"I will, Your Majesty." Rosalind offered the king one last smile and escaped from his presence. It was unnerving to deceive her monarch, a man so powerful that he could have her killed with a single word. And she had much to conceal from him-not only her sham wedding preparations, but her need to gather evidence against the very woman he had raised above the queen.

Rosalind took a deep, steadying breath and straightened out the skirts of her crumpled riding habit. If she was to meet the Lady Anne, she needed to look her best and be prepared for anything.

Christopher finally cornered Elias Warner in the great hall and maneuvered him into a more private area near one of the massive fireplaces. Despite his ability to disappear at will, Elias allowed himself to be gathered up, his smile affable, his gaze amused. That alone was enough to rouse Christopher's suspicions. Elias was an old Vampire who had been the liaison between the Ellis family and the Vampire Council for centuries.

"What's going on, Elias?" Christopher demanded. Elias blinked slowly like a cat. "I'm not quite sure what you mean, my lord. Is there something in particular that is worrying you?"

"You know why I'm worried. Why has Rosalind Llewellyn returned to court?"

"She has?" Elias sighed. "I was expecting that Welsh clodpole Rhys Williams would have married her by now, and got her with child."

"Lady Rosalind is betrothed to me."

"Ah, yes, so she is." Elias stared into Christopher's eyes. "And you wonder why I am reluctant to reveal anything about Vampire politics to you."

"When Rosalind was here before I didn't betray the Vampires. In truth, we helped you destroy a rogue who threatened the king."

Elias waved a careless hand. "You did help, that is true, but you are still suspect."

Christopher set his jaw. "The fact that Rosalind has returned indicates that the Druids are aware of the Vampires gathering around the king again. They obviously believe there is another threat, and I agree with them. If you do not keep me informed, how am I supposed to counteract the Druids?"

"That is an excellent point, Lord Christopher. Why don't you ask Lady Rosalind?"

"Because she won't talk to me either! And you know why."

Elias looked politely puzzled. "I'm not quite sure what you mean, my lord."

"The letters I gave you to send on to Rosalind. The letter she wrote to me."

"Ah, that." Elias shrugged. "I was quite willing to help you, but unfortunately, those above me, whose power I fear, ordered me not to send the letters anywhere."

"What did you do with them?"

Elias met Christopher's gaze. "I read them, as I was instructed to do, and then I burned them. There was nothing of interest in the letters-apart from your inability to construct a good rhyming couplet."

Christopher ignored the provocative comment. "How can I be certain that you burned the letters?"

"I do have some scruples, my lord."

"Not that I've noticed." Christopher knew he would get no further with Elias, and in truth, there was little he could do about the letters now. He steered the conversation back to other important issues. "Don't you understand that because you refuse to cooperate with me, I'm unable to do the job I was brought to court for-to protect the Vampires?"

"I can see that must be frustrating for you."

"And yet you don't intend to do anything about it, do you?"

Elias's smile died. "Be at ease, sir. We don't need your help."

Christopher stiffened. "My uncle will be most surprised to hear it. The Ellis family has been your right hand for more than a thousand years."

"And we will not forget your service when we rule this land. We'll allow you to live."

Christopher studied the other man's inscrutable face. As usual, he found it impossible to know whether Elias was telling him the truth. "You believe you are in a position to take over the whole kingdom?"

"We will be presently." Elias looked over Christopher's shoulder. "And now I must go. I believe your uncle is lodged in the Clock court. I suggest you speak to him about your concerns."

"I most certainly shall." Christopher bowed. "You have been your usual unhelpful self."

"I strive to please." Elias inclined his head. "Give Lady Rosalind my best, won't you?"

Protected by Christopher's broader form, he disappeared before Christopher could frame a reply.

Christopher punched the stone wall and took a moment to gather his thoughts. Elias's confident prediction of Vampire domination unsettled Christopher deeply. Like most Druid slayers, he only wished to live in peace with the Vampires; they were, after all, allies in their defense of Christendom from what he'd been taught to believe was a dangerous cult. Only the most fanatical members of the Mithras Cult dreamed of the Vampires turning every human in the land.

And he was unable to do anything, because no one was talking to him. Sometimes he cursed his mother for leaving him between two worlds, neither a Vampire nor completely human. Christopher let out a frustrated breath. There was nothing else to do but brave his uncle Edward in his chamber. He would probably find out little, but at least he would have tried all avenues open to him.

Rosalind followed the king's servant into the suite of rooms that the queen would usually have occupied. Laughter and music rose from the many groups of courtiers scattered around the large, sunny chamber. Rosalind recognized many familiar faces, but there were also a disturbing number of new ones. Younger folk with an avaricious gleam in their eyes, their desire to be seen and noticed by the woman seated in the center of the room far too obvious to ignore.

Although the chamber was large and well aired, Rosalind detected at least fifteen different Vampire scents blending with the more usual human smells. If the Boleyns weren't Vampires, they seemed to attract them like flies. Rosalind waited as the servant delivered the king's note to Anne Boleyn.

"Ah, Lady Rosalind."

Rosalind took a deep breath and stepped forward to curtsy. The sickly smell of honeysuckle assailed her nostrils, and she fought the urge to clap a hand to her mouth and retch. Either Anne Boleyn was a young Vampire who had no ability to mask her scent, or she was flaunting it. Rosalind guessed the latter. A woman who had come this close to entrapping a king would not be afraid of much.

"The king tells me I should add you to my ladies." Anne looked down at the note. Her light voice still held traces of her French upbringing. "He says he holds your family in high esteem."

"Yes, my lady. The king has been most generous to us." Reluctantly, Rosalind rose from her curtsy and fixed her gaze on Anne Boleyn's long white fingers and the black and silver roses embroidered on her elaborate bodice. For some reason, Rosalind was reluctant to look into the Vampire's face. She felt naked without her weapons. It was highly likely that Anne had heard of the Llewellyn family. They were hardly unknown in Vampire circles.

"The king also says that you are betrothed to a gentleman of the court and that you are preparing for your wedding."

"I am betrothed to Lord Christopher Ellis, my lady."

"Kit Ellis?" Anne's musical laugh forced Rosalind to look up into her dark, almost black eyes. Rosalind detected interest, curiosity, and a hint of hostility. "Why did he not mention it? I wonder."

Rosalind kept smiling and tried not to breathe in too deeply. The cloying scent of honeysuckle made her feel ill.

"If you are betrothed to dear Kit, of course you are welcome among my ladies." Anne clapped her hands as if she were indeed the queen. "Lady Wilkinson will make provision for you."

Rosalind curtsied again and turned away, glad to escape both that piercing black gaze and the tainted aroma of Vampire. As she followed a chattering Lady Wilkinson from the room, a heavy feeling settled in Rosalind's stomach. Lady Anne Boleyn was indeed a Vampire, and probably an old one at that, and the king was in love with her. How on earth was she going to tell King Henry? She wasn't sure if she dared.

"Ah, Christopher."

"Good morning, sir." Christopher shut the door and walked toward his uncle Edward, who sat by the fire. Since his last illness, Edward never seemed to feel warm. It made the small room stiflingly hot, and Christopher wished he could take off his doublet. He studied his uncle's smooth, waxen face and, as usual, was unable to gauge his feelings at all.

"What is the matter?"

Without being asked, Christopher took the seat opposite his uncle. "I was just speaking to Elias Warner. He gave me some worrying news."

Edward raised his eyebrows. "Master Warner likes to imagine he knows far more than he actually does. What scandal broth is he brewing now?"

"He suggested that the Vampires are close to ruling the king."

"In truth, I have noticed a new influx of Vampires to court."

Christopher clasped his hands together between his knees. "He also said the Vampires didn't need any assistance from our family."

"That seems unlikely. We have aided them for centuries." Edward paused. "Unless he meant you, specifically. The Vampires have no reason to trust you now, do they?"

The old familiar sense of being unworthy washed over Christopher, but he shoved it away. "Because of my betrothal to Rosalind Llewellyn?"

"Of course."

"Yet, as far as I can tell, you have made no effort to dismantle that betrothal. Why is that?"

"Because it might still prove useful to us." Edward closed the book of sermons on his lap with a snap. "In a way, having you locked together with the Vampire slayer nullifies you both. Her family doesn't quite trust her anymore, and-"

"And you've never trusted me anyway."

His uncle's smile confirmed Christopher's worst fears. "So you refuse to tell me what is going on either."

"Actually, I'd prefer it if you used your influence to find out what your betrothed knows."

"You want me to spy on Rosalind."

"That is your duty to your family. It's hardly a problem for you, is it? From all accounts, you are besotted with the wench." Edward's gaze sharpened. "Women tend to grow very confiding after a tumble in the hay."

Christopher stood up so abruptly his chair rocked back on its legs. "I am loyal to the Ellis family, but I resent being excluded from your confidence. If aught befalls me or anyone I care for because you have kept me in ignorance, I will not let it go unchallenged."

"Brave words from a man who already faces a death sentence."

"You are right." He gazed steadily at his uncle. "I regret my decision to join the Cult of Mithras more than you could know."

"And yet you begged and pleaded with me to be inducted. Begged, Christopher."

"Because in my youth, I wanted your approval. I realize now that I would never have gained it whatever I did. I will always remain suspect, firstly because of my tainted blood and now because of Rosalind Llewellyn."

His uncle stood up. "Do you expect me to feel sorry for you, nephew? You were given a home and a creed to follow, which is more than most half-breed Vampire spawn get. I could've had you killed at birth."

"I am no half-breed, sir. And you chose to keep me alive and in your thrall for your own selfish reasons." Christopher bowed. "Please let me know if you have a change of heart."

Not that his uncle had a heart. Christopher left and walked out into the warm sunshine of the formal gardens. He needed to breathe the clean air to get the taste of deceit out of his mouth. Surely his uncle didn't want the Vampires to rule England. Or was he simply too complacent and arrogant to believe the Vampires could succeed without him?

And then there was the matter of the Mithras Cult. His uncle was the current overlord of the English branch, and held all the power in his hands. After Christopher refused to kill Druids in cold blood, Edward had barred him from celebrating the Mithraic rites and branded him a coward. Christopher knew that if the vote went against him, his uncle wouldn't stir himself to save his life.

Laughter and the sound of music drifted out of the open windows that led into the queen's rooms. After sending up a quick prayer of forgiveness to Queen Katherine, Christopher made his way into the state apartments and toward Lady Anne Boleyn's domain. At least there he could pick up a lute, play for a while, and hopefully forget his troubles.

Chapter 5.

After leaving the obliging Lady Wilkinson in the upper reaches of the ladies-in-waiting quarters, Rosalind went to find Rhys. In the immense and unfamiliar Hampton Court stable yard, it took her quite a while to locate him. She eventually found him in the tack room repairing one of the horse's bridles. He looked up briefly as she entered the room, and then returned his gaze to the bridle.

Rosalind sat opposite him and watched the intricate movement of his fingers as he sewed two of the crosspieces more tightly together. Just watching Rhys work steadied her. He was such a calm, methodical man with an undercurrent of such deep passion. After he used his dagger to cut through the thick thread, he looked at her again.

"Thank you for your patience, my lady. I was at a particularly difficult spot. Now, what can I do for you?"

"I am to stay here at Hampton Court for a while and serve the Lady Anne Boleyn."

"Aye?" Rhys rebuckled the noseband of the bridle and gazed at it critically. "Then I expect that when the carrier arrives from Wales, you'll want the rest of your belongings moved here."

"Do you think you could arrange that for me?"

Rhys stood and walked across to one of the racks, where he hung the bridle up. "Of course, my lady. I'll go back to Richmond Palace this afternoon, gather up our belongings, and bring them here. I can leave a message for the carrier with the stable boys."

"Thank you, Rhys." Rosalind stood up, her hands clasped tightly at her waist. "Do you have a moment to check on Geithin for me? I think he might have a stone in his hoof."

"Of course, my lady." Rhys's eyebrows rose, but he walked her to the narrow row of stalls until they found her horse munching contentedly on some hay. Rhys gestured for her to precede him into the stall and then locked the door behind them. They both bent down as if to examine Geithin's hooves.

"I know there's nothing wrong with Geithin, so what do you need to tell me?" Rhys asked quietly.

"Jasper was correct. Anne Boleyn is a Vampire."

Rhys hissed a curse. "She is far too close to the king. Why didn't Jasper warn us earlier?"

"That is my concern too." Rosalind sighed. "The king seems so enamored of her that I fear any word from me would enrage him. I'm already hearing stories that the king has fallen out with some of his closest allies over Lady Anne. It's as if she has bewitched him."

Rhys shifted position and felt Geithin's front right leg. "I'll contact your grandfather and ask him what we know about the Boleyn family."

"Anne and her sister lived in France for many years, so that might be why we know so little about them." Rosalind swallowed hard. "I'm not sure how well, but Christopher definitely knows Lady Anne. She seems to hold him in quite high regard."

"Lord Christopher spent most of his early life in France and Spain too, so it is possible that their acquaintance is of long standing."

Rosalind and Rhys stared at each other. "I'll have to talk to him, Rhys, and find out where he stands."

Rhys straightened and patted Geithin on the rump before helping Rosalind up. "I'll write to your grandfather today. You can deal with Lord Christopher."

"And how do you expect me to do that without giving away how much I know?"

Rhys smiled. "You'll find a way. You have the man wrapped around your little finger."

"Hardly."

Rhys's expression sobered. "If you can think of another way for us to deal with this threat, then tell me what it is. Otherwise, I suggest you use your wits and be pleasant to your betrothed."

"He'll be even more suspicious if I'm pleasant to him," Rosalind grumbled as she patted Geithin, and then left the stall. "I hate having to ask him for anything."