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The Baroness forced a bright smile. “It is our pleasure. ”

Sir Stephen looked up and said in a low voice, “I am in your service. ”

Maria nodded her head, clutching Stephen’s hand.

“I thank you for your service and now I release all of you. Stephen, I am transferring all my business to a new solicitor and Baroness, though your parties are a delight and my wife and I shall attend any we are invited to, consider our dealings at an end. ”

The expression on the faces of the mortals was one of absolute shock and terror.

“Count Dracula,” Sir Stephen said in a tremulous voice. “I am at your service! I will do as you say. Have I not done all you requested?”

Vlad stood up and reached out to touch my cheek. “Yes, you have. But your services are no longer required. ”

My anger was pulsating inside of me. I could have slain all of them right then and there. Vlad took my hand to calm me. As we left the room together, he turned and said, “Do with them as you please. But with discretion. ”

“You cannot do this!”

I turned to look at the Baroness. Her expression was desperate. She was moving toward us, one hand outstretched.

“Vlad, please,” she whispered.

He slapped her hand away, then slapped her cheek. She fell to the floor weeping.

I stared at her with wide, unblinking eyes. I wanted to kill them all in that very moment, but Vlad was drawing me away.

Sir Stephen held his wife tightly in his arms as she wept in desperate fear. I could feel no pity for any of them. I felt cold, raw anger pulsating through me. Because of them my family was dead and I was a vampire. Now that Vlad had released them, I could feel my blood lust rising.

“Not now,” Vlad said firmly, guiding me away from the parlor.

As we walked toward the front doors, Brice appeared, pacing us. He did not utter a word, but opened the door for us, bowing slightly. As I passed him, he looked up at me and I gave him a slight nod.

Slipping into our cloaks, Vlad and I exited the palace toward our waiting carriage.

“They are yours now. Do as you please. Not tonight, but another. ”

As he lifted me into the carriage, I reached out to touch his face. “Why, Vlad?”

He lowered me back to the ground to take me in his arms. “To keep you from trying to kill me,” he said with a smirk. “Or maybe because you deserve revenge. ”

I gazed up at him and then slowly blinked. “This does not assuage my anger toward you. ”

“I would expect nothing less,” he answered me. His green eyes glimmered with deep emotion that I could not fathom nor discern. Pressing his full lips against my forehead, he held me to him for a moment.

“You are an odd man,” I decided, pulling away from him. Climbing into the carriage, I turned back to give him a fierce look.

“And you are a contrary woman,” he answered, joining me in the carriage.

Settling into the seat, I drew my cloak around me and forced myself to focus. My eyes were hot and unblinking. I could feel the blood lust raging in my veins. I wanted desperately to enter the palace and slaughter them all. Then I could set Brice free and perhaps find some measure of peace.

But Vlad stayed my hand and that aggravated me.

“Revenge should be savored,” Vlad said after a long moment of silence.

I snorted at this, but he had a point. Fluffing my skirt, I looked out the window as the carriage rolled down the drive and down toward the heart of Buda.

“It is time for a new beginning and to dispatch the past. It is time for us both to embrace our new existence. We shall be free in England. We shall be powerful together,” Vlad continued in a low voice. His hand slid under mine and he held it loosely. “Can you not see that?”

I slowly looked at him, my gaze quite steady. “Perhaps. ” My thoughts were of revenge. I would kill his mortal servants he had so kindly released to me. After that, I would then find a way to kill him. Then, at last, I would be free to be with Ignatius.