Why? Why would she think of him while trapped in Adrian's embrace?

Why would she think of Donovan who had just tried to murder her and feel utter guilt for kissing Adrian, a man who has proven his loyalty and kindness a hundred times over?

Suddenly, too suddenly, Adrian's kisses felt wrong.

Hesitantly, Ember pulled away from Adrian's warm embrace and stared ashamedly at his chest.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I am very tired. I think that I should get some sleep."

Adrian didn't seem to notice her shift in attitude as she scooted away from him slowly.

He smiled down at her and brushed her cheek softly with his knuckles. "Of course." Adrian stood and gazed down at her affectionately. "If you would like, I can stay in here to keep you company."

Ember gave him a withering look which made him chuckle.

"My intentions are pure, I assure you. I just don't want you to be alone," he said the last part with genuine concern, his eyes watching her closely.

"Thank you, Adrian, but I will be ok. I promise," she said with a warm smile. "If I need you, I will call."

Adrian nodded slowly, giving her a lingering look of admiration. "I am glad you are safe, Ember."

"Me too. Thank you for coming when you did," Ember said softly.

He gave her one more small smile before turning around and walking to the door. He stopped with his hand on the knob before turning back to her. "I'm just next door if you need anything."

With that he stepped out, being sure to lock it behind him.

Releasing a long, exhausted sigh, Ember laid back against the pillows and rubbed her eyes. The events of the night before started to unfold behind her closed lids.

***

She remembered as she had walked into the grand chamber where she would be meeting Donovan for a nightcap. There was a soft fire crackling next to a set of chairs arranged before the fireplace. Candles flickered softly across Donovan's face as he looked up at her.

"Miss Woods," he greeted her with a soft, yet sultry smile

Even after staying with Donovan for weeks, his striking gaze never failed to give Ember chills across her skin.

"Count Reign," Ember returned quietly. Her heart had hammered in her chest, knowing that this night was not the same as the others they'd shared.

Donovan watched her expectantly as she stood there, so Ember walked around the sofa and sat down, smoothing down her skirts before looking up into the dark eyes that watched her. A long moment passed between the two of them. Ember looked away as she cleared her throat. Seeing the wine glass already filled and placed on the table in front of her, she reached down and picked it up before taking a long sip.

When Ember looked up at him he tilted his head ever so slightly.

"You seem distant tonight. Is everything alright?" His question was curious, but there was an edge of accusation lingering within it.

Immediately Ember realized that her nerves were outwardly showing, so she did her best to transition naturally into a smile before responding.

"Of course," she said with assurance. "But if I'm being honest, I am a little distracted."

"Oh?" Donovan asked curiously, his eyebrow raised. He reached for his drink, raised it to his lips, and took a sip. "Anything you'd mind sharing?"

"No, as a matter of fact, I have found myself wondering something," Ember responded casually, taking another drink of wine.

"What would that be?" Donovan asked, crossing his legs and leaning back as he watched her.

"As you know, I've been traveling as a journalist for a couple of years now," Ember began swirling the wine glass slowly.

Donovan dipped his chin in assent, listening to her quietly. Ember continued cautiously.

"During my travels, I ended up stumbling upon a certain story that has brought me here to this place."

Donovan raised an eyebrow with a mirthful smile. "Are you admitting that you didn't come here with the sole purpose of interviewing me?" With a soft swallow, Ember nodded. "Well, I must say that you've got me intrigued Miss Woods. What does this certain story entail?"

Silence stretched between them for a few long moments before Ember finally responded, her heart beginning to thrum with anticipation. "Have you heard anything of the rumors about the young women going missing in this area?"

The look of mild curiosity darkened slowly into one of dangerous knowing. With slow and purposeful movements, Donovan uncrossed his legs and placed his glass on the table before pinning her with his gaze. At that moment, lightning struck and illuminated his face which had an expression that Ember had never seen before on his chiseled face.

A cruel look of satisfaction and amusement; a look of a predator who had just cornered their prey, but in the next moment it was gone so quickly that Ember was unsure if she had imagined it or not.

"Indeed I have," Donovan said quietly. "It is quite a tragedy. As fate would have it I am acquainted with some of the families in town who's daughters have gone missing."

The callousness of his words spoken so casually when it was he who was likely responsible for the missing women struck a nerve in Ember, fueling her next words.

"It is a tragedy," Ember started, placing her glass down on the table and shifting so she could look Donovan directly in his eyes. "During my stay here, I have been doing some investigating of my own."

"Oh? Have you found anything worth sharing?" Donovan asked with his eyebrow raised, a lilt in his voice that wasn't at all curious, but entertained.

"Possibly," Ember said with a small shrug. "Much of my findings are hard to believe."

"How so?" he asked.

"Can you believe that some of the villagers are rumoring that a vampire is responsible for these disappearances?" Ember answered, her eyes never leaving his.

This time, Ember did not mistake the expression on his face as his eyes bore into hers and his lips curled into a cruel smile. Ice slowly crawled up Ember's spine as he pinned her with his gaze.

"Are you telling me that you believe in such fairy tales, Miss Woods?" Donovan asked, following Ember's actions and placing the glass on the table as well, the energy between them growing cold.

A soft dry smile lifted Ember's lips. "You would be surprised by what things I believe, Count Reign."

The predatory look he gave her made Ember feel like she was standing at the edge of a precipice. So very close to falling into the abyss that was his eyes.

***

Ember opened her eyes quickly, the mere memory of the dangerous expression on his sending her heart into a fit. Dropping her hands to her chest she took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself.

Exhaling, Ember sat up to a seated position and started to undo the front lacings of her bodice with trembling fingers. It was time for her to get some well-needed rest if she was going to start her hunt for Donovan.

Free from her corset, Ember crawled under the blankets and brought them up to her chin before closing her eyes to sleep.

But try as she might, another memory of that same night flashed in her mind unwittingly.

It was the moment mere hours ago when Donovan had her trapped in his arms and was just about to sink his fangs into her neck.

Since that moment, Ember had been trying to block out the expression on his face, trying to remember instead the painful sensation of her life force being drained from her.

Yet, there it was, blinding her. Numbing her from the fact that he had nearly succeeded in murdering her.

There was a fleeting look of regret and betrayal flooding Donovan's dark eyes.

"Don't worry. I'll make this quick."

Those words and the pain in his eyes reverberated in her mind until she finally drifted off into a restless sleep.