A confession? What had he been up to? Cavorting with another vampiress? After all, she was the size of a carriage right now. Though she knew he and Bastien would never stray...

"We are not going to the Carpathians-though we will make it appear that is our destination. Instead, we are going to Italy. To a lovely home I have purchased near Venice."

She tugged on her knots. "But my father is expecting us-I wished to see him."

"It is not safe, love. Not now. Later, perhaps..."

She threw a desperate glance to Bastien, who nodded, the wretch, instead of coming to her rescue.

One last pull at her bonds only proved she was securely tied. Oh! b.u.g.g.e.r you both! You tied me up to tell me this, didn't you? It had nothing to do with s.e.x! Cowards. I demand that you untie me.

You do it, Bastien urged, clapping a hand on Yannick's shoulder.

But Yannick shook this head. I'm the earl. I command you to do it.

How could you lie to me about this? Althea roared. And she yanked so hard on the ropes that the bed shook and banged the floor. How could you do this behind my back?

To protect you. Yannick brushed the back of his hand against her cheek.

Althea took a deep breath and sighed as Yannick began to untie her feet. I do not believe Serena would do me any harm- Bastien broke the rope at her left wrist with one fast tug. No, but Ashcroft is a madman.

Althea wiggled her feet. Goodness, her ankles were swollen. Ashcroft was always kind to me when he visited the Carpathians. He brought me treats from England, treats I had long forgotten.

She held up her hand as both men protested. I know. I am a vampiress and everything has changed, but I want to be with my father. I have no intention of going to Italy.

We are going. Tonight, Yannick vowed, arrogantly. I am perfectly capable of kidnapping you if I feel it is for your own good, and the good of our baby.

Althea fumed, rubbing her wrists. Do it and I will never forgive you.

Chapter Twenty-Six.

Banished It was All Hallow's Eve.

Serena clutched her bonnet as Jonathon's curricle raced along the road to Pemberton Hill. A brilliant whip, he urged his horses on a breakneck pace, deftly avoiding ruts in the road. Large, round, and silver, the moon hung over them. Another curricle raced ahead-Drake Swift, and he drove his team at mad speed.

"Do you think my mother exists?" She had to shout the question over the rattle of the wheels, the thunder of horses' hooves. And then she remembered-she didn't have to shout at all. Do you think she truly did write to me?

I don't know, love.

In the back of both his carriage and Swift's, trunks rattled. Trunks with crossbows, stakes, holy water...almost every weapon stored in Jonathon's house.

I am not naive, she added, though her heart ached at what she would say. Even if she is my mother, why would she want me now? After five and twenty years? It is because I am of some value to her, because of this magic power. She sighed. I don't feel as though I possess magical powers.

You are magical, sweetheart. His smile warmed her to her toes, warding off the chill that seemed to run through her blood. His fangs flashed with the smile, reminding her of who they were.

Serena struggled to concentrate. Who was she really? Would her mother be there? Why lead them to Lord Ashcroft?

The moon followed as they charged onward. Jonathon kept a firm grip on the reins as he watched the road. Guilt nagged. Both he and Drake were here to protect her-what if they were attacked?

She couldn't think of that. What if she was truly destined to possess magical powers? If so, she could use the power to stop Ashcroft from destroying her. To protect Drake and Jonathon. Even to defeat Lukos.

Couldn't she?

They crested a rise, and the valley spread before them. Serena gasped at the sight of Ashcroft's mansion-it was below, the pale gray stone gleaming beneath the enormous white moon. The rippled surface of a lake sparkled, and patches of black woods spotted the rolling land. Moonlight slanted over, and she saw them, on a plateau halfway between their position and the house. The rings of stones.

There were vampire slayers who believed these sites to be the portals to h.e.l.l.

Serena shivered and Jonathon slowed the horses. They caught up to Drake's carriage, already stopped on the first stretch of level ground, but Serena stared down at the ring of stones, trying to see in the center. A white-clad figure seemed to be moving inside. Ashcroft? Or Lukos?

Jonathon's arms slid around her. Courage, Serena. I'd ask you to stay here, but I can't know you are safe unless I have you in my sight. He drew out his pocket watch. A quarter of eleven. We haven't much time. He swung down from the curricle with one easy leap and jogged around to her side, gray greatcoat flapping around him.

Jump down to me, sweetheart.

As Jonathon lowered her, his powerful hands at her waist, Serena saw Drake striding toward them, carrying two crossbows. His coat billowed behind him like wings. He handed her a weapon with a wink. I remember, Serena, that you are a perfect shot.

She had proven that in Jonathon's bedchamber.

She stood between them both-Jonathon so tall and broad, Drake so wildly brave and strong, and being part of the three gave her courage. But she knew her greatest strength must come from inside.

With Drake flanking her left side, Jonathon at her right, Serena found a worn path that led from the road, between rocks, to the cleared plateau. They moved in silence to a stand of trees, where the path narrowed and disappeared into darkness.

Jonathon took the lead, and Serena blinked, letting her eyes adjust, as they plunged into shadow.

Serena.

Shock and surprise gripped her heart at the sound of the husky, beautiful woman's voice. She saw slight movements in the dark. The graceful wave of a slim hand. The ripple of a cloak tossed by the wind.

A woman stepped out from the shadows in front of Jonathon.

Her mother.

Jonathon pulled up short and stood with legs spread, crossbow resting at his side. She saw his obvious warning in the restrained power of his stance, in the way he was blocking the path between her mother and her.

Her mother held up her hand. Do not go farther. Lukos waits there. He believes I am bringing you to him, but of course, that is not at all what I am going to do.

She heard her mother's ethereal voice in her head, a sound as poignant and lovely as the song of a brook, the murmur of waves, the whisper of the breeze. From the abrupt way Jonathon straightened even more, the catch in Drake's breathing behind her, she knew both men could hear her mother too.

Her mother drew the hood back, revealing her pale oval face.

Serena froze in surprise. At first, it was as though she had found a mirror in the woods. Her mother looked the same age as she and possessed the same blue-black hair, the exact arched black brows, the identical nose. But her mother was far more beautiful than she was. The mouth was large and perfect. The eyes ice cold.

Jonathon took a step closer to her mother, and he lifted his crossbow. "Who are-"

With a wave of her hand, her mother sent a wave of air that pushed his bow back down. "Silence. I wish to speak to my daughter."

Serena felt Drake move close behind her, protectively.

Mother? Even as she spoke the word in thought, she looked at her mother's face and had no idea what more to say. She searched helplessly for words. This was wrong. There was no delight on her mother's face, no warmth, no happiness.

But...who are you? Serena asked, and even in her thoughts, her words sounded full of tears.

Lady Draycott, my dear. An English lady.

But you are also a vampire? I-I thought you were mortal. I thought my father was a vampire.

He was not. Her mother gave a wave of her hand, as though dismissing her father entirely.

Why-? Serena took a deep breath. Why did you abandon me? It must have been for her protection. She wanted to believe it was to protect her from the Society. To save her life.

A proper lady would never be so blunt, her mother admonished. A smirk touched her mother's lips. And I excel at behaving like a proper lady. But we haven't time for decorum, have we? You wish to know why I discarded you.

Discarded! The word was like a knife to the heart. At once Serena understood why she had been foolish to give the past so much power. But she was determined to be strong. Yes, why did you discard me?

Jonathon stepped back to stand at her side, and Drake came forward, and she saw pain flicker in her mother's shining eyes.

I had such power, her mother said in thought. Finally the power I deserved. And then I became pregnant. It was madness. I am a demon. Demons do not bear children.

You...you didn't want me?

Of course not. I made love to a man I believed was mortal. But he was not, and then I found I could not destroy you, not without bringing about my own death.

Drake glared at Lady Draycott, radiating hatred. He spoke aloud, his voice a growl. "Do not listen to her poison, Serena." He swung one arm up and pointed the crossbow at her mother's chest.

Jonathon reached over and lowered it. "The truth," he said with brutal calm. "Give your daughter the truth."

Lady Draycott, her mother, snarled and showed long and deadly fangs. Silence. You men are insignificant. I could destroy you with a snap of my fingers.

Serena darted forward. No!

Both Jonathon and Drake grasped her arms and pulled her back.

Lady Draycott sneered at Jonathon, then at Drake. Men are so pitiable. As for you, Serena, I had no idea how important or how valuable you would be. You will be the most powerful vampiress. You wish to know who I am? I am as old as creation. I was fashioned by the hand of G.o.d, fashioned before the eyes of the man I was made for. And he was appalled by what he saw. He refused me-me, the gift of G.o.d! I was the first wife of Adam, and I was banished from Paradise.

"Lilith?" Jonathon's deep voice broke the stillness.

You do not believe me. You think I am merely mad. I am not Lilith. I am Eve. The first Eve, the forgotten one. Adam saw me created from the earth, fashioned from dirt, and he was repulsed.

"And you lured Serena here to give her to Lukos. Why?"

I would never give my powerful child to that stupid, arrogant male. Lukos wishes to populate the world with vampires. I cannot allow him to gain so much control. We, the vampiresses, rule the world of the immortals. We cannot allow a monster like Lukos to possess such power.

Serena gripped a tree trunk. She would rule the world of immortals? That had not been in the Society's books-books that had, of course, been written by men- Pain sliced suddenly through Serena's belly. Stunned by it, shaking in crippling agony, she almost sank to the ground. Jonathon caught her, and she saw his horror as nausea hit her stomach. Sparks shot before her eyes, and her vision blurred.

"It has begun," Lady Draycott said. "You must go to the standing stones, Serena."

"Lukos is there," Jonathon argued. He held her tight.

Serena clung to his shoulder. Hot pain raged through her, as though her blood were on fire. She wanted to claw her skin off; she wanted to let her burning blood pour out of her body. She wanted to die.

Drake shouted through thought, What in blazes is happening to her? Stop it!

Dimly, she heard her mother's voice in her mind. There is no choice. It must happen at the stones. There is much to be done. First, we must destroy Lukos. We haven't much time before the power consumes her- Blackness closed in on her vision, and Serena fought to stay conscious. But her mother lifted her hand and a globe of violet light floated toward her. It surrounded her, enveloped her.

She tried to touch it, but it faded before her shaking fingertips made contact. Warmth coursed through her limbs, her heartbeat steadied, and she felt strong once more.

Through the dappled purple mist, she saw Jonathon. Jonathon running toward the standing stones, like a madman pursued by demons.

"b.l.o.o.d.y lunatic." Drake hoisted her over his shoulder and followed.

Jonathon had acted like a madman, throwing aside logic to save her, Serena realized. Drake let her down just as Jonathon charged forward with stake raised-he'd thrown aside his useless crossbow. Standing in the middle of the circle, white robes dancing in the wind, Lukos lifted his hand.

Serena choked on a scream, but she could only watch, helpless, as Lukos smashed his hand at Jonathon like an angered bear. Jonathon's stake drove into Lukos's arm, blood spurted, and Lukos shoved him back. He tumbled head over heels and slammed into a stone.

But he was up in an instant.

Serena felt a warm hand in hers-her mother's. Come back with me, Serena. Allow the foolish men to fight.

She tried to wrench free from her mother's grip but couldn't, and her mother towed her to the edge of the circle. The touch of her mother's hand eased the pain racking her limbs and her heart, but her legs and arms were trembling uncontrollably. She didn't trust herself to fire the bow she still held. She could hit Drake or Jonathon.

From the periphery of the stone circle, Serena held her breath as Jonathon charged again and her heart pounded as she saw him leap aside to avoid the bolt of violet light shot at him. Drake attacked with a stake, but Lukos simply grabbed Drake's arms and threw him away. His body sailed back through the air, arms and legs splayed wide, and he smashed back against a stone altar. His back cracked, seemed to bend in half backward.

The fall must have broken Drake's back.

Fear roared through Serena's body, screamed in her skull. Could even a vampire survive that? Drake wasn't moving...dear heaven, he wasn't moving...

Fury raged then, and her pain vanished. Fingers shaking, she aimed her bow, fired immediately. But the bolt arced over Lukos's shoulder. Jonathon leapt to his feet again, and he fired a shot. His bolt slammed into Lukos's gut, and Lukos yanked it free.

Lukos lifted his hand, and Jonathon staggered back and fell in the dirt.

There had been no bolt of light, but the monster still had the power to drive Jonathon down.

It was hopeless. Only her mother had to the power to stop him- No, Serena. I do not. Not alone. Her mother pulled her crossbow from her hand.

What are you doing-?

Lukos fixed his gaze on her. No! He took two steps to her, his fangs glinting as a grin of triumph came to his handsome face. She felt drawn to his strength. To his commanding smile and the allure in his gleaming eyes-golden eyes that burned like the sun.

The thought popped unbidden into her head-with Lukos, she could rule the world...

Serena, you are mine. Lukos's low, accented voice vibrated through her, and her nerves sizzled in response. No...she had to fight- Serena bit back a cry as Jonathon appeared out of the mist once more and jumped at Lukos's back, his hand slicing toward the demon's chest. Lukos flung Jonathon over his head. The demon tossed Jonathon's enormous body as though it weighed nothing. His boot stomped down, and with his victim pinned, he reached for Jonathon's head. The monster's hands clamped Jonathon's jaw and twisted as though to break the neck- Then heat engulfed Serena. Burning heat. It shot up her arm to her hand, and the skin of her palm screamed as though on fire. Her entire hand seemed to become molten, like malleable wax. Even as she gasped in shock, a white force poured from her hand and became a shimmering light. It hit Lukos in the face. He released Jonathon and fell back.

"Your power!" her mother cried in delight.