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Cneajna hurried after the child as he let go of me and raced away. I felt Ariana brush past me followed by Elina. My sluggishly beating heart felt heavy and painful in my chest. The child ran past me and my hand snagged his shirt. Pulling him into my arms, I kissed his cheek, feeling my long vampire teeth descending behind my lips. He sloppily kissed me back, hugging my neck tightly. Slowly, I sank to the floor, embracing him. Ariana knelt next to me as Elina settled on the floor, both of them watching with bright, deadly eyes.

The little boy grew silent, his dark eyes staring into mine.

“Sleep now,” I whispered to him. My voice caught in a sob.

Cneajna slowly knelt before me.

“It is her right to begin. She is the first,” Elina said to me.

Sobbing, I held his sleeping form tighter. His body was so warm. I could feel his heart beating in his chest and hear his blood rushing through his veins. My hunger growled within me, and I cried out in anguish.

Reverently, Cneajna took him from my arms. I covered my face with my hands, too horrified to speak. Finally, I lowered my hands to see Cneajna tracing the child’s little lips with her fingertips.

Ariana and Elina drew closer, their eyes burning with hunger.

“We cannot,” I murmured.

Cneajna slowly turned the small head with her fingers exposing its delicate throat.

“It is our way,” she said in a low voice, her fangs suddenly very visible and sharp.

Then the hunger spoke and we fed.

In the aftermath of the feeding, I stumbled through the castle. I wanted to retch but my wretched undead body was already burning the blood to restore my life. Weeping, I pulled at my hair, my dress, and my body. I was in agony and could not find release.

I saw the light seeping through the doorway to the library. Rage gripped me and I burst into the room. I found Vlad dressed immaculately in black reading a book in English. He looked up at me with faint interest, his lips curling up beneath his thick mustache.

“Did you enjoy your feast?”

I could not speak for a moment. My lips trembled as my throat constricted. Shaking, I drew closer to him and finally said, “May God damn you to hell. ”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such language from a lady even if she is a vampire. ” Vlad clucked at me reproachfully and returned to his reading.

I snatched the book out of his hand and flung it away. “A child! A child, Vlad! Innocent and pure! You gave us a child. ”

Leaning back, he stroked his mustache lightly, regarded me thoughtfully, and then laughed. “Yes, innocent and pure. And his innocent and pure blood right now courses through you. I see it in your glowing skin, your sparkling eyes, and your glistening hair. So do not complain to me about that which you enjoyed. ”

I lunged at him, hitting him with my fists. “I hate you! You are a monster!”

Gripping my wrists, he drew me down to him. I fell to my knees as he leaned into me. The top of his head touched my brow as he whispered, “You are what I am. Do you hate yourself? For if I am a monster, so are you. ”

I drew back from him sharply, trying to wrench free from his grip. “No, never! Never!”

He buried his hand in my hair and raised my face to his. Gazing into my eyes, he smiled at me. “But you are, my dearest bride. You are what I am. A monster. ”

Tossing me aside, he rose and reclaimed his book. Lying on the floor crying, I gazed up at him. “I will never be what you are. ”

“You are a vampire. I am a vampire. We are very much alike, dear Glynis. ”

He sat down in his chair and proceeded to read.

Rising to my feet, I stood before him trembling. My tears flowed hot and fierce against my cold cheeks. When I wiped them from my face, I saw they were tinged with blood.

“I refuse to be like you. ”

Vlad sighed and closed his book, one long finger keeping his place. “And how shall you accomplish that, my dear Glynis? What shall you do? Refuse to feed?”

“Yes!”