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“Am I the captain, or are you?”

Phoebe laughed and turned Damon toward her for a kiss. “You’ll do well to remember, sweetheart, never to argue with a woman who has more facts than you do.”

“I seem to remember thinking the same thing about Viktor. Well, not the woman part, the other part.” Damon laughed. “It will be as you command, ma’am.”

All was well with Phoebe now. This man completed her more than any person she’d ever known. But she was troubled. She could feel the tension in Damon even during their happiest moments. Something was wrong. She’d bet a week’s wages that problem was Viktor.

Epilogue

Viktor’s heart raced. Sweat soaked his body. He had to have blood. Preferably with a female of his own species to supply it, but at this point, he’d take what he could get. He knew theBlack Starwas worried about how to rid Phoebe and Diamond of their unwanted brain implants, but he had problems of his own just now. If he didn’t get what he needed soon, he’d take it. By force. No one on this ship could stop him if it came to that. If he didn’t give in to his baser nature soon, he’d lose all sanity, and that nature would take over forever. If that happened, the entire crew was at risk. Viktor would kill them all in his need for blood. He only hoped it wasn’t already too late.

He stumbled into his quarters and locked the door. His head spun, and he pressed his fists against his temples and roared his frustration, need, and desperation.

“So, what does a vampire do when he can’t get blood or sex, hmm?”

The female voice was deep, husky, and had the most exotic accent Viktor had ever heard. When he turned around, he knew he’d found his salvation.

Or maybe his damnation.