Ravenous

penetrated her happy delirium. Immortality. She had power now, more than she had ever dreamed, and much she needed to learn about it. There was more than a lifetime's work ahead.

Even the immediate future looked crowded. Now she had a mate, one who would form the center of her life. There was school. There was the business. She wanted to make things right with Ashe, to bring her back into the family. She wanted to know more about the castle, much more—like whose room was this, anyway?

And they had to find Mac. She had already let her magic wander the Castle in search of the detective, but she couldn't find him. That worried her. Hopefully she would find him in Fairview. If he was human again, as Geneva so briefly became, he was going to need help. No one could go through what he had without consequences.

Holly shifted her cheek against Alessandro's chest. She could hear his heart, faint and slow, but it had a steady beat. Vampire's hearts beat now and then under the influence of extreme emotion, but this sounded content. An interesting bit of magic, bringing his heart to life.

Other parts of him were also stirring beneath the sheets. Her own heart sped up, a tingle of excitement curling her lips into a smile.

Then the pounding was outside their bubble of warmth, battering at the door. Before Holly completely sat up, Alessandro was off the bed, into his jeans, sword in hand. They exchanged a look after Holly pulled on her clothes. He nodded slowly, and Holly removed the wards she had placed around the door. Alessandro raised the sword.

The door burst open, magically pushed from the outside. It was Omara, chic in a pin-striped pantsuit and square-heeled pumps.

'I felt that,' she said softly. 'I tasted it on my tongue like dark wine. I thought you might be Chosen before, but this time it is real.' She looked from Holly to the bed to Alessandro's naked chest. Her expression was indescribable, like a child lost in wonder. Like a jealous queen. There was love and loss and something calculating in those eyes. Something hungry.

Despite all her newfound strength, Holly felt a brush of fear.

Omara's gaze found Alessandro's. 'When you didn't come out of the Castle, I discovered that I cared too much to leave you here. You were injured.' The words seemed to catch in her throat. 'Your blood scent made you easy to find.'

Alessandro lowered his sword. 'I wish I could believe that's really why you came. More to the point, it would reflect poorly on a victorious queen to abandon her best warriors after the battle was won. It might make it hard to get good help.'

Omara looked away, finding something interesting in the tapestry beside her. Her profile was perfect, except for a faint quiver of emotion in the lips. 'I am not entirely without tender feelings. Don't underestimate me.'

'I never do.'

Soon the three of them stood outside the arched wooden door in the alley. After the Castle's dusty damp, the sea air had never smelled so good and clean.

Holly admired the door. Both inside and outside the Castle, it seemed to have shifted a few blocks from where Geneva's portal had opened. Unexpected, but not a bad thing. A door in an alley was easier to manage than one hanging in midair on a playing field. Nice of the universe to catch that design flaw.

Holly pushed the bolt shut, her other hand resting against the iron strapping. She could feel power rippling beneath the physical surface—not just hers, but the power of the Castle itself. There was also Elaine's magic, and Geneva's. They had all left their traces in the matrix that made up the passage between her world and the Castle.

Omara stood a few steps away, watching Holly. The look was at once critical and grudgingly impressed. 'Your permanent portal is very clever, but it can't be left unattended.'

'I know,' said Holly, not really interested in Omara's input. She slid both hands along the iron until they touched the wood. The magic of the door knew her, leaping like an eager puppy. The current coursed through her body, up one arm and down the other, brushing against her in silent greeting.

Holly drank it in, considering what she needed to do. The door opened on an entire realm of possibility. People who needed saving. Monsters that really should be locked up forever. She had created access to her world. Was she going to take responsibility for who passed through?

Alessandro stood close, there if she needed him, but he said nothing. The choice was hers to make.

Holly turned to Omara. 'I will be the gatekeeper. I made it, after all.'

The queen inclined her head. 'Good. That is as it should be, but know that most whom you find in there cannot leave. This is a prison for a reason, and the guardsmen are jealous of their charges. You cannot decide alone who enters through that door to walk in our world. Now that the Castle is but a step away, its affairs affect all of us, human and non-human alike.'

Holly nodded, feeling the weight of Omara's gaze on her, then on Alessandro, then on the two of them together. There seemed to be an ocean of distance between them and the fierce, tiny queen who stood utterly alone.

The moment broke, as if Omara, on some level, had given in.

'You have my profound thanks, Holly Carver,' she said. 'You earned your rest tonight.' She turned on her heel, starting toward the gate at the mouth of the alley. 'Take her home, my champion. Be happy.'

'What are you going to do?' Holly asked. 'What happens now that the portal is closed?'

Omara stopped, her honey-gold eyes amused. 'As queen, I do not get to go home to a soft bed. I get to tie up loose ends, starting with a search for your missing detective. I want to be sure of him before I lay my head down and rest.'

Holly opened her mouth, but Omara raised her hand for silence. 'I give you my word: I will call you the moment I find him. As for you, my young witch, you have done enough. You gave everything you had to give. Now let responsibility shift to others.'

Omara turned and walked away, the long curtain of her hair swinging as she moved. Holly saw the light of her cell phone as she opened it, calling for a ride.

Holly waited until she was sure the queen was gone. 'Alessandro, what did you do with The Book of Lies?'

'I hid it under the bed. We can go back and get it later.'

'Why'd you do that?'

Alessandro looked up at the thin strip of stars above the alley. 'I think it's best if the queen rules, but is held in reasonable check. I'd rather hang on to one or two high cards, at least until I am sure she has forgiven me for leaving her service. Absolute power does not become Omara. She has occasional difficulties with impulse control.'

Holly felt the beginnings of a grin. 'Are you sure you're not a politician at heart?'

Alessandro held her under his arm, the weight of his touch a promise of forever. 'I like peace, order, and good government. Omara is the one who enjoys the excitement of power games.'

'I'm sorry she is so alone,' said Holly. 'If she were happy, she might be easier to take.'

Alessandro shrugged. 'Someday she will find the right sparring partner. Perhaps a large and well-armored dragon.'

Holly yawned. 'Mmm.' She leaned against his chest.

'We need to get you home.' He kissed her cheek.

'What's the rush? The night is young.'

'Don't you have school in the morning? Tomorrow is Thursday.'

'Oh, Goddess, it's calculus. Can I have another demon instead?'

Read on for a special preview of Sharon Ashwood's next novel, Coming soon from Signet Eclipse.