Page 31 of Caller of Crows

Sven didn't dare to risk going upstairs to check, so he turned his steps away from the stairwell and into a different hallway, one that seemed deserted and less… club-like.

His heart was hammering in his chest as he made his way toward a door. When he tried the handle, the door opened.

Sven peered through the doorway, but the room appeared to be some sort of supply room.

Not a way out.

He closed the door and turned back toward the other end of the hallway, but at the corner, he ran straight into someone.

It was a tall vampire, wearing a black leather jacket and a dark shirt, a pair of sunglasses covering his eyes.

"Hey there," the vampire drawled. "Aren't you supposed to be locked up?"

Sven's breath caught. "Uhm…"

"You're Altair's new chew toy, right?" the vampire asked, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Can't say I'm surprised. You do look like his type."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Sven lied, his mind racing. He had no idea how he could explain why he wasn't where he was supposed to be.

But the vampire wasn't deterred. "Oh, don't play coy with me. I can smell your blood." The vampire sniffed the air between them, then licked his lips. "You're not just a pretty face, are you?"

Sven stumbled back, but the vampire followed him.

"Don't touch me!" Sven warned.

"You smell delicious."

"I'm not on the menu."

The vampire laughed. "I wouldn't be so sure about that." He moved closer, grabbing Sven's arm and twisting it painfully.

Sven gasped as his knees buckled, and he found himself kneeling on the floor in front of the vampire.

The vampire leaned over him, his fangs bared.

"Don't worry, I'll make it quick," the vampire whispered, his lips close to Sven's ear.

"Fuck you."

The vampire's grip on his arm tightened, and Sven bit his lower lip to keep from crying out.

"That's the spirit." The vampire's lips curled into a smile. "Maybe you'll be more fun to play with than I thought."

He released Sven's arm and grabbed his hair instead, jerking his head back to expose his throat.

"I'll show you just how much fun I can be," Sven said, gritting his teeth against the pain.

"That's right. Give me a good show."

The vampire lowered his head, and Sven waited for the bite.

Instead, a hand appeared, grabbing the vampire's shoulder and wrenching him away from Sven.

The tall vampire snarled, and Sven saw his fangs glint in the light.

"Get your hands off my mortal," a familiar voice growled.

Sven's gaze darted toward the source of the voice and found Altair looming behind the tall vampire. Altair's eyes were dark with anger, his posture radiating danger.