Page 35

“I feel very well indeed, Querida. Well enough, in fact, to do this…” With strength he hadn’t possessed in years, he deftly caught her by the waist and hauled her onto his lap.

A startled squeak escaped her lips just before Rafe claimed her mouth with his, reveling in her taste. Cassandra moaned and tangled her hands in his hair, crushing her breasts against his bare chest. His hardness ground against her soft heat. He longed to yank up her skirts and thrust deep inside her sweetness. As he reached to do just that, a knock sounded on the door.

“Cristo!” he hissed as Cassandra scrambled off his lap.

“My lord, her ladyship’s bath is ready,” William intoned.

“Thank you, William,” Cassandra stammered, and she fled the room as if chased by demons.

Rafe slumped in the chair and buried his face in his hands. And perhaps she was. Just one, anyway.

* * *

Clayton squinted at the trio of vampires who stood nearly thirty meters away beneath a copse of trees at the edge of Rafael’s territory. “Come closer so I can get a better look at you.”

The one in the center shook his head. “Not until I hear your terms and you can guarantee our safety.”

“Don’t be foolish.” Clayton sneered. “You are rogues. You forfeited safety the moment your lord exiled you. The only thing I can offer is shelter, hunting grounds, and my silence as to your presence in this city. And I will only do so if you agree to my terms.”

The male on the right scratched his shaggy beard. “Quit toying with us then and tell us what you want.”

Clayton tamped down his ire at the rogue’s insolence. Thankfully his need for such a cur would only be temporary. “Very little. Only a few abductions and perhaps a killing or two if necessary.” He shrugged. “It’s not as if you haven’t done worse.”

The three rogues regarded him with mutinous glares before huddling together to silently confer.

Finally, the one in the center cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Very well, what do you want us to do?”

Clayton forced his features into a solemn visage. “The current Lord of this city is corrupt and placing the vampires of London in danger. He must be overthrown to preserve our safety. To do so, I need to prove his incompetence. That is where you gentlemen come in.” Smiling, he folded his hands behind his back. “I need you to kidnap a London vampire, but do not harm her unless it is absolutely necessary.”

“I see…” The lead rogue smirked and laced his fingers together under his chin. “And what happens afterward?”

“You do not need to be privy to the exact details. But I will say this: if you three do your jobs well, you will rise to the top ranks of my hierarchy when I become Lord of the city.” Clayton surveyed them all. “What say you?”

The three rogues conferred a moment longer before intoning in unison: “We agree.”

Clayton grinned and beckoned the new members of his rebellion forward. Now it was time to execute the next step of his plan.

Ten

12 October 1823

Cassandra awoke to hear a sharp hiss of pain. Seconds later, Rafe struck a match and lit an oil lamp, illuminating his agonized grimace.

“My God, Rafe, what is the matter?” Then she saw. His hand, along with the muscles in his arm and shoulder, were overtaken with pulsing spasms.

He followed her gaze. “Ironic, isn’t it? For years I’ve wanted sensation in this godforsaken limb. It seems I’ve gotten my wish.”

Cassandra threw off the covers and climbed out of bed. “I must examine you at once.”

“There isn’t time right now. I need to hunt. Besides, I am quite certain everything is fine. Look.” He moved his fingers and rotated his arm, smiling despite tight lines of pain around his eyes. “I can move this arm threefold as much as yesterday. My discomfort is likely part of the adjustment process.”

Her eyes widened as she grasped the obvious. “Of course! Why didn’t I foresee this? The muscles have been atrophied for so long that naturally there would be pain from them ‘waking up,’ for lack of a better term.” She crossed the room to the wardrobe, threw open the mahogany doors, and grabbed a gown. “We must go to the laboratory at once. I have some cannabis.”

Rafe took the gown. “You are not doing anything until you eat, Querida. You’ve grown thinner since you came here.” He threw the cranberry velvet garment over her head, working through the buttons twice as fast as before. “We will talk further when I return.”

Just when he’d finished helping her dress, there was a knock on the door.

“Yes?” Rafe growled with apparent irritation and impatience.