After having been hunted by the entire coven, Elle is embarrassed when she is seen making rough love with Bianca by Alice, who shamelessly watches from a window. Since being turned into a vampire by Nashira, it seems Alice has lost a great deal of her humanity, including her respect for the privacy of others. A distraught Elle turns to Victoria, who explains what Alice has become.
--
"There are seven other covens that I know of," Agatha said.
Elle's brows went up in surprise. "Seven?"
"Yes," Agatha said calmly, the lantern setting the side of her sagging face in its glow and casting one blue eye into shadow. "Most of them stay out of Nashira's way. They're newer covens, full of fledglings and young vampires. They know better than to cross into our territory. One coven is even full of males who only desire other males – What do you call them today? Sway?"
"Gay," Elle corrected, holding back a laugh.
"Right. So they have little interest in bothering Blood Moon and have even made allies with Nashira."
"Really?" said Elle. She found that both pleasing and surprising.
--
The kiss was deliciously rough and passionate. Elle moaned, and she was melting into the kiss when Victoria suddenly snatched herself free and marched furiously from the room.
--
Elle rose from Victoria's lap, and with her high heels forgotten on the floor, she walked in bare feet toward the girl, who cringed as she came. The girl screamed softly as the firelight passed over Elle's face, and Elle knew what she had seen: the pupils narrowing against the light, the flash of fangs as Elle's lips parted in a breath of anticipation.
"Oh my God! What are you?!" the girl wailed, and horrified, she tried to flee past Elle to the door.