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“Remember our last night together,” he whispered, his body pressing against my back. He lowered his face to whisper in my ear. “You came to me willingly and we were joined as man and wife. We were powerful and we were at peace. Come to me once more and that is how it shall be. ”

“It was a night of lies. I needed to be consoled. Ignatius was not with me and you were a convenient replacement. ” I bit off my words tersely as I tried to maintain my fury against him. I did remember that night. I had used my wiles to find solace in my loneliness. At times I regretted my actions, yet at others I did not. After all he had done, he owed me a moment of peace.

The coldness of his hands chilled me as he gripped my shoulders firmly, but gently. His lips against my temple, he said, “You did not think of him that night. ”

Words of truth that struck me to the core. I wrested away from him. “Enough of this. I will not return with you. Say your piece and I shall say mine, and we shall be done. ”

With eagle swiftness, he caught me up in his arms. His lips covered my lips, my cheeks, my neck. I gripped his arms with my hands to thrust him away.

“Release me!”

“Ah ha!” he exclaimed as his hand closed over my ring. With triumph, he snatched the cursed ring off my finger and flung it away. The curse removed, my blood responded to his call and his power flared through me. The kiss he inflicted on my lips consumed me and for a mere moment I was lost. The darkness within me called to him. His cold power washed over me. I was caught up in a vision of me standing at his side, both of us drenched in blood, our enemies at our feet. I

could feel the triumph, the hate, and the cruelty emanating from us. I gasped, pulling away from him.

“I am not what you are!”

Fingers tangling in my hair, he forcibly drew me close. “We are one, you and I. We desire our freedom and fight against our enemies. Join me and one day this world can be ours. ”

“I am not like you!” I pressed at him with my hands, my fear making me weak. I would not be a brutal, sadistic monster like him.

Driving me back against a pillar, he slid his hands up under my gown. I could feel him hard against my belly and I was horribly afraid. I forgot myself, everything that I had accomplished, everything I had gained, and all I felt was the horrible fear that I was lost forever.

Vlad’s teeth ripped into my neck, shoving his body against mine as I floundered against him. Rage filled me as I felt my body respond to his. It was vile to feel my flesh yearning for pleasure. This was the curse inflicted upon me by his blood. Bound to him with chains of evil that threatened what little I had left of my soul. I teetered on the edge of the abyss, darkness rushing up to wash over me.

“Please, release me!” I cried out.

The exquisite pleasure of his bite made it difficult to fight him. I felt his power wrapping around me, seeking to join with me once more.

It was when he gashed his throat and ordered me to drink that I regained my mind. The dark passion that had consumed me and threatened to devour me left as suddenly as it had risen. I cried out in my despair, grief ripping through me. The sight of his torn throat woke me to the truth of our reality. To drink from him would be to damn myself and lose all I had fought for. My life, my lover, my daughter. . .

“No!”

I violently wrenched his head back from my throat, his teeth tearing free of my flesh. My blood splattered the cold marble floor. My other hand found a silver dagger he always hid in his waistcoat. I withdrew it, pressing it against his throat.

“Release me. ” His surprise was to my advantage. I untangled myself from his body and slipped free of his grasp. My body felt cold and disconnected from my soul. I struggled to regain my composure.

“You felt it! Our passion burns whether you accept it or not. ”

“It is my destruction I feel in your arms. The loss of who I am. ” Anger flared within me. I was not the fledgling I once was. I had forgotten that in my moment of terror and lust. I reached within myself and unfurled my power like great wings. I felt it flow through my veins like ice water, strengthening my resolve. My thoughts turned to Ignatius and Laura. The dark lust and need for my Master faded into a memory.

“What you feel is your potential to rise above all of them. Come with me and these usurpers,” Vlad thrust his hand toward the ballroom, “will be nothing more than corpses impaled before our thrones. ”

Holding my dagger before me, I answered, “I desire nothing more than to live my life with Ignatius and Laura. I have no desire for conquest and death as you do! I remember your mortal life, Dracul!”

“You are what I am. I feel it in you. My blood in you whispers your darkest secrets to me. ” Red fires burned in his green eyes as he stepped closer. “What did you do to Baroness Dosza? Did you not seduce her, lie to her, and kill her?”

“Her death brought me no real pleasure!” I cried out. “It felt empty!”

“Do not be a foolish child. You are a vampire! A powerful, beautiful, brutal vampire. And you are mine. ”

“No!”

“You’re being foolish,” Vlad shouted, his rage beginning to build now that his lust was not sated.

“Call me foolish again and I will cut out your tongue,” I warned. “I am not your shirking Bride anymore. I am a Master. I am a Countess. ”

“Countess Dracula,” he said, smirking, delight in his eyes, drawing so close to me he could touch me.