He might hold the advantage physically, but I knew these woods better than anyone. We weren’t that far from the cliffs and if I could reach them, I could shimmy down to my cave. It took a lot of nerve and agility to climb that cliff face and I doubted that even Haism or his men could do it without a rope. I still had my cell phone because Tarek had stopped searching me after he found the knife so I could call Nikolas and hole up in the cave until he came. I had a plan, now I just had to execute it.

A stream loomed ahead and I scrambled across a dead tree I always used as a bridge. Seconds later I heard my pursuer hit the stream running, followed by a splash and a string of curses. I kept going.

I smelled the salt air a minute before the woods thinned and I saw the break in trees ahead. So close. I put on an extra burst of speed and Haism fell farther behind. Suddenly the trees were behind me and I was hobbling across a small grassy meadow. The rumble of waves told me how close I was and I stuck the knife inside my coat to free my hands for the climb of my life.

My feet touched bare rock and I veered to the left making for the lone stunted pine tree above the cave. Over the wind and the roar of the surf I heard Haism shout something unintelligible at me but he was too far away to matter now. I reached the tree and peered down at the rocks below. The ocean’s show of power here never failed to take my breath away but I’d always had Remy to carry me down and keep me safe. I didn’t anticipate the climb but I would rather face a hundred cliffs than the fate waiting for me.

There was no time to steel myself, to work up the courage. Haism was coming, I had to go now. Taking a deep breath, I turned to start the climb.

“Hello, little flower.”

“No!”

Dark blue eyes straight from my nightmares gleamed as they locked with mine. Full lips curved in pleasure, sending my stomach plummeting. The last time I saw that mouth it was fanged and snarling at me as the monster behind it vowed to have me.

No, no, no, no, no, my mind screamed. I took an involuntary step backwards, lost my footing.

Eli’s hand shot out as I teetered on the edge. He pulled me against him and ran a finger down my face. I shuddered and he smiled like we were reunited lovers. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you fall this time. I’ve waited too long to feel you in my arms again to lose you now.” His finger lingered on my bruised cheek. “I am not happy about this however. I shall have to talk to Haism about the terms of our contract.”

“Eli,” said a male voice and I looked past him. My blood froze when I saw at least a dozen other vampires gathered nearby. The speaker, a black vampire who could have passed for one of my classmates, tilted his head toward the man standing frozen at the edge of the woods.

Even from here I could see the terror creep across Haism’s face as he stared at the scene before him. On the phone with Eli he had been cocky because he knew he would not meet the vampire face-to-face. Now he faced a dozen of them, alone and armed with nothing but a cell phone. I think we both realized at the same time that my life wasn’t the only one forfeit here today. I should have felt pity for him. I might have if he hadn’t threatened Nate and planned to turn us both over to Eli.

“Haism, we meet after all,” Eli called, turning us both to face my ex-captor. Eli’s arms were like steel bands around my waist, holding me back against him. Revulsion, fear, and a dozen other emotions warred inside me and it was all I could do to not scream or pass out.

“Yes… a change of plans, I see,” Haism stammered. “But you have what you came for, just as promised.” I saw him take a step backward. Did he really think he could flee?

Eli reached up to lift my hair away from my face. “Not exactly as promised. She is damaged. I cannot imagine what would have happened to her if we had not followed you.”

Haism’s jaw fell. He took another step toward the woods.

“My deal with your employer was that I deliver the trolls and you deliver the girl, whole and untouched. I believe this renders our contract null and void.” Sadistic amusement laced Eli’s honeyed voice. “Juan, Rose, please conclude our business with Mr. Bakr.”

“Noooooo!” Haism got that one word out before the black vampire and a blond female appeared beside him. I tore my horrified eyes away but I could not block out the screams. They seemed to go on forever before ending in a sickening gurgle that turned my legs to jelly and made my stomach revolt.

Eli lowered his head until his mouth was against my ear. “Calm yourself, my sweet. You belong to me and no one else will touch you.”

The promise in his softly spoken words turned my blood to ice. It would not be long before I would wish I had died along with Haism. There was only one way out of this for me now. Either way I was going to die. I had to make sure it was on my terms because the alternative was unthinkable.

“Why?” I asked hoarsely. “Why me?”

Eli sighed. “You don’t even know how lovely you are, do you? Such a mix of fire and innocence, I saw it that night before we even met and I knew I had to have you. Imagine my delight when I discovered what you are and then to find out that you were what brought me to Portland in the first place.”

I thought of David’s theory about the missing girls and I had to know. Swallowing my fear, I said, “You took those girls in Portland because you were looking for me. Why did you pick them?”

“They were chosen because they were the right age and they all had certain characteristics in common. It did not take me long to discern that none of them was the one I sought.”