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C urious to know what Saintcrow’s woman looked like, Eleni transported herself to his lair.

She paused at the front door, bemused by what she saw.

The house, large and square, was made of weathered gray stone.

Thick iron bars covered the front door and the windows.

There were turrets at each of the four corners, which gave the place the look of an old medieval fortress.

Or, she mused with a grin, Dracula’s castle.

A wave of her hand opened the massive front door. Had she not been his sire, she wouldn’t have been able to enter his house, but his wards and the threshold had no power over her.

A few steps took her into a spacious living room that was beautifully decorated with expensive furniture and tables. Several paintings adorned the walls. Fancy draperies covered the windows, plush carpets muted her footsteps.

Eleni crossed into the kitchen, surprised to see a stove and a refrigerator. The cupboards were bare of food but contained dishes, cookware, and silverware. She grunted softly. No doubt the appliances had been installed before Saintcrow brought his wife across.

She moved through the rest of the house, wondering where he kept his lair.

A set of stairs led up to the turret rooms. Curious, she followed them up.

Of the four rooms, the two in front were empty.

A glance in the third revealed a bed and a cot.

A large, black, wrought-iron cross adorned one wall, which she found curious.

Few vampires remained religious once they’d been turned, although she did know of a vampire priest.

She was about to go back downstairs, thinking there was probably little of interest in the last turret room, but something compelled her to look anyway.

The last chamber was furnished with a bed, a chair, and a small table.

A tapestry that she guessed was hundreds of years old covered the far wall from the floor to the ceiling.

The colors were faded, the edges frayed.

Surely an antique, most likely quite valuable.

And quite beautiful. It depicted a knight in chainmail mounted on a rearing black charger.

The knight wore a white surcoat emblazoned with a red cross.

He held a sword in one hand and a shield in the other.

A slow smile spread over her face when she realized the knight was none other than Saintcrow.

Eleni ran her fingertips along the edge of the tapestry, then pulled it away from the wall to peek at the backside. And saw a door. Curious, she opened it and stared at a long, spiral staircase. It was pitch black down there, but with her preternatural vision, she didn’t need a light.

The staircase ended in a tunnel. Her curiosity growing, she followed it. Eventually, it ended at a heavy oak door bound with thick iron straps. There was no handle.

She had found his lair, she thought, with satisfaction.

And his woman. Was she dark or fair? Sure to be lovely, Eleni mused.

Unable to restrain her curiosity, she materialized inside the room.

A young woman lay on her back on a king-sized bed.

Her hair was dark brown and fell in thick waves over her shoulders almost to her waist. And she was, indeed, lovely.

Eleni was about to transport herself out of the house when a voice thick with anger hissed, “What the hell are you doing in here?”

“Satisfying my curiosity,” she replied calmly as she turned to face him.

“Get out.”

“I don’t take orders from you.”

“Get out!” he roared. The words vibrated up and down the length of the tunnel.

Eleni hadn’t been afraid of anything since she’d been turned, but Saintcrow’s rage was palpable and not to be dismissed lightly. With a slight inclination of her head, she vanished from the fortress.

Hands clenched at his sides, Saintcrow took several deep breaths. Why had Eleni come here? Mere curiosity? Or for some other nefarious purpose? His gaze moved over Kadie, who lay as before, still and silent as the grave.

Heart aching and lonely, he stretched out beside her and drew her into his arms, wondering if perhaps he should end her life.

And his own.