I won't be yours tonight. She is too much between us. Neferet backed away from Kalona. Even Heath was captured by her beauty. Her thick auburn hair was wild around her. The silky stuff that wrapped around her body looked like a second skin, and her boobs were almost totally exposed as she breathed hard and fast. I know I am not immortal, nor am I Zoey Redbird, but my powers, too, are vast, and you should remember I killed the last male who tried to claim me and her. Neferet whirled around. With a wave of her hand she parted the hedge in front of her and stepped through it, leaving Kalona standing alone and staring after her in the dim clearing. Heath was getting ready to back slowly away when Kalona's head turned and his amber eyes went straight to where he was standing. So, little human, you now have a story to tell my Zoey, he said. Heath looked into the immortal's eyes and he knew two things beyond any doubt. One was that this creature was going to kill him. The second was that somehow he had to show Zoey the truth before he died. Heath didn't flinch under the creature's stare.

Instead he used all the strength of will he'd learned to harness so well on a different kind of battlefield--a football field--and he channeled it through the blood bond of their Imprint, trying to find the element Zoey had the strongest affinity with--spirit. His heart and soul shouted into the night: Spirit, come to me! Help take my message to Zo! Tell her she has to find me! Meanwhile his voice calmly told Kalona, She's not your Zoey. Ah, but she is, Kalona said. Zo! Come to me! Heath's soul cried. Nah, you don't know my girl. Your girl's soul belongs to me and I will not allow Neferet or you or anyone to change that. Kalona began walking toward Heath. Zo! It's you and me, babe! Come to me! What is that expression the vampyres use? Kalona said. I believe it is curiosity killed the cat.' It seems particularly applicable to this situation.

Stark

I'm an idiot. Stark grumbled to himself as he made his way through the grand entrance to the palace. Sir, do you need direction? asked a warrior who stood just inside. Yeah, I need to know where Aphrodite's room is. You know, the human prophetess who came here with us today? Oh, I'm Stark, Warrior to the High Priestess Zoey Redbird. We know who you are, the vampyre said. His eyes moved to Stark's red tattoos. It's all very fascinating. Yeah, well, fascinating' isn't the word I'd use. The warrior smiled. You have not been bound to her long, have you? No. Just a few days. It gets better--and worse. Thanks. I think. Stark blew out a long breath. Even though Zoey made him crazy, he knew he could never walk away from her again. He was her Warrior. His place, no matter how tough it got, was by her side. The warrior laughed. The suite you seek is in the north wing of the palace. Go left here, take the first staircase on your right. On the second floor, that entire suite of rooms has been allotted to your group. You will find your friends there. Thanks again. Stark started in the direction the warrior had sent him, walking quickly. He had an itchy feeling on the back of his neck. He hated it when he got that feeling. It meant something was going wrong, and that meant it was a stupid time for him to get pissed at Zoey. It was just so damn hard. He felt her attraction for Kalona! Why the hell couldn't she see that the guy was bad? There was nothing in him left to save--there probably had never been anything worth saving inside him. Stark had to convince her that he was right. And to do that he had to stop letting his feelings for her mess with his head. Zoey was a smart girl. He'd talk to her. Calmly. She'd listen to him. From the first time they'd met, before they'd been anything together, she'd listened to him. He knew he could get her to listen again. Stark climbed the stairs three at a time. The first door to his left was partially open, and he could see into a rich-looking room that had a couple of those couches that were too little and a bunch of uncomfortable chairs--all done up in golds and creams. Like that wouldn't get dirty? He heard the murmur of voices and was just opening the door farther when Zoey's emotions smacked him like a tidal wave.

Fear! Anger! Confusion! What was going through her head was such a jumbled mess that he couldn't sort out anything except the basest of feelings. Stark? What is it? Darius was there in front of him. Zoey! he managed to rasp. She's in trouble! And then the force of it literally made him stagger. He would have fallen had Darius not grabbed him. Get a hold of yourself! Where is she? Darius had him by his shoulders and was shaking him. Stark looked up to see the worried faces of Zoey's friends all staring at him. He shook his head, trying to think through the terror in his mind. I can't--I'm-- You must! Do not try to think. Just let your instincts take over. A Warrior can always find his lady. Always. His body was trembling, but Stark nodded, turned, drew three deep breaths and then said one word, Zoey! Her name seemed to echo in the air around him. He concentrated on it--not on the chaos in his mind. He thought only, Zoey Redbird, my lady. And like the words had become a lifeline, they began pulling him forward. Stark ran. He could feel Darius and the others at his back. He vaguely saw the surprised look on the warrior's face he'd so recently spoken to, but he ignored everything. He thought only of Zoey and let the strength of his oath draw him to her. It felt like he was flying. He didn't remember finding the path along the labyrinth, but later he did remember the crunching of stones under his feet as he pulled away from even Darius in his oath-driven speed. Still he was too late. If Stark lived for five hundred years he would never forget what he saw when he burst around the corner of the path and into the little clearing. The sight would forever be burned into his soul. Kalona and Heath were farthest away from him. The two of them were standing in front of the outer wall that enclosed the island and shielded it from the eyes of Venetian humans.