Page 32 of Trapped for Her Blood

“While I am glad that my return to the dungeon gives me the opportunity to protect you, I did not return willingly. I was sent back here because I angered the CEO.”

“Oh.” My heart sinks a little.

He cups my face softly. “While it is true that she sent me back, had that not happened I would have found another way to protect you.”

He said she… “Is the CEO…is that the woman who Ryker—”

“Yes.”

My stomach contracts. I keep hoping those facts will change.

“What did you do to make her so angry?”

“The CEO believes that I manipulated her into capturing Ryker. And while I did not lie to her, I did let her believe that Ryker….” He shakes his head. “Everything I did was to keep you safe.”

“Safe from what? From Ryker?”

“Yes, but even more so from her.”

I shiver. “Does she know that I’m here?”

He shakes his head stiffly. “Above all else, she cannot know about you. It’s the only way to keep you safe.”

“Safe?” The word clarifies my reality.

He looks down into my eyes.

“You call this safe?” My voice breaks, and I bring my fists to my temples to keep from slamming them into his chest in frustration. “I just had a thirsty mob of vampires chasing me, and I’m under the protection of a massive bear who, for all I know might eat me!”

Axe would never hurt me, but Zuben doesn’t know that.

He hangs his head. “My plan failed badly, and for that I am profoundly sorry.”

“Thank you for apologizing, but what was your plan and what exactly are you sorry for?” As transparent as he can be, it’s clear he’s withholding something.

“I caused the pirate’s arrest,” he answers, “and yours as a consequence.”

“What?” I lean back from him. “How was our capture your fault? You were arrested too.” Even though the heat of the fire is strong against my back, I’m trembling again. “I thought we got arrested because Ryker’s a pirate. Did you lie about that?”

He shakes his head, slowly, staring at my forehead. “Ryker is a pirate and a thief. Those gold bars, theywerestolen from DEFTA.” He finally makes eye contact. “But even if that is the true reason she gave the security team, that isnotwhy the CEO had him captured and put in this dungeon.”

“What’s the real reason?” I ask.

“You,” he says bluntly. “You are the reason Ryker was arrested.”

My back stiffens. “So now it’smyfault I was captured and locked up? Why we all were?” None of this makes sense.

“No. You misunderstand.” He reaches out and takes my head in his palms, and while part of me wants to pull away, my body yields to his caress, relishing the feel of his strong warm hands on my neck and the sides of my head, his thumbs on my cheeks. “Permit me to clarify. Please.”

I nod.

“Your blood—”

I gasp. “Do you know what my blood can do?”

His eyes widen. “Do you?”

“You keep saying it’s special. I’d like to hear what you think it can do.” He likes telling people things, and I don’t want to share how Ryker could take sunlight, until I’m sure Zuben already knows.