Something about the way he says my name sends me over the edge. It’s like I’m back in The Colony, facing Gabrielle as he taunts me with things he knows, but won’t tell.

“Get out of my way.” I reach for the doorknob.

He snatches my hand. “I said you can’t go out right now.”

With one swift swing of my fist, he crumples to the ground, unconscious. I step over him and jerk the door open, running out onto the metal platform. A deep breath and then I’m running up the pipe, water splashing underneath my boots as I climb higher. My fingers slide against the water and so do my shoes, but eventually I break through to higher ground, knowing he’s following not too far behind me.

I burst through the top and slip into the water. “Dammit.” I splash forward, but pause at the sight of them. While I was down there, darkness fell and the vampires woke up. Worse, they all seemed to migrate here, surrounding the water, outlines of shadows, snapping their fangs viciously.

Even after what happened last night, I have to be reluctant. Because if something’s changed—if they’ve suddenly decided they like the taste of me—then I’m dead. I wait, testing their reactions as they sniff the air.

“Kayla, back up slowly.” It’s Aiden’s voice, trying to lure me back into the pipe.

When the vampires hear him, their eyes rain blood, little drops of red, bleeding into the water I’m standing in.

“Don’t you mean Juniper?” I back up as the bloody water swims for me.

One of the vampires lets out a shriek, then the rest cackle like coyotes.

“Dammit Kayla.” He jumps into the water. “You can’t run off before I explain things—just let me explain, please. I swear to God, I’ll tell you everything.”

He’s right behind me, taking me by the hands and I make the choice, letting him pull me back into the darkness of the pipe. We slide down and again, he manages to maneuver us onto the platform without dunking us into the pool of water first.

Immediately, I wiggle my hand loose from his, push him back, his shoulder banging into the wall. I draw out my knife. “Tell me how you know it? Tell me how you know that name?”

He rubs his shoulder. “I know it because I knew you in The Colony.”

“But I don’t know you.” I point the sharp blade of my knife at his throat. “And even if you did know me, only two people know that name. And one of them is dead.” My breathing increases as I say these words aloud.

“Which one?” His voice is gentle.

“What does it matter?” I sound choked.

“Because it does.”

My grip loosens on my knife. “Monarch.” His name sticks on my tongue like glue.