“You used me to get to him, you bastard!”

Smiling, he nodded. “Indeed. I used you to get to all of them.”

She folded Nina’s trembling hand in her own, taking comfort as much as she gave it. “Why are we here?”

“As I’ve said, I’ve given it a great deal of thought and what’s done is done. You’re one of us now. I’ve decided to keep you.” He nodded decisively. “It will amuse me to watch your development. You were so skittish before, such a mouse.” His gaze raked her appraisingly. “Already you’ve changed. For the better.”

“I won’t join your pack.”

“You don’t have a choice.” He motioned to Nina, who watched them with wide, haunted eyes. “That’s what this little pigeon is for.”

She glanced to Nina, then back to him.

“You’ll stay down here until tomorrow. Until moonrise.” He nodded at Nina. “And she’s going to keep you company.”

Claire’s eyes shifted to Nina in horror. Nina blinked, bewildered, confused, evidently failing to grasp Cyril’s implication. But Claire understood perfectly.

He pointed at two jugs of water near the foot of the stairs. “So you don’t dehydrate. Be sure to give the girl some. We don’t want her to perish before you get the chance for a fresh meal.” His lips curved in a mocking smile. “You should be starving by tomorrow night.”

“Please, you can’t do this.” She looked over her shoulder at Nina, her face frighteningly pale. “Anyone else. Not her.”

He looked amused. “Ah, you will be a delight to train. I’m anxious to see how long it takes you to lose this… sensitivity after you’ve had a taste.”

Turning, he started back up the steps. Claire flew after him, her feet a blur beneath her. Snarling, she launched herself at him, legs wrapping around his waist, fingers clawing down the sides of his face.

He plucked her from him as if she were weightless. Hard fingers closed around her face, lifting her off her feet. “Careful now, Claire. You’re no match for me.”

“I’ll kill you,” she hissed.

Laughing, he flung her down. She hit the concrete floor. Hard. He called down to Nina. “You don’t happen to be a virgin, do you?” He shook his head in mock disgust when Nina failed to answer. Clucking lightly, he addressed Claire again. “These girls today just don’t know how to hang on to their virtue. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I tasted a good virgin. The blood is always—” He pinched the air as if seeking the right words. “Sweeter.”

The bile rose in the back of her throat.

Still laughing, he ascended the stairs. The door clicked shut behind him, the sound magnifying in her ears.

“Miss Morgan?”