“From the moment I saw you, I knew. Since my wife centuries ago, you are the first woman whom I could love as an equal.”
I twist away. “You also know that’s impossible.”
“Because of Frey?” Vlad spits his name like a curse.
His venom is as unexpected as it is cruel. “I owe you for saving Trish’s friend,” I say slowly. “I owe you for helping me in the dark time with my mother. I owe you for allowing me to live in your country as a vampire. But I do not owe you my heart.”
His eyes bore into mine before he breaks the spell and looks away. “I don’t apologize for speaking my mind,” he says.
“As I don’t apologize for speaking mine,” I reply.
He nods. “We should go to Amélie’s. That is, if you still wish to help me.”
“I wish to help your community,” I say. “Both human and vampire.”
He doesn’t look at me as we depart. I have the feeling he may never look at me again.
Chapter Eleven
I drive my own car to Amélie and Alexander’s. It makes the most sense since Vlad needs to be at home for the car that will bring him to the meeting. He and the leader of the conspiracy, a vampire named Renaldo, would come together. Presumably as an effort to thwart an attack. Vlad would choose the driver.
As I follow the Ducati into the countryside, I keep replaying the scene between Vlad and me on the roof. Everything about him this morning was odd. From his apparent resignation to being killed to his wanting to give up his position as vampire ruler to his abrupt proposal that we rule together. For the first time since we met, he was a stranger.
The vampire couple is waiting for us. Amélie greets me like an old friend, introducing Alexander as he had been in his study when I came to feed. He is not at all what I expected—portly where Amélie is thin, with the bearing of a jolly monk, a face open and friendly, a head balding on top, a mouth made for laughter. His eyes twinkle when he takes my hand.
I see why Vlad is so taken with you , he says.
He means it as a compliment but it makes me uneasy. What has Vlad been telling them?
Amélie senses my apprehension. Enough, my love, she says. You are embarrassing Anna. And I told you, she is a very happily married woman.
Alexander raises an eyebrow but doesn’t reply. He looks at Vlad who shifts nervously and refuses to meet his eyes.
Once again, Amélie breaks the uneasy silence. Anna , Vlad tells us you have a plan for tonight. It’s important that we rid ourselves of these dissenters once and for all. This evening, when they are all together, may be the only chance to strike that blow.
Her words catch me unawares. You misunderstand. I was under the impression we were going to act only if there was an attack on Vlad.
Puzzled glances between husband and wife make me realize I was the one who misunderstood. Or who was led to misunderstand.
Vlad and I must talk, I say. Will you excuse us?
I lead Vlad outside. Anger bubbles like a hot springs inside me, threatening to erupt. I swallow it back, hard, and temper my voice when I can trust myself to speak.
You are planning to kill the dissenters tonight?
Do you not think they deserve to die? I told them what would happen if they came back to the continent. And brazenly, they disobeyed.
His tone is that of ruler once again. Abrupt, decisive.
Why have you brought me into this? I ask. You have many loyal followers who would have gladly help you vanquish these vampires.
Did you not supplicate that they be allowed to live? Was it not at your urging that I did not strike them down along with Steffan?
Everything he is saying is true, yet the forbidding chill in his voice, the rigidness of his bearing, makes my own blood run cold. This is a Vlad I have never seen before. The Vlad of old that made his enemies quake with fear.
You do not need me to make this happen, I say. You have two excellent collaborators inside who await your bidding. You know the plan. The three of you could handle a
I twist away. “You also know that’s impossible.”
“Because of Frey?” Vlad spits his name like a curse.
His venom is as unexpected as it is cruel. “I owe you for saving Trish’s friend,” I say slowly. “I owe you for helping me in the dark time with my mother. I owe you for allowing me to live in your country as a vampire. But I do not owe you my heart.”
His eyes bore into mine before he breaks the spell and looks away. “I don’t apologize for speaking my mind,” he says.
“As I don’t apologize for speaking mine,” I reply.
He nods. “We should go to Amélie’s. That is, if you still wish to help me.”
“I wish to help your community,” I say. “Both human and vampire.”
He doesn’t look at me as we depart. I have the feeling he may never look at me again.
Chapter Eleven
I drive my own car to Amélie and Alexander’s. It makes the most sense since Vlad needs to be at home for the car that will bring him to the meeting. He and the leader of the conspiracy, a vampire named Renaldo, would come together. Presumably as an effort to thwart an attack. Vlad would choose the driver.
As I follow the Ducati into the countryside, I keep replaying the scene between Vlad and me on the roof. Everything about him this morning was odd. From his apparent resignation to being killed to his wanting to give up his position as vampire ruler to his abrupt proposal that we rule together. For the first time since we met, he was a stranger.
The vampire couple is waiting for us. Amélie greets me like an old friend, introducing Alexander as he had been in his study when I came to feed. He is not at all what I expected—portly where Amélie is thin, with the bearing of a jolly monk, a face open and friendly, a head balding on top, a mouth made for laughter. His eyes twinkle when he takes my hand.
I see why Vlad is so taken with you , he says.
He means it as a compliment but it makes me uneasy. What has Vlad been telling them?
Amélie senses my apprehension. Enough, my love, she says. You are embarrassing Anna. And I told you, she is a very happily married woman.
Alexander raises an eyebrow but doesn’t reply. He looks at Vlad who shifts nervously and refuses to meet his eyes.
Once again, Amélie breaks the uneasy silence. Anna , Vlad tells us you have a plan for tonight. It’s important that we rid ourselves of these dissenters once and for all. This evening, when they are all together, may be the only chance to strike that blow.
Her words catch me unawares. You misunderstand. I was under the impression we were going to act only if there was an attack on Vlad.
Puzzled glances between husband and wife make me realize I was the one who misunderstood. Or who was led to misunderstand.
Vlad and I must talk, I say. Will you excuse us?
I lead Vlad outside. Anger bubbles like a hot springs inside me, threatening to erupt. I swallow it back, hard, and temper my voice when I can trust myself to speak.
You are planning to kill the dissenters tonight?
Do you not think they deserve to die? I told them what would happen if they came back to the continent. And brazenly, they disobeyed.
His tone is that of ruler once again. Abrupt, decisive.
Why have you brought me into this? I ask. You have many loyal followers who would have gladly help you vanquish these vampires.
Did you not supplicate that they be allowed to live? Was it not at your urging that I did not strike them down along with Steffan?
Everything he is saying is true, yet the forbidding chill in his voice, the rigidness of his bearing, makes my own blood run cold. This is a Vlad I have never seen before. The Vlad of old that made his enemies quake with fear.
You do not need me to make this happen, I say. You have two excellent collaborators inside who await your bidding. You know the plan. The three of you could handle a
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