I stared at Damian Volkov's cold, cruel face, feeling my heart stutter with dread. Ronan and Regina lay unconscious in the arms of his vampire soldiers, their limp bodies a stark reminder of my powerlessness in this moment.
"You won't hurt them," I said, hating how my voice trembled. It wasn't a question—I couldn't bear for it to be a question.
Damian's smile never reached his eyes. "That depends entirely on you, Princess Seraphina."
My title sounded like a mockery coming from his lips. I clenched my fists, battling the urge to slap that smug expression off his face.
"I'll cooperate," I said finally, each word like acid on my tongue. "But I need to know they'll be safe."
"They will remain unharmed as long as you open the way." His gaze flickered to the prone forms of my friends. "I have no interest in them. They're merely... insurance."