He snorted at that. "We know it's just a rumor that you killed all of those hunters.

However, everything else about you isn't a rumor. You've drunk the blood of two master vampires. That makes you very special. But you don't have to bite me. The virus is in your blood as well as your fangs. Doesn't matter if you're alive or dead. All I need is enough of your blood." He dragged the tip of the stake along my neck and I felt a stinging pain and a warm trickle of blood slid down my throat. "See? Not so tough after all."

"Let me go right now." My gaze whipped over to where Heather stood, hoping that she would see that her darling boyfriend was actually a violent sociopath, but she just looked at him with love and devotion.

"Kill her," she prompted. "We can save the money we were going to pay her for our honeymoon."

I breathed out, trying not to shake with the fear I felt, and tried to think as calmly as I could. This wasn't the first time I'd been in a life-or-death situation. However, I wasn't quite the victim I'd been ten weeks ago when I was made into a vampire by my blind date.

"Josh," I said shakily. "Listen, we can talk this out."

The stake eased off a bit from my throat. "Can we?"

"Not really." I stomped on his instep and twisted away from him. Then I curled my hand into a fist and socked him as hard as I could in his jaw. Not too much vampire strength, but since he was only human it was enough to knock him back a few feet. Enough for me to get away.

That is, if I didn't suddenly have his vampire girlfriend behind me, pinning my arms down at my sides.

"Let go of me, Heather," I snarled at her. "Right now."

"Not a chance."

"I thought we were friends? Why would you do something like this to a friend?"

"Because I love Josh. But I guess somebody involved with a cold, emotionless jerk like

Thierry wouldn't understand what true love feels like, would you?"