Chapter 30

Valerie

We were all led into a spacious room, where a black curtain surrounded a short dais. A stage of sorts, large enough to fit several people. The host waited for the room to fill, watching every vampire flood in with a satisfied smile on his face. Beneath his happy demeanor, I could tell he was nervous. His entire being seemed to depend on the event going smoothly.

“Stay close,” Lucas whispered in my ear. He wrapped his fist twice around the leash and reeled me into his side. “I fear Xavier will make good of his promise.”

I nodded, shuffling even closer to him. My heartbeat was beginning to elevate again, what with all the vampires standing so close to one another. So close to me.

I was shoulder-to-shoulder with another slave. A boy, for once. I could not tell if his master was a man or a woman, but I could see the hopelessness in his eyes. The fear in his expression as the chandelier above us drenched light upon his face.

“Thank you for coming!” The host began. He moved his