Page 48 of How to Stake a Vampire

“You could say that,” Barney muttered.

“The Bludworths were one of the most powerful vampire houses in Europe,” Lord Chudwell explained calmly. “Until oneof Ludvik’s schemes went spectacularly wrong and almost got their entire bloodline erased from vampire royal history.”

Didi sucked in air. Gavin’s eyes bulged.

My mouth went dry. “You were vampire royalty?” I mumbled.

“For my sins.” Barney rubbed his forehead. “Eight hundred years of watching vampire aristocracy repeat the same foolish mistakes over and over again made me leave. I came to America for some peace and quiet.”

Detective Johnson stared. “Eight hundred years?!”

“Give or take some centuries,” Barney said with a dismissive shrug. “Time gets a bit fuzzy after the first few hundred years.”

I stared. “And you decided working for a werewolf firm in New England was your best option?” I couldn’t completely mask my disbelief.

Barney sighed. “Believe me, werewolves are positively pleasant compared to vampires.”

“That’s true,” Lord Chudwell confirmed with a nod. “They don’t start wars over bloodline purity or challenge people to duels over dinner seating arrangements. More importantly, they don’t stab you in the back.”

“No, they just go straight for the jugular,” Samuel muttered. My alpha’s expression had grown increasingly grim. “What kind of scheme went wrong in Europe?” He clenched his jaw. “Does it have anything to do with what he’s attempting here in Amberford?”

Barney’s face grew shuttered.

“Ludvik tried to convince the vampire courts that all common-blood vampires should be eliminated,” he said in a lifeless voice. “He claimed vampires who’d associated with other supernatural races were contaminated and should similarly be exterminated. My great-nephew gathered quite a following among the younger vampires.”

“He was charismatic,” Lord Chudwell admitted reluctantly. “Ludvik could make almost anyone believe in his cause. He convinced dozens of newborn vampires to join his movement in the old country.”

My heart raced as I watched Barney. “What happened to them?”

“They died,” he said flatly. “All of them. Ludvik led them into a battle they couldn’t win against the vampire courts. It was a bloodbath. They attempted to overthrow the established order, after all. I’d received reports Ludvik was killed in the final battle. Those were evidently wrong.”

I knew I wasn’t the only one who heard the anger and pain in his voice.

The vampire must have been agonizing over the horrors his great-nephew had committed for centuries.

“If Ludvik is here, collecting and drinking blood from vampire aristocracy, then I fear he’s up to his old schemes again,” Barney said darkly.

“So the reason he’s targeting specific bloodlines has to do with his blood purity plans?” Samuel asked stiffly.

“Yes.”

I furrowed my brow. “How exactly does drinking from other vampires and taking their blood samples help his cause?”

Lord Chudwell and Barney exchanged another look.

“There were rumors,” Barney said reluctantly, “about an ancient ritual that would allow a vampire to absorb the power and abilities of other bloodlines.”

My stomach plummeted. “What?”

Samuel narrowed his eyes. “Absorb how?”

“By consuming their blood while they’re still alive but in a comatose state,” Barney replied uncomfortably. “The theory was that conscious vampires could resist the transfer, but unconscious ones couldn’t.”

I swallowed. “So he immobilized them not just because he needed them still?”

Bo’s ears flattened.

“Your great-nephew wants to turn himself into a super-vampire?” my dog asked, tail tucked firmly between his legs.