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Unfolding his long form from the chair, Astir stepped between the two young women. “Now, now, we have much more important things to concern ourselves with other than Katya’s desire to be fed upon. We have won a great victory tonight. The powers that be are now at peace with all gathered here. We are safe from their interference for the time being. But the day will come when Vlad Dracula returns and we should be prepared. ”

“How?” I asked.

“We should leave the city,” Laura decided. “We should take my inheritance and move far from here. ”

“He will find her,” Ignatius stated.

I knew in my heart this was true. “Should I not attempt to create a safe haven for myself here? If Gavril and Ilinca trust me, will they not turn against Vlad?”

Astir pulled Katya away from me and sat her gruffly down in a chair. “I think that is a very wise suggestion, my darling Countess. But how will you procure their loyalty?”

Sighing, I sank into Ignatius’s arms. “I am at a loss. ”

“I must ask,” Laura said. “Why does Count Vlad Dracula desire her?”

The men before me looked vastly uncomfortable at her question and it occurred to me that Vlad may want me for more than just his mere wife.

“What is it? What are you keeping from me?”

Ignatius stroked my hair lovingly as he moved to look into my eyes directly. “Vlad gave you his power when you struck him down. ”

“Yes,” I said, vividly remembering how he wilted into a wizened husk in my arms. “I thought perhaps he did it because he loved me, but I realize now that was a foolish thought. ”

“Not necessarily. ” Astir sniffed with disdain. “He does love you. And he does have confidence in your abilities to survive among the most dangerous of immortals, but h

e did it for another rather distasteful reason. ”

“Enlighten me. ” I was becoming impatient and set my hands upon my hips.

“He needs your blood to revive him,” Adem said at last.

“Can he not drink from one of the sisters or a mortal?”

“He could, but he would be significantly weaker. ” Ignatius shifted on his feet, disturbed by his own thoughts. “He would need to drink your blood to regain what he has lost. ”

“And not a mere drop or two,” Astir continued.

“He will need to drain you as you did him to restore him to full strength. He will reclaim his power from your veins and rise. ” Ignatius was wise enough not to touch me as I stood before them, hands clutched at my sides, my anger burning bright.

“He cannot!” Laura cried out.

“But he would,” Katya said in her lighthearted voice. “He would drain every last drop and punish her for what she has done to him. I saw that in my dreams. ”

I could not speak my rage was so overpowering. I stomped my foot and let out a cry of frustration.

“You cannot let him do this to her!” Laura confronted Ignatius, her fists raised. “We must stop him!”

“Why did none of you deign to tell me this?” I nearly screamed, finding my voice.

Astir grabbed my arm and wrenched me around. “Because, my dear little vampire, you are prone to action without thought. ”

“Astir has guided you through a difficult time by giving you just enough information to keep you out of harm’s way,” Adem pointed out. “Should he have told you all that you know now, you would have reacted rashly out of fear and desperation. You have now truly evolved into a powerful and wise vampire. ”

I covered my face with my hands as the horror of my possible fate overwhelmed me. I knew in my heart that all they said was true. Vlad would drain every lost drop from my flesh and entomb me as punishment. When he finally allowed me to rise, I would never be truly free again.

Ignatius gently touched my shoulder and I went into his arms. He enfolded me lovingly.

Silence settled upon all in the room as the enormity of our future battle against Vlad Dracula filled us all with dread.