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“Definitely.”

“Then why don’t they come in here?” I ask. “Wait, is it like the movies, do you need an invitation?”

He scoffs. “No. I’ve warded this building with my blood.”

I turn my head so fast my neck cracks. “Huh?”

“Only Blood Dragonis can enter this building. My blood marks every door, every window, and that goes double for your apartment. If I could bar everyone but myself, I would, but there is no ward for that. At least, not one I’ve been able to find.”

“That’s why Theo could get to me?”

He growls low in his throat, more animal than anything else. “Yes,” he grates. “But no other house can cross this threshold. They would’ve come for you in droves if it weren’t for the wards.”

“Jeez.” I scoot closer to him. “Vampire politics?”

“Power. You’re the key to Gregor’s grand plan—his scientist and his leverage over Juno. Take you out, and the entire thing topples.”

“Makes sense in a horrible sort of way.” I shrug.

He scans the street again.

“We have to go.” I bump him with my elbow. “Come on.”

He turns me to face him. “There are vampires out there. I don’t know what houses, but we can assume they aren’t friendly. If I say run, you run. Understand? I can fight them off, but if they get their claws in you—” His fangs lengthen.

“I’ll run. Not a problem. Happy to run as fast as I can.”

“Let’s go.” He pushes through the doors, and I follow.

The air is still and muggy, nothing stirring on the dark street. It seems longer now, the White House impossibly far away.

Valen takes my hand and walks quickly, his long stride spurring me to jog here and there just to keep up.

“Anything?” I whisper.

He squeezes my hand harder and pulls me along, his gaze sweeping the street.

By the time we get to the first intersection, I’m sprinting.

“Is there someone—” I gasp when Valen wraps his arm around my waist and swings me to his front.

A shadow sweeps low to our left, the deep sound of swooping wings rushing through the humid air.

Valen spins, keeping me at his back and pinning me to the front of a building. “Get ready to run,” his voice is rougher now, almost monstrous.

I look around, my eyes prying at every shadow, but I see nothing. “Where is it?”

In the next moment, Valen is gone. I’m so startled my mouth drops open. I take a tentative step sideways, scooting toward the street. He told me to get ready to run, but did he say run? I don’t know. He disappeared, and maybe he said it?

“Shit.” I swear under my breath and turn the corner, hurrying along the sidewalk. I want to call his name, but I don’t dare. Still, I search for any sign of movement. Nothing. There’s no one here but m—I scream as something slams into me, and then I shoot into the air, my stomach dropping into my toes. It steals my breath, the sheer speed at which I’m rising, and when I look down, the tops of the buildings are far below me.

“He’s been hiding you this whole time.” The man tsks. “But then, he’s always been selfish.”

“Coal!” Valen bellows from the roof below us.

I’m too scared to move, to do anything but dangle helplessly as the creature holding me moves gently up and down, the whoosh of his wings stirring my hair.

“She’s pretty,” he calls. “Smells good too.”