Stories came out about his past. A woman remembered catching eight-year-old Tavian cutting the head off a dead rat. A man recalled a time when Tavian had been a few years older and set a kittenas tail on fire. An old school chum recalled Tavianas fascination with torturing small animals and how he had once held a puppy underwater to see how long it would take the animal to drown.

During the course of the trial, Elena was called upon to testify. Sitting in the witness stand, her hands folded tightly in her lap, she refused to look at her uncle as she related her testimony. Yes, her uncle had often made improper advances toward her. Yes, it had frightened her and she had run away from home. Yes, he had come to the castle two weeks ago.

aAnd what did he say at that time?a the prosecuting attorney asked.

aHe said aI will have you.a I told him Iad rather die, and . . .a She swallowed hard, her cheeks growing hot. aHe ripped my T-shirt down the front.a aThis T-shirt?a The prosecuting attorney held it up and offered it as exhibit A.

aYes.a She bit down on her lower lip. aHe told me he was going to . . . to have me then and there, and then he said, aIall take you to see Jenica.aa aAnd what happened next?a aMy cat attacked him, and he ran out of the castle.a She glanced at her uncle for the first time. He looked prosperous in a new, dark blue suit. Both cheeks were bandaged where Smoke had scratched him.

In light of Dinescuas confession, combined with the DNA evidence found on all three bodies, the defense had little to build its case on.

The jury deliberated only a short time. When they returned, they declared that they found Tavian Dinescu to be criminally insane and recommended that he be sent to Borsa Castle. Borsa had once been the summer home of the Banffy family. At the end of World War II, the Communists had thrown the family out. It was now an asylum for the insane and, some said, for people no one else wanted.

In spite of all he had done, Elena was overcome with pity for her uncle. She had heard stories of Borsa, which was rumored to be the most monstrous mental inst.i.tution in all Romania. He would have no one to visit him, no one to offer the attendants food and gifts in exchange for better care.

She blew out a sigh. There was nothing more she could do for him. Whatever happened to her uncle now was his own fault. He had brought it all on himself.

A week after the trial ended, her uncleas lawyer knocked on the castle door. aGood afternoon, Miss Knightsbridge.a aMr. Balescu. What brings you here?a aMay I come in?a aOf course.a She took a step backward, and almost tripped over the cat. aSmoke, get out of the way,a she murmured, and grinned when he licked her ankle. aThis way, Mr. Balescu,a she said. aPlease, sit down.a She sat on one of the sofas in front of the hearth, the cat at her side. The lawyer took a seat on the sofa across from her. He was a middle-aged man, impeccably dressed in a dark blue suit, with light brown hair, hazel eyes, and a wispy mustache.

aIs something wrong?a she asked.

aI am here to settle your uncleas estate.a Setting his briefcase on the coffee table between them, he opened it and withdrew several sheets of paper. aAccording to the terms of your uncleas will, the house and all its belongings were bequeathed to your Aunt Catalena. If she died first, his property was to go to Jenica. And then to you.a aNo.a Elena shook her head. aNo. I donat want it.a aYou can dispose of his holdings in any way you wish,a Mr. Balescu said. aBut first you need to sign these papers.a He pushed them across the table toward her, and offered her a pen. aThereas also a small savings account.a Elena read the papers over carefully, asking questions when there was a clause she didnat fully understand, then signed where the lawyer indicated.

Mr. Balescu tucked the papers into his briefcase and closed it with a flourish. aIf you have any questions, please, do not hesitate to call. It will take a few weeks to transfer the t.i.tle on the house into your name.a aThank you.a Rising, he sketched a bow.

When she started to get up, he waved her off. aI can see myself out. Good day to you, Miss Knightsbridge.a Elena stared after the lawyer, then looked down at the cat. aI never expected that.a The cat rubbed his head against her thigh.

aIall sell the house,a she said, thinking out loud. aAnd whatever else he has. If I donate it to the asylum, maybe theyall make his life easier.a With a hiss that could only be disapproval, the cat jumped off the sofa and ran up the stairs.

Elena blew out a sigh of exasperation, then followed the cat.

She found Drake waiting for her in bed, the sheet pooled in his lap.

aYou think Iam wrong?a she asked. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she kicked off her shoes.

He shook his head. aI am only amazed at your kindness.a aWhat kindness?a aMortals are strange creatures. Dinescu would have killed you without a qualm. You wanted him to be punished. You testified against him and now, when he has been sent to the worst h.e.l.lhole in the country, you want to do what you can to make his life more comfortable.a He shook his head. aMy people are not so kind. Any one of us who did what your uncle did would have been destroyed, and that would have been the end of it.a aI guess I wouldnat make a very good vampire.a aNo,a Drake agreed, pulling her toward him, so that her back rested against his chest. aBut you make a perfect wife.a aWhat will happen when you donat go back to the Fortress? You arenat going back, are you?a aI am afraid we must. It is the only way to continue this charade. The only way for Andrei and Katiya to be together.a aWhat if Rodin finds out what youave done?a She had asked him that before, and he had said, That, I cannot predict.

Today, he said, aI will appeal to Liliana for mercy for you and for Katiya.a Elena looked over her shoulder, her gaze searching his face. aWhat will he do to you?a Remembering how Rodin had punished Drake before, she hated to ask, but she had to know.

He thought about it a moment before replying. aI do not know. I promised I would marry Katiya. I promised that she would conceive a child, and that I would put her happiness before my own. I have kept those promises,a he said with a wry grin. aI married her. She is with child, and she is happy.a aMaybe that will mollify Rodin,a Elena said hopefully.

aMaybe,a Drake replied. But it was doubtful. Forgiveness was not one of Rodinas virtues.

aWhat will happen to your brother?a aI do not know. Andreias mother is currently out of favor with Rodin.a aYou donat have the same mother?a aNo.a He ran his fingertips along her arm, then lifted her sweater over her head and tossed it aside. Her bra and jeans followed. aLet us not worry about the future now,a he said, his voice a low purr. aI can think of better ways to spend the afternoon.a aShouldnat you be resting?a she asked primly.

aLater. Right now, I need you here, in my bed, in my arms.a aAnd what will we do in your bed?a His laughter filled the room. aExactly what you are thinking, wife,a he said as he pulled her under the covers and showered her with kisses.

Chapter 26.

The day after Elena received the t.i.tle to her uncleas house, she drove down the hill for one last look. Walking from room to room, she tried to remember the happy times she had spent in this house, but they were few and far between, and had ended abruptly when her Aunt Catalena had pa.s.sed away.

Elena spent a few minutes in her old bedroom. She didnat have much in the way of belongingsa"her clothes, a dozen or so CDs, a handful of old school books, a few knickknacks, a couple of movie posters. Seven years of her life, she thought, glancing around, and the only thing she wanted to keep was the music box her aunt had given her one Christmas. It was a lovely thing, white with pale pink flowers painted around the edge. When she lifted the lid, a tiny blond ballerina wearing a fluffy pink tutu twirled round and round.

Carrying the music box into the kitchen, she placed it on the table with the other items she wanted to keepa"her Aunt Catalenaas Bible, the silver candlesticks her mother and father had given Catalena as a wedding gift, her auntas favorite teapot, a gold crucifix on a chain that had belonged to Jenica.

Sad, Elena thought as she placed the items in a box and stowed them in the back of the Porsche, that there were so few happy memories from her childhood.

The next day, she put the house and all its contentsa"including Dinescuas clothes and her own, the furniture and appliancesa"up for sale. After meeting with the Realtor, she drove away from the house and didnat look back.

Later that afternoon, she called Mr. Balescu and informed him that the money from the savings account, as well as the net proceeds from the sale of the house, were to be sent to Borsa Castle to be used for her uncleas care.

Done and done, she thought as she ended the call. She had no ties left to her uncle. She had done her best by him, which was more than he deserved, and now, at last, it was over.

The next few weeks pa.s.sed peacefully and life at Wolfram Castle settled into a pleasant routine. They had electricity now. It was such a pleasure, Elena sometimes went from room to room flicking the lights on and off, just because she could. She spent her days caring for the house. There was plenty to keep her busya"clothes to wash, furniture to dust, floors to vacuum and sweep. Having music playing in the background made the ch.o.r.es seem less like work. She rarely went into the garden, although she did plant a chestnut tree in the place where she had discovered her cousinas body.

And when she got lonely during the day, the cat was there. Somehow, he always knew when she needed company.

aWhen do you sleep?a she asked Drake one night. aDuring the day, youare here in your cat form, and at night, youare Drake.a aYou forget how much the cat sleeps,a he replied with an easy grin. aI love those catnaps. And I sleep at night, when you do.a As time went on, Elena grew increasingly fond of Andrei and Katiya. They were very much in love, anyone could see that, and excited at the prospect of becoming parents. If it werenat for the fact that the other people in the house slept by day and didnat eat, she might have forgotten they were vampires.

Some nights, the four of them played cards. Some nights they played chess, a game that Drake invariably won. Other nights they walked in the moonlight or went swimming in the lake, or spent a quiet evening at home, reading. They often watched movies until the wee hours of the morning.

Elenaas favorite way to pa.s.s the night was dancing with Drake. She loved being close to him, reveled in the sense of wonder she felt whenever he was near, the way he looked at her, his dark eyes filled with love and longing. And a distant sadness she often saw reflected in her own eyes when she looked in the mirror.

She tried not to think of the future, of the time when Drake and Katiya would have to return to the Fortress, but it was always there, in the back of her mind, a nagging worry that Rodin would somehow discover the truth, that he would torture Drake again, or worse, execute him.

It seemed the harder she tried not to think about the future, the more often it popped into her mind, and when she was successful at keeping her worries at bay during the daylight hours, they turned her dreams into nightmares. Nightmares that became increasingly more real, more vivid.

In her dreams, Drake was again locked in the tower. Only this time there was no reprieve and Rodin left him there, to be slowly burned alive, until nothing remained of the man she loved but a pile of gray ashes. Night after night, she woke screaming or in tears.

And then, all too soon, the night she had been dreading arrived.

Elena and Drake were sitting in front of the fire, taking turns reading Wuthering Heights aloud, when Stefan appeared. One look at his face, and Elena knew he had brought bad news.

aYou are needed at the Fortress, immediately,a Stefan said. aGerret has challenged Rodin for leadership of the Coven.a aGerret!a Drake exclaimed, rising. Gerret was the Master of the Irish Fortress. aI do not believe it.a aIt is true, nevertheless. Liliana sent me to bring you back.a Drake swore. If his mother wanted him home, she must be apprehensive about the outcome of the battle. He could understand that. If Rodin lost, she would have to leave the Fortress, as would all the vampires who lived there. As for the sheep, they would become prey for Gerret and his Coven. He doubted Liliana cared one way or the other what happened to the sheep, but she considered the Fortress home.

aWhat brought this on?a Drake asked. aGerret has never shown any interest in acquiring more land or more power.a Stefan shrugged. aWho can say? The meet is set for the day after tomorrow at midnight. Gerretas second-in-command is already at the Fortress. Rodin has named you as his second.a Drake uttered a short, pithy oath.

aWhat shall I tell him?a Andrei materialized in the room and took his place beside Drake. aI do not like this. I smell treachery.a Drake nodded.

Elenaas gaze darted from one man to the other. aWhat kind of treachery?a Andrei shook his head. aSomething is off. Gerret has never expressed any interest in expanding his holdings.a He looked at Stefan. aWho did he send as his second?a aFlorin.a Andrei and Stefan exchanged glances.

aWhat?a Drake asked sharply.

aIf you spent more time at the Fortress, you would know what is going on,a Stefan said, a faint note of accusation in his tone. aThis is not about territory. It is about revenge.a aWhat kind of revenge?a Elena asked.

aFlorin is the son of Rodinas fourth wife, Nadiya Korzha,a Andrei explained. aHe got into a fight with Olaf over one of the sheep and Rodin banished Florin from the Fortress. Nadiya has never forgiven him for that. Gerret took Florin under his wing. Florin does not care who wins the upcoming battle. All he wants is a way into the Fortress. If Gerret destroys Rodin, so much the better. As far as I can tell, Florinas only interest is in avenging himself on Olaf.a aWhich will cause more tension between Liliana and Nadiya,a Stefan remarked.

Drake raked his fingers through his hair. aAll this because of one of the sheep?a he muttered irritably.

aThere is more to it than that,a Stefan said. aRodin gave the sheep to Olaf. Rather than stay with him, she killed herself. It is said that Florin was in love with the girl.a aIn love?a Drake exclaimed. aWith one of the sheep?a aLike I said, if you spent more time at the Fortress, you would know what is going on. Many of the younger ones are not happy with our current laws. Our young men and women do not like being told who to marry.a aI can understand that,a Drake muttered.

aOur men and women often want more from the sheep than nourishment.a Drake swore under his breath. aWhy tell me all this? It is Rodin who should hear your complaints, not me.a aHe will not listen.a aBack to the matter at hand,a Drake said, glancing at his brothers. aWho else knows about Florinas plan for revenge ?a Stefan shook his head. aNo one.a Drake glared at Stefan. aAnd you left Olaf there, with no one to protect his back?a aI told Ciprian that I did not trust Florin and ordered him to shadow the intruderas every move until I return.a Drake nodded. Ciprian was another of his half brothers.

aSomething troubles you,a Stefan said.

aFlorin is not the type to risk his life over a woman.a Stefan frowned thoughtfully. aYou think he intends to challenge Rodin for banishing him from the Fortress?a aFlorin has no chance in battle against Gerret and even less against Rodin, but if Gerret should win, Florin would again have access to the Fortress. Gerret might even put him in charge of the Fortress and its people.a Drake shook his head. The odds of Florin besting either Gerret or Rodin in battle were slim to none.

aStefan, stay here with Elena. Andrei, you and Katiya will come with me.a aWait a minute!a Elena said. aIam going with you.a aNo.a aYes!a aElena, be reasonable,a Drake said. aI cannot take you to the Fortress with me.a She bit back her protest. He was right, of course. If Rodin saw her with Drake, it would give rise to questions they dared not answer. But how could she stay here? aAre you going to fight?a aI am going to watch Rodinas back while Andrei watches Olaf.a aWhat if Rodin loses?a Elena asked. aWhat then?a With a rea.s.suring smile, Drake pulled her into his arms and kissed her. aPray that does not happen.a Rodin demanded an audience the moment Drake and Katiya returned to the Fortress. After spending time with Elena, Drake found it difficult to go back to pretending that he and Katiya were happily wed and joyfully antic.i.p.ating the birth of their first child, but both Rodin and Liliana seemed convinced.

After the initial greetings were over, Katiya and Liliana left the men to converse alone.

aSo,a Rodin said, sitting back in his chair. aMarried life agrees with you.a aWe get on well together.a Drake sat in his motheras chair, his legs stretched out in front of him.

aStefan told you about Gerret?a aYou are not worried about the outcome of the challenge, are you?a Rodin snorted. aThe Irishman is no threat. It is obvious that Florin set this up to accomplish his own agenda.a aI will take care of Florin.a aIf I lose the fight, you must challenge Gerret. I do not want your mother to have to leave the Fortress.a aOf course,a Drake said, frowning. aBut that will not happen.a aI cannot control this Coven and the Irish territory, as well. When I have defeated Gerret, your mother and I will move to the Irish Fortress temporarily. She has always wanted to visit Ireland. You will take over the Coven here until we return. It will make a good home for you and Katiya and your child.a aNo.a Drake shook his head emphatically. aNo. I do not want to live here. Nor do I wish the responsibilities of being a Master Vampire.a aYou are the oldest and the strongest of my sons. You have pledged your life and your allegiance to me, and you will do as you are told.a Drake sat back, his mind spinning. aAnd if I refuse?a aYou will not.a With Drake gone, Elena couldnat sit still. She moved from one thing to another, unable to concentrate on anything. She tried to watch a movie, she tried reading a book, playing solitaire, baking a cake. She couldnat concentrate on the movie or the book, she tossed the cards on the floor, she burned the cake.

She talked Stefan into helping her rearrange the furniture in the main hall, but quickly lost interest.

aI canat stay here,a she said, arms akimbo. aItas killing me, not knowing whatas going on!a aWhat do you want me to do?a Stefan asked.

aTake me to the Fortress.a aNo way. Drake would have my head, if Rodin did not take it first.a She dropped down on the sofa, which was now in the center of the room. aHow do vampires fight, anyway?a aWith swords.a aSwords! How positively medieval.a aYou have no idea.a He took a seat on the nearest chair and stretched his legs out in front of him.

aDrake said they fight to the death.a Stefan nodded. He had seen a few challenges in his time. Some were quickly over. Others turned into blood baths. Either way, they were not pretty.

aWill Rodin win?a aUndoubtedly. There is no one better with a sword except perhaps Drake.a aSwords,a she murmured.

aWhat did you expect?a aI donat know. Something otherworldly.a She paused a moment. There had been no swords involved when Drake killed his brother. aHow did Drake kill Vardin?a Stefan leaned forward, his expression solemn. aAre you sure you want to know?a aI think so,a she said, then frowned. aWhy wouldnat I?a aIt was not as quick as a sword thrust, or as merciful.a aSo, what did he do?a she asked, her curiosity piqued.

aDrake ripped his heart out.a She swallowed hard. aWith . . . with his hands?a Stefan nodded. aYou look a little pale. Can I get you anything?a aNo. No, Iam fine.a She recalled the body lying under a blanket on the floor of her room in the Fortress, the awful b.l.o.o.d.y stain on the blanket, and on the rug beneath.

Wrapping her arms around her middle, she whispered, aI think Iam going to be sick.a In a blur too quick for human eyes to follow, Stefan left the room, only to return a moment later, chamber pot in hand.

She grabbed it just in time.

He left again, returning with a damp washcloth, a dry towel, and a gla.s.s of warm water. She quickly wiped her face, then rinsed her mouth. aThank you.a aNo problem,a he said, grinning as he took the chamber pot and soiled linen and left the room.

Elena sighed. She didnat know which was worse, throwing up, or doing so in front of Stefan.

aIam sorry,a she murmured when he returned. aI guess vampires donat throw up.a aNo. Not a pretty sight.a aI suppose not. Are you sure Drake isnat going to fight?a Stefanas gaze slid away from hers.

aStefan?a aHe will not fight. Unless Rodin is defeated.a

Chapter 27.

The atmosphere in the Fortress was subdued that night. Everyone knew about the upcoming challenge, though no one spoke of it openly. Even the sheep knew. But then, it seemed as if they always knew what was going on. Drake had often wondered about that. Did they have some sort of telepathy of their own? Or were they just in tune with what went on around them? He thought it more likely that they eavesdropped on what their captors said. They certainly didnat learn anything from the drones, those poor, unfortunate humans who were little more than zombies.

Too keyed up to sit still, he prowled the corridors for hours before going to his apartment.

Katiya looked up when he entered their quarters. aHave you seen Andrei?a Drake nodded. aHe is shadowing Olaf. He told me to kiss you good night.a She laughed softly, her cheeks flushing as Drake dutifully brushed a kiss across her lips.

aDid you see Florin?a she asked.

aNo. He has wisely chosen to stay in his room. One of the drones is keeping watch outside his door, ostensibly to do his bidding. Ciprian is also watching over him, from a distance, of course.a aAnd Rodin?a aHe is sequestered with Liliana.a Drake paced the floor, then dropped into one of the chairs, his hands braced on his thighs. aI have a bad feeling about this whole thing.a aYou are not afraid Rodin will lose? He has defeated every challenger who has ever come against him.a Drake nodded. Maybe he was worrying for nothing. Maybe it was being away from Elena that had his insides tied in knots.

aListen,a he said, rising quickly to his feet. aI need to see Elena.a aYou are leaving?a Katiya asked, her eyebrows rising in disbelief.

aI will be back before dawn. If anyone comes looking for me, you do not know where I am.a Elena had gone to bed early, only to toss and turn. A glance at the clock showed it was almost 2 A.M. Would this night never end? With a sigh, she closed her eyes, wishing Drake was there beside her.

aElena?a aDrake?a aI could not go to sleep without kissing you good night.a She threw her arms around him. aOh, Drake. I hate it when weare apart.a He gathered her close, a sense of peace stealing over him as he inhaled the scent of her hair and skin, heard the familiar beat of her heart, tasted her lips with his own. Without his knowing how it had happened, she had become the most important thing in his life, his only reason for living. After five hundred years, he felt as if he had found the other half of his soul. Love, he thought, it was more binding than blood.

When she would have spoken, he silenced her with a kiss. It lit the fire between them as quickly as a match ignites tinder. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding tightly, while his hands caressed her back, her shoulders, the sweet curve of her thigh, the swell of her breast.

He growled something under his breath, and the next thing she knew, her nightgown and his clothes were gone and he was rising over her. There was no need for foreplay. She sensed the urgency within him, but it was as nothing compared to her own need. They came together in a rush, his mouth crushing hers, her fingers digging into his back, urging him on.

Just when she was certain it couldnat get any better, she felt his fangs at her throat. She moaned softly as pleasure exploded deep within her, spreading outward like ripples in an ocean, until she was certain she would expire from the sheer wonder of it all.

His tongue laved her neck, and then he was kissing her again, carrying her over the edge of pleasure into ecstasy.

Elena sighed as she turned onto her side, her head pillowed on Drakeas shoulder, one arm across his chest, one leg sprawled over his. For this moment, he was hers, and only hers.

But it was a moment fated to end too soon. She sensed the change in him, knew he was getting ready to leave.

aDo you have to go so soon?a His hand lightly ma.s.saged her neck and shoulders. aI promised to be back before dawn. The challenge is tonight at midnight.a aPlease take me with you. Canat you hide me somewhere in the Fortress?a aNo. Have you forgotten what happened the last time I took you there? I will not willingly put your life in danger again.a aIam not afraid.a It was a bold-faced lie, but she was desperate to be with him.

aI will return to you as soon as I can.a He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, then kissed her slowly, deeply. aStay close to Stefan.a Determined not to cry, she sat up, watching him as he dressed, thinking it was a shame to cover that perfect masculine body, wishing he had time to make love to her again.

aThank you, wife,a he said with a wicked grin. aI will fulfill that wish when I return.a aIall hold you to it.a aPlease do.a Fully clothed, he bent down and kissed her again. aDo not worry. Rodin has never lost a battle.a She nodded, but she couldnat ignore the shiver of unease that speared through her when Drake vanished from her sight. Was it only her fear making itself known? Or a premonition of something worse?

The bad feeling was still there when she awoke in the morninga"afternoon, she amended when she looked at her watch. It was a little after one thirty. Ten and a half hours left until Gerret challenged Rodin for control of the Fortress.

Rising, she went down to the kitchen. Too upset to eat, she drank three cups of coffee, then wandered out into the garden.

A good cry, she thought. Thatas what she needed. But the tears wouldnat come.

Feeling thoroughly depressed, she sat on the wrought-iron bench and stared at the fountain. What was Drake doing? Was he resting? What of Liliana? And Katiya and Andrei? How could any of them rest when Rodin was going to fight another vampire to the death?

She should be there. She had to be there. She didnat know why, but she couldnat shake the feeling that Drake needed her.