Chills were running down my spine as I eased into Ben's strong arms that wrapped tightly around me. There were so many questions running through my mind, so much anxiety over what he'd been through. I didn't know whether to be happy or to be horrified that I would see him in a place like the Blood Shade. "With all due respect, my beloved prince," Derek's guest purred in a tone that made me think of no other word than seduction, "I don't like other girls touching what's mine, and from the look on your face, I doubt you're enjoying this sight either." I could feel Ben's body tense the moment she spoke. It was sickening to think of the possibilities surrounding his presence at the Shade. I wanted to speak, to say something to him, ask him at least one of the questions swimming around in my head, but I knew that the moment I tried, I wouldn't be able to hold back the sobs. I wanted to hold on to him, but we both knew that we had to let go. Holdi

I swallowed hard. Fallen in love? With Derek? I couldn't lie to myself. I knew I was in danger of falling for him, but whether that had happened already… whether I'd actually fallen for him I still wasn't sure of. I felt as if I didn't need to defend whatever it was that I had with Derek to Ben, nor did I want to, so I focused on Ben instead. I knew that there was no escaping where this conversation was going. I heaved a sigh gearing myself up for the worst. "What happened to you, Ben? How did you get here? What has she been doing to you?" There was a long pause before Ben heaved a sigh and began to explain. "You didn't return to the villa the night of your birthday. I was worried sick. I waited for you and when dawn came and you still weren't around, I started looking for you. That's when she found me. She took me to her penthouse and I'd been there since. This was the first time she'd allowed me out after I tried to escape."

I wanted to take the girls with me and insisted on it. Derek wouldn't hear of it. In fact, he simply ignored me. He wouldn't even look at me. But he looked at Ben and said, "Protect her."   Ben just looked at him incredulously as if to say that he didn't need to be told to do that. It was easy to see that Ben didn't really like Derek and saw no reason to be grateful for what he was doing.   I saw differently. I knew how much Derek was risking by helping us escape. He was severely compromising the safety of everyone at the Shade by letting us go. He was giving his kind a reason to question his rule. I feared for him – so much so that I found myself debating if I even wanted to leave.   What he told Ben next tore me apart inside.   "Make sure she gets home safe."   Home. I told him that he'd begun to feel like home, and at that moment, I knew I was lying to myself if I was trying t

I found it ironic that it was Derek who first relented. I was still mystified by what he saw in me that continuously made him give in to me. After all, of the three of us, he was still the one holding any real power. He could simply decide that neither Ben nor I could leave and that would be that. Still, he gave in. His blue eyes softened the moment they landed on me. He nodded and said, "Fine, but not here."   He then scowled at Ben before possessively laying his hand on the small of my back, gently pushing me forward.   "Unbelievable…" Ben grumbled, throwing his hands into the air as he followed after us.   We made our way through the rest of the woods, weaving our way past large rocks and wild bushes. My brain took note of every single detail of the hidden paths that led us from Derek's penthouse to the port. The trees seemed to get smaller and smaller as we neared a clearing. The quiet rustle of our shoes ove

Sensation after sensation assaulted me, and yet my mind was still predominantly fixed on the way Derek had looked in my dream – pale, distant… heartless. Trembling, I pulled my knees against my chest, gathering the beach sand beneath my heels. "Derek, please be alright. Stay alright…" I whispered, hoping the morning breeze would carry the message back to The Shade and let him know I was still thinking of him. "Why all the whispering?" Ben looked at ease and relaxed for the first time since we discovered each other back at The Shade. Still, even with the lighter tone, every word he spoke came with a heaviness I couldn't completely shake. He plopped himself down next to me. "Where do you think we are?" he asked. "We're in Cancun." I had no doubt about it. "It makes sense for them to return us where they found us." Le Meridien. That was the r