A man laughed. Nikolai peered through the netting up at Volkov, standing next to Sienna, bound and gagged in a chair.
"We were getting worried, lieutenant," said Volkov, trailing his fingers through Sienna's hair. "Oh wait. But you're not a lieutenant anymore, are you? You're a traitor. And you know what happens to them, don't you?"
The look of palpable fear in Sienna's eyes gutted him, for it wasn't for herself she seemed to fear, but for him.
"Volkov," he growled, even as smoke rose from the burns on the exposed skin of his hands, neck, and face, the hiss and smell of his burning flesh rising. "If you let me go now, I will spare your life."
"Let you go?" he laughed.
The other four vampires laughed with him, one of them the brutish, bald one he'd fought in Lobdell. Boris. Nikolai determined then and there that he'd kill them all, rip their heads right from their bodies.
"I don't think so, traitor."
"I will gut you like the fucking pig you are if you touch her."
"Big words for a man on his way to the royal dungeons. It will be difficult for you to gut me when you're in a bloodless sleep."
Sienna whimpered, her teary gaze on Nikolai. Volkov's fingers stopped lightly petting Sienna, then he clenched a fist in her hair and jerked backward, forcing her to look up at him. She made not a sound. Volkov stared down at her, his words like ice through Nikolai's veins. "Oh, I plan on doing more than that." He stroked a finger down her exposed neck to the hollow between her collarbones. "She's so juicy, Nikolai. No wonder you kept her well hidden."
"I will fucking kill you," Nikolai grated low and deep, his inner beast lashing to get out. He struggled in the netting. The brutish one kicked Nikolai in the face so hard his vision hazed. Sienna's muffled scream wrenched his stomach into a knot. One of the other vampires pressed the toe of his boot on Nikolai's head, keeping him immobile, cheek to the floor.
"How the fuck did you find us?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" he laughed. "You'll know soon enough. As soon as you get back to the Glass Tower."
Nikolai didn't have a second to consider what that meant before he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. The steady, long strides of two men echoed down the hall before they entered. From his sideways posture on the floor, Nikolai could see Sienna's expression shift from fear to surprise to anger.
"You've made a bit of a mess, Volkov," said the man standing just behind Nikolai where he couldn't see him, the distinct tone of arrogance and wealth lingering in his voice. The tight netting restrained him in a way he could no longer move, besides the fact the bastard behind him still had his foot on his head.
"We'll clean it up, Lord Barker," Volkov assured him, obviously referring to the dead widow's body in the hallway, his hand still in Sienna's hair. "Is she the one you spoke of?"
The man out of Nikolai's sight kept silent for a long minute. Sienna stared at the man Nikolai couldn't see, her posture straight even as she trembled, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Yes. That is her."
"Good," said Volkov, finally releasing her hair and clapping his hands together. "Very well, then. You know your job. I suggest you get what you need done and be ready for dawn."
"Why so soon?"
"Because the queen commands it. And trust me. She will reward you handsomely for your loyalty to the crown."
A slight pause. "Very well. I'll report to your quarters at dawn to retrieve her."
The man and his partner, whoever they were, left the room, their footsteps dying quickly away.
"You three take care of him." Volkov lifted his chin toward Nikolai. "And take care of the old woman's body." He leaned over and hefted Sienna out of the chair, tossing her over his shoulder like a sack of flour. "Boris and I will take care of her. I'm hungry."
"Volkov!" screamed Nikolai in a desperate rage.
Volkov stared down, grinning, his canines extending long and sharp. "Farewell, lieutenant," he said mockingly. "Enjoy your bloodless sleep." He clamped an arm around the back of Sienna's thighs, holding her tight, then lifted her red cape over the crook of his free arm. "I plan to enjoy my prize after the effort you put me through."
He flashed away in a blur, his haunting laugh searing up Nikolai's spine like a trail of molten fire. Volkov had the blood madness, and he had his sweet Sienna in his clutches. The fear of losing her, of the pain and harm that a monster like that could inflict upon her, ripped a harrowing yell from his throat.
"Shut up, filthy traitor," said the vampire who'd finally taken his foot off his head.
His boot was the last thing Nikolai saw.