Mya and Erik returned home with blissful smiles on their faces, until they found Gregori waiting for them. Gregori's eyes roamed over her, noting the lack of her dress and how it had been replaced by Erik's tunic. Judging by his expression, he would give them approximately one minute to formulate an explanation or else he would pummel Erik, whether he was an older and thus more powerful vampire or not.

Together they constructed a lie, explaining that her dress had been ruined on her ...