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We drove for over an hour, and I peered out the window, watching the cars zoom past us and cut each other off. We reached an industrial building near the Santa Monica pier. I walked into a fancy lobby, trailing behind Julian, and I eyed the receptionist, smacking gum with a wide-open mouth. She hustled to stand when we approached the counter.

“Julian, sweetheart. It’s nice to see you,” she said, leaning in to kiss him on each cheek. She had a beautiful accent, but I wasn’t sure from where. The woman with short blonde hair, blue eyes, and freckles on her crooked nose sized me up. “Who the hell are you?”

And … she’s a bitch.

“I’m Mercy,” I said confidently, trying to match her brazen remark. “Who the hell are you?” Her jaw dropped right before Julian gripped my elbow, pulling me from her and into a hallway.

“Don’t you mind Emma,” he said once the door shut behind us. “She’s grown a crush on me after a one-night stand two weeks ago and probably believes we’re together now.” He gave me a wink and gestured for me to move forward. Julian seemed to be hurrying me, and I wasn’t sure what the rush was.

Julian wouldn’t answer any of my questions on the drive to Los Angeles, either. He was someone I thought I could trust, yet he seemed so cryptic most of the time.

He led me down the hall, which was framed with glass windows, and I saw beautiful purple plants growing inside a greenhouse through the glass. The plants lined several racks along the walls and in the center. Whatever plant they were growing, they needed plenty of it. We entered a spacious room with tall ceilings. The room was massive, but it wasn’t the size that caught my attention, but the equipment inside.

“Julian, what is this place?” I asked.

“This is where we operate our business,” he replied. “We’ve been developing Freedom Corporation for a year now, and we’re about to launch our first product. We’re still working out a few kinks and last-minute ingredients, but once we do—” He stopped as we both looked up at a large steel tank in front of us. “It will change their kind forever.”

“Vampires?”

He nodded. “Yes, Mercy. Vampires never had to seek out the ability to walk in the light because they depended on a witch to save them from that curse. But when they learned that was a lie, the vampire race joined forces with my coven to create a spell, a potion that, when given to a vampire, would enable them to walk in the light forever. Not just a temporary solution like I’ve been able to provide.”

I placed my hand on the cold steel of the tank and looked back at him. “But … how?”

This baffled me. From what I’d learned this last week, vampires could never walk in the light. Could something as simple as a potion work? Could Maurice finally join me on the beach during the day? God, that would be a dream.

“Dark magic,” he said. “It’s the only way because witches are forbidden to help vampires. You were one of the loyal ones, Mercy. You wanted to help. You knew there was good in them, which made you fall in love with Maurice. The two of you, though vastly different, understand one another.”

I blushed when he said, “fall in love.” Surely, I felt a powerful connection with Maurice. Did Ilovehim? I wasn’t sure anymore.

“We are short a few ingredients, though. Once it’s complete, we can start testing it on vampire subjects.”

Test trials. But what if it didn’t work? Would they all die? No, Maurice wouldn’t put his own kind in danger like that.

I cast my eyes around again. There were machines, tubes, and cases all over the place. On the right-hand side sat several computers and technology that looked far too complicated for me to understand. Right as I approached the computers, Maurice walked in. “Hey babe,” he said with a smile so wide it reached his eyes and creased the dimple on his left cheek. “Exciting, isn’t it. Now you can finally see what we’re doing here.”

He walked up, kissed me on the lips, and pulled back when I heard someone clear their throat. A woman with short black hair and stunningly beautiful features stood behind Maurice with her arms crossed over her chest.

“So, this is Mercy,” she said. “How delightful it is to meet you. I’m Clara.”

Would she reject me, too, like that bitch, Emma?

I held out my hand. “Hi. Nice to meet you, Clara.”

She grabbed my hand and shook it with a firm grip. “Welcome to Freedom Corp.” She let go and looked at Maurice with an odd grin. “I hope you like what we’re doing here. It’s been quite a year developing this potion, but once we’re finished, we’ll be able to help so many lives. Just think about it. This potion will create a barrier on vampires’ skin to protect them from the UV rays that destroy them. Wouldn’t that be delightful?”

I nodded, except an unexpected trail of nerves slithered down my spine. “Yes … yes, it would,” I said. Then I looked at Maurice, desperately wanting to be anywhere but near this woman. Something was off. “I’d love to see the rest of the factory.”

Maurice ran his hand through his black hair before reaching out and taking my hand. “Come, I’d love to show you something, Mercy.”

“Okay,” I said as he led me out the door and down the hall. We entered another room, which had clear stalls toward the back, and …peoplewere inside.

The lump in my throat got stuck, and I found breathing almost impossible.

What the actual fuck?

My stomach twisted before I asked, “Maurice, what the hell is this?”

With one smooth glide, he stood behind me, slinking his powerful arms around my waist and pulling me into his muscular chest. “Don’t worry, darling,” he purred into my ear. “Their sacrifice is going to save us.”

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