running water filled Jason's ears, accompanied by voices. The car doors opened up. Without warning, Felix grabbed Jason by the leg and pulled him out of the car. Jason's face hit the gravel. Stones dug into his face, leaving marks on his pale skin.

"Get the fuck up," Felix shouted, kicking Jason's leg a second time.

Jason, who got fed up with the stupid vampire, aimed for the cunt's junk and planted his feet into them with as much force as he could muster. Felix dropped to the ground, yelling at the top of his lungs.

Gotcha Asshole!

Just as Jason wanted to revel in his triumph, Felix flitted toward him and grabbed him by the neck. "You fucki—"

In mere seconds, when Felix lifted his claws to strike Jason across the face, he disappeared in a flurry. A shriek filled the air before the vampire dropped to the ground. His black eyes stared back at Jason, lifeless. Jason's eyes whipped to Alaric. In his clutches, he held onto Felix's heart. Jason clamped his hand over his mouth, stopping him from emptying his stomach. Jason never saw someone get killed before.

Jason scrambled away from Alaric as the vampire approached him. Alaric discarded the heart next to its owner before kneeling in front of Jason. "Get this meat sack out of my sight." He watched on as two bodyguards stepped forward and dragged Felix's body out of sight. "Now... That is what will happen if you disobey my orders. Do you get me?" He reached over and grabbed Jason's chin with his bloody hand. The metallic smell of blood invaded Jason's nostrils, causing him to flinch.

Alaric huffed and then walked off. Jason shrieked when two sets of hands grabbed him and dragged him along. Soon Jason's eyes fell on an old manor covered in red ivy and stark bricks. They walked up a flight of stairs until they entered a grand foyer with twin stairs on either side of the room. A round table stood in the center with an impressive bouquet of flowers. Overhead a massive crystal chandelier hung from the gold-covered ceiling three stories high.

Goddess, have mercy!

Jason continued gawking at the sheer opulence of the place, failing to see that they had company. A burn flashed across his face as Jason hit the floor with a force. He slit across the foyer, ending when his back hit the wall. Jason's jaw crunched as he screamed out in agony. His eyes started tearing up, but when Jason wiped away what he thought were tears, it turned out to be blood. Alaric broke his freakin jaw. Jason tried to open his left eye, but a stabbing pain cracked across his skull. Jason squirmed against the wall, rocking back and forth while holding his throbbing jaw.

A single slap. It took a single slap to cause this amount of damage. Jason whimpered as his only remaining eyes searched for a safe space to crawl into. He wanted to get away as far as possible as he could. Jason stumbled to his feet, but tripped and hit his forehead on the marbled floor. Another crunch announced he had broken his nose. Jason cried out and curled into a pathetic ball. His head pounded painfully to the rhythm of his beating heart.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Alaric?" A female's voice filled the foyer. "You just killed Felix for trying to hurt this young man and now you nearly ended his life with a simple slap."

"Well, the pathetic human should have thought about that before he ignored my calls." Alaric walked over to Jason. His silvery eyes had turned red. Jason tugged deeper into his knees, avoiding another punch or kick from maiming his face any further.

"Get a grip, Alaric. You nearly destroyed decades of planning with your own hand. If this one dies, our plan dies with him."

Jason couldn't help but chuckle weakly. But that bit him in the rear when another bolt of pain crippled his body.

"What's so funny, human?" Alaric asked, with disdain laced in his voice.

Jason wanted to spoil their evening by telling them he was already dying, but he couldn't speak. He just remained still and covered his broken face with his arms.

"Didn't think so... Ludwick!"

A pair of boots stomped into the foyer, accompanied by a graveled voice. "Yes, Master! How may I be of assistance tonight?"

"Take this... human to the dungeons and leave him there for tonight. Don't heal his injuries." Alaric's decision earned a scoff from his female companion. "It will be his punishment for ignoring me and costing me one of my most loyal men."

A pair of boots approached Jason. "Come here, little one. Let's be off."