“What have you done to me?” I asked her, before she could even mouth a greeting. “Why can’t I get you off my mind?”

She laughed before tilting her head to the side, looking at me like I was the most adorable child she’d ever laid her eyes on. “You’re actually blaming me for that?” She raised a dark brow at me. “How am I supposed to know why you’re thinking about me all of the time? I think I should be the one who ought to be worried that a man keeping me prisoner can’t get me off his mind.”

I gritted my teeth, annoyed by her amusement, and yet keenly aware of the attraction I felt for her. “Don’t play games with me, Emilia…” I shook my head.

She rose from her cot as the smile on her face widened. “You remember my name.”

“I also remember who you are and why you shouldn’t be trusted, so whatever you’re doing, stop. I don’t want to play games with you.”

“Who’s playing games? I’ve been locked up in your prison. How on earth am I playing games with you?”

She began walking toward me and I suddenly felt vulnerable as she got closer.

“Stay there,” I commanded.

She stopped in her tracks and studied me. “You really are quite a man, Derek Novak. What a team we’d make together.”

What am I doing here? She was danger and I knew it and yet I was right there with her, standing on the precipice, very close to taking a leap. Eager to get away from that place and as far away from temptation as possible, I asked her what I needed to ask. “Did you or did you not come here to lose a battle?”

Her face turned serious and she creased her brows in seeming bewilderment. “That wasn’t very subtle,” she commented. “And it doesn’t make sense. Why would I purposefully lose a battle – especially against you? Do you have any idea what my father could do to me for this failure?”

The strangest thing happened when I realized that she could get into trouble for not having accomplished what she came to do. I actually felt sorry for her, worried even. I couldn’t understand why. I couldn’t understand why she had that effect on me, but much as I tried to fight it, I was at ease around her – almost as if she were a kindred soul I’d known all my life.

“What’s he going to do to you?” I found myself asking even if I knew that it was a step closer to danger.

“I don’t want to talk about that. How long do you intend to keep me here?”

I shrugged. “For as long as this war lasts maybe.” I could swear that she sighed with relief. I narrowed my eyes at her. “You want to stay?”

“If I go back, I would have to face the Elder, my father. And my siblings. I find that terrifying.”

“So there are others like you who belong to the Elder’s family.”

“Family,” she scoffed. “I don’t know if I could call it that.” She sat back on the cot and stared at the space in front of her, sadness marring her beautiful face.

I fought the urge to draw closer to her, but I lost. I took a couple of steps forward and held her by the chin, lifting her face up so that I could look at her loveliness. “We vampires are very loyal creatures. Betraying your clan is practically unforgivable. Speaking against it to other clans is unheard of. If you really are the original vampire’s daughter, you don’t seem very fond of your father or your clan, Emilia. Why is that?”

She didn’t respond. Instead, she bit her lip and blushed the moment our eyes met. I looked away, bothered by the flutter in my stomach. This girl is dangerous. I backed a couple of steps away from her, letting go of her chin as if the feel of her suddenly burned. “I think I have to go,” I quickly said, not trusting myself around her. I spun around and I was about to call the guard when I heard her speak in a thoughtful tone.

“Don’t deny it, Derek… I know you feel it too. We have a connection, and you may not understand why, but it’s there. You can keep fighting it, but eventually, I hope you realize that we belong together.”

I shook my head against any thought that could possibly coax me to agree with her. “No,” I said firmly. “I belong with Sofia. She’s the woman I’m in love with, the one I will marry soon. I can’t deny my attraction to you and yes… maybe there’s some sort of mysterious connection between us, but it’s Sofia who holds my heart. No other connection can break what I have with her.”

I was saying the words more to myself than to Emilia and even with my back turned to her, I could sense her anger like a powerful wave rushing over me. I was then fully aware that she was no fragile creature, trembling at the thought of what her father would do to her. It’s almost as if I saw Emilia in a completely different light the moment I let my love for Sofia call the shots. What I saw in her was someone I couldn’t trust.

I turned my head toward her, twisting my upper torso in order to once again look her in the eye. “I’m giving orders that they let you off the island as soon as possible.”

“No…” she gasped. “You can’t do that! Derek, please… You have no idea what my father will do to me!”

“Then don’t go to him, Emilia. Run. I don’t care what you do, but I can’t have you here.” What I have with Sofia is too precious for you to pose a threat against it.

To my surprise, she stopped begging and a dark glare took over her countenance. “You want to play it that way? Then so be it.” A bone-chilling, almost manic, smirk formed on her face. “You’ll find quite quickly that you can’t get rid of me that easily, Derek.”

Chills ran up and down my spine when I realized that she was right. Something was telling me that Emilia would soon find her way back. Strangely, at that moment I didn’t find myself threatened.

I clenched my fists and smirked right back at her. Bring it on.

Chapter 9: Emilia

Things weren’t going as planned. I was supposed to capitalize on the connection we had with each other and gain his sympathy and yet, there I was, left hanging as he walked out of the cell, leaving orders to the guards that I was to be brought out of the island as soon as possible.

Now what am I going to do? The plan hinges on me staying here in The Shade. I can’t accomplish my task if I’m not here.

I had to find a way to reach The Sanctuary, the place in the island that housed the witch of The Shade. I was trying to figure out a plan of action when a small, cold breeze began to blow in my ear, carrying with it a message.

“What are you still doing in this dungeon, Emilia? You’re wasting time.”

My father’s chilling voice.

“Forgive me, Master.” My voice cracked and it began to shake as I gave away my excuse. “He is more in love with Sofia than I initially thought…”

“Find a way to gain their trust so that you can roam the island freely, Emilia. Don’t you dare return here unless you have Derek Novak with you.”

I nodded, afraid to speak in case he made it a reason to cause me pain. I backed myself up on my cot until I hit the corner where the stone walls met. I gathered my knees against my chest and shut my eyes. I felt like I was being enveloped in pitch-black darkness, shivering against the cold that came with my father’s presence.

Seemingly satisfied that I’d given him the answer he was waiting for, he disappeared as quickly as he came. I sighed with relief, but found even relief to be quite momentary, because keys began to unlock my cell door and I was about to be escorted out of the island.

I thought about fighting back, knowing that I could take down these guards if I wanted to, but if I wanted Derek’s love, if I wanted his trust, I couldn’t afford to take the risk. I needed to make him see me as a victim, someone he could feel compassion and concern for. I couldn’t do that by exhibiting a display of power.

So I gave in. I followed the guards to the port and played along with the whole charade. By the time the guards left me at a far-off shore, away from the island, I already had a plan on how to get back.

You’re going to be mine, Derek Novak. I am willing to turn the world upside down until you realize that I am the girl who will help you bring our kind to true sanctuary. That’s me. Not any other girl. And definitely not Sofia Claremont.

Chapter 10: Ingrid

I could sense it when Derek walked past my cell. I knew I had to make a move, make a plea, and do something – anything – in order to move forward in the task that was given to me by the fearsome and mysterious presence that visited me in my cell.

So I found myself calling out the young man’s name until he gave me the attention I was looking for. I was relieved when he appeared by the door of my cell.

“What do you want?” His words were dripping with spite, and I couldn’t blame him.

“I want to see my husband.”

He narrowed his eyes, looking straight at me past the bars that kept us apart. “And who exactly is your husband? Is it not Borys? The one Sofia killed?”

The words stung, and I fought the urge to lash out at him for re-opening the wound, but I had to keep it together. The thought of having another visit from the mysterious dark creature was too terrifying. You have to learn to be Camilla. You have to earn their trust. “You know who my husband is, Derek. Please let me see him.”

“Why on earth would I allow that?” Derek grimaced. “You might just end up killing him. Sofia already lost a mother. I can’t risk her losing a father.”

“I’m her mother. She hasn’t lost me yet.”

“Sofia’s mother is Camilla Claremont. She died the moment she turned into Ingrid Maslen. That’s you.”

“Sofia would let me see her father and you know it. Ask her please... I’ll do anything… I want to see my husband and child.”

Derek squared his shoulders and began studying me, perhaps wondering if I was actually being sincere. He seemed to be entertaining the thought of giving in to my request but then he suddenly hesitated. “What makes you even think that Aiden would want to see you? Or Sofia for that matter… After everything you’ve done…”