thinking it should rule over the family. I mean, every Old Family has tensions like that, but the Ferdinands are particularly vicious.”
“Why?”
“No one likes to speak about family matters,” Victor says, “especially ancient ones. But from what I’ve gathered, about two thousand years ago, Lord Ferdinand was murdered by his own brother, and that brother took the throne.”
“I thought that was pretty common,” I say.
“It is, but remember how Richard served as my witness when I fought my father?”
“Yes, it was to ensure the fight was fair.”
“There was no such witness in this case. The family was split down the middle between those who thought it had been a fair fight and those who didn’t. That fracture has never healed. Lilith has to watch her back every day.”
It sounds like the one ally I have, the one vampire who might have stood by the side of the Montgomerys, is in constant danger. Why should I not be surprised?
But it seems like everyone’s life is at stake these days. We’re heading into dangerous lands, into the maw of the beast, looking for help. Behind us, a new monster, an ever greater monster stands on the horizon.
As the moon shines its ominous glow on the ever-wasting road, I realize we may not stand a chance against him.
The sky is beginning to lighten when we reach a monstrous Gothic manor outside Chicago. A dozen vampires in black trench coats stand guard. They’re holding machine guns. I guess this far to the east, their only enemy is humans.
“Why are we stopping?” I ask. The car has heavily tinted windows that the sun can’t penetrate.
“It’s a struggle for us to stay awake during the day,” Victor says.
“But I could drive.”
“And if you run into any trouble that requires our help?”
“Yeah, I guess that could be an issue,” I say reluctantly.
Reaching across the console, he wraps his hand around mine. “Right now we have the luxury of being able to spare a few hours.”
I nod. He’s right. What difference will a few more hours make?
As we climb out of the car, the front door of the manor opens and a tall, slender man with slicked-back black hair rushes down the steps. “Oh my God, I can’t believe it! Company. Old Family. Victor Valentine.”
He takes Victor’s hand and pumps it. “I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve had visitors.” He looks at me. “And this is . . . not a vampire.”
“No,” Victor says quickly. “This is Dawn.”
“Your blood diva?”
“Yes.”
I jerk my head around to stare at him. He shakes his head slightly. Apparently in the worrying about the death warrant against the Montgomerys, we didn’t get a chance to discuss how we would play things here.
“Ah, Faith, you are as beautiful as ever.” The Old Family vampire who doesn’t look any older than Victor takes her hand and begins raining kisses over it.
“Oh, Xavier,” she coos. “You flatter me.”
“As much as possible. I’ve not seen a female since my father sent me to watch over his territory. How fortunate you are, Victor, that your father wanted to oversee his own estate. Come, come, inside quickly before the sun catches us.” He wraps Faith’s arm around his and begins to lead her toward the house. Tossing her head back, she laughs and pats his shoulder.
I glance over at Richard. He doesn’t look happy.
“He ignored you,” I say. “That was rude. I thought Old Family was all about etiquette and politeness.”
“They’re also about subtle insults.”
With that caustic statement, Richard marches toward the house. I’m so accustomed to him being carefree and light that I don’t know what to say.
“Xavier Romanelli gave him a cut direct,” Victor says as he escorts me up the steps. “In the 1800s, it was a common way to show someone you disapproved of them.”
“Why would this guy disapprove of Richard?”
“Because he’s competition for Faith.”
“Okay, I get that, but why did you tell Xavier that I’m your blood diva?”
“So he’ll keep his fangs out of you. Vampires won’t take blood from another’s diva without permission. And it was simpler than trying to explain why I’m taking a human to New Vampiria.”
Once we’re inside, a footman closes the door behind us. I’m not surprised by the beauty of the surroundings. Marble, gold, statues, paintings.
Richard is leaning against a wall, arms folded over his chest, glaring at Xavier as he keeps touching Faith’s arm, shoulder, hand, and cheek.
Xavier looks at Victor. “Faith tells me that you’re going to the Vampire Council, but surely there is no rush. You could stay a night or two.”
“I’m sorry, Xavier, we are in a hurry. We stopped here only to wait out the sun. We can rest on the floor.”
Xavier puts his hand to his chest and drops his jaw, clearly insulted. “Don’t be silly. I’m already having beds prepared.” He looks at Faith. “You can’t leave the moment the sun sets. You must at least stay for a night feast. I have the most marvelous cook, a Lesser who prepared meals for Napoleon himself. The food is a sensual delight. Please, it’s been so long since I’ve entertained. And your diva must eat in order to nourish you properly. It’s so important to keep her blood fresh.”
He licks his lips a little, eyeing me. Faith catches this and jumps in front of him, and he stares right into her low-cut dress.
Faith smiles. “I suppose we could—”
“Faith,” Victor warns.
“An hour,” she says. “Where’s the harm?”
“Wonderful!” Xavier shouts, and claps enthusiastically.
Because I’m Victor’s
It contains a large four-poster bed with a canopy and heavy velvet drapes hanging down from it. A low fire is burning in the fireplace in front of a sitting area. Faith is right: Vampires have exquisite tastes whether they are decorating rooms or people.
“I need a moment,” I tell Victor, and walk into the bathroom. I’m taken aback by all the gilded mirrors, vanities, and artwork. Okay, so maybe they aren’t as infallible in taste as I thought.
I lean toward my reflection. It’s the first minute I’ve had to really examine myself since we discovered what was hidden in the music box. I don’t know what I expect to see. My black hair, my blue eyes, the crucifixes tattooed on either side of my neck. I pull my mouth back and run my tongue over my teeth. No fangs.
Somehow I thought I would look different. I thought I would spot something I’d overlooked before. I thought I would
“You’re still you,” Victor says right behind me.
I scoff. “I hate that you can do everything so quietly.”
“Do you really?” he asks as he comes up behind me, puts his arms around me, and meets my gaze in the mirror.
“I hate that you can sneak up on me and I can’t sneak up on you.”
“You snuck up on me,” he says. “Maybe not physically, but in other ways. I never expected to feel for you what I do.”
“Even knowing what I am?”
He turns me around, cradles my face. “It doesn’t matter what is coursing through your veins. You’re Dawn.”
I wish I could believe that. “How many times did I tell you that you couldn’t escape what you are, that you couldn’t escape being a monster because it’s in your blood?”
