But his rage burned hotter as he thought about why it had happened. The Vampire who’d hired others to drug him planned to force him to breed with a human. It was like adding insult to injury. They’d even shorn his hair, as if he were a scruffy dog that needed grooming. Their clammy fingers had touched his scalp as they’d chopped away his hair until if felt very short. The degradation had grown when one had produced disposable razors to remove his chest hair.

His current position of being flat on a dirt floor with a table strapped to his back didn’t do anything to defuse his temper. He was at the mercy of this human to help him escape.

He was going to kill every damn Vampire he came across once he was freed.

He’d keep his bargain with Glenda though. He wouldn’t hurt her and he’d take her to the surface. He’d even help her get to a safe location, but he’d have to wipe her mind afterward. She had been captured too and brought into the mine against her will. She was an innocent.

“Yes!” Glenda sounded excited.

A second later, one of his arms came free. He lowered it. The handcuff was still attached to his wrist but the other side wasn’t hooked to metal anymore. He glared at the offensive restraint. Once he got home he’d be able to get them off, or perhaps he could find tools at the house he took her to so she could call for help. He would need to think up a story to implant into her mind to tell the human authorities.

“One down, three more to go,” she announced.

He clenched his teeth and refused to thank her. He was going to save her ass, and it really irritated him that his freedom depended upon her.

Humans were nothing but trouble. They feared what they didn’t understand and would want to attack his people if they ever discovered others existed. Her kind would never change. Only their weapons advanced with time. Villagers had once hunted Vamps and Lycans with pitchforks and swords. Now they had guns and bombs.

He focused his anger on the master who had decided to capture and breed a VampLycan. His keen hearing had picked up most of the conversation Glenda had with the supposed Vampire king. He stifled a snarl. As if any daughter of his would end up the companion of a suckhead. Veso sure as hell wouldn’t fuck a human, either. They were too weak and fearful. She’d probably run screaming the first time he shifted forms or flashed a little fang.

“Almost there,” she whispered.

Something dropped a few inches from his face, and he stared at the screw that landed in the dirt. She was literally taking the gurney apart. He had to give her credit for intelligence. He was curious as well, if he had to be honest. Was she really using a piece of her bra as a tool? And then there was her show of bravery. Most humans would be frozen with terror at being locked up inside a room with someone like him.

Metal popped and his other arm was freed. He had a set of handcuffs attached to each wrist but at least he could move. He wanted to push up his chest and throw the gurney off him but held still so she could free his legs.

“Two down, two to go.”

“I’m aware. I can count.”

Does she think I’m dense? She probably does; humans believe they’re the only intelligent life on the planet.

He clenched his teeth and tried to be patient. He focused on a plan of escape while he waited. She told him she’d counted nine soldiers, one full Vampire, and then the master. The odds weren’t in his favor since he could still feel drugs in his system, but he had rage on his side and determination. He had a real chance to fight his way out of the nest.

“So much for being thankful,” she muttered. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re kind of a grump?”

She reminded him a little of Kira, who was the result of a VampLycan mating with a human, taking mostly after her weaker mother. He’d been ordered to train her to fight. At first it had been a pain in his ass but he’d tolerated her well enough, despite her human tendencies. “Yes. There’s a woman where I live who says that often.”

“She’s right.”

“I’m having a bad night.”

“I’ve had a bad few nights or weeks. I lost track of time but I’ve been down here way longer than you, buddy. You don’t hear me growling and grumbling or being rude.”

She had a point. He wasn’t going to admit it though.

“And I’m the one who doesn’t have claws,” she went on. “I keep questioning my sanity over letting you go. Don’t you think I’m aware that you could be lying? You gave me your word but I don’t know you from Adam. You could be a big ol’ liar. You’d better not be.”

He had to give her credit for taking a huge risk. He wasn’t so sure he’d be as willing to trust a stranger if he were in her position. “I won’t harm you, Glenda.”

“Glen.”

“You’re a woman. I refuse to call you by a man’s name.”

“Veso is a weird name but I’m not refusing to call you that. The name is Glen. Please use it. I told you, I got teased about being a movie witch, so I prefer just Glen.”

He wasn’t going to argue with her over a name. “Fine, woman.”

“You want to play it that way? I’ll just call you big and scary.”

He actually smiled. She had spunk.

One of his legs dropped away from the table. “I know what you’re going to say, Glenda. Three down, one to go.”

She sighed. “Almost done, scary dude.”

It surprised him when the urge to laugh surfaced. It wasn’t the appropriate time to find humor but she amused him. “Dude?”

“I’m originally from Southern California. I grew up by the beach.”

“Where do you live now?”

“Oregon. My job transferred me there about eight years ago.”

She was a long way from home. “Where do you think we are?”

“Somewhere in Oregon.”

He didn’t correct her. It might distract her from freeing his leg. “How were you taken?”

“I was sitting on the couch after work, eating dinner and watching a show. It was about eight o’clock.” She sucked in a sharp breath. “Ouch.”

“What happened?”

“Nothing. The wire is getting messed up from fighting with these stupid screws. Some of them are rusty.” She paused. “Anyway, I was eating dinner and minding my own business when I heard a window break in the bedroom. I thought one of the neighbors’ kids threw a ball, since I live on the second story. That happened once last year. I ran in there to try to see who did it, but Vlad and two of those creepers were climbing inside. I tried to run but they’re too fast. Vlad tackled me and I hit the floor. He shoved something stinky over my face and it knocked me out. I woke up here.” She laughed humorlessly. “So much for that bullshit about how Vampires can’t enter your home without permission. I sure didn’t invite them in.”