Page 137

My hands trembling at my sides, I took a step further into the hallway, my eyes averted from his stoic face. His hand lashed out and captured my wrist. Hesitating, I stood in silence, waiting. He had been warned he could not kill me, but I knew he would do as he pleased.

“How,” he began in a low, cold voice, “could you be such a fool?”

“Release me,” I demanded.

He twisted my wrist, tugging me about to face him. Red fires burned in his glittering green eyes. Drawing me up against him, he gazed into my face, a cruel twist to his mouth. “Do you not realize what you have done?”

“I have banished you from my life,” I answered vehemently. “Which is all I ever truly wanted since you cursed me to this existence. ”

“You have become their pawn!”

“Better theirs than yours!”

With an exclamation of anger, he threw me away from him. I fell to the shining marble floor and caught myself on my hands. He was on me in an instant, his cloak flaring out to engulf my fallen form. Hovering over me, his sharp teeth gnashed as he spoke. “You would rather serve them than be with me, is that so?”

“Yes! I would rather serve them then be enslaved by you!” With force that shocked him, I threw him off. I glided to my feet and stood defiantly before him. “I refuse to bow to your wishes any longer. ”

“I am your Master!”

“I will not serve you!” My rage consumed me, making my eyes burn and my teeth descend.

Silence filled the hall as he stood pondering my words. He made a dismissive gesture with one hand, as though discarding the entire conversation. “Enough of this. Come, wife. We shall go, not to the castle, but to London. Come. Come! We’ll go to your brother. ”

“No,” I answered. “I will not depart with you. Do not dare to use my brother against me!”

“You are being foolish and unreasonable,” Vlad chided. His green eyes flashed with fury and he took a step closer.

“Return to your castle with Cneajna and leave me be,” I said in a hushed voice.

“Leave you with my duplicitous brother? The man you have bedded in my absence and to whom you declared your love before the House of Gavril!”

I stomped my foot. “I love him! I love him with all my heart! He is my joy and my life! Do not dare to come against us. I will kill you. I will not leave you in limbo, but strike off your head!”

He stepped back, regarding me. “He is a pawn of our Mistress sent to spy upon us and report back to her. ”

“I know. ”

“Yet, you love him and will be with him. ” Vlad scoffed at me.

“He did not murder my family,” I retorted. Tears threatened to spill down my cheeks and I fought them back. I would not be weak before him.

“I did what was necessary. What is my nature. What is my right,” he answered firmly. “Surely you realize that truth now. You are a Master now. You have a fledgling. You know how deeply a Master feels for the creation of their blood. ”

His words were true. I did know. I would do anything for Laura. I loved her completely. The thought of her not at my side brought a piercing pain and sadness to my heart.

Vlad drew closer, realizing he had found a weakness in my armor against him. His hand lingered near my cheek, his power brushing over my skin like a feather. “Now you know. What I would do to have you near me. Blood of my blood. ”

I glared at him, yet I could not help but believe him. Was this our bond renewing despite the cursed ring? His presence empowered, yet angered me. “You murdered my family and forced yourself upon me. Beat me, hurt me, threatened me!”

“When I thought you were a mere pawn, yes, but as your power grew and our bond strengthened. . . ” He let his words trail off as he stepped closer to me, his lips suddenly close to mine. “I loved you, my countess. I loved you and knew I could not bear to lose what I had created. That is why I came here to stand for you despite your betrayal. ”

I raised my eyes to gaze into his. “I do not doubt that you love me, but I have seen with my own eyes what you do to those you love!”

Swiftly, I stepped away from him, but once more he caught my arm. This time he slid his hand down to grasp mine.

“They were not you. ”

“Your manipulations will not work on me. ”