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the clench of fury in his chest, he kept his gaze ahead, exhaled another steady stream of smoke as he took a moment. ‘What do you want, Max?’
    ‘I want to know what you’re playing at, Kane.’
    Kane licked his bottom lip, composing himself before turning to face him.
    Max remained rooted to the spot a safe enough distance away and in plain sight of the security cameras and the armed guard in his tower above.
    ‘I could ask you the same question, allowing me to be brought in with nothing conclusive to support your accusations. Still, it got me up close and personal with the VCU’s golden girl.’ Kane exhaled a taunting, steady stream of smoke. ‘So it wasn’t a complete waste of my time.’
    Max adjusted his position to try to take the authoritative stance, but Kane could see the unease in his eyes; he could sense the fear. Max shouldn’t be at the gate talking to him or confronting him. But he had the obvious question that he couldn’t manage to contain: ‘Why did you let her live?’
    ‘I don’t just go around randomly killing anyone, Max.’ He glanced to the floor as he flicked ash onto it. He looked back into his eyes. ‘Despite what you boys like to claim.’
    ‘Leave her alone, Kane.’
    Kane smiled. ‘You should have trained her better. Taught her about playing kiss-chase with boys from the wrong side of the track.’
    ‘She was doing her job. She did it and now it’s over.’
    ‘Says who?’
    Max’s eyes exuded dread and resentment despite his efforts to contain it. ‘What do you want with her, Kane?’
    Kane took a step closer, just enough for Max to lose his stance and take a small but wary step back. ‘What would any cold-blooded vampire want with her?’
    Max narrowed his eyes. ‘Do you want to make a deal over something? Is that what this is about?’
    Kane smiled again. ‘Maybe I’ll get back to you on that one.’ He turned away before his instincts got the better of him.
    ‘Is it to do with the prophecy?’
    Kane stopped. He exhaled another steady stream of smoke despite the inner jolt at hearing the words slip from human lips. If they’d been alone, Max would have already been pinned face-first against the gate, his swiftly broken arm wrenched up behind his back, his knees cracking against the tarmac as Kane demanded his source. But he knew the rumours were out there, even if they didn’t know all the facts. No one but the Higher Order vampires and master vampires knew the precise facts of how it would be brought to fruition. At least it had better be that way or he’d find whoever had decided to the contrary.
    He turned to face him again, kept his composure impassive. ‘And what prophecy is that, Max?’
    The grip of silence was indication enough that Max had clearly said something he shouldn’t. Wary hesitation flooded his eyes. His lips and eyebrows twitched. His stance was instantly defensive. ‘The one where you win.’
    Kane dropped his cigarette hand loose to his side again. ‘Someone has been telling tales.’
    ‘It’s no secret. Not anymore. And you know it. Just tell me if that’s why you want Caitlin.’
    The fact that Max seemed to believe a shadow reader could have something to do with it was reassurance enough that he clearly didn’t know what he was talking about. Kane lifted the cigarette back to his lips. ‘You need to find yourself more accurate sources.’
    ‘Vampires will never rule humans,’ Max said firmly. ‘We’ll see to it.’
    Kane suppressed his scowl with a smile. ‘Take care of yourself, Max,’ he said, turning away again. He sauntered out onto the street. ‘And that pretty stepdaughter of yours.’

CHAPTER FIVE
    C aitlin woke up feeling cold, the door’s buzzer jolting her back to reality.
    Images of Kane were still fresh in her mind, the memories dispersing with her increased consciousness. She’d been back in the corridor, his hard body pressed against hers, his cool, strong hands pinning her wrists to the wall as his lips had