Suddenly, my memory of the demon who’d carved me up broke through. The claws that had ripped my flesh. The sadistic eyes staring down as I’d cowered, terrified and unable to defend myself. I broke free. “Get away from me!”

Though he looked much different than he had in vampire form, all I could see was his resemblance to John Doe. He folded his arms across his chest as he regarded me. “Oh, you have fire in you. I’ll have so much fun with that.”

From his perversely satisfied tone, I gathered it wasn’t good, clean, car-bingo-type fun he spoke of. “I’m not interested. And speaking of fire, burning down my apartment isn’t exactly the way to a girl’s heart.”

“No,” he agreed with a frown, closing the distance between us. “I find the more effective route is directly through the rib cage.”

“What do you want?” I demanded.

Looping his arms around my waist, he drew me closer. “You came to me, Carrie. It seems you are the one who desires something.”

He nuzzled my neck, rubbing his lips across the scar there. I closed my eyes, too willing to give in to the sensations coursing through my veins. “I want answers.”

“Yet you haven’t asked any questions.” His teeth grazed my skin. “But you don’t really want to talk.”

“Yes, I do,” I insisted, trying to pull away from him.

He held me fast. “Your body tells me something entirely different. You want me. I can smell it on you.”

I ground my teeth. “It’s the blood tie. If you were any other guy, I’d have slapped you by now.”

“If you were any other woman, you’d be dead by now.” Despite his menacing words, he let me go. “I slept quite late this evening and I haven’t had my breakfast. Would you care to join me?”

“Will you answer my questions?”

“That depends on what you ask. But yes, Carrie. I will give you the answers you’ve so bravely sought.” He held out his hand for me, and I bit my lip, considering his offer. Was this a trick? A trap? But he couldn’t have known I was coming. He hadn’t even known who I was when he’d first seen me. There would have been no time to plan anything devious. At worst, I’d spend an uncomfortable meal trying to fight the effects of the blood tie. At best, I’d get a better understanding of what had happened to me. I slipped my hand into his and let him lead me to another room.

The dining room was large and windowless. It was even more ostentatious than the ballroom, if that were possible. Dark wood paneling covered the walls, and the only light came from candles held in ornate silver sconces.

Cyrus pulled out a chair from the long dining table and motioned for me to sit. Then he sat at my right, at the head of the table.

The table was long enough for twenty people, but it was only set for two. Crystal wineglasses took the place of plates. The largest covered platter I had ever seen dominated the center of the table. I wondered who he’d planned on sharing his meal with before I arrived.