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S aintcrow huffed a sigh of resignation as he dressed for the evening. It was, hopefully, his last night of playing Eleni’s unwilling escort.

He arrived at her lair at the appointed time, knew he was in deep trouble when she opened the door wearing a long, transparent, black negligee. “You’re a little under-dressed, aren’t you?” he remarked. “I thought we were going to a concert.”

“I decided to stay in tonight.” She stepped back to allow him entrance.

Muttering, “Come in, said the spider to the fly,” Saintcrow crossed the threshold of his sire’s lair. He sucked in a breath when he felt her power seal the door closed behind him.

Hips swaying provocatively, her perfume trailing in her wake, she led the way into the living room.

A fire crackled in the hearth, a bottle of wine and two crystal goblets waited on the coffee table.

A young couple sat side-by-side on the plush, dove-gray sofa, staring blankly at nothing. Obviously under her thrall.

“I thought we’d dine in this evening,” Eleni purred, running her fingers through the young man’s curly brown hair.

“As you wish.”

She perched on the sofa beside the male. With regret, Saintcrow sat beside the woman. The minutes ticked by in silence. Saintcrow drank a little from the woman but found no pleasure in it.

When they finished, Eleni filled the goblets with wine and handed one to Saintcrow. “Nothing like a glass of fine wine after a good meal,” she murmured. “What shall we drink to?”

“Freedom?”

Eleni glared at him as she wiped the memory of what had transpired from the couple’s mind, released them from her thrall, and sent them away.

Saintcrow met her gaze. He didn’t move when she scooted closer to him. Or when she took his glass and set it on the coffee table, along with her own. Or when she laid her hand high on his thigh, her fingers spread wide.

She smiled when he sucked in a breath. “Tell me again that you don’t want me,” she whispered, her voice husky.

“I don’t want anything you’ve got. You can force me to stay with you. I suppose you could compel me to have sex with you, but you won’t get any real satisfaction out of it. I love Kadie, and I’m worried sick about her. Nothing else matters.”

Eleni watched him, her brow furrowed. He winced as he felt her mind brush his. “You really do love her, don’t you?”

Saintcrow nodded. “You’ve taken many men to your bed, Eleni, but you’ve never really loved any of them, have you?” he mused, as he divined her thoughts. “You don’t even know what it is.”

“I was hoping you would teach me.”

He shook his head. “Do your worst. It’s never going to—”

Before he finished speaking, they were on the bed in her bedroom. A wave of her hand left him clad in nothing but his briefs. “You will make love to me now,” she demanded. “Show me what you think I’ve been missing.”

“No.”

Eyes blazing, she unleashed her power, driving Saintcrow off the bed and onto his knees. He let out a harsh gasp as a wave of excruciating pain lanced through every cell of his body.

“Change your mind,” she urged. “I can make you forget her.”

“No.” The word was torn from his throat.

“Then she dies tonight.”

The words, softly spoken, left no doubt in Saintcrow’s mind that his sire meant exactly what she said.

How could he betray Kadie’s love, shatter her trust in him?

Even if Kadie never knew he’d betrayed her, he would know.

Hands clenched, eyes closed, he visualized her lying helpless and unmoving, growing weaker day-by-day.

Perhaps it was better to let Eleni end Kadie’s life now, before she wasted away to nothing. Once she was gone, he would follow her.

Eleni frowned as she read his thoughts. He meant to destroy himself if she killed his woman.

She had no doubt that he would do it. She could not comprehend a love such as that.

Saintcrow was in pain, not only from the agony she was inflicting on him, but at the thought of betraying his woman.

She would never understand a love like that, Eleni mused, and knew, in that moment, that it was not something she wanted.

Surely loving someone that much gave them too much power over you.

She could not envision giving up her freedom for anyone, man or vampire.

“One night,” she said. “Surely that is not too much to ask? After all, you would have died centuries ago if not for me.”

“No.” The word was a groan on his lips.

“You would rather see her dead than betray her,” Eleni mused. “Interesting.”

He didn’t answer, just stared up at her, panting softly as pain splintered through him.

Eleni shook her head. He was a fool, she thought, but she had to admire his loyalty. That was the one thing she understood and respected. “What if I could heal your woman? Would you spend a night with me then?”

Hope flickered in the depths of Saintcrow’s eyes. “Can you?” he gasped. “Heal her?”

“Without a doubt.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, she thought. She had the means but not the ability.

“How?”

“That’s for me to know.”

He swallowed a groan as the pain knifing through him grew stronger. “One night?” He would never forgive himself for betraying Kadie, but surely she would forgive him if it meant saving her life. And although he didn’t trust Eleni to keep her word, he was willing to risk it for Kadie’s sake.

“Do we have a deal?” Eleni asked.

“Yes,” he gasped. “But only after you heal Kadie. I don’t trust you to keep your word.”

“And yet you expect me to believe you will keep yours ?”

“How soon can it be done?”

“I will have to retrieve something first.”

“How long will that take?”

“Not long.” A wave of her hand released him from the pain. “If you change your mind,” she warned, “what you felt here tonight will be as nothing compared to what comes next. I will let you know when I have what I need. Now, get out of here.”

Saintcrow lurched to his feet, stumbled into the living room and grabbed his clothes, and willed himself to Morgan Creek. Materializing in the cemetery, he burrowed into the earth beside Kadie. Taking her in his arms, he sighed as the earth settled around them.

Whispering, “Forgive me, sweetheart,” he closed his eyes and surrendered to the blessed, healing power of the dark sleep.