Page 99 of Sold to the Dark Vampire Prince

“I told myself it was the only way to save him, that the research I was doing would ultimately help so many people that I had to just look the other way and not think about where the samples were coming from.” She took a shuddering breath. “But deep down, I think part of me knew. There’s more, Alex. He has me working on another project with the wolves. And it’s so much worse. I’m ashamed to even tell you what he and father have played a part in, what I’ve now played a part in, too.”

“We’ll fix it,” he whispered into his sister’s hair. “Whatever it is, I promise I’ll help you, as I should have done from the start.”

CHAPTER 15

“YOU GOT IT?” Alex examined the small, faintly blueish dagger that was lying on the counter in his sister’s safe house. “I thought Finneas said artifacts couldn’t be created this quickly.”

“He and I talked again after we got back to the sector,” Sera said darkly. “I was able to persuade him to come around to my way of thinking.”

“Please tell me you didn’t just start a war with the entire fae kingdom.”

Smirking, Sera continued, “This dagger isn’t classified as a true artifact. Its magic isn’t strong or lasting enough. That’s how they were able to get it to us so quickly. The power it contains will degrade after twelve hours.” She checked her phone. “Make that eleven and a half, now.”

“That’s cutting it close.”

“It’s what we get. Finneas said they spelled it that way on purpose so that it can’t be stolen and used to get through their wards. Apparently, the faerie are feeling touchy about their border given the recent security issues in the region. We’ll just have to hurry. Will Dante help us?”

“He’s in. Evan Girard will have her network standing by to hide people once we get them out.” He hesitated. “And you know I talked to Isabella.”

“When I first saw your text, I couldn’t believe it. What the hell was she thinking?”

“She’s convinced Father is sick.”

“One of the freed prisoners we interviewed referenced that, too. We thought they were referring to Luciano Cavalieri. I don’t buy it. I think it’s all a fake illness constructed to buy sympathy and convince any researchers who are balking to look the other way and abandon medical ethics. They probably have other fake stories about kids they’re supposedly trialing the drug on at cancer treatment centers and chronic illness patients like Ava Girard.”

Sera shook her head. “The data doesn’t lie. Cavalieri Industries has been cutting drug access for years and if they ever did manage to develop some miracle serum using fae blood, the only people getting access would be the oligarchs who could pay top price.”

Alex held up both hands. “Isabella gets that she messed up. She gave us the confirmed location for the research facility. I think this could be a real breakthrough with her.”

“I want you to be right, okay?” Sera leaned against the kitchen table. “I just don’t know that we can trust her.”

“We don’t have a choice. The resistance is moving ahead with the strike?”

“They’re coordinating with Finneas’ team since we both have hostages in there.”

“Do you know when?”

“It’ll start in just a few hours.” She nodded to the dagger. “So this will open any lock or barrier you touch it to. For the spell to work, you have to touch the tip of the dagger to the lock and say three words in Elvish.”

“Great,” he muttered. “Since we both remember my Elvish pronunciation was famously lacking back in school.”

“We should both probably practice.”

Ten minutes later, he’d managed to successfully unlock the padlock seven out of the previous fifteen tries.

“I’m texting Finneas and telling him his language is all vowels,” he grumbled. “I don’t know how anyone can speak it.”

“I’m sure that will go over well.”

Alex rubbed his temples. “And I’m not sure I’m going to improve my accuracy in the next few hours. We might as well text Dante—”

A sudden wave of dizziness and panic washed over him. The dagger fell from his hand, clattering to the floor. Vision blurring, Alex staggered into Sera’s kitchen table.

“Alex!” she said sharply. “Sit down. Let me get you some water.”

“No, wait.” He was staring at the mating mark on his wrist, which had suddenly gone so cold to the touch that it practically burned his skin. “Something’s happened to Dani.”

“You’re shaking and your pupils are dilated.” Sera pressed a gloved hand to his forehead. “Your pulse is spiking.”