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  “Walk,” he hissed.

  She kept her chin up and shoulders straight as she stepped into the tunnel.

  “Go to your left.”

  It was the direction that the creepers had just taken the large tan guy. She had a really bad feeling as she walked fast enough to keep Vlad from bumping into her. She didn’t run away, even though it was tempting to try; she knew more creepers were somewhere ahead in the flickering candlelight. Additional sconces hung on the endless tunnel walls, about twenty feet apart, but they didn’t put off a lot of light.

  “Turn right.”

  Glen followed directions and saw brighter lights at the end of the tunnel. They passed more metal doors and she picked up a few sounds of distress. A cell on the left couldn’t contain a woman’s sobs, the distinctive noise soft but clear.

  A chill ran up her spine. Vlad had to be lying, and she was about to become dinner to some bloodsucking monstrosity.

  Images of old Vampire movies flashed through her mind. The master would probably be some ancient being with horrible features, who would be even less human than what she’d already seen. She slowed her pace, but Vlad’s bony hand shoved against her shoulder to push her forward and right into a large room where the metal door had been left open.

  She couldn’t help but gawk a little at the creepers hovering near a door on the other side of the room. They appeared far worse in brighter light than in the dim tunnels. They weren’t just pale, but had thin black veins showing all over their exposed skin. Their eyes were bloodshot, the whites of them almost completely red.

  One of them smacked his lips and she glared, daring him to try to bite her. Her hands curled into claws as her muscles tensed, preparing to fight. No way was she going to be a chew toy without trying to tear his evil eyes out.

  A young blond man in all black clothing stood in the center of the room. He wasn’t as pale as the creepers or Vlad, but not by much. He smiled, revealing smooth white teeth. His hair was trimmed short and pale blue eyes regarded her. She glanced down his body. He wasn’t more than twenty, if she were to guess, and the modern slacks and shirt made her wonder if he was another kidnap victim.

  “You’re pretty.” He took a step closer, staring. “Isn’t she, Vlad?”

  “Yes, Master.”

  Shock reverberated through Glen. “You’re the master?” She couldn’t hold back the stunned observation. “You can’t be.”

  “Why not?” He slightly bowed at the waist and used his hands to make the gesture a little flamboyant. “Am I not what you expected?”

  “No.” She wasn’t about to mince words. “You look barely out of high school.”

  He smiled again. “You’re a brave young woman.”

  “I’m a pissed-off young woman,” she corrected. “How dare you kidnap me and the others. We’re not cattle.” She shot Vlad a glare. “You should be feeding this one cheese because he definitely looks like a rat.”

  Vlad hissed, showing those foul fangs of his.

  “Enough,” the master chuckled. “She’s got fire. I knew she would.”

  “She cried a lot when she first arrived,” Vlad muttered.

  “Stop speaking before I rip out your tongue,” the master threatened.

  Vlad closed his mouth and stepped back, effectively blocking the door so she couldn’t escape. Her gaze returned to the master. He didn’t look monster-like but instead kind of innocent and youthful, except when he opened his mouth to speak.

  “You’re not here to be anyone’s blood donor.”

  That made her feel slightly less fearful. “What do you want from me then?”

  He stepped closer, examining her face. “I see the family resemblance. The curly blonde hair, the perky nose, the delicate features. You remind me of my sister, except you have brown eyes. She had blue. I knew you would be the perfect host to fulfill my legacy.”

  “What family resemblance? Legacy? What are you talking about?” Her stomach rolled a little, and she prayed they weren’t really related in any way, that he didn’t plan on turning her into a Vampire.

  “I’m your…” He waved a hand. “I forget how many generations…but I’m a distant relative.”

  “No, you’re not.” She instantly balked.

  “Oh, but I am, my dear. Trust that I double-checked your ancestry carefully to make certain we are linked by blood.”

  She really didn’t like being associated with him in any way. “Like a fifth cousin?”

  “No.” He walked around her, studying her from head to foot. “You’re from my sister’s birth line. That would make me a great, great…” He shrugged, a sign of impatience. “Enough. We’re related.”

  It took a lot for her to hold still. He gave her chills when he examined her that closely. It freaked her out. “Why am I here if you don’t plan on feeding me to your, um…creepers?”

  He laughed when he stopped before her, way too close for her comfort. “I’m a king.”

  She blinked, unsure how to respond to that.

  “I need a queen.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I need a queen, someone worthy of ruling my empire by my side.”

  Glen had to lock her knees to keep standing as horrible suspicions filled her head. “Don’t look at me. You just said we’re related.”

  “Royal bloodlines should marry.”

  “That’s sick. Incest is wrong.”

  “Don’t you know anything about history?”

  “You mean how some royal families married cousins? I’m aware and it’s still wrong.”

  He grinned. “Fortunately, your opinion doesn’t matter.”

  She took a step back. “Stay away from me. I’m not marrying you. Ewww!”

  “Don’t, Vlad,” the master ordered.

  Glen twisted her head and realized that Vlad had inched closer to her, so she stepped sideways, keeping both of them distanced.

  “You’re not the one I want.”

  “Thank God.” She relaxed slightly. There are worse things than being bitten on the neck, she thought. One of them would be him wanting to get me naked. That tops the list any day.

  “It’s your child who will become my queen.”

  Her mouth fell open. “I’m not pregnant.” She was sure of that.

  “Not yet—but you will be soon.”

  She frantically shook her head. “Hell no. Not a chance.” Her gaze darted to Vlad. “Kill me now if he’s the one you think is going to knock me up. I’d rather die.”

  “Not him.” The Vampire master had the nerve to laugh.

  Glen glared at him, terrified and horrified at the same time. “Not you either.”

  The master smiled. He did that a lot, and it never reached his eyes. There was something cold about them, emotionless and scary. It made her wonder if he even had a soul.

  “Humans and Vampires can’t procreate life.”

  That’s good news. It meant neither of them planned to rape her.

  “We can, however, impregnate Werewolf females under the right conditions. I considered having you turned into one but the likelihood of death is far too great. I rejected that option.” He paused. “It would also give you the ability to control your reproductive cycle. I won’t have you denying ovulation. You’re the last of my line who is female, of breeding age, and carries a family resemblance. I can’t take the chance.”

  The master scowled. “Besides, it’s a brutal business, turning into one of those nasty creatures.” He opened his mouth and snapped his teeth. “Too much blood loss when they tear into you.” He paused. “There’s also the fact that I want my queen to be strong. I desire her to be an equal. It’s not really possible considering how old I am, but I do want her to be as close as I can design her. That means she’ll need to be sired by something I don’t like…”

  Glen didn’t know what to say, so she just kept silent, glancing around, looking for an escape but not seeing one. Werewolf? Did he just say that? He did. Shit! Vampires exist and now Werewolves. What’s next? Wit