My heart skipped a beat. I knew he was a predator, yet I was drawn to him. His face was more architecture than softness—strong jaw, straight nose with an aristocratic bridge. Dark brows, a shade deeper than his ash-blond hair, framed features that his crimson eyes only sharpened. I forced myself to look away. I didn’t want to get burned.
It isn’t just his harsh, cunning beauty, Max,the demon crooned.The pull is deeper than physical. You’ll understand one day. Soon.
I refused to dig deeper.
“I don’t do sexual favors,” I said flatly. “I might be poor, but I’m nota whore.”
“I would never treat you as one, Max,” he said quietly. “I crave you…your blood. Maybe you’d let me have a taste?”
As a prince, he had no shortage of willing donors. Harrow had told me that much. But Nikolai seemed to want mine specifically. Even now, he inhaled slow and deep, as if he couldn’t get enough of whatever my blood smelled like to him.
“But if you refuse, I understand.” He gestured toward a hallway branching off the drawing room. “You’re free to use the shower here anytime. The bathing chamber is on the left.”
I swallowed. I needed to think with my head, not my fear.
Priority one: survive. Then get strong. Then find my friends. They had to be alive. Please. Then I’d go back for my sister and bring her here.
Survival meant resources. Resources meant alliances. And the vampire prince was offering one.
“I always repay my debts,” I said. “I don’t like owing anyone.”
“You don’t owe me,” he said.
“I’ll trade my blood.” The words came out before I could second-guess them. “One mouthful per week. That’s equal to about a week’s worth of nutrition for a miner.”
Well,the demon murmured,that’s one way to negotiate.
I expected him to bargain. I’d already decided to let him push me to twice a week if he had to.
“Done.” His eyes lit. His lips curved.
“But not today.” I held up a hand. “I’m not strong enough.”
“I wouldn’t take it today even if you offered.”
I turned for the hallway. “I’m going to shower now, if you don’t mind.”
I steppedinto the bathroom and closed the door behind me.
For a second, I forgot to breathe.
White and gray marble covered every surface. A tub sat against the far wall, deep and wide enough for three. A gilded counter ran along one side with a basin set into it. Above it, a mirror fogged at the edges from steam. Nikolai had bathed here earlier. Shelves held rows of glass bottles with elegant labels.
I moved toward the tub and ran my hands along the fixtures. Brass handles. A spout shaped like a serpent’s head. I turned one handle. Then the other. Nothing. I pushed, pulled, twisted harder.
No water came out.
I stood there, lost.
Shit. The handles mocked me. In the mine, water came from hand-pumped wells or collected rainwater. Taps were a different language, and I sure as hell wasn’t going back out there to ask the vampire prince for a bathing tutorial.
I know, Max!An eager voice chimed.I know! I know!
Coldiron.
There was Coldiron here—a trace of it, threaded through the old pipe system behind the walls.
Show me the way,I pleaded, relief washing through me.Please.