It was past midnight as the Kresniks rode through the darkness, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings for any signs of creatures of the night that might want to do them harm.

While Ember was able to hold a conversation with Malcolm and Turner, she continued to give Adrian and William the cold shoulder.

She could forgive Turner and Malcolm for their decision to vote her out of the group. They didn't know Ember's history, but when it came to Adrian the betrayal she felt was deep and visceral.

It had been eleven years since her mother and father were massacred by a vampire. It was what looked like a young girl, who had come to Ember and her family's small country farm in the middle of the night. She'd said she was seeking any sustenance and shelter for the evening.

Ember's parents who were a strong Christian family were more than willing to help the troubled young girl who could have only been a few years older than Ember who, at the time, had just turned seventeen. So Ember's father had shown the girl into their home while her mother had made her a meal which they shared at the table.

It was Ember who watched her suspiciously throughout the evening. There seemed to be dark shadows around the girls every movement that Ember's parents did not seem to notice.

There was one particular moment that Ember will never forget, the image burned into her mind like a brand. The young girl was chatting charmingly with her father about her own family when she turned and returned Ember's stare with a devious smirk on her face.

A flash of red had flicked through the young girl's eyes, so quickly that Ember could have written it off as her imagination.

At the time, Ember had done just that.

Until she woke to her mother's screams.

Ember remembered rushing through their small home towards her parents' bedroom, her mother's cries were cut short so suddenly as Ember cried out her name.

Before Ember could reach the room the young girl had stepped out into the hallway covered in her parents' blood.

That is when the girl attacked Ember with inhuman-like strength, her eyes glowing a hellish red color. During their struggle, Ember was sure that she was going to die at the hands of this psychotic woman.

Luckily, Ember was able to struggle out of the devilish girl's grip and leap to her feet. She ran as quickly as she could into the living room and grabbed the stoker from the fireplace. Ember spun around with the iron rod held aloft, ready to swing at the woman's face.

Ember wasn't quick enough and the girl leapt at her with a scream of bloodthirsty rage. They struggled once again on the living room floor and after receiving a few vicious slashes from the girl's wild attacks, Ember was able to scramble from underneath her once again.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ember raised the stoker above her head and brought the tip down with all of her strength, a scream of devastated rage escaping her.

Ember did this again and again until the girl's body stopped moving.

All Ember could do after this was drop to her knees and cry. A few minutes later, after she caught her breath and wiped away her tears, she steeled herself for what she would find in her parent's bed chamber.

But nothing, nothing could have prepared her for the loss of her beloved and kind mother and father.

Ember squeezed her eyes shut, trying to shut out the memory of her covered in black sticky blood while walking into her parent's bed chamber.

With a loud sigh, she took her gaze to the star-filled sky and watched them twinkling down at her.

Ever since that fateful night, Ember had dedicated her life to the extinction of the vampire race.

It was only when she had found the Kresniks two years ago that Ember had felt like her life's purpose had been answered.

They were people who were like her with the courage and the determination to do something about the creatures that were nothing more than a myth to the majority of the citizens in Romania.

All of this Adrian knew, yet he had taken away her choice to pursue that purpose.

Ember thought of the night before and the kiss they had shared, which made her anger grow from a simmer to a boil.

Did he think that she would be satiated with his affection?

While Ember's sentiments for him had grown over the time that they'd known one another, the red-hot feeling of revenge would not be doused by the affections of a man.

Just as these thoughts passed through Ember's mind, another vision flooded through her.

The image of her straddling Donovan Reign's lap, kissing him hungrily as if he were the only sustenance that would ever be available to her.

With a soft exhale, Ember rubbed her eyes with her free hand before looking around at the group which continued at a steady pace. When her eyes landed on Adrian she realized that he was watching her quietly.

Quickly, she tore her gaze away from his trying to ignore the pleading regret in his eyes.

He had made his choice and she wasn't going to pacify his angst because of it.

Instead, Ember focused on what she was going to do after she returned to Bucharest.

Without the resources of the Kresniks and their connections, she would have to go out on her own. One benefit of being dismissed from the Kresniks was that she would be able to do things her way. No longer would she be held back by William's cynicism or Adrian's coddling.

The group continued their steady pace for another couple of hours. Ember watched as the horizon slowly began to light up with a blue-grayish glow.

"There is a small village just a few miles ahead," Malcolm said, stirring the silence that had settled over the group for the last hour.

"Yes," said William matter of factly, "Let us stop there to rest."

The heavy awkward energy that had settled over the group lifted at the prospect of getting out of the darkness and away from any potential attacks.

It wasn't long until they made their way into the village. A few minutes later they were walking their horses into a boarding stable that was next to a tiny inn.

Once the horses were settled the five of them were making their way back to the inn, all excited for the long night to end and to find some rest in a warm bed.

Ember was walking a few paces behind the others, still thinking about Adrian and his betrayal.

Suddenly, like being dropped in a pool of cold water, Ember felt a chill crawl up her spine as the scent of cardamom flooded her senses.

With a gasp, she spun in a circle her eyes scanning her surroundings.

To her complete shock, she was no longer walking in the small village behind Adrian and the others. She was in a luxurious bedchamber with a large bed and blackstone walls. A large fire crackled in the corner and velvet curtains hung from the high ceilings.

Ember couldn't believe what she was seeing, feeling as if she was in some sort of waking dream.

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind," Donovan's deep voice said from directly behind her.

With a gasp, Ember spun around her gaze landing on the deep dark eyes of Donovan Reign.

"What the hell?" Ember managed to say, going to take a step back.

Was he truly here at this moment, quoting Shakespeare in this strange unknown bedroom?

Donovan caught her wrist and pulled her back to him. Still in shock from what she was experiencing, she didn't put up a fight when he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his chest as if they were dancing.

"Miss Woods," he said with a throaty chuckle. "Although we have only been apart for a day, I have missed your decadent scent."

Without warning, Donovan started to waltz her around the room as if they hadn't tried to kill one another just the day before.

"How are you here?" Ember asked, staring up at him, shock still flooding her system. She was positive that this was some sort of dream.

"My dear Miss Woods," Donovan said, looking down at her with a devious sort of affection. "Do you not understand? It matters not where you go. I will always find you."

"This cannot be real," Ember insisted, still allowing Donovan to lead her around the bedchamber.

A low chuckle left Donovan as he slowed their steps to a stop and looked into Ember's eyes.

"Allow me to convince you, Ember," he said, lifting her chin with his fingers.

Ember watched in fascination as he dropped his mouth down to hers with slow purposeful movements.

The feel of his lips felt just as real as any other time Donovan had touched her, her belly instantly lit up with animalistic desire. Cradling her neck, Donovan dipped her graciously while deepening the kiss. A satisfied rumble sounded from his chest as she tentatively kissed him back.

'What harm can come from a kiss in a dream?' Ember thought to herself.

After another heated moment, Donovan stood her straight and pulled his lips away from hers. Ember looked up at him with lidded eyes, not wanting this guilty vision to end. The look of satisfaction on his face roused Ember from her heady trance.

"I will see you soon," he said, his voice dark and promising.