A smile that showed a lot of fang. “Because the prey here are willing. They want the bites.” His teeth gleamed. “They want it so bad many of them will do anything to feel the plunge of fangs into their flesh.” Sullivan shook his head at her doubting stare. “It’s not always painful, you know. Some of my women have found great pleasure in my kiss.”

Kiss? Is that what he was calling it?

His gaze held hers. “Perhaps I can show you.”

“Sullivan, you’re begging for a beheading,” Cain warned.

“Sorry. Forgot she was taken.”

But Miranda didn’t think the guy had forgotten anything. He just seemed to enjoy pissing off Cain. She tried to get both men back on track, before Cain’s claws decided to show, saying, “If we won’t find him in a feeding room, just where is Roberts?”

“Looking for prey, I’d imagine. He likes to take those who are unwilling. Humans who don’t know just what he is.” He turned a bit to the side, and his fingers tapped against the bar top. “It’s the fear, I think.”

“What?”

“He likes to see the fear in his victim’s eyes right before he takes the bite. It turns him on. Makes that first taste of blood all the sweeter.”

The vampire sounded way too knowledgeable about Paul’s killing technique. She wasn’t aware that she’d eased back from him until she bumped into Cain’s chest. His arm swept over her shoulders and he held her tight.

“You’re not speaking from experience, are you, Sullivan?” Cain asked.

The vampire shook his head, and some of the intensity faded from his gaze. “I told you, that’s not how I get my nourishment.”

But he sure seemed to know an awful lot about a killer’s motivations.

Takes one to know one.

“My sire was like him,” Sullivan said, still drumming his fingers on the bar. “Sadistic bastard. Best move I ever made was to incinerate his ass.”

Her eyes widened at the almost casual statement.

“Hope you find Roberts and do the same to him, before more innocents die.” He inclined his head. Rose to his feet. Hesitated. “Word is he likes to find his women online. Fancies himself a Casanova of sorts. Picks the best prey, and they never see him coming until it’s too late.”

The vampire tilted his head to the side as he studied Miranda. Then his gaze met Cain’s. “Is he linked with her?”

She felt Cain stiffen behind her. Linked? She didn’t know exactly what that meant, but she sure as hell didn’t like the sound of it.

“If he is,” Sullivan continued, “he’ll always be able to get to her. Always.”

Miranda bit back the questions that sprang to her lips, knowing now wasn’t thetime. But the minute she got Cain out of that place . . .

“Good hunting, shifter,” Sullivan murmured and cast her a last, hooded glance. Then he disappeared into the crowd and Miranda took her first deep breath since she’d approached the two blonds.

“Cain.” She turned to face him.

“We need to get out of here, fast.” He was already moving, dragging her with him and making a beeline for the door. “The natives are about to get damn restless.”

“What?” She was nearly running to keep up with him and her shoulders bumped into people left and right. “Cain, what’s happening—”

A vampire stepped in front of Cain. One of the blonds. His eyes were black. His teeth were sharp and glinting. “Not leaving already, are you, shifter?”

Hell.

“And certainly not with my new little friend.”

Miranda stepped to Cain’s side. Offered a tight smile. “Changed my mind. Decided I’d like to stick with the animal after all.”

His eyes became slits of black rage. “Too damn bad. I’ve decided I want a taste and—”

Cain moved in a blur. Wrapped his right hand around the vampire’s throat and lifted him off the floor. “I’m not in the mood for this shit,” he snarled and tossed the vamp across the room.

The music stopped. All eyes flew to them. There was a rough scraping as chairs were shoved back. Vampires lurched forward and—

“Let them go.” Sullivan’s voice. Ringing through the crowd.

Miranda craned her neck, straining to see him. Where was—

There. He was sitting at a table, two women on either side of him. One, a redhead, had blood slowly dripping down her neck, and she wore an expression of pure ecstasy. He leaned toward her, licked up the drops, then his head lifted again. “For tonight, and only tonight, they have my protection.”

None of the vampires moved and Miranda realized that the Sullivan guy wasn’t just your average vamp. The guy had power, a lot of it.

Then Cain was dragging her outside—jeez, again with the dragging. Like she wouldn’t have gladly run out of that pit of hell on her own steam.

The fresh air hit her face, driving out the scents of booze and blood. Their car waited just feet away. They jumped inside. Cain revved the engine, and they raced down the street.

Paul Roberts watched the taillights disappear down the road. His Miranda had joined with the shifter. A pity.

Now she was trying to hunt him. That wasn’t the way the game was played.

No, not at all.

Miranda was prey. Food. Not a hunter.

He should have killed her that first night. If only that damn animal hadn’t come running to her rescue.