Luckily, the bastard who had attacked me earlier—grabbing my hair and shouting insults—was the one driving, so at least I didn't have to sit next to him. Instead, I ended up beside a pale, trembling Sydney. At least she was relatively unharmed, though she was now glancing around in panic. She met my gaze, and I tried to silently reassure her, to let her know we'd find a way out of this.

In the front seat sat the attacker who had taken Dimitri down—the one I had already promised myself I'd hurt for what he did to him.

There were two captors in our car and three of them in the car we had come with. Jill, Angeline, and all the boys had been crammed into it as well. I silently prayed that Jill wouldn't have to sit next to any of the thugs.

We had just left the city when Sydney started asking questions.

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice shaking. The thug looked at her through the rearview mirror.

"Shut your mouth."

"But—"

"I said, SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!" he snapped at her. Sydney flinched and looked at me. I shook my head. I didn't want her drawing attention to herself. I wasn't going to let anyone get hurt.

As we drove, I tried to piece together everything we knew about our kidnappers. They were all human, just like most of the guards hired by Prince Drozdov. But there was something... rougher about them. The people I had seen at Drozdov's estate had a professional air about them—exuding confidence and determination. Our captors, on the other hand, looked like common thugs, with swollen faces, bruises on their bodies, and wrinkled, nondescript clothing.

Had the prince really resorted to hiring second-rate security just to catch us?

And then there was the fact that the guy holding me earlier had said he hadn't expected to capture this many of us. Either they were so disorganized that they hadn't even bothered to check how many people were currently protecting the princess, or they hadn't expected to catch all of us—including Sydney.

Or maybe... maybe they weren't Drozdov's men at all. But that was impossible. Even with our luck, there was no way we could have been kidnapped by a completely unrelated group while fleeing from another one. Right?

We turned onto a state road and then veered off into a small town. We drove straight through it before heading into a dense forest. For a brief moment, I imagined they were taking us to our own safe house—but of course, that wasn't the case.

We pulled up in front of a two-story house, completely secluded in the woods. No neighbors. No civilization. Fantastic. I'd bet anything we wouldn't have cell service here either. Sydney's constant complaints about her internet flashed through my mind, and for just a second, a weak smile tugged at my lips.

Our ever-so-charming captor shoved us roughly out of the car, gripping my shoulders even after I was already standing. I glanced at the others as they climbed out of the second vehicle, relieved to see everyone was still in one piece. Jill and Adrian looked terrified, while Eddie and Dimitri were scanning their surroundings, already searching for an escape route. Angeline, on the other hand, looked like she was about to launch herself at our captors. Their "boss" had Dimitri's arms twisted behind his back.

We didn't get much of a chance to assess the house's layout before being unceremoniously shoved through the first door near the entrance—straight into the basement.

A shiver ran down my spine as memories of Spokane surfaced, and I nearly stumbled on the stairs. My captor yanked my hair in irritation. I forced myself to focus on the present—dwelling on Mason's lifeless eyes would only drive me insane.

The basement seemed to be used for storage—boxes were scattered everywhere, rusted metal cabinets overflowed with random junk, and furniture like chairs and shelves had been stacked against the walls. There were no windows, and the only exit was the door we had just come through. Various pipes ran along the walls, their purpose unclear—gas? Water? Dimitri would probably know.

I noticed he was already analyzing the room as they started chaining us to the pipes along the walls. He and I were separated to prevent us from communicating.

"Don't worry, I'll come back for you, bitch," my captor sneered, fastening my handcuffs. He gave me a lewd look.

For a brief moment, I thought that if he even tried to touch me, I would kill him using only my legs.

"Fuck off," I growled through clenched teeth, biting back the urge to spit at him. He only grinned wider and blew me a kiss. I bared my teeth in response.

When most of the kidnappers left, only two remained, keeping an eye on Eddie and Dimitri. They watched us closely—especially Dimitri since they expected the biggest fight from him. That meant Eddie and I had a little more room to maneuver.

I just had to find a way to get us out of here.

I shifted my hands slightly within my cuffs, which unfortunately clanked loudly against the pipes. The restraints weren't giving in, but I had drawn attention to myself. One of the guards shot me a cold glare.

"Don't even try it. If I hear you messing with those again, I'll put a bullet in your head. Got it?"

I held back an eye roll. As I looked away, I caught Dimitri's pleading gaze—begging me not to get myself killed like this. I had no intention of dying, but he knew me well enough to understand I wouldn't go down without a fight. I just needed to figure out my options.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed before I finally made eye contact with Adrian. He didn't look like himself. His usual laid-back whatever attitude had been replaced with a state of constant, tense alertness. He had been watching the thugs the whole time before glancing at our group and meeting my gaze.

I flicked my eyes toward the guards, who had grown bored of staring at us. One was hunched forward, elbows resting on his knees, staring at the floor. The other was absentmindedly gazing ahead, in Dimitri's direction, but not actually focused on him.

Adrian followed my line of sight but looked confused, not understanding what I was trying to signal. I glanced between him and the guards, hoping he'd catch on. After a moment, realization dawned on his face, and he turned back toward the guards, deep in thought.

I hoped he had come to the same conclusion I had.

As I waited for Adrian to make a move, I studied my friends. Dimitri was completely focused, determined to take advantage of the first opportunity to escape. He was analyzing the two guards, and I could practically see his mind working at full speed, calculating possible exits.

Eddie had the same intensity but looked much more overwhelmed. If I had to guess, I'd say Spokane was haunting him, too. I could see it—the basement, the smell of blood, the lifeless eyes... I had to stay in the present.

Adrian stood completely still, still lost in thought. A shiver ran through me at the idea that he might not even try. But the truth was, I feared his move even more. I didn't have a better escape plan, but the thought of him getting hurt made my stomach twist.

Jill's cheeks were streaked with fresh tears as she trembled with silent sobs. My heart nearly shattered at the sight of her suffering. She was too young to endure so much trauma.

It hadn't even been three days—at least, I thought, I'd lost track of time—since I had pulled her out of one kidnapping, only for us to end up in another.

Guilt and failure burned in my chest sharper than any weapon ever could. How could I let this happen to her after she had so selflessly agreed to help Lissa? The only thing keeping me from drowning in self-loathing was the stubborn hope that I would get us out of here.

Sydney was pressed against the wall, trembling head to toe but trying not to show it. Her terrified eyes stared straight ahead with quiet defiance.

Angeline was looking down. I couldn't read her. Was she trying to figure out how to escape? Regretting leaving the Keepers? I couldn't tell, except that she looked more serious than I'd ever seen her. The wild, untamed energy in her was gone—only solemn determination remained.

We waited in silence—or rather, I waited.

I kept glancing at Adrian, but he stubbornly refused to look at me. Then, at last, he lifted his head and turned toward the guards. Something in his posture shifted. He radiated power and confidence, more than I had ever seen in him before.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice cutting through the thick silence like a gunshot.

Every head turned toward him.

The guards looked at him too—and that was what Adrian had been waiting for. He caught their gaze, locking eyes with them both. Only then, shifting his stare between them, did he continue.

"I think you should let us go."

Controlling a person through compulsion wasn't easy, though, for spirit users, it was as natural as breathing. However, forcing two people to do something at once—that was a difficult task. I held my breath, tensing my muscles, preparing for a possible escape. Everyone looked at him as if he had lost his mind.

My hopes shattered when the guards exchanged glances, not understanding the situation. One of them scoffed and shook his head but didn't bother responding. Adrian locked eyes with the other.

"Releasing us is the right decision, the only right decision," he repeated with force. The guard stared at him as if not sure whether Adrian was completely sane. Then, understanding dawned on his face—but not the dazed, compelled kind I was so desperate to see.

"You think you can force us to do anything, you stupid brat?" He stepped forward slowly, and though Adrian was visibly afraid, he didn't back down.

"You have to set us free," Adrian repeated, looking him straight in the eyes.

When the guard's fist slammed into Adrian's jaw, I realized they must have some kind of magical protection. Sydney let out a quiet scream, and Jill squeaked. I yanked against my cuffs, leaving marks on my wrists, trying desperately to break free.

"Leave him alone!" I growled, struggling forward, despite the handcuffs biting into my skin.

Adrian collapsed onto his knees, pressing his face against his shoulder. Blood dripped from his nose, and the guard didn't even glance at me—though the other one watched me closely. The one who had hit Adrian leaned down, his face inches from his.

"Try that again, and I'll snap your neck myself. I don't give a shit who you are."

Adrian nodded.

Slowly, the guard turned to me, studying me carefully. His breathing was heavy. He was agitated by the fact that Adrian had tried to take control of him. Now, he wanted to take it out on someone.

"I told you what would happen if you kept struggling with those cuffs," my heart stopped, only to start racing uncontrollably when the thug pulled a gun from his holster. "I'll use you as an example to show your friend that I keep my word."

"NO!" Dimitri roared, thrashing against his restraints.

I lost my breath as the thug pointed the gun directly at my face. We were two meters apart. If he pulled the trigger, he wouldn't miss.

Cold fear spread through my entire body.

I couldn't die like this.

I couldn't.

"Please, I'll do anything—" Dimitri's desperate, pain-filled words barely reached my ears over the relentless ringing inside my head. I looked at him, unsure if I'd have time to tell him, one last time, that I loved him. I just hoped he could read it in my eyes. His were wild with fear.

The creak of a door upstairs delayed my sentence.

"Why is there such a commotion?" a cold voice asked.

I was still trembling, but out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that the thug pointing the gun at me had shifted his gaze toward the person descending the stairs. So I did the same, tearing my eyes away from Dimitri. The newcomer was tall, wearing a long black coat that matched his black hair.

"And why are you pointing a gun at my hostage?" he asked, his tone sharp.

My breath caught in my chest when the new arrival stepped into the dim fluorescent light.

He was a Strigoi.

And not just any Strigoi. I had seen him before, in Galina's estate—where Dimitri had lived when he was a Strigoi.

If I had been scared for my life before, now I was truly terrified.

Oh, fuck.

"She was disobedient, and I warned her what the punishment would be."

The Strigoi slowly shook his head, clicking his tongue in disapproval.

I glanced at Dimitri. He was still breathing heavily, his face drained of color. He hadn't stopped staring at me and the gun. Thankfully the Strigoi didn't notice him yet. He walked over to the guard and lowered his arm, postponing my imminent death, all while studying me thoughtfully.

"I think you should take a break…" he started, but the thug tried to interrupt him.

"I don't need a brea—"

He hit the floor faster than he could finish his sentence.

Grimacing in pain, he writhed on the ground while I regained control of my body—of my breath, my trembling, my racing heart.

The Strigoi lifted the thug by his throat in a split second.

"Who gave you permission to interrupt me? Have you forgotten your place, you piece of shit? I can make sure you never take another breath. You have ten seconds to get upstairs, or they will be your last."

The kidnapper didn't hesitate. As soon as the Strigoi released him, he bolted toward the stairs, rushing up as fast as he could.

I met Dimitri's gaze, and I could practically hear every Russian curse running through his head. Out of everything, the last thing we needed was a Strigoi who had once worked with him in Russia.

With a look of disgust, the Strigoi wiped his hands and then gazed at me thoughtfully. His eyes scanned my body, pausing on my face. I tried to steady my trembling, with little success.

"I feel like our paths have crossed before."

I had just had a gun pointed at my face—I hadn't had time to collect myself or think of a better strategy. There was no point in lying.

"We met in Russia, at Galina's estate," I said, satisfied with how smooth my voice sounded.

He narrowed his eyes in thought. Still frowning, trying to recall who I was, he glanced around the room.

Then, his gaze landed on Dimitri.

He muttered something in Russian—I thought it was something like "This can't be true," but I couldn't be sure. What was certain, though, was that he looked stunned to see Dimitri as a dhampir.

Dimitri, on the other hand, straightened up, watching him with caution and a look of pure disdain for his former associate.

"Hello, Nikolai," he greeted him in their native language, his tone utterly devoid of enthusiasm.

The Strigoi stepped closer, still shaking his head in disbelief. Then, out of nowhere, he burst into hysterical laughter, making everyone flinch. His maniacal laughter rang so loudly it sent a chill down my spine.

"Dimitri Belikov, our great leader!" he mocked, switching to English, his laughter growing louder at the last word, which he spat out with pure scorn.

Dimitri remained completely still, but I could see the storm of dark emotions hiding beneath his composed expression.

"And now, a dhampir. A mortal. Now, reduced to nothing."

Dimitri shot him a look of pure disgust.

"I wouldn't agree with that," he said.

His words meant nothing to Strigoi, who suddenly drove a brutal punch into Dimitri's stomach, knocking him to his knees with a laugh.

"Leave him alone!" I screamed, yanking at my cuffs again, despite the raw, torn skin on my wrists.

Dimitri fell forward, gritting his teeth to keep from making a sound—refusing to give Nikolai the satisfaction. But I could see the pain in his eyes. The Strigoi didn't even glance at me. He kept laughing at Dimitri.

"You had everything—power, estates, control… immortality."

He grabbed Dimitri's chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. Dimitri's expression said it all—how repulsed he was by the interaction, how much the mention of those so-called "gifts" disgusted him, and how deeply he despised Nikolai, despite being at his mercy.

"And now, you're under my control."

He jerked Dimitri's face to the side so hard it nearly toppled him.

Dimitri took a deep breath—I knew he was trying to stay calm.

Nikolai pleased with himself, swept his gaze around the room.

To my relief, his eyes barely skimmed over Jill, as if he had no idea he was holding the Queen's sister hostage.

Instead, when he looked back at me, realization dawned. He finally remembered how we had met at Galina's estate.

"Ah! Of course! You were that little blood whore he was so obsessed with!"

In an instant, he was in front of me. My breath caught in my throat as his hand slid across my neck, and a wave of nausea hit me. I didn't want to flinch—to show fear—but his touch sent a violent shudder through my entire body.

He grinned at my reaction.

"She's not a blood whore," Dimitri snarled, failing to keep his anger in check.

Nikolai's grin widened. He had found Dimitri's weak spot. He glanced over his shoulder at him, studying his face. To be fair, everyone was watching us in stunned horror. But none of them came close to the sheer panic in Dimitri's eyes as he watched me in the grasp of his former accomplice, powerless to do anything.

"If I recall correctly, you kept her locked up in a room, like a pet. Though… people don't usually fuck their pets when they're in the mood, do they? But her—it was a different story."

"It never happened," Dimitri growled, his voice shaking with fury.

There were very few things that could push Dimitri to the brink of losing control. Unfortunately for him, Nikolai knew exactly where to strike.

However, something else caught my attention. I planned to deal with Dimitri's emotions once we got out of this hellish antechamber.

When Nikolai turned to Dimitri, his terrifyingly cold hand still gripping my neck, I felt something pressing against my stomach from his hip. Keys. The keys to our handcuffs—the ones that the boss of these thugs must have given him.

My brain kicked into overdrive, analyzing my next move.

"So, what, it was all about the blood?" he sneered, looking me over with amusement. "Is your blood really that good, красотулечка?"

For a second, I hesitated, staring into his soulless, red eyes, holding my breath. I had a plan. The problem was, that I didn't have time to think it through.

"Try it and see for yourself," I said breathlessly.

Eddie and Sydney let out horrified sounds, but Nikolai threw his head back and laughed loudly.

I shot a quick glance at Dimitri, who had gone completely still at my words, as if unable to believe what he'd just heard. Then I shifted my gaze to Nikolai's belt. When Dimitri followed my line of sight, he understood what I meant. He exhaled sharply and shook his head in firm refusal, but I didn't give him the right to object. I looked at the guard. He did the same—meeting my eyes, still unwilling to let me go through with this plan. He looked desperate to stop me.

But I shot him a defiant look, one that told him I was doing this whether he helped or not. His gaze pleaded with me, but I turned back to Nikolai, who was shaking his head in amusement.

I had no doubt he'd take the bait. He wanted to get under Dimitri's skin so badly. He wanted to hurt him so much that he wouldn't hesitate to bite me.

And that was exactly what I needed.

"I get it now," Nikolai mused, wrapping an arm around my neck. I froze. "No wonder you kept her around. What a wicked little temptress."

I knew I needed to focus on my task, but I couldn't stop the thrill that coursed through me at the thought of the bite. I couldn't stop my body from trembling in anticipation of that sweet injection of endorphins.

Damn it.

"If you touch her again, I will kill you," Dimitri spat, his voice laced with pure, icy hatred.

Nikolai chuckled at his threat, shooting him a mocking look. "I think I'll take my chances."

I shuddered as his teeth brushed against my skin. And when they pierced through to my blood, releasing that sweet drug into my veins, my mind drifted, and I let out a quiet, satisfied sigh.

Finally.

Ever since Lissa had fed on my blood, I had grown accustomed to this divine sensation—one as intoxicating as great sex. When Dimitri used to bite me, I'd become addicted to the feeling. Now, I just wanted to melt as that exquisite pleasure spread through my body. My knees buckled under the influence of the venom, dissolving into every inch of me.

Somewhere in the back of my hazy consciousness, I registered Dimitri's screams—his threats, the way he thrashed against the handcuffs so violently that the guard stepped toward him. That was exactly what I needed him to do. Draw attention. And make them stop watching me.

Suddenly, I remembered what I was supposed to do. I forced myself to snap out of it.

I let out a drawn-out moan, making sure Nikolai thought I was completely lost in the bite. Fighting against my revulsion, I pressed myself closer to him. His body was rigid and unpleasant to the touch.

I twisted slightly as if to expose my neck to him even more—but in reality, I was positioning my hands behind my back closer to his belt.

Another wave of bliss crashed over me, my eyelids growing heavy. I wanted to give in. To close my eyes, to let myself sink into this divine pleasure. Every fiber of my being begged me to surrender.

"Rose."

My name, spoken by Dimitri—filled with pain and desperation—snapped me back to reality. I slid my hands closer to the belt, moving my fingers just enough to unhook the keys. My fingers clenched around them so tightly I thought I might cut myself.

The final rush of endorphins nearly made me collapse. My head lolled against Nikolai's shoulder, so lost in the haze that I didn't even realize when he pulled away, licking his lips obscenely.

He said something to Dimitri, but the words didn't register. Dimitri snarled something back, but I couldn't focus enough to catch the meaning—though I was sure they were threats.

I forced myself to find Dimitri's eyes, which took longer than it should have. Time and space felt softer, and more fluid than usual. I saw how much it hurt him to see me like this. He watched me closely, his eyes filled with regret, despair, and agony. But at least he knew why I had done it.

I blinked at him with both eyes—our silent signal. I had the keys. I was okay. Or okay-ish.

Nikolai patted my cheek, but I turned my head away so I wouldn't have to look at him.

"At first, I thought I'd just have a quick snack," he mused, dragging a finger down my cheek. I shuddered in disgust. "But I think you'll be fun to keep around."

He turned and began walking away, and I stayed frozen. Was he planning to kill me? Well, we had to escape and I had to take that risk.

I waited until Nikolai shut the door behind him, until the guard—who delivered a final kick to Dimitri—settled back into his seat. And then I started working on unlocking my handcuffs.

I had never tried to do this before, but just a few minutes ago, it hadn't seemed like such a big problem. Now, it felt absolutely impossible to unlock these stupid handcuffs. It certainly didn't help that I was distracted, exhausted, and, well… numb from Nikolaj's bite. My movements were clumsy and imprecise—I couldn't maneuver properly. Especially when all my energy was focused on staying on my feet and not losing consciousness. But I had to try, I had to get my friends out of here.

At one point, I almost had one of the keys (because, mind you, there were several if not a dozen) lined up with my cuffs when they slipped from my fingers. I barely managed to catch them in time. I didn't even want to think about what they would do to me if I dropped the keys in this silent room. My breath quickened, my blood boiled, and I needed a few moments to calm myself before trying again.

It also didn't help that everyone seemed to be watching me—Dimitri, my friends, and the guard. Concern and anxiety were written all over their faces, with a dash of disgust on the face of the guard. I had no idea what I would even say to them if I could communicate.

The good news was that I was relatively sober. Maybe I was used to it, maybe the adrenaline had cleared my head—either way, I could think somewhat clearly, even though I still couldn't use the keys behind my back. I kept maneuvering and experimenting, but for hours, I wasn't able to do anything. I didn't know if the hazy numbness was fading over time or if I was simply growing more exhausted and drowsy, but I couldn't unlock my cuffs.

I looked at Dimitri, who rarely took his eyes off me, constantly checking how I was doing. The guard wasn't watching us, so I shook my head, signaling that I couldn't unlock the cuffs. Dimitri met my gaze with understanding and concern—there was no judgment or impatience in his eyes. He seemed lost in thought for a moment, and I hoped he was coming up with a way to teach me how to unlock them remotely. I almost smiled at the thought that when we finally got home, I would ask him to teach me in much more pleasant conditions… Focus, Rose, I scolded myself.

When Dimitri met my gaze again, he motioned toward the floor between us and subtly jerked his head in my direction. I looked at him like he was crazy. There was no way I could drop the keys and kick them over to him without catching the new guard's attention. He leaned against one of the metal cabinets and pressed against it hard enough to make it wobble but not fall. If he tried harder, he could probably knock it over, and in that moment, I was supposed to kick the keys to him.

He looked at me, but I wasn't convinced. Then he blinked three times—signaling that it would happen in three seconds.

I mentally prepared for what was about to happen, and when Dimitri pushed against the cabinet, drawing everyone's attention to the tumbling boxes and shattering jars, I dropped the keys to the floor, masking the sound of them hitting the ground with the noise he had created. I immediately covered them with my foot, but before I could kick them to Dimitri, the guard stepped toward him and shoved him against the wall, making him stagger.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" the guard barked at him. If he were taller, he probably would have grabbed Dimitri by the collar, but my boyfriend towered over him, looking far more intimidating.

"I just leaned against it—I didn't know it was so unstable," Dimitri replied in an indifferent voice. I could see he was trying not to glance in my direction, though the corner of his eye twitched dangerously toward me. He didn't want to draw any suspicion to me.

Contrary to our expectations, the cabinet didn't tip over. It must have been loosely but still somewhat secured to the floor, so Dimitri had only managed to knock some of its contents down, but not the entire piece of furniture. The guard was fuming with anger, unsure of what to do with the mess, but ultimately, he settled for shoving Dimitri into the wall again and kicking aside the things that had fallen under the shelf.

"Don't try any tricks with me, pretty boy. When Nikolaj gets back, you'll see what your punishment will be."

Dimitri seemed unfazed by the vague threat, merely staring at the guard with cold hatred. But I was terrified by the meaning behind his words—I couldn't let Nikolaj kill Dimitri, not when he was already so close to pushing him too far.

Eddie was watching Dimitri and me intently, knowing full well that Dimitri hadn't knocked over the cabinet by accident. The fact that I didn't seem surprised must have raised his suspicions, too, and he searched for my gaze. I gave him a slight nod, but there was no way I could explain what was happening if he hadn't been in on it from the start.

I didn't dare lift my foot under which the keys were hidden in case the guard noticed them. We had come too far to lose them now—and with them, our only hope of escape.

My eyes met Dimitri's. I gave him an apologetic look, but he shook his head slightly, telling me it wasn't my fault—I had no chance to kick them to him. I shifted my right foot slightly without lifting it, and he nodded, understanding that I still had the keys. We both began thinking intensely about how to distract the guard so I could get the keys to him.

Time was passing. I was getting more and more exhausted, my eyes closing involuntarily. If I could sit down, I would have already fallen asleep. Every second brought us closer to Nikolaj's return. And there was no telling what would happen when he came back.

He said he wanted to have a snack. It was possible that he had hired a group of thugs to capture the next group of Moroi and dhampirs who would go to the feeders. And since Dimitri and I fell into his hands, he decided to have some fun. If we didn't escape before his return… well, chances were he'd kill me first just to spite Dimitri and then torment him by killing the rest one by one until finally getting to him. Or maybe I wouldn't be the first… Maybe he'd want to keep me for last… Maybe, to anger him even more, he'd turn me into a Strigoi and then force me to kill Dimitri… The thought made me sick—I would much rather die from his bite. God, I need to focus on getting us out of here.

I desperately wanted to signal to Eddie that I had the keys. But even if I managed to lift my foot at just the right moment when Eddie was looking and the guard wasn't—quickly enough to avoid his notice—there was still the matter of letting Eddie know that I needed to distract the guard so I could pass the keys to Dimitri since I couldn't use them myself. And that was very hard to communicate nonverbally.

I wondered if Adrian would try to visit my dreams if I fell asleep. I didn't know why he would, but maybe he could. But to do that, I'd need to sit down. Maybe the guard would allow it, but once I was seated, I had no idea how I'd get back up without it looking suspicious. And I couldn't kick the keys while sitting.

It seemed like we had limited options. Either I distracted the guard, or Dimitri did—and neither was good because in both cases, the guard would still be looking in the direction where the keys would be sliding across the floor. Dimitri also looked frustrated by the lack of good choices.

Then, suddenly, I recognized that expression on his face—the look he got when an idea struck him. His eyes widened and gleamed as he analyzed everything he was about to do. His back straightened slightly, and his features set in determined focus. His lips started to move ever so slightly, but I heard no sound.

Jill, however, standing closest to him, suddenly raised her head and looked at him quickly.

She just as quickly returned to staring at her shoes, but now with a look of concentration, as if she were listening. She nodded once, then shook her head. Dimitri had given her some kind of task, and thanks to her enhanced hearing and proximity, she was the only one who could hear him. She then lifted her gaze to a point in the far corner of the basement—almost directly opposite from where she and Dimitri were standing.

I followed her gaze, but all I saw were cobwebs and thick, rusty pipes.

And then I understood what Dimitri wanted from Jill.

Just as I suspected, Dimitri knew what was inside those pipes. And if he wanted Jill to do something with them, it had to be water. She must have realized that he wanted her to burst one of the pipes using pressure. If that pipe broke, the guard would have to run over to it, and I would have just enough space to kick the keys.

Dimitri caught my eyes as I studied the pipes, a silent question in his gaze. He was making sure I understood. I nodded. He gave a small nod in return, sealing his decision. His lips moved again, and he blinked at me three times. I blinked back, signaling that I was ready.

And then, the pipe burst.

Every head turned toward the source of the sound, where the metal pipe crashed onto the floor with a clang, followed by the hiss of water gushing out. But I kept my eyes on the guard, who jumped from his spot. The moment he turned his back to us and ran toward the pipe, I kicked the keys straight toward Dimitri. He caught them deftly with his foot and slipped them under his boot.

And they said soccer would never be useful once we are guardians.

I let out a shaky breath, exchanging a look of pure relief with Dimitri. We did it. Now the keys were in the right hands—we just had to get out before Nikolai returned. Or before we drowned from the burst pipe.

At that moment, the guard was twisting some valves, cutting off the water flow and stopping the flood. Grumbling under his breath, he picked up the broken piece of the pipe and studied it intently.

I saw Dimitri beginning to bend down to pick up the keys—

And then the basement door swung open.

Of course. Nikolai stood in the doorway with another man. Naturally, nothing could ever just go smoothly for us.

Two of his henchmen stood behind him, but the conclusion was the same—we were too late.

"What the hell happened here?" he snarled, gliding down the stairs almost effortlessly. The guard handed him the broken pipe and pointed at the burst.

The newcomer approached Dimitri and started speaking to him in Russian. Dimitri responded in sharp words, and that was when I realized—this wasn't just another human henchman.

It was another Strigoi.

I didn't recognize him, but there was no doubt that he and Dimitri had met before. With his full attention locked onto this Strigoi, Dimitri couldn't pick up the keys.

I considered making some noise to shift the focus onto me, but to be honest—I didn't want Dimitri to try anything while Strigoi were in the room. There was no way he could get the keys and unlock himself without being noticed.

Nikolai pointed at me still speaking in Russian, and the other one burst into loud laughter. Dimitri let out a low growl, and Sydney (who understood their conversation) flinched. A string of harsh words escaped Dimitri's lips, but they didn't seem to make an impression on the two Strigoi.

The other one stepped toward me. I stared at him defiantly, hoping my glare could burn him alive (which, unfortunately, it didn't). He stroked my face, murmuring how beautiful I was. I understood that—I'd heard it plenty of times from Dimitri's lips, only now those words filled me with dread instead of joy.

"Nikolai says you taste like the finest sweet," he purred, tracing his finger along my neck, right where the last vampire had bitten me. Even though my body craved that rush of endorphins again, I knew it was a terrible idea. Point for the rational part of Rose.

"Exaggeration."

The nameless Strigoi chuckled.

"Maybe he was just hungry… Good thing, because so am I," he mused, caressing my cheek with a dramatic sigh as if he were truly troubled. "I just don't know if I'll be able to stop myself when your blood smells this delicious."

"Leave her alone. Drink from me." Dimitri's voice was thick with desperation. My heart ached at the raw pain in his tone. "That would be the ultimate humiliation for me—isn't that what you want? Drink from me!"

Nikolai grinned broadly and exchanged glances with the other Strigoi.

"I told you they were entertaining. Don't worry, Belikov, your turn will come too. But first, you'll watch your little blood whore die."

I flinched as the nameless Strigoi tightened his fingers around my jaw, holding it still. I started thrashing but to no avail.

"Try not to finish her off just yet, Boris," Nikolai mused. "But if you do, I won't be mad."

I cast a desperate look at Dimitri just as Boris yanked me closer and sank his fangs into my neck without hesitation. A startled scream ripped from my throat, but it quickly melted into a moan of pleasure as that familiar wave of bliss crashed over me.

Dimitri tried to break free, but this time, Nikolai himself held him back, savoring his suffering, making sure he had no chance to grab the keys hidden beneath his foot. Dimitri was screaming, someone else might have been too, but my exhausted body surrendered to the divine euphoria.

I hadn't been this high in a long time. It felt as if I had completely detached from my body—I could no longer feel Boris latched onto my neck, nor any of my limbs. I wasn't sure if I was standing or sitting. But I felt happy. Waves of pleasure pulsed through my blood, drowning me in relief, joy, and ecstasy.

No sounds reached me, no sensations, nothing but this perfect, blissful feeling. All conscious thought slipped from my mind. I felt light as a feather. Every tension, every ache, every burden washed away, and for the first time in so long, I could truly breathe.

Eventually, though, something shifted. I felt… something leaving my body. Until, finally, I slumped to the ground. I leaned against the wall, my head lolling against something hard. But I didn't mind. I didn't mind anything at all.

Some murmurs reached the edges of my awareness, but I ignored them. I felt no need to focus. Except for one sound. One sound that felt… familiar. Something inside me knew I had to respond.

I opened my eyes, but nothing made sense. A dark room, figures scattered against the walls. Familiar faces flitting by too fast for me to recognize.

Only one thing was clear.

Warm brown eyes. They bore into my soul, searching for me.

I smiled at them, letting them know I was there. That I was happy.

Then I closed my eyes and drifted away into the endless sea of bliss.