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“I can’t imagine the bond that exists between sisters, even two such as you, so different. Not even the same sire or dame.” Gregor stares down at us, sending a chill through me.

“What do you want?” I wrap my arms around Juno, protecting her the only way I can.

“The same thing you want.” He drops to his haunches with liquid grace, no joints popping, no exhalation of breath. It’s uncanny. So much so that my hackles rise. “The cure.”

“I’m trying.”

“Are you trying hard enough?” He cocks his head to the side, his pupils barely pinpricks. “You’ve been given two samples already. But Valen and Theo tell me you’ve gotten no results. Perhaps your sister has misplaced her faith in you. Or perhaps the humans you’re working with aren’t up to the task. Easily replaceable, down to the very last one.” His sharp gaze cuts to Juno. “And you,Madame President—” the words drip with derision, “—are not moving fast enough on the camps.”

“We’ve already built?—”

“Ah-ah.” His dark brows draw together. “I didn’t say you could speak.” He sighs. “Theo.”

The blond comes around and backhands her so quickly that I can’t even react to stop him. The force of the hit jars me, and Juno’s head knocks into my shoulder.

“No!” I scream. “Juno.”

“I’m all right.” Her lip is split, blood dribbling down her chin.

“Don’t you fucking touch her!” I scream at the blond. He only grins, a leering smile that makes hatred erupt in my heart.

Juno wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “I’m—we’re working on the camps. Next week, the first one in LA will open.”

“It was supposed to openthisweek.” Gregor snarls, his eyes flashing with the eerie yellow of cats and nocturnal animals.

I recoil, trying to pull Juno farther from him, but I run into Valen. He’s standing right behind us, a wall hemming us in. When I look up, he doesn’t meet my gaze. If anything, he appears disinterested.

“Next week. I swear. And then New York. We’re close. It’s just hard with the shortages and?—”

“I don’t want your excuses. In fact, you already know what I want and what will happen if I don’t get it.” Gregor rises with the same ease as before, as if his joints are nothing but air or oil. “As for your sister, well … if she can’t deliver a cure, then she will become expendable like all the rest of you. In fact,” his mouth ticks as if he’s trying to smile, “if she fails to deliver within six months’ time, I’ll bring her here and make her my special pet.”

Valen shifts behind me, his movement almost imperceptible.

“No,” Juno gasps.

“Do you have any idea how long I can keep a human alive? I’ve tried over the years with particular pets. Keeping them just on the verge of death for years, withering away, but still alive enough for me to feed. It’s an art form, really. My favorite medium, painting in the transience of human lives.”

I’m frozen with fear, with a complete lack of understanding of anything that’s happening. My heartbeat thunders in my ears, my legs finally waking up from the sedative as I pull Juno even closer to me, wrapping myself around her.

“And you.” Gregor’s gaze lifts to Valen. “You, who told me you would handle this, would ensure the cure was found.” He sneers, the viciousness in his words echoed by the mask of disdain on his face. “And where are we? Hmm? Closer?”

“The scientists?—”

Gregor moves so quickly I barely register it.

Turning, I see Valen’s gone. Gregor has him pinned to the wall far behind us. My hands shake, my body and mind rebelling at what I’m seeing. It’s impossible.

Gregor seethes at him in a language I don’t know, but I get the gist. Especially when Gregor rears back and slashes his face, Valen’s blood welling as Gregor chokes him.

“I won’t let them hurt you. I won’t.” Juno shudders and clings to me.

“You have no say in this, in anything.” Gregor is in front of us again, lecturing Juno airily as if he hadn’t just maimed someone and moved faster than humanly possible. “Perhaps your sister isn’t as gifted as you believe. If that’s the case, I’ll keep her here and bring in someone else to do her work. Not that I need more leverage over you, of course.” He clucks his tongue. “But I will enjoy breaking her while you watch. Something to keep you motivated to live up to our arrangement.” He examines the blood on his long fingernails and flicks it away, the droplets spraying across the floor.

Valen has returned to his spot behind me. I don’t dare look at him, at the damage.

“Until then, here’s a little reminder.” Gregor glances toward the doors.

They open and the gargoyles drag another figure in. Horror twists in my gut as I recognize the gray hair, the pink skirt suit. “Candice.” One of her shoes is gone, her hair in disarray.