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“Come, Glynis. ” Cneajna grasped hold of my hand. With a piercing look at Elina, she led me away from the balcony and the glory of the night.

Pondering all that had happened, I let Cneajna guide me through the gloomy castle. The heartbeats of the gypsy servants were faint. Evidently they did not enter the crumbling corridors of this wing of the decrepit castle. Perhaps it was the coming of the day, but I felt tired and dazed. The pulsing, growing need that I had tasted earlier that night frightened me more than any shadow filled room.

When we entered the chapel, Vlad was waiting for us. Ariana was clinging to him and rubbing her face against his long, dark tresses. At his feet lay the remains of the coffin he had given me. His dark brows knitted together over his stormy green eyes.

“Why did you do this?”

“I am not dead,” I answered.

“Where will you sleep?” He raised an eyebrow. “On the floor like a dog?”

“With me. There is room. ” Cneajna pulled me toward her tomb.

“Cneajna,” Vlad purred, his long hand catching hold of her slender neck as she tried to pass by him.

Her eyes slid toward him. “Yes, my Master. ”

“Beware. ” A menacing smile graced his thick lips beneath his heavy mustache. “I do not like to be defied. ”

As his hand released her, Cneajna pulled me along, escaping the scathing sneer of our Master.

We entered the blond Bride’s tomb, which was far more beautiful in design than those of the other Brides. A large coffin lay on the floor, its heavy lid drawn back. Cneajna released my hand as she sealed the door. The candles burning in their holders along the walls were beginning to waver, casting flickering shadows about the tomb.

“Come, lay down. ” She lowered herself into the coffin, sliding to one side. “Come lay down. You must sleep. ”

Feeling awkward, I hesitantly climbed into the coffin. Lying down next to Cneajna felt so odd. I felt so small and helpless even though I knew I was neither one of those things anymore.

Solemnly, Cneajna reached up one hand to pull the lid over us.

“Please, do not,” I pleaded.

She seemed about to ignore my request, but lowered her hand. “Very well. ”

I lay on my back, my hands folded over my stomach, staring up at the flickering light undulating across the ceiling. Cneajna rested on her side, one hand tucked under her golden head. I could feel her staring at me and it unnerved me immensely. I could not even begin to imagine what thoughts were floating through the vampire’s mind.

Cneajna lifted herself up on one elbow and stared down at me. “You are my daughter now. I will care for you as your mother would have. I will do your hair and give you many beautiful dresses. I have many jewels and I will share them with you. I will teach you our ways. The way to dance, to fly, to hunt, and to serve our husband. I will care for you, my sweetest child, I promise.

I stared up at the lovely woman with the sparkling sapphire eyes, ruby lips and hair of spun gold. Cneajna was by far the most beautiful creature I had ever seen, but also one of the most deadly. I could see the absolute horrible longing in her eyes and the terrible desperation within her to have the family she had been denied in her mortal life. I could feel her pain pouring out of her and her need to be my vampire mother. But this vampire world had not claimed my soul yet.

“I have a mother,” I said shortly, deliberately shutting my eyes to avoid her wounded expression. “I do not need another. ”

There was a horrible silence. I could feel Cneajna’s anger beating down on me.

“Very well,” she finally whispered.

I could feel her lay back down beside me, the long golden tresses falling around us like a blanket. Then there was a loud scraping noise and the coffin lid shut over us.

“You will learn to love the darkness,” Cneajna whispered tersely to cut off my protest. “And you will learn to love us. ”

Chapter 9

The Journal of Lady Glynis Wright Continued

I awoke burning with the hunger.

My screams rang through the crumbling remains of the chapel and the long corridor beyond. Prince Vlad emerged from the darkness into the torchlight and stood over me. A dark smile formed under his thick mustache and within the depths of his green eyes glimmered red fires.

Wolves entered the chapel, their long nails clicking across the stone floor. The pack leader bowed his head to Vlad, and Vlad tipped his head in acknowledgment of this homage.