“So why do you think he should turn me?” I asked.

“He loves you,” Olivia sounded surprised when she looked up at me. “You must know that.” I shifted uneasily but didn’t answer her. “And I’m betting that he’s not getting any milk either.” She narrowed her bleary eyes at me, genuinely appraising me for the first time. “I bet you’re a virgin in every sense of the word.”

“Not entirely,” I raised my chin defiantly, as if I had showed her in some way.

“He’s never bitten you?”

“He’s tasted me.” When I told her that, her eyes widened.

“And he hasn’t bitten you?” She was stunned and unbelieving. “That boy has some restraint. But it’s only a matter of time before he slips, and with that much pent up, he’d go way too far.”

“We have things under control,” I said unconvincingly.

“Well, hello there,” a deep voice said from behind me,

I whirled around to see the vampire that had touched me on the dance floor. His black eyes glowed at me. A strand of black hair came loose, so he pushed it back with unpleasantly long nails, at least for a man.

“That’s Alice!” Violet announced with her shrill, sparkling laugh. She leapt off the couch and skipped over to us, stopping so close to him that they were almost touching. “Isn’t she a treat?”

“Sweet as pie,” he purred with an exaggerated southern drawl, reminding me of when Hannibal Lector mocked Clarisse Starling in Silence of the Lambs. He breathed in deeply, leaning in closer to me, but I couldn’t think enough to step back. “Breathe, honey.”

With that, I gasped and filled my lungs with precious oxygen. Whatever he did to me, it was far worse than even what Peter could do. My mind was less of a fog, but my body lost the ability to do anything, like breathe or blink or move.

“You are precious!” he smiled hungrily, and Violet giggled next to him.

“Oh, leave her alone,” Olivia said. Her voice gained some strength and lost its bleary edge as she came to my aide. “She’s just a kid, and her boyfriend’s out there in the other room.”

“What’s it to you?” He looked past me at her, and I caught a glimpse of primal rage flashing in his eyes.

“He left her in charge,” Violet smirked, leaning in close to him. “He left her alone.”

“What do you want?” I asked when I finally found my voice.

“You’re so scared!” This fact amused him too much, and he sounded a tad aroused. “I’d just like us to be friends. Me, you, and Violet.” He spread his arms openly, as if he expected me to run into them. “To put you at ease, I’ll introduce myself. My name is Lucian.”

“His name’s not really Lucian,” Violet confessed. “It’s actually Hector, but that doesn’t sound nearly as decedent.” He glared at her, and she recoiled but forced a smile at me. “But trust me, sweetie, he’s all vampire.”

“So am I,” Olivia interjected. “Why don’t you two go prey on someone you stand a chance with? This girl isn’t going anywhere with you.”

“You must be getting senile in your old age, Olivia,” Lucian snarled at her. “Because I didn’t say anything about going anywhere. We’re just having a friendly little chat. Isn’t that right, Alice?”

“I’m not much for talking,” I said.

My heart beat erratically and much too fast. Both Violet and Lucian had that eye-fluttering pleasurable look, and I knew they were tuned into it.

“My god, that’s beautiful,” Lucian murmured, almost inaudible. “It’s so delicate and frantic. Like a fly caught in a spider web, desperately beating its tiny wings… but it’s not going anywhere.”

“You guys are big into the insect metaphors,” I whispered.

“Here’s another: ‘Welcome to my parlor,’” Lucian smiled, this time purposely showing me his fangs. Like Violet’s, they were sharper and larger than Jack’s, and all the more frightening.

“My boyfriend is right out there, and he’ll kill you,” I warned them breathlessly. “He left Olivia in charge, and she takes her responsibility seriously.”

“That drugged out old hag?” Lucian laughed and leaned in closer to me. “She’s not going to do anything. If your boyfriend really cared, he wouldn’t have brought you here in the first place. I think he wanted this to happen.”

“That’s not true,” I said, and his eyes dropped to my throat as he leaned closer to me.

“Oh, Alice, I’m afraid you’ve really fallen into a rabbit hole this time,” he whispered, and I closed my eyes.

“Lucian!” Olivia shouted. “Oh, Hannah, will you move!” A moment later, she appeared next to me. “I told you to back off!”

“Olivia, Olivia,” Violet said, stepping away from us to take care of Olivia. Lucian leaned back up straighter but didn’t move away from me. “Aren’t you sick of that tired old blood bag you’re always taking around with you?”

“Violet, not right now.” Olivia sounded disgusted. “I’m trying to keep this girl out your hands. She’s not yours. There are plenty of other girls here that you can go crazy with.”

“I’m here too, Olivia,” Violet batted her eyes at her and rubbed her arm seductively on Olivia’s. “I know you’re always traipsing around with those little dolls of yours. When was the last time you were with a real woman?”