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Vlad looked sharply at his blond Bride. “Cneajna, explain!”

The beautiful vampire stood majestically among the agitated mob of gypsies. “My Master, Glynis-“

“I hunger,” I interrupted impatiently. I roughly pulled the girl along with me as I walked toward Vlad. “I want this girl. ”

Vlad seemed mildly amused, his mouth spreading into a smile beneath his mustache. “I am delighted to hear of your desire to feed, but I forbid the killing of our servants. Once they are gone, who will serve us?”

“I want her,” I said in a low, fierce voice.

“Release her!”

“No!”

Vlad suddenly advanced on me, his most rebellious young Bride, raising his hand to strike me down. I hissed at him, backing away.

Cneajna rushed forward. “Please, my Master! The girl stole Glynis’ ring! We came to claim it from her when the hunger overwhelmed Glynis! Have mercy!”

Vlad moved so swiftly, he had me by my throat before I could even try to dodge away from him. “Tell me, is this true?”

Burning with the hunger, I could hardly comprehend his words.

Still grasping me by the throat, Vlad looked down at my prey. “Is this true?”

Shaking her head vigorously, Arghira cast down her eyes.

Cneajna grabbed hold of the girl’s hair and yanked back her head. “Where is it?”

“Please! I took it only because she gave it to me!”

“Where is it?” Cneajna twisted the girl’s hair.

Shakily, the girl drew out the chain the ring was threaded on from the folds of her blouse. “Please, have mercy! I took it because she did not want it!”

Vlad snatched the chain off the girl’s neck with a shout of fury. Cneajna shrank back from his anger as the gypsy girl screamed. I merely glared at the great Prince with pure hatred.

I was so hungry and he was not letting me feed!

“Did you give the girl the ring?” Vlad screamed into my face, his face fiery red.

“In another life,” I answered in a low voice.

“Another life,” Vlad muttered under his breath. His dark mood suddenly vanished as he smiled. “Another life. Yes, that is a good answer. ” He released me and threw the girl into Cneajna’s arms. Ripping the ring from the chain, he motioned the gypsies back with one hand. “Here, Glynis, now wear it in this life. ”

I reluctantly took the ring and shoved it onto my finger. “I hunger. ”

Vlad seized the gypsy girl and turned toward the servants. “She broke our agreement. You swore to serve me loyally. Stealing from my wives is a crime I will not tolerate. Serve me faithfully, I will reward you. Betray me, then death will come!” Vlad flung the girl into my waiting arms.

Without hesitation, I yanked the girl’s head back and bit deeply into her throat. Blood flowed in dark red rivulets down the shrieking girl’s flesh to the dark place between her breasts where she had hidden the forbidden ring.

Satisfied, Vlad returned to the depths of the cas

tle, leaving the gypsies to quietly disappear into their humble homes. Soon the courtyard was empty save for Cneajna, the slowly dying girl, and me.

Cneajna stood over me as I drained away every last drop of life from the mortal. I was aware of her, but all I wanted was that thick, rich blood filling me, chasing away the hunger, and making my body warm again. The cold night air swirled around us as the silent stars shone down upon us.

The dead gypsy fell to the cold stones of the courtyard. I remained on my knees staring at the lifeless body.

“Glynis?”