Bitten by the Vampire by Bonnie Vanak Page A

next time he could drain her?
    Â 
    She rested most of the afternoon. When she finally woke, feeling groggy and still weakened, Mara went into the living room. Petra hung upside down from the ceiling light fixture. Lucien was reading and glanced up.
    At her mutinous expression, he sighed. “I had hoped a rest would revive you.”
    â€œIt did. Just enough for me to have strength enough to walk the hell out of here. Hunters or no hunters, I’m leaving.”
    Petra gave her an arch look as she swung on her perch.
    â€œGood idea. I wish you’d leave, Darklighter. Something is searching for you, something that walks on four legs and likes to eat Alpo. I don’t like four-leggeds. Having you around means they might sniff me out as well.”
    â€œNothing will get to you or Mara.” Lucien flicked a finger at the door. “I’ve warned off the hunters from touching her. And as long as you refrain from snacking on mortals during the day, you’ll be fine, Petra.”
    A loud belch burbled up from the gremlin. Lucien narrowed his eyes.
    â€œPetra? Have you been eating in public again?”
    The gremlin’s mint-green face pinked. She jumped down to the floor. “Well, maybe just once. Or twice. I met this dude from India while shopping and you know how I adore curry…”
    The dawning horror on Lucien’s face made Mara afraid. “You ate him?”
    â€œOf course not. I only took a little blood.”
    The glass coffee table shattered into thousands of shards. Lucien shot to his feet.
    â€œWe’re leaving.”
    Mara fought down panic. What would make this powerful Ancient so afraid?
    As he barked orders at Petra to leave the room, Mara understood. Lucien didn’t fear for himself, but for the gremlin.
    Petra ran back inside. “Lucien, there’s Alpo-eaters coming down the hallway.”
    He swore, jamming a hand through his hair, mussing the elegant curls. “We’ll go out through your room, Petra. Take the stairs. If there’s more, they can easily trap you in the elevator. We’ll head for the airport.”
    â€œAirport?” Alarm filled her.
    â€œBack to my home in Michigan. It’s isolated and safe there.”
    â€œI can’t leave the city!”
    â€œI don’t have time to argue. They’ll be here in a minute to take Petra. Petra, go out the balcony, it’s faster than the stairs.”
    â€œWe’re seventeen floors up. What are you going to do, fly down?” Mara stared at the gremlin.
    â€œDuh, of course,” Petra said, rolling her eyes. “It’s Miami. They’re used to seeing crazy things.”
    Lucien used his powers to lock the door behind them.

Chapter 8
    Every instinct screamed inside Mara to fight, not flee. She’d never be rid of Jones until he was dead, and Jones was here, in Miami. She had to stay here.
    But as she heard voices next door and the sound of furniture being overturned, a chill slid down her spine.
    â€œStay back,” Lucien warned.
    Splaying out his fingers, he directed a blast of light through the walls to his suite. Two loud, angry howls followed.
    â€œThey’re trapped, but only for a few minutes. I can dematerialize, but can’t take you with me during the day. My powers are too diminished by the sun.” Lucien herded her out into the hallway toward the fire exit as Petra stepped onto the balcony.
    â€œSeventeen flights?” Mara whispered.
    â€œChannel your inner work-out demon.”
    When they’d reached the bottom and burst outside into the street, her muscles screamed in protest. Mara’s knees buckled. She sagged against the wall, her lungs bellowing out sharp breaths.
    â€œWhere’s Petra?” she asked.
    Worry lined Lucien’s brow. He seemed to reach out with his powers. “Damn it. Petra went back to the room to stall them. She wants to buy us time.”
    Mara looked up and recoiled in shock. An aura of