*Ainslee*Above us, at the far end of the structure, I hear the door open. It’s not quietly nudged the way I had pushed it out of the way when I came in. No, this is a sudden fling that has what’s left of the door creaking on its hinges before it slams into the wall. I gasp, sucking in air, holding it tight. I have no idea where the crypt is, though I imagine it’s closer to this part of the church. Our temples back home, ones no one really frequents anymore since the Moon Goddess clearly quit listening, are situated at the front of the church and down a little stairwell. Maybe that’s where my friends are hiding.In my head, I hear Nelson’s voice. He’s trying to sound calm, but he’s on the edge of panic. “No one freak out. They’re probably just going to do a sweep and then leave.”My breath is shallow but it seems so loud that every exhale must be like a siren going off in the vampire’s mind.If it’s only one. What if it’s an entire clan of them?Next to me, I feel a slight movement be

*Ainslee*I stir at the sound of a voice I feel I should recognize but can’t quite place. I blink a few times, confusion washing over me. If my eyes are open, why can’t I see?It all comes back to me as John says my name again. “Ainslee?”It’s not as much a whisper this time, and once again, the sound of his voice sounds familiar. It’s then I realize he’s not just right next to me anymore. At some point, I have shifted over into his area of the floor, and my head rests on his shoulder. It’s a bit harder than I would’ve expected, and I am embarrassed as I scoot away. “Sorry,” I mumble, hoping he doesn’t mind. But then reality comes back to me, and I realize I have more important things to worry about than whether or not I have offended the man stuck in the floor of a creepy, rundown temple with me. “Did they blow the all clear?” I don’t remember hearing the sound of the trumpets Kris had mentioned the night before, and I think I would’ve heard it even when I was asleep, but maybe not.

*Ainslee*“Why didn’t he just reveal himself to me in the middle of the night?” I ask Zeke as I sit in front of him on his horse. His arms are around me, but only so he can reach the reins. It’s a little uncomfortable, but we are getting to be decent friends, I suppose, so it doesn’t bother me too much.“He couldn’t tell you without striking panic in your friends who would’ve flown out of the crypt and ended up captured by the likes of Kris,” he tells me. I can tell by the way he’s talking he doesn’t want to be the one who explains this to me and answers all my questions. He keeps sighing, urging the horse to go faster. I don’t know why I’m not on the same transport vehicles as the other feeders. That is what I am now, after all. But I have decided not to ask that question when there are so many others I need answers to.“Why even hide in the first place? He could’ve just grabbed me in the woods.” None of it makes sense to me. None of it.And nothing Zeke says helps either. “He had hi

*Ainslee*The light streaming in through the open window is dim when I hear the door open. I sit up abruptly, on high alert. I knew, eventually, someone would come to wake me, to let me know there’d been a mistake. I’m honestly surprised it took this long. The clock on the wall says it’s almost 7:00 in the evening. Rafe really should have better control of his people.“Pardon me, Miss Ainslee.” The woman who stands before me is tiny with dark hair and the longest eyelashes I’ve ever seen framing her chocolate eyes. She wears a black and white maid’s uniform and looks to be about my age, though I smell the metallic odor of blood and know she is a vampire, so it’s hard to say how old she is. “I’m here to get you ready for dinner.”I stare at her for a long moment, trying to comprehend what she’s said. Not that I didn’t hear it; I did. But what I can’t understand is why. “Dinner?” I echo. Zeke had mentioned that, but I thought he had to be pulling my leg or something.“That’s right, miss

*Ainslee*The king’s announcement knocks the air out of me. I’m still trying to process exactly what he’s telling me when I turn to look at Rafe. His expression isn’t as revealing as normal. I can’t tell if he was aware of this or if it is news to him as well.If I had to wager, I would say he knows, and he has known for some time. Perhaps since I shouted at him in the street. That would explain why he was kind to me. He must think he can get something out of me.I turn back to the king, and with the biggest smile I can muster plastered on my face, I say, “I appreciate your hospitality, Your Highness.” Then, I pick my fork up again, take the knife next to my plate, and begin to cut my meat. As I do so, it’s a struggle not to saw through it the way I want to, like an animal. Like this is Rafe’s heart I’m tearing into, but then, I’m not convinced he has one.Next, the king asks about the culling. I try not to listen. He isn’t speaking to me, only to his lieutenants. I focus on eating. D