Somehow, while lying inside a hot, musty coffin next to a chronically pissed-off vampire, I dozed. It was the horrific pain in my back that woke me, so intense that I ground my teeth together to keep from screaming. Whether I'd been shot or not, it hurt like a motherfucker.

Ronick lay motionless beside me, either asleep or counting bats to fall asleep. Good thing he sucked at cuddling. Between my marinated-in-pee stink, my messed-up back, our confined sleeping arrangements, and his ...