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“I hope he can see this,” Amaliya said, and gave Heather the finger. There was no way she was going to let The Summoner get her grandmother. She had to go.

With Heather standing guard over them, they quickly dressed. Cian handed Amaliya a David Bowie t-shirt. She shrugged it on and tied it at her waist. Her bloodied boots would have to do. Cian changed quickly into a black shirt and jeans and pulled on sturdy combat boots. His hair was now past his shoulders and his goatee looked a little scraggly. He was looking more and more her type all the time, she thought.

“Let's go,” Heather ordered.

“Where are we going?” Amaliya demanded.

“A ghost town,” Heather answered and waved them to the door.

“Great, just great,” Amaliya muttered. Her luck, as usual, was in the pits.

“Where?” Cian slid his mouse over the mouse pad to awaken the computer.

Heather blinked, looking confused. “I can get us there. ”

“Where?” His voice was firm.

“Fenton,” she answered. “He says to come now. ”

“I want to see how far away that is,” Cian answered her in a authoritative voice.

Amaliya was confused at first, then realized Cian wanted to know how far away they were going to be out of the city. They were restricted by the night and if they escaped, they would need to know if they had time to make it back to Austin or make another plan altogether.

Cian typed into the Google search and watched the map pop up. “Okay. Let's go. ”

Heather waved the gun at them. “You're wasting time on purpose. He says you're stalling thinking Roberto isn't with him. But he is. I shot him and gave him to The Summoner. ”

“Fine. Then take us to Roberto,” Cian said in a cold voice.

Cian took her hand as they slipped out his door. His touch was surprisingly calming. Her fingers tightened on his they walked into the elevator.

***

Jeff felt uncomfortable barging into a vampire's lair. Hunters only tracked their

prey by day. Entering a vampire's lair at night was suicide. But after a day of arguing and planning, Samantha was determined to give Cian one last chance to see the truth. She had been unshakable in her belief that he was a good guy and needed to just see the light. Jeff wasn't sure coming to the apartment was the wise thing. He would have preferred neutral ground.

In his short time knowing Samantha, he realized she had a will of steel. So here they were, outside of Cian's apartment with Samantha banging on the door.

“Maybe they're out,” Jeff said after a minute.

“I have a key, but if they are doing something, I don't want to walk in on them,” she snapped at him with her face screwed up with disgust.

“Do you really think they're-” He stopped at the look on her face. “Sorry. ”

Samantha hesitated, then began rummaging in her big purse. “I cannot believe that I'm scared of going into my own fiancé's apartment because of some stupid bloodsucking whore!”

Jeff turned away to suppress his laugh. She was really cute when she was upset, but he did feel bad for her. He knew it had become increasingly clear to her the last few days that she really didn't know her fiancé as well as she thought.

“Are you laughing at me?” Samantha pouted and smacked him, her keys jingling in her hand.

“No,” he said somberly. “Let's go in and talk to Cian. But there is a good chance Amaliya won't leave. ”

“Then we stake her tomorrow,” Samantha said firmly. “Besides, aren't you supposed to yell at him for having another vampire in the city?”

“Something like that,” Jeff agreed.

Samantha entered the alarm code and unlocked the door. Thrusting it open, she stomped inside. “Cian, it's me. Where are you? We need to talk. ”