"I know," Rosalind answered as she planted her feet on the line. She waited as Anne received a kiss from her brother and then a succession of well wishes from the courtiers. Rosalind knew from the snide glances cast her way that she wouldn't be popular if she won. Verily, many of those around them would expect her to deliberately lose. But she wasn't prepared to bow down to anyone, particularly a Vampire.

"Kit, dearest? Do you not wish to stand by me?" Anne asked.

Rosalind bit down on her lower lip to resist the urge to swing her bow around toward the other woman. Beside her, Christopher started to fidget.

"If you go to her, you will never see me naked in this lifetime again," Rosalind hissed.

He went still. "I'm well placed here, Lady Anne. I can see both of you remarkably well."

"Coward," Rosalind murmured.

"You told me to ingratiate myself with her," Christopher whispered back.

Rosalind chose to ignore him, and focused her energy on the target and imagined it was Anne's smiling face. She fitted her arrow into the notch of her bowstring and raised the bow to her cheek.

"Best of three, Lady Rosalind."

"Indeed, my lady."

Rosalind sighted on the target and took a deep breath. She waited for the command to shoot and then released the arrow, just avoiding the recoil of the taut string against her skin.

Two men advanced on the targets and the one on Rosalind's side held up his hand. There was a polite murmur from the watchers and some desultory clapping. Lady Anne swung around toward Rosalind. She was no longer smiling and her dark eyes glittered like burning coal.

"Well-done, Lady Rosalind. The wind appears to be in your favor."

Rosalind didn't bother to reply to such a blatant mistruth. She kept her attention on picking out another arrow and waiting for the steward to ready them for the next shot. Lady Anne resumed her place and everyone fell quiet.

The steward raised his arm, and Rosalind increased the tension of her bowstring. Just as she shot her arrow, Christopher nudged her elbow. Lady Anne clapped in delight as she was declared the winner of that round. Rosalind glared at Christopher. "What did you do that for?"

He looked down at her. "So that you don't make her look like a complete fool. Her pride will not stand for that."

"And what about my pride?"

He chuckled. "My lady, you will easily win the next round. You are far superior to Lady Anne at this sport."

Rosalind wanted to smile back at him, but both George and Elias were watching them closely. It would not do for anyone to think she and Christopher actually liked being betrothed to each other. Not that she liked him very much sometimes. They needed to maintain an air of frustration at their situation that made them seem like enemies.

The steward cleared his throat and Rosalind turned back toward the target. The fine hairs at the back of her neck stood on end and she shivered as the breeze picked up considerably. If she didn't know any better, she would think it was unnatural. She narrowed her eyes and focused all her senses on winning. A little speck of Vampire magic was not going to affect her victory.

"Do you feel that?" Christopher whispered.

"Yes, now let me concentrate." She sighted on the target and let loose her arrow, watched it penetrate the very center of the red circle. She frowned as she heard Lady Anne's whoop of victory. Rosalind waited as the two men compared the relative positions of the arrows and then called for the king's steward to come forward and decide who had won.

Lady Anne tossed her bow to Elias and went off toward the targets, her arm linked through her brother's. Rosalind followed more slowly, aware of Christopher at her side, his gaze sweeping the other courtiers, his hand resting on his sword hilt.

The steward was frowning at the two targets, which had been brought together to compare more closely. It seemed obvious to Rosalind that she had won, but no one else seemed to see it. The steward bowed to Lady Anne.

"You are the winner, my lady."

Anne smirked and cast a sidelong look at Rosalind. "Oh, dear, am I really?"

Rosalind curtsied. "If you insist, my lady." She held Anne Boleyn's gaze for as long as she could, aware of the cold, dead magic encircling their small group, and of the dazed look in the steward's eyes.

"Are you suggesting I cheated, Lady Rosalind?"

"Of course not." Rosalind shot a warning glance up at Christopher, who looked ready to explode in her defense. "You are obviously more skillful than I am in exploiting your advantages."

Anne stepped closer until there was no space left between her and Rosalind. She smiled to reveal the tips of her fangs. "That is true. I suggest you don't forget it."

"Oh, I won't, my lady. I'll just make sure I'm better prepared next time."

"I wish you luck." Anne's avaricious gaze roved over Rosalind. "Now what should I take as my forfeit? That beautiful gold and ruby ring I've seen you wearing?"

"That ring was a gift from me, Lady Anne," Christopher said softly.

Anne laughed. "Then I'll not take your property, Kit. It would hardly be fair."

Christopher shrugged. "Lady Rosalind must make that decision. The ring is hers now."

Rosalind smiled sweetly at Christopher. "And I'm so glad to wear it. As women get older, we sometimes can become quite desperate for the joys of a husband and a family, can't we, Lady Anne?"

Anne's eyes flashed and she raised her hand. Rosalind held out the cross she wore around her neck between her finger and thumb. "If you like rubies, my lady, how about this?"

Anne licked her lips. "No, I thank you."

Rosalind leaned in to her, the cross almost touching Anne's nose. "Are you sure, my lady? It has been blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury himself."

The magic around them wavered and died as Anne recoiled. "I'll think of something else, Lady Rosalind. Never doubt it."

"I'm sure you will, my lady." Rosalind curtsied.

Anne threw one last scathing glance at Rosalind before storming back toward the palace, proclaiming her victory to the other courtiers as she went. Rosalind let out her breath and turned to Christopher, who was still eyeing the two targets.

"You won by a handbreadth. Why couldn't anyone see it?"

"Lady Anne, or someone even more powerful than she, used Vampire magic. You felt it when the wind started to blow so suddenly." Rosalind paused to retrieve her arrow and Christopher helped her.

"Is that what it was?" He frowned at her. "How come I wasn't affected by it, then?"

"Probably because of your Vampire blood and your connection to me."

"Ah. That's right. Druids can usually shut out a Vampire's attempt to coerce them." Christopher contemplated the second arrow. "And my heritage brings me some peculiar gifts."

"I-" Rosalind's words were cut off as an arrow whipped past her face and buried itself in the target an inch from where her fingers were resting. When she opened her eyes, Christopher had set off in pursuit of the shooter, his expression savage, his long legs eating up the ground. Rosalind went to follow him and realized the arrow had gone through the sleeve of her gown and pinned her to the target. She tried not to panic as she frantically searched her hanging pocket for her dagger.

She heard the pounding of feet and harsh breathing and started sawing at the heavily embroidered hem of her sleeve. Christopher appeared beside her, his own dagger already out. "Let me help you."

It took but a moment to release her. Rosalind stared at her ruined sleeve and then at the black fletched arrow that still quivered in the center of the target. A faint trembling started in her fingers and she could do nothing to stop it. Christopher put away his dagger and gripped her shoulders, his fingers digging into her flesh.

"Are you injured?"

Numbly, Rosalind shook her head. "By the Lord's grace, I'm not." She took a few more gulps of air. "I can't decide if whoever shot that arrow wanted to kill me outright or simply scare me to death."

"I found the Lady Anne's bow and a quiver full of black-tipped arrows on the ground but no sign of the shooter." Christopher's expression darkened. "Did you see anyone?"

Rosalind put away her dagger and took Christopher's proffered arm. "No, I didn't, but the last person I saw with the bow was Elias Warner."

"Perhaps it is time we paid him a visit, then."

Rosalind matched her steps to his. "Perhaps it is."

Chapter 10.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Lady Rosalind." Elias looked from Christopher to Rosalind, his expression as pure as fresh-fallen snow. "Why would I shoot an arrow at you?"

"Because you wish me dead?" Rosalind answered. They'd found Elias strolling back to the palace and had persuaded him to stay out in the gardens with them.

A hint of some emotion passed across Elias's normally inscrutable face. "There are many Vampires who wish you dead."

"That's true, but most of them aren't offering their blood to the Lady Anne."

Beside Rosalind, Christopher stiffened. "You're feeding her?"

Elias raised his eyebrows. "That is no business of yours. I've known Lady Anne for hundreds of years. What we do together is entirely up to us."

"Does she feed from her 'brother,' as well?"

Anger glimmered in Elias's silver eyes. "Of course not. He is far too young and weak to sustain her needs."

"Yet she seems very close to him."

Elias looked away from Rosalind, and one of his hands clenched into a fist. "Be that as it may, I did not try to kill you."

"Well, someone did." Rosalind watched him closely. "And as you were the last person seen holding Lady Anne's bow, it might have been you."

Elias interrupted her. "I am not stupid enough to try and murder you in public. I might have aided Lady Anne's victory with a little magic, but that was the extent of my influence. If you wish, I will inquire as to who it might have been. Will that make you leave me alone?"

Rosalind glanced at Christopher. "That would be most generous of you."

Elias bowed and they watched him stride away. Christopher took Rosalind's hand. "That was odd. Elias seemed quite unlike himself."

"He did, didn't he?" Rosalind followed Elias's progress until he entered the courtyard. "I wonder what is going on. He sounded almost jealous of George Boleyn." She frowned. "Sharing blood with another Vampire indicates a deep bond, doesn't it?"

"Indeed. It is normally done only by mated couples. But on occasion, when a Vampire needs to increase his strength or abilities, he can drink the blood of an older Vampire and take on new powers."

"Which is probably why Anne Boleyn likes to drink from Elias rather than George. She needs all the power she can get to keep the king under her thumb. But why would Elias agree to it?"

"Mayhap he is in love with Anne." Christopher heaved a deep sigh. "I know all too well how it can crush a man's spirit when the lady he loves doesn't return his feelings."

Rosalind pinched his sleeve. "You should consider a career as a traveling player."

He covered her hand with his own. "And you should get yourself to bed. You've had a shock."

"I have, indeed, but we still don't know who shot that arrow." She looked up at him. "We are playing a dangerous game, aren't we?"

"Yes, and I don't like it at all." He patted her hand. "I also have come to the conclusion that if we wish to stop this murderous entertainment, I need to ingratiate myself with the Boleyns."

"I already suggested that."

"I know, but I'd hoped to avoid it. Duplicity is not my strong suit and, as you know to your cost, I am sometimes honest to a fault. It would be so much easier if the Boleyns were not so well protected by the other Vampires and the king himself." Christopher stared off into space. "I suppose I should also go and speak to my uncle . . ."

"Don't do that unless you have to. He strikes me as a very evil man."

"My uncle? He has a very low opinion of you, too." Christopher frowned. "Despite my best efforts, I suspect I will never be free of his influence."

Rosalind found herself patting his sleeve. "He is but a mortal man."

Christopher gazed at her as if she had said something profound. "He is, isn't he? I wonder whether that is why . . ." His voice trailed off and he blinked at her.

"Why what?"

He started walking, his strides so long she almost had to skip to keep up with him. "We have to assume that Elias is very firmly in the Boleyn camp and perhaps has high hopes of Anne elevating him to great power ahead of George."

Rosalind accepted his abrupt change of subject with as much grace as she could muster. "That sounds fair, although I suspect George will have something to say about that."

Christopher held the door open for her. "I should imagine he will. He has never enjoyed being second best. Elias had better watch out. I'll ask Rhys to keep a close eye on Elias while I watch George and you watch Lady Anne."

Rosalind shivered as she pictured Anne's malevolent stare. "I hate being near her. Her scent makes me gag."

"I'll try and win her favor again and maybe that will give you an excuse to keep away. She'll assume you are jealous."

Rosalind snorted. "As if I would be envious of her for any reason."

"That sarcastic tone is perfect, my love," Christopher said gravely. "Maybe we should manufacture a quarrel between us in front of the Boleyns to convince Anne that we are at odds."

Rosalind glared up at him. "We never need to manufacture our quarrels. They seem to arise quite naturally. And I am not jealous of Anne. She had her chance with you and she gave you up."

"And now you have me. Speaking of which, when do I get my prize?"

"Your prize, sir?"

"You lost the contest, therefore I win." He winked. "I'm anticipating you-naked and under me in my bed."