First blood? That sounds bad. Very bad. “Is it not enough you already control me?”

“The Call is a temporary hold. You must give me full control.”

“Why? Why the fuck would I do that?”

“Because of who you are. Because of what you are.”

I step out of his hold. “I’m Michael Blakeley.”

“Of course you are not Blakeley. You know who you are.”

When I only stare blankly, he frowns. “You knew your name. Come.” The Call tugs me to him like a magnet, and he cups the back of my head. When he peers into my eyes, a warmth spreads through my mind like a gentle kiss, pinpricks of light scattering across my vision. The line cutting his brow deepens. “Hmm. Someone has sliced your memory. Protecting you, maybe. Interesting.”

My memory has been messed with? But that’s impossible, I’ve only been at…Quinton. “What the hell did he take?”

Alexei gives a subtle shake of his head. “I will soon answer all your questions. Who you are. Your bloodline. Your capacity. I will teach you. But you will submit to me.”

I try to pull away again, but he prevents me with a hand behind my neck. He uses the Call to draw my head to his shoulder, and my forehead sinks into the velvet skin of his neck without resistance. He strokes graceful fingers through my hair.

“Shhh. Be with your master.”

God, I want so desperately to give in to him. My mouth waters at the thought of his rich blood on my tongue again. My body yearns for his powerful presence firing through my veins. I long to fall into his dark embrace. Into this enveloping sense of home and familiarity. But I would be diving into a straitjacket. A gilded version of the Guardians’ lockdown.

I yank my head from his hands and jump back. I’ve got to stop this now while I still have a chance. “I’ll never drink your blood, Alexei. And I’ll never submit to you. I’m not going with you.”

Mikhail. His voice slides like liquid persuasion into my mind, and I feel my renewed resistance melt at the edges.

God, he’s dangerous.

When he steps toward me, I ignite my hands. Burning Flame engulfs my fingers, licking along my wrist and forearm. I didn’t even know I could do that so easily, but they lit with barely a thought. “Stay the fuck back, Alexei. I’m not your toy, your pet, or your weapon. I’m not going to your bloody castle.” It kills me to say those words, like a rip through my heart, but this isn’t what I want it to be. I want to find family; Alexei wants a slave. And judging by his words, he wants to turn me into a vampire.