The Ferrari purred to a halt outside the mansion, its sleek body gleaming under the moonlight. Chloe's pulse was still racing, but not from fear, from adrenaline. From the speed, from the weight of Valerius's summons, from the knowledge that when he called, she came. She had to.

Sliding out of the driver's seat, she smoothed her dress and steadied her breathing. It wasn't terror that knotted in her chest, it was anticipation. She respected him too much to arrive defiant or careless. Valerius ...