The first costume was made up of a few straps of sequined hot-pink reinforced spandex that ended up conforming to her body like a glove. Naturally the one-piece had a thong, and a strange one-inch hot-pink ruffle at her waist that just reached to the top of her ass-crack. It covered nothing, but then again, that was the point.

In front, another tiny ruffle ran in a slight curve at her abdomen. At least that part of her was covered, though not by much. The cut was French-high so that the straps ran across her pelvic bones, then split at the waist to rise to a strap across her back in support of a bra-like structure in front.

There wasn’t very much fabric in front, just enough to cover her nipples.

When she stepped out from behind the screen, Eve clapped her hands. “Beautiful. I think we’re ready. Now just try to relax.” She left the room, taking the last of her people with her.

But she couldn’t. She shook from head to foot.

Then suddenly Lucian was right there. “I could feel you trembling like a leaf.”

Claire had never been so glad to see him. He was exactly what she needed right now. “Look at this.” She held out her hands, her fingers shaking.

She gestured down at the costume, but she’d forgotten the other side of the coin—how Lucian would feel seeing her dressed this way.

He seemed to freeze, his gaze taking the same long journey as when he’d first seen her at the photo shoot. He shook his head side-to-side repeatedly. She felt the war within him start: desire, refusal, desire, anger, desire, need-to-punch-something.

She plastered herself against his chest. I need your courage, Lucian. I’m trying here, but I’m scared to death and what Eve takes for granted, what is so easy for her, is like lava on my skin.

Slowly, his arms went around her, enfolding her as his desire-rage combo slid away. She felt him shift his focus to her. I can’t imagine how hard this is for you.

It feels impossible. I’m not quitting. It just feels bigger than me right now.

I know what you mean, but you can do this. His chest rose as he took in a deep breath. We’ll both get through this. When we have those bastards, it will be worth it. You’ll see.

Okay. I’ll toughen up here, but thank you for coming to me. I just needed to take a moment.

I know. It’s okay.

When she’d recovered, she spoke against his chest. “Listen. I want you to just leave. Don’t look at me, okay?”

“Okay, but I have one problem here.”

“What’s that?”

Lucian frowned slightly. “I won’t be able to see the men at the back of the room. Can you guide me back in?”

“I’ll do better than that.” She walked him out to the stage and rolled back just the central portion of the disguise. He flew quickly. The moment he took his place and nodded to her, she sealed up the disguise.

Eve waved her off stage, a panicky look on her face. “They’re coming.”

“Oh, God.”

Eve led her to the side stage and whispered, “You have great presence, Claire, even if you don’t know it. You have a natural confidence that I admire like hell. Focus on that for the next half hour.” She slid her hand through a slit in the stage draperies. “Oh, and the boys have arrived. Arsen’s wearing a yellow silk suit. He looks like Tweety Bird, you know, from the cartoons?”

Claire smiled. “Well, that helps a lot.” When Eve waved her forward, Claire moved closer so that she could see these vile traffickers. Eve was right. Arsen wore yellow head-to-toe. He was also blond, which made his whole ensemble a bit of overkill.

Salazar had thick wavy black hair to his shoulders. He had a menacing look enhanced by the large contingent of oversized, bulked-up vampires that ranged behind the two men in a protective arc.

Once the men were settled, drinks in hand, Eve would lead the way and introduce her, then begin the fashion show by enumerating the lines and unique qualities of each costume.

Claire wondered briefly what supermodels thought about just before they walked down a runway. Probably admonitions not to trip and break an ankle.

“Showtime,” Eve whispered.

Lucian, here goes nothing.

You’ll be great.

Thanks.

Eve moved onto the stage first, a real Amazon in her own pair of stilettos so that she stood close to seven feet tall. Her stride was about a mile long. And talk about presence.

She stopped center stage, but cracked her whip with tremendous precision, hitting neither the pillars on each side of her nor the sheer swags overhead.

Eve made her introduction, welcoming Claire simply as “the auburn beauty.”

Claire took a deep breath and focused on what Eve had said about her natural confidence. Still, she trembled, blinked, and tried to remember exactly how to put one foot in front of the other.

Eve waved her forward, bending her knees and slinking backward, dragging her whip with her.

Then Eve’s voice was suddenly in her head. You’re doing fine.

Talk me through it. Tell me exactly what to do.

Eve told her how many steps to take, when to pivot, where to put her hands, when to dip her knees or slink a little as she moved.

As Claire headed down the runway, she kept following Eve’s directions but couldn’t bring herself to look Arsen or Salazar in the eye.

When she reached the end of the runway, Eve told her to make a very slow turn to be sure both men got an eyeful.

Claire, you’re doing incredibly well and the guards are so focused on you that they won’t feel this train when it hits. Head back toward me, not too fast. Time for costume two.

The next outfit, all black and white crystals, with a choke collar and platforms seven inches tall, became a different kind of trauma. But Eve stuck close, using her whip for effect until Claire got to the top of runway once more.

Good news, Claire. The men have each had three drinks and some of their excitement has given way to that glazed look, more lascivious than alert. We’re almost there.

Claire took her time, giving the whiskey a chance to do its work.

The last outfit, however, freaked her out all over again. “There’s nothing to cover even an inch of my breasts.”

“Yeah, I debated about this one, but the side panels will push everything together.”

Claire stared at her. “And that makes things better, how?”

Eve shrugged. “Not one of their guards will be looking anywhere but at your assets.”

She focused her attention on Lucian. The vampire needed to be warned. Eve says you’re set to attack as soon as I appear on stage in this third costume, is that right?

Yes. His voice sounded edged-up.

I’m ready but listen, don’t look in my direction. Got it?

Why?

Eve saved the worst for last, and by “the worst” I mean there’s not much there and what is there is pushing things around. Lucian, just don’t look. I’ll get off stage as fast as I can. You have to stay focused. How’s the disguise holding up?

Like a cloak I’ve always worn.

Perfect. Now let’s get us some bad guys.

The music changed, and Eve beckoned for her.

Claire trembled as much from the fact that she was all but naked as from the knowledge that an attack was about to follow. She focused on the latter, on how important it was to keep the attention of the bad guys focused on her and to sustain the disguise.

Eve’s commands flowed once more through her mind. Claire began to move, slinking and turning, knees bent, back arched, down the runway.

She hoped to hell somebody did something soon because she was ready to bolt as Arsen leaned forward in his seat and shouted, “I need some of that and I need it now.”

As the two vampires started to levitate from their seats, she met Lucian’s gaze. If you’re going to do something, do it now.