Narrator

No one had moved in alarm or triggered a defense.

That horrifying hand snaked upward, slipping back through the black hole that was closing in the ceiling.

A monstrous laugh sounded from the other side, and Dracomir thought he saw eyes staring at him through the torn opening.

Every hair on his body stood on end.

This was black sorcery, worse than Victoria’s reanimated dead or Frederick’s tricks.

"Don’t underestimate Laziel just because he looks younger, and relax, that traitor’s days are numbered," his vampire father-in-law assured him.

Draco’s astonished gaze slid to the boy like a lazy cat rising from a ledge.

"I’ll try to bring him back alive so you can take your revenge, or whatever it is you’re going to do," he said calmly, looking at Dracomir with golden, icy eyes.

Draco realized he couldn’t underestimate anyone in this family.

"Then I’ll leave it in your hands," he answered seriously, trying to save a little face.

"Good. Grandfather, I’m off," Laziel announced, snappin