Page 29

I gasped as Astir’s eyes turned to flames and his words resonated within me. “I. . . I. . . I. . . ”

“I. . . I. . . . I. . . . what? ‘I entombed my husband after stealing his power’?” Astir seemed to glide across the room on invisible wings to gaze down at me.

I abruptly sat on the couch, my trembling hands in my lap. I was at a loss as to what to say. Tears stung my eyes as I realized that Adem must have witnessed Vlad’s fate and neither he, nor Magda, had spoken a word of it to me.

“You took his power. I feel it rippling off of you. You struck him down,” Astir said in a mocking voice. “How did you do it, little vampire? Vlad Dracula is no fool. At least, not until he deigned to love you. ”

“He does not love,” I snapped, lifting my eyes. “He does not love. He only causes pain. ”

/> Throwing himself onto the sofa next to me, Astir flung an arm about my shoulders. His body felt hot to my touch, uncomfortably so. “Ah, so since he causes you pain, you pierced him, stole his power, and entombed him in his castle with his bitter, angry Brides?”

“He was going to kill Cneajna! I had no choice! She was so angry that he had made me his wife and given me his name! She tried to kill me and he came to my defense!”

“So he defends you and you try to kill him?”

“No! He was going to kill her! Kill them all! I could not let him murder them as he had my family!” I wrenched away from Astir and stood, my hands clutched at my side. “I did not know he would will his power to me, but he did. I told the Brides to burn his blood so he would not rise, but he gave his power to me!”

“Ah,” Astir simply said, then shrugged. “Quite dramatic, I take it?”

Whirling about, I stomped my foot. “Do not mock me!”

“Oh, my darling little vampire, I am not mocking you. You ceaselessly entertain me with the ripples your delicate self creates in this vast dark ocean. ” Astir grinned. “I do find it endlessly amusing that the one woman Vlad was desperate to seduce and claim as his own has completely usurped him, destroyed his plans, and has made him a prisoner in his own home. ”

Frowning, I pursed my lips, considering his words. “He was cruel to me. ”

“Of course, he was. It is his very nature,” Astir agreed. “To him, being cruel is like breathing to a mortal. He needs it to survive. It is his very life essence. ”

I threw myself into the chair that Ignatius had inhabited the first night I had met him. I longed for his comforting touch. “I did not wish for this to happen. ”

“What did you wish? For Ignatius to denounce his mistress, kill Vlad, and rush away with you? To abandon all he holds dear and upholds as his sacred duty?”

My tears clouded my vision as I peered at the horrible creature lounging so casually across from me. “I love Ignatius. I love him with all my heart. Is it so wrong to want to be with him?”

“Oh, yes. Very wrong,” Astir declared with a chuckle. “And endlessly amusing. ”

“I am so very glad that my tortured existence amuses you so!”

“It certainly does,” Astir agreed, his grin widening.

“You sent Magda and Adem to spy upon me and learn my secrets so you can torment me! You’re a foul beast!”

“I sent Adem to protect you and Magda to take care of you. I only had your best interests at heart. ” Astir sniffed, insulted.

“You lie! How could you have my best interests at heart if you come here to toy with my emotions and mock me?”

Astir suddenly loomed over me. His curls hung about his face, framing his flaming eyes. “I do not lie, dear Countess. I sent them to do as I said. But I also instructed Adem to discover why your husband was missing. Which he did. I only did that to make certain that you are taken care of, my lovely little vampire. You charm me. I find you infinitely compelling with your passion and zest for freedom. ”

Staring up at him, I could not move. My fingers dug into the arms of the chair as I felt myself transfixed by his fiery gaze.

Bending ever closer, Astir angled his head, his golden curls aflame in the light from the fire in the fireplace. “Let me tell you a story, my little Countess Dracula. My guards sent word that you alone left the castle and set up residence in Bistri?a. They were uncertain as to why you left so swiftly alone when Count Dracula had told them you would be traveling together to Vienna. This turn of events immediately piqued my curiosity. I found it odd that Vlad would allow you to travel alone with the vampire hunters so ardently pursuing the undead. I was worried for your safety and could not fathom what his newest scheme could possibly be. I sent messengers to the castle, but they could not locate its whereabouts. It was if it had vanished. Only Vlad Dracula’s power could hide the castle from prying eyes. Therefore, concerned at this turn of events, I sent Adem. He was immediately enthralled with you, which is understandable. You are a little spark of life. ”

“You flatter me,” I muttered.

“Don’t interrupt! I am not done with my story,” Astir chided, waving his long finger before my face. “Adem reported that Vlad was nowhere to be seen and that you were on a quest to find Erzsébet. Odd, I thought. I told him to discover the fact of the matter. You were quite wily and he could not compel you to impart the truth. It was not until I sent Magda upon Adem’s request that he was finally able to persuade you to drop the ward on the castle so he could find it and enter it. ”

“I did not ward the castle! Are you mad?” I exclaimed, daring to gaze up into his face. “I do not have that power and you said yourself that only Vlad Dracula could hide it from prying eyes!”

To my shock, Astir straddled my lap, laid his hands on the back of the couch on either side of me, and began to laugh.