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Cassandra’s face flushed in humiliation at being caught so out of sorts. She scrambled to her feet and frantically dusted off her gown. Perhaps this gentleman would offer her aid if she could convince him she wasn’t cracked.

Just as she was about to curtsy, she glanced up at the stranger. Mortification turned to terror as he stepped out into the meager light of the gas lamp.

Clayton bared his fangs.

He laughed at her cry of dismay. “Well, Lady Rosslyn, how fortuitous to encounter you here. Is Villar nearby?” Before she could open her mouth, Clayton shook his head and grinned. “Do not bother with a pretty fabrication. I can sense that he is not.”

She turned to run, but another vampire materialized before her, blocking her escape.

“Ooh, she’s a pretty one, by Jove.” He reached for her with thick, sausage-like fingers.

Clayton pulled her back. “She’s not for you, Hamish.”

“Aw, but I could have a bit o’ fun with her,” Hamish grumbled petulantly.

Clayton sighed in exaggerated weariness. “What makes you think I’d give you another plaything after you allowed the last one to slip away?”

Cassandra’s horror escalated at the exchange. Good Lord, what sorts of monsters are they? Do they make a habit of kidnapping women regularly?

“But this one’s nothing but a frail human female! What can she do?”

She gasped at the implication. Had these vampires been responsible for Lenore’s disappearance? If they were, the vampire had escaped…so where was she now?

The thought broke as another vampire slunk out of the fog with such a sickening leer that Cassandra unconsciously shrank back against Clayton.

There was something off about those two vampires. Something alien and unfamiliar.

Cassandra blinked as she realized why. These vampires had not been in attendance when Rafe had presented her to his people. She was certain of that. Her exceptional memory had never failed her.

That meeting had been mandatory for all of his people to attend. Which meant that these two hulking blood-drinkers were not Rafe’s people. They must be the rogues that he and Anthony had been hunting. Rogues who were working with Clayton and doubtless had been responsible for Lenore’s disappearance. Was the poor vampire even alive?

“Tell me, Lady Rosslyn.” Clayton trailed his fingers down her arm. “How did you come to be out here alone in the perilous night? Did you escape Villar?”

Cringing at his loathsome touch, she nodded, unable to see a benefit in lying. “He intended to kill me.”

“Well, at least he is at last doing something right,” her captor remarked agreeably. Then his voice darkened. “Unfortunately, I cannot have that at this point.”

The oafish one called Hamish strode forward, his porcine nose practically wriggling. “What are you going to do with her, my lord?”

The other one remained still and continued to stare, as if he were striving to perceive how she would appear without skin.

Clayton gripped her shoulders with bruising force. “We will take her to the warehouse and call a meeting. I must make an example of her. As the new Lord of London, I will show my subjects what happens to those who endanger my people.”

“I have not endangered anyone!” Cassandra protested. Where in God’s name did this accursed lout get such a ludicrous idea?

The vampire paid her no heed and tugged her forward. The rogues followed behind. Dread filled her every pore. She never should have left Rafe. With him, death would have been far more merciful.

Her heart cried out for him as she was dragged along. Did he even know she was gone? Or was he still in the library with Anthony and Elizabeth, discussing battle plans? Somehow, she doubted that very much…not if he truly had put some manner of preternatural Mark on her.

The thought brought on an idea. Feeling somewhat foolish, Cassandra closed her eyes and focused on Rafe, calling his name silently. Immediately a faint, warm buzz crept into her head. She could almost smell his cigars.

Shocked, Cassandra gasped and stumbled at the force of her connection with Rafael.

Clayton jerked her up before she fell.

“Damn clumsy human,” he snarled and lightly cuffed her on the side of her face.

She flinched but did not cry out. The stinging pain was completely obliterated by a blooming rose of hope.