The Rest Falls Away

invitation.' Her eyes narrowed. 'I suspected he was the reason you were able to come by the Book of Antwartha so easily.'

Victoria didn't think the events of that evening could be called easy, but she said nothing.

'He told you how to get the book, did he not?'

'Do you think I would be foolish enough to believe a man like Sebastian Vioget?'

Lilith leaned back in her chair, laughing in delight. It was like smoke—delicate, penetrating, and stifling. 'Ah, I have missed matching wits with a woman. Your aunt was a formidable opponent during her time as well. As for him'—she glanced at Max—'he is a man, and has certain weaknesses that are a pleasure to exploit.'

Her attention returned to Victoria contemplatively.

Victoria's hair rose along her arms, and she knew she must keep control of the conversation. Now she would have to get both Max and Phillip to safety. 'I have the book here, Lilith, but my terms are different from the ones you offered in your message.'

'Indeed. Why does that not surprise me.' Lilith made a slight movement, and Max moved forward as if he had lost his will. She closed her fingers around his wrist, barely fitting them there, and manipulated him so that he knelt in front of her, on the far side of the fire. 'Let me guess. You want to guarantee the Venator's safety as well.'

Victoria nodded.

Then Lilith's eyes changed. Not color… no, they stayed sapphire blue, encircled with a thick red ring… but something else in their depths moved. Victoria could not look away. She was trapped, felt soft and foggy. The floor slogged beneath her. The air billowed, pushing in on her.

'What is it that you really want, Victoria Gardella?' Lilith's voice came from far away, yet it was in her ear, for her alone. Her mouth didn't move. Her eyes did not blink. 'Your husband?'

Phillip moved next to her, a puppet responding to her cue, and Victoria touched his arm. He was cold, chilled; she wanted to pull him to her and keep him safe. They bumped against each other, and through the fog Lilith had wisped around her, Victoria felt a heavy weight in his pocket.

Victoria raised her hand and pressed her eyelids closed, breaking the connection with Lilith. A tremor passed through her as Lilith struggled, then surrendered. Momentarily. Victoria must not look at her again… but it was impossible when those eyes seemed to be able to catch her gaze at will.

'Why do you want the book so badly?' Victoria asked, slipping her hand into Phillip's pocket and closing her fingers around the pistol. Foolish of the vampires not to have relieved him of it, even if it was harmless to them.

'There are many secrets within,' Lilith told her conversationally. She stroked Max's dark hair, clutching a handful and pulling so that he rose to his knees. 'I am particularly interested in the spell that will enable me to raise an army of demons on the night of any full moon. And then there is the decoction that I can drink and give to my servants so that a Venator cannot detect our presence. That would be most helpful, I am sure you realize.'

Without warning, she yanked Max's head aside and sank her teeth into his skin.

Victoria watched in horror as she drank from the distended veins, her needle teeth sliding in like a knife through butter. Max closed his eyes; she could see him struggle to breathe, watched his chest rise and fall, the silver vis bulla trembling with his efforts. His hands closed in on each other; his throat convulsed.

Next to her Phillip stirred, his breathing deepening, becoming ragged as his eyes fixed on the scene. Victoria tore away to look at him, saw the feral gleam in his gaze and the unconscious gaping of his jaw… and she knew. Horror sank into her even before she saw the gleam of his fangs… the glint of red in his eyes.

'No!' she screamed.

Lilith released Max and he sagged to the floor. She smiled, her white teeth gleaming. She'd fed elegantly; not a drop of red anywhere.

Phillip had fallen to his knees, panting, next to Victoria.

His eyes were wild, tinted red, for he was still newly undead, and need burned off him. Victoria could smell it, and it sickened her. Her stomach heaved; her head spun.

She clutched the satchel and forced her fingers to still from their trembling.

'You do not like my little surprise? I am sorry that I did not allow him to finish feeding before you arrived. I only allowed him to sample me in order to take the edge off his appetite. He will still enjoy you when I give him the word.' She gestured at Phillip. 'Rise! You will have what you need when the time is right.'

Phillip obeyed and stood next to Victoria, and she realized what Lilith intended when he smoothed a hand possessively down her arm. Her stomach pitched.

'Now we will negotiate, my dear. Although I don't know that there is much room for that; as you can see, I hold all of the cards.'

'I still have the book.' Although what good it did her, Victoria did not know. Phillip. What had she done to him? By marrying him, by giving in to her selfish needs… she'd brought him here.

Grief numbed her. He was gone, and she could not get him back. He was damned. Evil. Immortal.

'Yes, but the book is worth more to you if you give it to me than if you keep it.'

Victoria struggled to turn her attention from the shock and horror of her husband's condition and focused on Lilith. 'What do you mean?'

'With the book I can give you what you want, Victoria.' Lilith's eyelids sank lower, and she pierced Victoria with her intent. Red glowed, beaming from her blue irises. 'I can give you back your husband. Whole. Pure. Mortal, for he has not yet fed on a mortal being.'

'How?'

Lilith rose for the first time, and stepped down one step. Her slender hands clasped in earnest at her middle, the long, fitted gown she wore trailed down the steps after her. 'It is in the book.'

'Why should I believe you?' Victoria's mind worked frantically. She could save Phillip! It was worth it to save a life, to give Lilith the book.

'Because you have no choice. And why would I lie? I have the advantage. I don't need to do anything for you.'

'Why would you?'

That was when Lilith stepped right up to her. Victoria kept her eyes focused over the vampire queen's shoulder, but the woman's proximity sent her pulse speeding, snagged her breath and made it her own. She could feel Phillip next to her, struggling to control himself. 'Because, my dear, I can give you something else that will also benefit me.'

She smelled like roses. Fresh, dewy, beautiful roses. This icon of evil, of rapaciousness, smelled like a summer flower. The epitome of feminity. She smelled like Victoria's mother.

Victoria wanted to gag. She replied instead, 'I beg you, don't keep me in suspense.'

'I can release you from your vow. I can make you a person, not a Venator. I can set you free. You and your husband.'

Her heart hammered. Her hands slickened. Victoria closed her eyes; Lilith continued to speak. 'Your aunt didn't tell you there was a way out, did she?'

Victoria shook her head.

'There is always a way out… well, nearly always.' Lilith laughed. The sound filled Victoria's ears, echoed inside her brain. 'Some of us are bound forever… but not you, Victoria. Not your marquess. You can be free, have a normal life. Is that not what you wish?'

'Ah, yes, I'll give up my powers so you can kill me. That's quite a deal.' It was a struggle to form the words, but they sounded cool—at least to Victoria's ears.

She waited to be convinced… she waited to hear Lilith's line of reasoning, praying that it would give her the freedom to make the choice.

'Oh, no, didn't I mention? Along with the release from your vow, there is also an incantation that provides you and your lover with infinite protection from the undead. You will be free to live as you wish… have a child, even… and be protected from all vampires. If you give me the book.'

Victoria drew in a deep breath. Everything she wanted. For the price of an old book.

A book that had spells in it that could help Lilith gain power. She would be able to raise demons. She would