Chapter
29
Katiya’s face lit up with a smile of
welcome when Andrei materialized in Drake’s apartment. Cupping her
face in his hands, Andrei kissed her once, twice, three times
before acknowledging Elena’s presence.
“Where’s Drake?” Elena asked anxiously.
“Is everything all right?”
Andrei wrapped his arm around Katiya’s
shoulders. “My brother is not particularly happy just now. Liliana
demanded the Council name him as Master of the Coven. It is a
position he never wanted.”
“So, where is he?” Elena asked
again.
“I cannot say for sure, but I think he
has left the Fortress to meditate.”
“Left?”
“Only to go outside,” Andrei said. “I
believe he needs some time alone to come to terms with all that has
happened.” He shook his head. “Although why he needs to think about
it is beyond me. He must have known there was a chance, however
slim, that Rodin would one day be defeated in battle. As the eldest
son, he should have known he would be first in line to take our
sire’s place.”
Elena nodded. She didn’t know what to
think, what to say. Couldn’t begin to imagine how this would affect
her relationship with Drake. Would he be expected to stay here now?
Permanently? What of Katiya? And Andrei? What of their child? She
hadn’t seen any vampire children in the Fortress, nor had Drake
ever mentioned them. Were they that rare?
“I need to go home,” Elena
said.
Katiya and Andrei stared at
her.
“I can’t stay here,” Elena said. Rising
from the chair beside the sofa, she began to pace the floor. She
didn’t belong in this place, and she never would. “And if Liliana
finds out I’m here. . . .” She shook her head. “I don’t even want
to think about that.”
Suddenly nauseous, she sat down
again.
“Elena, are you ill?” Katiya
asked.
“I’m fine. It’s just all this stress,”
she said with a shrug, “plus I haven’t had anything to
eat.”
“Of course,” Katiya said. “How
thoughtless of us, not to offer anything. Andrei, please find her
some nourishment.”
With a nod, he left the room, only to
return moments later with a tray bearing a roast beef sandwich, a
bowl of sliced fruit, and a cup of tea.
Murmuring, “Thank you,” Elena picked up
the sandwich.
Katiya and Andrei sat side by side on
the sofa, trying not to stare at her as she ate.
Elena did her best to ignore them, but
she couldn’t help wondering if they ever missed solid food. She
loved malts and chocolate milk and orange juice, but she wouldn’t
be happy living on a liquid diet, especially one as stringent as
theirs. Malts were good, but so was chicken and French fries and
steak, not to mention pie and ice cream.
Katiya cleared her throat. “Andrei,
what do you think Drake will do now?”
“I have no idea, but I would not be
surprised if he turned the Fortress upside down.”
Elena was trying to figure out what he
meant by that when Drake entered the room.
“Not now, Andrei,” he said, seeing the
curiosity in his brother’s eyes. “I am in no mood to answer
questions. All I want is to spend what’s left of the night with
Elena.” Taking her by the hand, he drew her to her feet. “If that
is all right with you?”
“It is more than all right, my lord,”
she murmured.
“Andrei, we will need to use your
apartment.”
“As you wish. My lord,” he added with a
grin.
Drake glared at his brother; then,
wrapping his arm around Elena, he transported the two of them to
Andrei’s quarters.
“What now?” Elena asked. She glanced
around the living room. It was sparsely furnished with a brown
leather sofa and matching chair, a pair of glass-topped ebony end
tables, and a large, wall-mounted TV. Through an open doorway, she
saw a king-sized bed covered with a brown velvet
spread.
“What now?” Drake repeated. “I wish I
knew.” He paced away from her, then stood staring at the pair of
paintings over the sofa. Both pictures depicted an ocean—one by day
with the sun shining brightly on an expanse of clear blue-green
water; the other by night, with the moon’s silver light reflected
on troubled black waves.
Elena stood in the center of the room,
not knowing if she should follow her heart and put her arms around
him, or leave him alone.
“I will take control of the Fortress
tomorrow night,” he said at last.
“Oh?”
He turned to face her. “You need to
decide what you want to do.”
“Do?” She frowned at him. “About
what?”
“About us.”
“I thought I had already made that
decision.”
“Things are different now. I am not
sure how what I have planned will be received.”
“Whatever happens, I want to be with
you.”
He didn’t say anything, just wrapped
her in his embrace. He sighed, and she felt the tension drain out
of him.
“Did you think I would leave
you?”
“I cannot think of a single reason why
you would want to stay. Your life has been anything but peaceful
since the night we met.”
“And I’ve loved every minute we’ve
spent together,” she said. “Well, almost every minute. So, are you
through being the master for the night?”
He arched one brow. “That depends. Is
there something you desire?”
“You,” she whispered. “Only
you.”
“Granted. Do with me what you
will.”
“So, it’s okay for me to do this?”
Rising on her tiptoes, she pressed herself against him. “And this?”
Cupping her hand around his nape, she kissed him, long and slow,
then drew back so she could see his face. “Any
complaints?”
“None so far. What else have you
got?”
She ran her tongue across his lips,
then kissed him again.
“And if I was to sweep you into my arms
and carry you to bed, do you think you could find something for us
to do there?” he asked with a wicked grin.
“I can guarantee it.”
“Show me,” he said, his voice low and
husky with de - sire as he swung her into his arms and carried her
swiftly to bed.
Elena awoke slowly; then, remembering
where she was, she turned to study the man sleeping soundly beside
her. Whatever else might happen, after last night she had no doubt
that Drake loved her completely and that he would do everything in
his power to ensure that they could be together.
Rising, she showered, then dressed.
Last night, Drake had warned her not to leave Andrei’s apartment,
then told her that one of the drones would bring her something to
eat at 10 A.M. A glance
at her watch told her the drone would be there any minute. A moment
later, there was a knock at the door.
Though it was unnecessary, Elena
thanked the drone, then locked the door after him, though she
doubted it would keep the vampires out. It was sure to arouse
suspicion if any of the vampires learned food had been delivered to
Andrei’s quarters, especially during the day, when he was supposed
to be sleeping. But she was too hungry to worry about that
now.
After a meal of French toast, scrambled
eggs, and bacon, she wandered around the apartment, which consisted
of four large rooms—bedroom, bathroom, living room, and library.
The library was stocked with books, CDs, DVDs, magazines and
newspapers in several languages, and an assortment of crossword
puzzle books. A desk held a computer with a large monitor. There
was also a state-of-the-art stereo system.
Elena turned the stereo on low, found
the latest Frankenstein novel by Dean Koontz, and lost herself in
another world.
When she tired of reading, she went in
search of a movie, surprised to find that Andrei had what looked
like every movie John Wayne had ever made. She was watching
Hondo when the drone
delivered her lunch.
She was browsing through Andrei’s CD
collection when a whisper of power flowed through the room, making
the short hairs on her arms stand at attention.
“Drake.” She knew he was there even
before she turned around.
She sighed when he drew her into his
arms, closed her eyes as his mouth covered hers, whispered “more”
when he would have let her go.
He kissed her again, longer, deeper,
then brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “I need to go,” he
said. “I have business to attend to. One of the drones will come
for you in an hour or so.”
“What are you going to
do?”
“You will be there when it happens.” He
cupped her cheek in his palm. “Say a prayer for me.”
“What should I pray for?”
“Success.” He kissed her again,
quickly, and then he was gone.
A short time later, Katiya and Andrei
appeared in the apartment.
“I brought you something to wear,”
Katiya said. “I think it will fit.”
“It’s lovely,” Elena said. “Thank you.”
The dress, of dark mauve, had a velvet bodice and a long satin
skirt.
Katiya reached into her pocket. “I
brought a brush for your hair, as well.”
“Thank you.”
“I will see you soon,” Katiya said, and
vanished from sight.
Elena looked at Andrei, who had taken a
seat on the sofa. “Do you know what’s going on?” she asked as she
ran the brush through her hair.
“Knowing how Drake feels about this
place, I have a fair idea.”
“He seemed worried
earlier.”
“I would be surprised to hear
otherwise.”
Elena found little comfort in his
words.
The gown Katiya had lent her fit Elena
as if it had been made for her. She had barely finished changing
clothes when a drone knocked at the door. Elena ducked out of sight
when Andrei went to answer it.
“Lord Drake requests your presence in
the Council chamber immediately,” the drone said.
Andrei blew out a breath. “Here we
go.”
A million nervous butterflies took wing
in Elena’s stomach as she followed Andrei down the hall toward the
Council meeting room. When they reached the door, Elena grabbed his
hand. “Are you sure he wants me here?”
“Very sure,” Andrei said, and opened
the door.
Elena’s gaze swept the chamber in a
single glance. Drake, dressed all in black, sat in Rodin’s chair on
the dais. Liliana, also dressed in black, sat on his right. Katiya,
looking young and lovely in pale blue, sat on his left. The Council
members were seated.
Drake rose when he saw her. “Please,
come in.”
Taking a deep breath, Elena entered the
chamber at Andrei’s side.
Liliana rose. “What is this outrage?”
she demanded, her voice as cold and brittle as arctic
ice.
“Liliana, sit down,” Drake said, his
voice equally cold. “She is here at my request.”
Liliana glared daggers at her son, but
she did as he said.
Impressive, Elena thought.
“As you all know,” Drake said, “Rodin
has been destroyed. As the new Master of the Carpathian Coven, I
have decided there are changes that need to be made.”
He cast a warning glance at Liliana,
who had started to rise. Fury radiated from her eyes but she
remained silent and seated.
“Katiya,” Drake said. “Come
forward.”
Rising, she stood beside him. She
looked cool and unruffled, her face serene, making Elena think that
Katiya was well aware of whatever change Drake was about to make.
Aware and in agreement.
“As Master of the Coven, I hereby
renounce my marriage vows to Katiya Belova. How say you, Katiya?
Yea or nay?”
“Yea, my lord.”
“So let it be recorded,” Drake said.
“So let it be done.”
“So let it be recorded,” the Council
members said. “Done and done.”
Leaving the dais, Katiya took a seat in
the back of the room.
“Elena Knightsbridge, come
forward.”
Heart pounding, she moved toward the
foot of the dais.
Drake smiled at her. “Come, stand
beside me.”
“No!” Liliana’s voice echoed through
the room like rolling thunder.
“Be still!” Drake shot a quelling
glance at his mother. “If you interfere again, I will have you
removed.” He held out his hand to Elena. “Come.”
Praying that her legs wouldn’t fail
her, Elena took Drake’s hand and stepped up on the
dais.
Drake faced the Council. “Rodin Sherrad
annulled my marriage to Elena Knightsbridge. As Master of the
Coven, I hereby revoke that annulment. From this time forward,
Elena Knightsbridge will be my wife. All who wish to shelter here
will accord her the respect to which she is entitled as my consort.
So let it be recorded. So let it be done.”
“So let it be recorded,” intoned the
Council members. “Done and done.”
Taking Elena in his arms, Drake kissed
her lightly. “I love you,” he said quietly. “Please take your
place.”
Fully aware of Liliana’s fulminating
gaze, Elena took the chair vacated by Katiya.
“Andrei Lazarescu,” Drake said, “come
forward. As Master of the Coven, I now unite Andrei Lazarescu and
Katiya Belova as husband and wife by my hand. Andrei, how say you?
Yea or nay?”
“Yea, my lord.”
“Katiya, how say you? Yea or
nay?”
“Yea, my lord.”
“So let it be recorded,” Drake said,
smiling. “So let it be done.”
“So let it be recorded,” the Council
members said. “Done and done.”
Hand in hand, Andrei and Katiya left
the room, smiling.
“Liam Tarasova, come
forward.”
The vampire who strode toward the dais
was of medium height with short, dark brown hair and heavy-lidded
brown eyes.
“Liam Tarasova, as Master of the
Carpathian Coven, I appoint you as the thirteenth member of the
Council. Do you accept the responsibility this task entails, and do
you now swear to uphold our laws? Yea or nay?”
“Yea, my lord.”
“So let it be recorded,” Drake said
solemnly. “So let it be done.”
“So let it be recorded,” the Council
members said. “Done and done.”
“One last matter of business,” Drake
said. “I have never approved of keeping humans as sheep. It is my
intention to offer them their freedom.”
This announcement elicited a gasp from
everyone in the room, including Elena.
Liliana stood, her whole body quivering
with outrage. “You have no right—”
“I have every right,” Drake retorted
sharply, “given to me by your own hand. Sit down.”
Liliana glared at him, her eyes burning
bright red, and then she vanished from the chamber.
“I intend to give the sheep their
freedom if they so wish it,” Drake said again. “If they choose to
stay, they will no longer be prisoners. They will be allowed the
run of the first three floors of the Fortress. They may stay or go
at their pleasure, but those who decide to leave will have all
memory of this place and what happened to them here erased from
their minds. Further, I revoke the decree making it unlawful for
humans and vampires to marry.”
This announcement was met with gasps of
surprise as well as exclamations of disbelief from those
present.
“So let it be recorded,” Drake said
solemnly. “So let it be done.”
There were whispered murmurs from the
members of the Council before they gave their unanimous
approval.
“I declare this convocation closed
until further notice.”
As one, the Council members filed out
of the chamber, followed by Liam, until only Drake and Elena
remained.
He stood there a moment, his head
bowed, before he reached for her. “So, wife, what say
you?”
“I don’t know what to say. Your mother
. . .”
“Reacted exactly as I expected,” he
said.
“I don’t know which upset her more,
your decision to free the sheep, your decision to give Katiya to
Andrei, or your declaration that our annulment was
stricken.”
“She will accept my decisions or not.
If she refuses to abide by my laws, she will be
banished.”
“You’d make your own mother leave here
when you know how much she loves it?”
“My first loyalty is to the Coven. If I
cannot enforce my laws, if I cannot command obedience and respect
from my own mother, then I do not deserve to be Master of the
Coven.” He ran his fingertips over her lips. “No more talk of
vampire business tonight.”
Before Elena could respond, they were
in the living room of Drake’s apartment. There were dozens of red
roses in a sparkling crystal vase on the coffee table. Soft music
played in the background, candlelight illuminated the room with a
pale golden glow.
“Are you hungry, wife?” he
asked.
“Famished,” she murmured.
“What are you in the mood
for?”
“I’m not sure.”
He quirked an eyebrow at her. “How
about something tall, dark, and dangerous?”
“Perhaps,” she said, frowning. “Of
course, almost every man in the Fortress seems to be tall, dark,
and dangerous.”
Drake growled at her in mock anger.
“Careful, wife.”
“Yes, my lord.” She slipped her hands
under his shirt, then splayed her fingers across his chest. “Is
this careful enough?”
He nipped the lobe of her ear. “I warn
you, you are playing with fire.”
“Will you show me the
flames?”
“Just look into my eyes.”
Sweeping her into his arms, he carried
her into the bedroom. There were more roses in here, as well as a
pair of candles on the bedside table, along with a bottle of red
wine and two cut-crystal goblets. Red rose petals were scattered
over the bed.
Elena looked up at him, a question in
her eyes.
“I hoped we would end up here sometime
tonight,” he said, grinning.
“Well,” she purred, “here we
are.”
“And here we will stay,” he said,
lowering her onto the mattress, “at least for a few more
days.”
“Then what?”
“Let us not talk of that
now.”
He wished away his clothes and her own.
Pulling her into his warm embrace, he kissed her. At the first
touch of his mouth on hers, she forgot everything but her need for
this man above all else.
She ran her hands over the broad
expanse of his chest, along his arms, dragged her fingertips across
his belly, loving the way he responded to her touch, the way his
muscles bunched and flexed beneath her questing fingertips as she
trailed her hand lower, lower. He groaned deep in his throat as he
stretched out on his side, then aligned her body with his, so that
they were pressed intimately together from shoulder to thigh, their
legs entwined.
Her breath caught in her throat as he
began a slow, sweet exploration of her body, his hands trailing
fire, his tongue a flame as it dueled with hers.
She clutched his shoulders when he rose
over her, lifted her hips, eager to receive him, to feel the
welcome weight of his body covering hers as two became one, joined
flesh to flesh, and heart to heart.