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“You’rewhat?” Cassian demands.

“I went in for a round of shots,” Hunter croaks, tears streaming from his eyes.

“Where?”

“I don’t know.” He sinks to the ground and drops his head into his hands. “Somewhere in Mexico.”

“Do you think they used him as a guinea pig for Sophia’s experimental sterilizer?”

“Sounds like it.” Cassian frowns down at Hunter. “For not being involved, you sound pretty involved.”

“Please,” the man begs, his voice ragged. “I don’t want any trouble. I tried to get away from this vampire stuff as much as possible.”

“It’s too late. You’re already up to your neck in trouble,” Cassian says. “But the good news is you have a chance to change teams. I don’t know how much you know about this ‘vampirestuff,’ but when you’re changed, you get adopted into a house. I’m the head of your house, which means I’m your patriarch. Your boss. Yourliege. Defy me, and I will get rid of you.” He smiles. “And by that, I mean I’ll kill you.”

“I don’t want to defy you,” Hunter says, suddenly sounding exhausted. “What do you need from me?”

“I want more info about this sterilizer—who made it, where you got it. But right now, you’re going to show us properties.” Cassian offers to help Hunter off the ground.

The man stares at the vampire prince’s hand in disbelief. Resigned to his fate, he finally accepts the help. “You’re actually looking to buy property?”

Cassian turns to the decrepit old farmhouse. “Yes, but I don’t think this is it.” Then he smiles at Hunter like he didn’t just about choke the life out of him. “What else do you have?”

4

I walkinto my house at half-past five, exhausted. We’re home later than expected, and I missed my afternoon dose of blood. I feel edgy and ravenous, even though I had a rare steak for lunch.

Noah’s not here yet, but he texted a few minutes ago and said he’s on his way.

I head toward the kitchen, and Cassian follows behind me.

“You know what I just realized?” I say. “We still don’t know who Ethan’s original contact was—the person who told him about Sophia. Before he met her, before he met Alfred, he must have had an acquaintance who was entrenched in all this.”

Cassian sits on a barstool, rests his elbows on the counter, and places his chin on his steepled hands. “You’re right. We should probably figure that out.”

I open the fridge and reach for my prescription blood. “It sounds like Alfred’s house is the one Sophia was involved with, though. But if that’s true, why would Sophia talk about them in front of Larissa?”

“Maybe Larissa and Alfred broke up?” Cassian muses. “But no. Sophia said it wasn’t the Staulington line.”

“No offense, Cassian, but Sophia’s moral compass is slightly skewed.” I close the fridge and join him at the counter. “It’s possible she was lying.”

“I won’t argue with that, but Jameson is a good friend. If he were trying to destroy me, I think I’d at least know why.”

“I don’t suppose you had an affair with his wife or something dramatic like that?”

“Only once.”

“What?” I nearly fumble the bottle.

“Of course I didn’t,” he scoffs. “Jameson and I are fine. Though I might call him later and see if he’s heard anything about all this.”

I nod absently, holding the prescription bottle up to the light.

“Why are you scowling at your blood?” he asks.

“It’s almost empty. I didn’t realize I was so low.”

“Do you have a full dose?”