Memories flooded me as I made that walk, of being a prisoner of the vampire queens. Forced to choose Batsheva's clan, to become a member, to take her fangs in my neck in order to survive. And almost dying anyway because I didn't learn how to live the games the two families seemed to adore.

I felt my shoulders bunch as I walked. Had to force them down from around my ears, to breathe and stay calm despite the fight between rising anger and the absolute need to turn and run. I ...