Chapter 3

Adrian hangs up and turns. His face is blank. Whatever he felt when he saw the mark, he locked it down. "Those are rated for vampires. You're not getting out."

"Where's my phone?"

"Off. Other room."

"Rachel's gonna call the cops."

"No she won't." He pulls out a chair, sits. There's dried blood on his collar. Hers. "Sent her a text from your phone. You're staying at a friend's place tonight."

Lynn stares. "You went through my phone."

"Your password's your dad's birthday." He shrugs. "Wasn't hard."

Her jaw locks. She wants to spit at him but her mouth's too dry. "What do you want?"

"Answers." Adrian leans forward. His eyes catch the light and flash red. "That mark. When'd it show up?"

"You saw it show up."

"Before tonight. Ever see anything like it before?"

She shakes her head. She doesn't know why she's answering. Maybe because he looks serious. Maybe because the mark's scaring her more than he is.

Adrian pulls a knife from his jacket. Silver blade, black handle. Sets it on the table between them.

Lynn goes cold. "That's—"

"Your father's." He taps the handle. There's an engraving. Small letters. She can't read it from here but she knows what it says. *Mu family. Third generation.* "Victor had it. Took it off one of his men two years ago."

Her throat closes. "You're lying."

"I'm not."

"Victor killed my dad?"

"Yes."

The room tilts. Lynn digs her nails into her palms. The zip ties cut deeper. She doesn't care. "Why?"

"Don't know yet." Adrian picks up the blade, turns it over. There's a dark stain near the hilt. "Your father came to the Council six years ago. Alone. No backup. Wanted to make a deal. Victor met with him privately. Your dad never walked out."

Lynn can't breathe. "The Council said it was a rogue. They said—"

"The Council lied." Adrian sets the knife down. "Victor's an elder. Controls half the votes. If he wanted your father's death buried, it got buried."

She wants to scream. Flip the table. She can't do anything. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because Victor's coming for you now. And I need to know what he wants."

Lynn laughs. It comes out wrong. "He wants me dead. Just like my dad."

"No." Adrian points at her wrist. "He wants that. Whatever your father sealed inside you."

The window explodes.

Glass rains down. Adrian moves—too fast—and slams Lynn's chair to the floor. She hits hard. Her head bounces off tile. The zip ties snap.

Someone lands in the kitchen. Boots crunch glass. Lynn rolls onto her side and sees him. Tall, blond, long coat. Eyes solid black.

"Adrian." The guy's voice is flat. "Step aside."

Adrian's already between them. "Kane. You're off territory."

"Council orders." Kane pulls a blade from his coat. Silver. Same design as her father's knife. "The girl's a contamination risk. She doesn't leave this building alive."

Lynn scrambles backward. Her shoulders hit the cabinet. Adrian doesn't move.

"She's blood-bonded to me," Adrian says. "Kill her, you kill me. That breaks treaty law."

Kane shrugs. "Victor said you'd say that. Told me to tell you the bond's not registered yet. Doesn't count."

Adrian's shoulders tighten. "It activated. That's enough."

"Not according to Council vote. Took a poll an hour ago." Kane steps closer. "You're outvoted, commander. Move."

Adrian pulls his own blade. Black metal, long and thin. "No."

Kane stops. Nobody moves. Then he smiles. "You're breaking Council law for a human. Victor's gonna love this."

"You're here without a warrant. That's exile-level."

"He's got six elders backing him. You've got two." Kane flips his blade. "Do the math."

Lynn's heart slams her ribs. She looks around. Drawer next to her head. She reaches up slow, pulls it open. Knives inside. She grabs one.

Kane moves.

He's fast but Adrian's faster. They collide in the middle of the kitchen. Metal screams. Adrian's blade catches Kane's wrist. Blood sprays. Kane twists, slams Adrian into the fridge. The whole thing dents inward.

Lynn runs. Doesn't think. Just moves. Kane's back is to her. She raises the knife, goes for his spine.

Kane spins. Catches her wrist. Squeezes. Bone grinds. Lynn screams. The knife falls.

"Cute," Kane says.

Then he yanks her forward and puts his blade to her throat.

Adrian freezes halfway across the room, blade raised. Blood runs down his face from a cut over his eye.

"Drop it," Kane says.

Adrian doesn't move.

Kane presses the blade in. Lynn feels it bite. Warm blood runs down her neck. "I said drop it."

Adrian drops the blade. It clatters on tile.

Kane smiles. "Good dog." He looks down at Lynn. "Let's see what you're hiding."

He grabs her wrist—the one with the mark—and twists it up. The crescent starts to burn. Lynn gasps. Feels like something's clawing its way out of her skin.

Kane's eyes go wide. "Holy shit. He actually did it. He sealed a—"

Adrian hits him.

Lynn doesn't see him move. One second he's across the room. Next his fist is in Kane's face. Bone crunches. Kane lets go. Lynn drops.

Adrian doesn't stop. Drives Kane backward into the wall. Drywall cracks. Adrian's hand closes around Kane's throat. "Who sent you? Victor?"

Kane laughs. Blood pours from his nose. "You're dead, commander. You and the girl. Victor's got the votes. He's calling a tribunal tomorrow night."

Adrian squeezes. Kane's laugh cuts off. His face goes red, then purple. "Where is he?"

Kane's mouth moves. No sound. His legs kick. Adrian holds him there another five seconds. Then drops him. Kane collapses. Still breathing but shallow.

Adrian turns. His eyes are full red now. Blood smeared across his knuckles. "We're leaving."

Lynn's still on the floor. Her wrist is on fire. The mark's glowing now—faint, but there. Like something lit under her skin. "What did he mean? What did my dad seal?"

Adrian pulls her to her feet. His grip is careful. "Don't know. But Victor does." He picks up Kane's blade, holds it to the light. Blood on it. Not Lynn's. Older. Dried. "This is your father's knife. The one Victor took."

Lynn stares. The engraving's there. *Mu family. Third generation.* But there's something else. Another mark carved into the hilt.

A crescent moon.

Same shape as the mark on her wrist.

Adrian meets her eyes. "Your father didn't just seal something in you. He marked you with Council blood. That's why Victor wants you dead. You're evidence."

Lynn's legs give out. Adrian catches her. "Evidence of what?"

"That someone inside the Council helped him." Adrian shoves the blade into his jacket. "And whoever it was, they're still alive."

Lynn's head spins. Can't think. Her wrist won't stop burning. "How do you know?"

Adrian picks up his own blade, heads for the door. "Because that mark? It's not just a seal. It's a tracker. Whoever gave your father Council blood can feel it activate." He looks back. "They know you're alive."

He opens the door.

"And they're coming."

---

Lynn's wrist burns hotter.

Somewhere in the dark outside, something moves.