– Have you ever been to England? – Grayson asked.

I stared at his perfectly handsome face and couldn't answer.

– You'd love it there," the vampire smiled. – And so will my castle.

– Why don't you just kill me? – I asked in a low voice.

– I'll definitely do it, but later. Let's go.

Grayson grabbed my hand, opened the door, and led me in again. His icy fingers burned my palm, and I felt like a little bunny that the beast had already captured in its deadly embrace and was squeezing, but not killing, to savour its victim's suffering.

We took our seats: me by the porthole, the vampire in a neighbouring chair.

I turned my back to the window. I wanted nothing more than to be silent. My gaze was fixed on a single point. All the strength in me was gone.

– Still, I can't understand how he fell in love with you enough to tell you he was a vampire," my neighbour said quietly, mockingly.

– You've probably never been in love," I whispered faintly.

– Not me, heartless," Grayson grinned.

I listened indifferently and smiled weakly at the thought that my Cedric wasn't like other vampires. My Cedric is kind, sensitive, and human.

– Why are you smiling?

– I'm glad Cedric isn't like you. He's taller than all of you," I answered him, feeling proud of my lover.

– Only a crazy idiot would fall in love with a mortal," Grayson said in a quietly sinister tone. – How much did he tell you?

– You're the crazy one! – I blurted out, outraged that he was slinging mud at Cedric.

– Choose your words. Fool, you have no idea what I could do to all those people! And you know what the beauty of it is? I can kill them, but they can't kill me," the vampire said grimly.

– Say what you want! I don't care! Just leave me alone! – I whispered tiredly and turned away from him. But suddenly I felt him put his palm on my wrist and cover our hands with his newspaper. I tried to push it away, but he only tightened his grip, hurting me deeply.

– Don't do anything stupid," Grayson whispered in my ear.

– Miss, are you okay? – I heard the flight attendant's concerned voice.

I smiled as I looked at her, a spark of hope flickering through me. I planned to pretend I was sick and ask the woman to walk me to the bathroom, but the vampire gripped my wrist so tightly that I almost cried out in pain. His fingers were crushing my bones like a vise, and I was afraid he was going to break them.

"Don't you dare say anything," his icy blue eyes said.

– No, I'm just afraid of flying… But thank you for your concern," I gritted my teeth through the pain, trying to keep the tears out of my voice.

– Don't worry, I'll take care of her," Grayson said, smiling at the stewardess. – 'We're friends.

"Friends? Bloody predender!" – I mentally shouted.

– Okay, but if you feel worse, make sure you call me," the flight attendant told me and stepped away from us.

It wasn't until the stewardess was behind the curtain that the vampire let go of my wrist, and I immediately threw the paper off it and saw the dark blue indentations Grayson's fingers had left on it.

– I hate you! – I said quietly.

He only laughed softly in response.

I paced towards the car park and still couldn't believe that Viper was flying away. But despite the sadness of the breakup, I was glad that Viper was safe from now on, and I looked forward to the message she was supposed to send me as soon as she arrived at Rio airport. I was scared for Viper, for the plane could fall and crash, or a storm could come up that would bring the possibility of an accident.

When I arrived at the castle, I put my car in the garage, sprayed the interior and myself with air freshener, went upstairs and found Markus – he was in the lounge, chatting among his friends, but when he saw me, he came towards me.

– There you are! I have good news for you! – Markus said, smiling broadly.

– What news? – I smiled too.

– Let's take a walk around the city and I'll tell you all about it. – Markus winked at me.

'Something about Viper,' I guessed, or Markus wouldn't have lured me away from the castle and the guests.

Fearing the ears of strangers and chatting about nonsense, we went down to the garage, got into my brother's car, and, only after driving far away from the castle, Markus stopped the car in a small grove, under the dense shade of tall, powerful trees.

– What's the good news? – I asked, intrigued by Markus's behaviour.

But instead of answering, Markus turned on the radio loudly and began to sing along-he seemed to be enjoying his exciting news and wanting to torture me.

– Markus!