Free Stefan (Lost Nights Series Book 1) by Jocelynn Drake Page A

step backward toward the wall, as a new fear twisting in my stomach. “Why?”
    “The dead human in your apartment was a favored pet of another nightwalker. She’s demanding that you stand trial before the Coven for the crime of killing her.”
    There was a lot in that statement that I didn’t understand, but none of it sounded particularly good. “No.”
    “Erin,” Stefan said in a low, warning voice.
    “No, Stefan. I’m staying here.” I flopped back down on the thin mattress on the floor and crossed my arms over my chest. “I’d rather take my chances with the humans than deal with the vampires. I have no doubt that it was some freaking vampire that got me into this mess and I’m done with the lot of you. Done!”
    “I’m sorry, ma petite, but that option is no longer available to you,” Stefan said gently. For the first time, he looked truly sorry about the state of my life. I didn’t know whether to think that this was his fault. Or maybe not really his fault, but rather the fault of his people since I seriously didn’t think that he had intended for me to be hurt.
    A soft sigh escaped me as my arms fell slack into my lap. I closed my eyes, wishing I could block out the world, or at least my little part of it. There was no getting away. I could either go willingly or Stefan was going to drag my stubborn ass.
    “Will you be able to protect me? Will we be able to get to the truth of the matter and clear my name?”
    The silence stretched so long that I was forced to finally look up at Stefan. The vampire looked torn between impotent rage and frustration. “I don’t know.”
    With those three words, I heard a door slamming shut in my mind. Opportunities and avenues my life might have traveled down were closing forever. I was headed down a path I had never foreseen for myself and it didn’t look pretty.

Chapter 5
     
    Stefan held me close in his arms, tucked tightly against his body, as we flew above the world. I wrapped my hands in his shirt while burying my head in his neck. The air whipping past was cool, but it helped. It sucked my breath away and cooled my temper. I needed to be clear headed. I didn’t know what I was in for, but I knew that I needed to think clearly if I was going to get out of this mess alive. Dear God, was that even an option anymore?
    Neither of us spoke. There were a hundred things I wanted to ask him, but I couldn’t decide what might be the most important. Was there a way to save my skin? But if I could save myself, would it put Stefan in danger? I didn’t want to hurt Stefan. Hell, this was a mess.
    It was several minutes later before we landed on an island in the middle of the Lagoon away from the core of Venice. Woods rose up along a gravel path. Lights peeked through the trees on the far side of the island, but what had my attention was the massive stone building rising up not far from us. Lit torches were on either side of the large doors guarded by a pair of muscular men who looked as if they spent all their free time at the gym.
    Stefan set me on my feet, but didn’t move forward. I looked up at him to find him glaring at the building. This was our destination, but it certainly didn’t look like a happy place.
    As we stood there, one of the guards turned and opened a door. A tall, dark haired man in jeans and a button-down shirt stepped out of the building and walked briskly down the stairs toward us. His pale skin glowed in the moonlight and there was something all too fluid in his movement, reminding me of Stefan. He was a vampire.
    Stefan’s hand clamped down on my elbow and he roughly pulled me behind him.
    “I don’t mean you any trouble, Stefan,” the man said, holding up his hands as he stopped just a few feet away from us.
    “What do you want?”
    “I was sent for her,” he said, jerking his chin toward me as I peeked around Stefan at the man. He winked at me, and I swear I thought I heard Stefan growl. Did people actually growl? Of course, as soon