He took a quick survey of himself. Ripped and bloody clothes, but at least he still had them. Then he raised his gaze to the man he’d once called friend. “I need a shower and change. So do you. What room are you in?”

“The one next to yours.” Eric stilled as if sensing something no one else could. “Dawn isn’t far away. You’ll have to talk fast.” Then he held open the dungeon door as they all left.

Holgarth met them outside the door. “The fantasies are finished, and the hotel guests are all happily asleep, so I thought I’d check to see if our resident bloodthirsty vampire had regained his sanity.” He treated Dacian to a dismissive sniff. “I see he has.”

Eric laughed. “Still the same old fun guy, Holgarth. God, how I missed your sarcasm and biting insults.”

Holgarth almost smiled. Almost. “Ah, yes. I still remember fondly those wonderful moments of joyful mayhem you brought to the castle.”

Dacian left Eric laughing as he pulled Cinn into his room. She collapsed onto a chair.

“Why don’t you take a nap on my bed while I work things out with Eric? I’m meeting him in his room. You don’t have to be there.” He didn’t want her to be there. He didn’t want her to hear his transgressions paraded past her in living bloody color.

“I’m coming with you.” She looked adamant. “I’ll sleep after you go down for the count. I don’t have to meet Sparkle until noon.”

Dacian didn’t try to change her mind. He needed all his remaining energy to face the man he’d once called friend. He didn’t linger in the bathroom. A short time later he emerged to find Cinn fast asleep in the chair. He thought maybe he could sneak past her, but she woke just as he touched the doorknob.

“I sleep lightly, vampire. I’m tuned in to you, so don’t think you can leave without me.”

Her smile was sleepy and so sexy he wanted to forget about Eric and drag her into his bed. Dacian tried to push aside images of her riding his cock until time stopped.He was only partially successful.

Eric answered on the first knock. He swung the door open and allowed Dacian and Cinn to enter the room ahead of him. A woman waited to greet them. She had blonde shoulder-length hair and big brown eyes. Eric always had attracted beautiful women. Dacian’s senses told him she hadn’t been vampire for long.