Marcus's territory wasn't a mansion.
It wasn't a fortress.
It was something worse.
A kingdom.
The compound sprawled across the western quarry, carved directly into stone. Steel gates. Watchtowers. Armed guards. Layers of security built by a man who trusted no one.
Not even himself.
We stopped a mile away.
Nobody spoke at first.
The rising sun painted the horizon gray.
Lucien broke the silence.
"If this goes bad, you leave."
I looked at him.
"No."
His dark eyes found mine.
"Ava."
"I'm not leaving you."
A muscle jumped in his jaw.
For a second, something old and dangerous flickered behind his eyes.
The vampire.
Not the man.
The predator.
"You will," he said quietly. "If I tell you to."
I held his gaze.
Neither of us looked away.
Kade sighed.
"Can we postpone the dram
