The wrinkles around Nick’s eyes creased. “No. It’s not just blood she’s after, though an exchange is involved. But I have to be honest. You complement each other like no vamp and scion pair I’ve seen.” A flicker of unknown emotion swelled and died within his eyes. “It’s a chance at greatness—if you’re willing to give up your dreams and bind yourself to hers. You would always be second. But you would be second to a vamp slated to rule Cincinnati.”

Nick’s hand ceased its motion over my hair. “If I made a mistake,” he said carefully, not looking at me, “and you want to be her scion, then fine. I’ll drive you and your toothbrush home and walk away, letting you two finish what I interrupted.” His hand began moving again. “My only regret will be that I wasn’t enough to lure you away from her.”

My eyes drifted across Nick’s hodgepodge of furniture, hearing the busy traffic outside his apartment. It was so unlike Ivy’s church with its wide open spaces and breathing room. All I had wanted was to be her friend. She desperately needed one, unhappy with herself and wanting to be something more, something clean and pure, something untouched and unsullied. She was trying so hard to escape her vampiric existence, and I knew she harbored a belief that someday I might find a spell to help her. I couldn’t leave and destroy the one thing that kept her going. God save me if I was a fool, but I admired her indomitable will and belief that someday she’d find what she sought.

Despite the potential threat she posed, her asinine demands for organization, and her strict adherence to structure, she was the first person I’d roomed with who said nothing about my mind-slips, like draining the water heater or neglecting to turn off the heat before opening the windows. I’d lost too many friends over such petty arguments. I didn’t want to be alone anymore. The scary thing was that Nick was right. We did do well together.

And now I had a new fear. I hadn’t realized the threat of my vamp scar until she told me. Marked for pleasure and unclaimed. Passed from vampire to vampire until I begged to be bled. Remembering the waves of euphoria and how hard it had been to say no, I saw how easy Ivy’s prediction could turn real. Though she hadn’t bitten me, I was sure the word on the streets was that I was taken goods and to back off. Damn. How did I get to this place?

“Do you want me to take you back?” Nick whispered, pulling me close.