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ground.
    Aiden shouted and swung her crucifix around to protect Matthew, but she was too slow. Daniel dragged Matthew away and thrust the priest toward his minions.
    “Hold him,” Daniel said.
    Immediately, the carrot-topped boy and the policewoman caught hold of the priest.
    Aiden expected Daniel’s attack, but that didn’t prepare her for the vampire’s speed. Daniel rushed her, progressing so fast his contorted face filled her vision. She kept the crucifix level and aimed for the vampire’s eyes, but Daniel caught hold of her wrist with disturbing ease. Then he twisted her arm, causing a wrenching pain in her shoulder. Against her will, Aiden bent over to avoid having her arm torn from the socket. She lost her grip on her crucifix.
    “Let her go!” Matthew shouted. “She’s done nothing.”
    Daniel immobilized Aiden, ignoring her struggles. He forced her head to the side and exposed her throat. “Oh, I don’t think so. I want you to suffer, Matt,” he said. “As a self-styled Lord of the Night, I’m rather pleased with the revenge I’ve concocted. So I’m going to eat your pretty daughter and make you watch.”
    The vampire continued, adopting an amused tone. “One of the more distinctive and interesting traits of the vampire subspecies Upyr is our distinctive tongues.” Daniel allowed his mouth to loll open, and a bloated tongue flopped out. Black and glistening with forked serrated edges, it bore a barbed hook on the end.
    His breath was putrid. Gagging, Aiden lashed out with her only free hand, gouging Daniel’s cheek with her nails. She hit the crucifix-shaped burn mark and dug into the raw flesh, leaving four parallel scratches. The vampire hissed and slapped her across the face.
    Stunned, Aiden slackened, and Daniel secured his hold on her with his hands so she could not breathe. Distantly, Aiden heard Father Matthew shouting and the vampire minions growling. Daniel’s angry pallid face loomed, filling her entire field of vision. Her heart thundered in her ears, and her toes scraped the ground. Then Daniel released Aiden’s throat, and the air came rushing back. She sucked down a gasping breath.
    Lips peeled back and tongue protruding, the vampire bent over Aiden’s throat. Ice cold and slimy, his tongue slapped against the soft flesh of her throat twice. Then the barbed hook embedded in her flesh, and Aiden cried out in pain. Her blood flowed from the cuts, and Daniel sought to seal his lips over the wounds so he could drink.
    Desperately, Aiden fought to break free, but the vampire’s strength was simply overwhelming.
    The night air reverberated with a series of pealing thunderclaps, and a powerful downdraft struck the parking lot. Daniel jerked his head away from Aiden’s throat, and his barbed tongue dislodged, ripping open her flesh. Aiden cried out and pressed a hand to the wound to staunch the bleeding. Everyone stopped to stare up as a vast shadow passed overhead.
    “What is that?” Daniel asked as the shadow descended.
    “That Mr. Would-be Lord of the Night,” Matthew breathed, sounding both relieved and self-satisfied. “Is the real deal.”

Chapter Three

     
    The shadow swept over the parking lot and crossed in profile against the silver moon. Aiden received the impression of a man’s body and vast black wings extending perhaps fifty feet from his torso. From the distance, she couldn’t discern whether they were feathery or leathery. The creature’s shape was that of a bat as opposed to a butterfly.
    The figure hovered, descending upon beating wings, and each downward sweep created another thunderous crack and tremendous blast of air. The downdraft hit people and pavement with torrential force, sending leaves and litter flying.
    “Magnus!” Matthew shouted. “Any day now would be appreciated.” The priest’s voice shattered the collective trance.
    “Magnus,” Daniel breathed, staring upward. The vampire remained frozen, maintaining a brutal hold on his