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“They are lovely. ” I was glad my covers were drawn to my chin. There was something about Csilla that always made me feel a bit exposed. Her keen dark eyes were always upon me even when she appeared to be casting her attention elsewhere.

“The blue suite was much more to your liking though, wasn’t it? Vlad told me your favorite color is blue. I shall have it repaired soon. ” She smiled slightly as she sank into the soft folds of the brocaded curtains at the end of the bed. “May I ask you how the damage occurred?”

Sighing, I peered at her from my cocoon, wishing adamantly that she had stayed away just a little bit longer. “Vlad. ” It was a truthful answer and I was keen to see her response.

Her vivid dark eyes widened and, pressing her hand to her bosom, she gasped. “He’s here?”

“He was here. ” I was not truly lying, but it was certainly not the entire truth.

Lips trembling, she stammered, “But he did not come to see me. ”

“I am his wife,” I said a bit tartly. I can be cruel at times, I know.

“Yes, of course. ” As if her strength had left her, she slid onto the edge of the bed and perched there like a bewildered child. “I just wish he would have come to speak with me. I am at a loss as to what he expects from me. I have done as he asked, taken you in and made this your home, but he has sent me no further word. ”

I was surprised at how lost she sounded. I had not considered continuing a false correspondence with her as I had with Vlad’s solicitor. Adem assisted me in the delivery of fake letters to Sir Stephan from Vlad arranging for transfers when I needed more money and arranging for the rubble of our old home to be cleared away, but I had not really thought much about Csilla beyond taking residence in her home.

“Well, we spoke of you. ” Not quite a lie. We had spoken about her in the past. Vlad had given her life to me. He did not care if she lived or died anymore.

“Did you?” She raised her eyes, hope filling them.

“Yes, we did. ” I measured my words carefully. I did not want to alarm her in any way, but it was time to push her further into the trap I had laid for her. “He is concerned about your loyalty. ”

Gasping, she lashed out and gripped my hand. “Certainly you told him that I have taken very good care of you?”

“Of course, but you know how he can be. He has grandiose plans in motion and does not want there to be any question of any of his servants’ loyalty. He was quite adamant when he visited that his plans be set in motion. ” I was pleased with how well I was twisting the truth.

“I am completely loyal to him! Oh, dearest Glynis, you must see this!” She bit her bottom lip, fretting.

A thought occurred to me and I took her hand gently. “He is concerned you are not loyal to me. That you are jealous that I am his countess and wife. ” A little jab to hurt her, but also to frighten her.

“I am completely loyal to you as well! I admit that I was jealous at first, but I have grown to love you. Certainly you must see how much I desire to be your sister vampire. ?

?? She clutched my hand tightly with both of hers and pressed her lips to them. “Oh, please do not let his anger turn against me!” Dark eyes flashing with anger and despair, she appeared on the verge of collapse. “Please, do not let me grow old and die. Please, Glynis! Surely you must see that I do care for you and I will be a loyal sister. Do not let Vlad doubt me. I have loved him and been loyal for five long years. ”

I felt a pang of sympathy for the woman when I realized she was yet another of Vlad Dracula’s discarded loves. But my pity for her only lasted a mere second. My anger rose as I remembered her terrible betrayal of my family. It was she who had selected me as Vlad’s perfect English bride and doomed us all. “I suppose he will need evidence that you are loyal and will not attempt to usurp me. ”

Her voice catching, she whispered, “I see. ”

We sat in an uncomfortable silence as she struggled to regain her composure. Though I attempted to keep my countenance bland, I delighted in her fear and misery. I remembered all too well my sister’s screams before she died.

“You know how he can be. ” My voice was remarkably soft and soothing even to my own ear.

“I know he said you were different, but I did not realize the full implication of his words. It is obvious now that you are truly his wife and countess. ” Tears dropped from her eyelashes to sparkle on her cheeks. “And though it wounds me to some degree for I longed for that honor myself, I would never betray you or him. I would only hope that you would treat me as a favored sister. ”

I gently wiped a tear away, relishing the thought that I had caused this pain, but it was still not enough. “Do not cry. Vlad always discards the women he loves. Even I will one day not be in his favor. ”

“Are you so certain?” Her tone was a little clipped, but she managed to not let the bitterness and hurt in her eyes seep into her words.

Nodding, I answered, “Yes. I am quite certain. ”

“You are wrong. Of that I am certain now. You are different and you hold the power to persuade him to have mercy. ” Surprising me, she threw herself onto my lap, gripping my sides with her hands. “Please, I implore you! Do not let him turn me away. Not now! I have done all he ever desired. I helped him attain his wealth, I helped him find his victims, I did everything he ever desired. I killed for him! I have opened my veins, my heart, my soul to him. Do not let me fall from his favor!”

I laid my hand upon her dark hair as her body shuddered with her tears. “You must prove to him that you will bow to my wishes as your mistress and obey me. ”

“How do I do that? What should I do?” Her voice was thick and raw with emotion. “Tell me!”

“I do not know,” I lied.