“So you can be awake during the day?”

“For short periods of time, as long as I stay out of the sun.”

She stored that away for future reference.

Leaning down, he kissed her forehead, her cheeks, the tip of her nose, the corners of her mouth. “Should I stop?”

Feeling delightfully wicked, Elena clasped her hands behind his neck and drew him closer. “Read my mind,” she murmured, and pressed her lips to his.

It was late afternoon before Elena slipped on her robe and left the room. Drake was sleeping soundly. Had he been an ordinary man, she would have thought him weary after a morning of lovemaking, but he was a vampire, with the stamina of twenty men. It wasn’t exhaustion, but the sleep of his kind, that held him in its grasp.

In the kitchen, she heated water, then filled a small wooden tub. After removing her robe, she stepped into the water and scrubbed herself clean. She should be upset, she thought, frightened that the man she had married was a vampire. Instead, she felt like singing. What was wrong with her? Had a night and a morning of exquisite sex deprived her of her sanity? She felt herself smiling again as she thought of the hours she had spent in Drake’s arms, the sweet love words he had whispered in her ear.

Drying off, she slipped into her robe again, then looked around for something to eat. She settled for a bowl of fruit and a cup of tea.

Sitting at the table, waiting for the tea to cool, she found herself thinking of Drake and wondering how soon they could make love again.

Drake woke with the setting of the sun, unable to dispel a sense of doom as he prepared to return to the Fortress. He had avoided thinking about returning home for centuries. He had always been an outcast, never quite fitting in with the others of his kind. And now there was Elena. He never should have married her, never entangled her in his life, but it was too late now. She was a part of him. The best part.

After dressing, Drake left the castle to feed. Knowing he would need all his strength to face his sire, he fed often and deeply. It would have been quicker, easier, to simply drain one human, but to do so meant the mortal’s death. Only thoughts of Elena kept him from taking a life now.

When he returned to the castle, he found his bride in the main room, a vision in a knee-length dress of lavender silk that showed off her feminine curves to perfection. The neckline was square, the sleeves short and puffy. Her smile of welcome warmed his heart.

“Good evening, wife,” he murmured, taking her into his arms. “How lovely you look.”

“Thank you.” She gazed up at him, a question in her eyes. “You’re late this evening.”

Nodding, he stroked her cheek, thinking it was as soft and silky as the dress she wore.

She tilted her head to the side. “Did you go out?”

“Yes. I needed to feed before we meet my sire.”

The mention of Rodin sent a shiver of unease through her. Try as she might, she couldn’t convince herself that Drake’s father would be happy to see her, especially when he learned that his son could no longer marry the woman who had been chosen for him.

“You didn’t tell me how Rodin would know if we had made love or not,” she remarked.

“He would only have to read your mind.”

“Can all vampires do that?”

He nodded. “We can read human minds, but not those of our own kind.”

“So, all the vampires I meet will be able to read my mind?” That was a troubling prospect. It would be most embarrassing, having them all know what she was thinking, especially when all she could think about was making love to Drake and how anxious she was to be in his arms, and in his bed, again.

He smiled at her. “Soon,” he promised. “But now, we must go.”

Hoping to put the moment off, she said, “I haven’t packed anything.”

“No need.” He gazed into her eyes. “Whatever happens, there is no reason for you to be afraid. My sire will not harm you. It is not Rodin’s way to make war on women.”

“War!” she exclaimed. “Are you going there to fight him?”

“No. At least not in the way you mean.”

“How long will it take us to get there?”

“No time at all.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Just hang on to me. You might experience a little dizziness or nausea, but it will soon pass.”

Elena frowned at him, but she didn’t have time to ask the questions forming in her mind. There was a strange sensation of moving rapidly through a thick gray haze, an odd buzzing in her ears, followed by a brief queasiness in the pit of her stomach. When the world righted itself again, she was standing in the middle of a large room like none she had ever seen before.

In front of her, two large chairs, ornately carved from black wood, stood side by side on a raised dais. A glance around the room showed a horseshoe-shaped table behind her. A quick count told her there were thirteen chairs at the table. Twelve of them were occupied by men—all of whom had long black hair, pale skin, dark eyes, and serious expressions. They looked so much alike, she was certain they must all be related.

She noted that the walls appeared to be white marble veined with gold and black; a thick gold carpet covered the floor; an enormous fireplace, also made of marble, took up one whole wall to the left of the dais. Heavy gold chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceilings, but it was the glow of hundreds of candles that illumined the room.

But it wasn’t the décor of the room that held Elena’s attention. Rather, it was the man and woman who occupied the chairs on the dais. The woman was quite simply the most beautiful creature Elena had ever seen. She wore a long black velvet dress that displayed a modest amount of cleavage. The dark fabric made her pale skin glow like alabaster. Waist-length, pale blond hair fell over her bare shoulders. Her eyes were a dark, vibrant green. She wore no adornments of any kind save for a bloodred rose in her hair.

The man stood. He, too, was dressed all in black. Tall and broad-shouldered, with inky black hair and deep blue eyes, he looked enough like Drake to be his twin. He did not look happy to see the two of them.

“Drake.” His voice was deep, laced with an air of command. He made a sharp gesture with his hand, a silent order to approach.

Drake squeezed Elena’s hand. “Stay here. Whatever happens, do not interfere. And do not lie to him,” he murmured, and strode toward the dais, his head held high.

To her surprise, he knelt on one knee in front of the other man. “Sire.”

So, she thought, this was Drake’s father. Was the woman his mother?

Rodin made a broad gesture with his hand, and all the men seated at the table rose and left the chamber. The sound of the door closing behind them echoed like a death knell in Elena’s ears.

“Drake. It has been a long time,” Rodin remarked, his tone heavy with censure.

“Not long enough.”

“You know why I have called you here.”

Drake nodded curtly. “And you know I have no wish to take my place on the Council. Or to wed a woman of your choosing.”

“Unfortunately, the decisions are not yours to make.” Rodin lifted his gaze to Elena. “Who is this mortal and why have you brought her here, uninvited?”

Taking a deep breath, Drake said, “This is Elena. My wife.”

Outrage flashed in Rodin’s eyes.

The woman on the dais leaned forward, a gasp issuing from her lips. If possible, her face grew even more pale.

“I did not think you would go so far to defy me,” Rodin said, his voice cold.

“I was not thinking of you when I took her for my bride.”

“It is obvious you were not thinking at all! To marry a mortal is forbidden. You know that as well as I.”

Drake shrugged. “You know the old saying,” he retorted. “Laws are made to be broken.”

“Those who willfully defy the laws of the Coven invite destruction.”

Still kneeling, Drake flung his arms out to his sides. “Do your worst.”

“No!” The woman on the dais rose to her feet, tension evident in every line of her body. “I will not have it!”

“Be silent! I will not let him go unpunished.”

The woman relaxed visibly. “Of course not, my lord.”

Rodin didn’t say anything, but suddenly, there were four burly men in the room. They surrounded Drake. He made no move to resist when two of them pulled him to his feet and dragged him away. The other two men followed behind.

Elena stared after Drake, overcome with a sudden fear that she would never see him again. She yearned to run after him, but every instinct she possessed warned her to stay where she was.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to face Rodin and the woman. If Rodin treated his son like that, what would he do to her, an uninvited, unwelcome stranger?

Rodin regarded the female standing before him. It was easy to see why Drake had chosen her. She was young and pretty, with a slender figure and vibrant brown eyes. He sensed a streak of valor in her that she did not realize she possessed. It amused him to think that her courage might be put to the test before the night was out.

Drawing himself up to his full height, he said, “I am Rodin and this is my wife, Liliana.”

“I’m Elena Knightsbridge,” she said, only then realizing she didn’t know Drake’s last name. Perhaps he didn’t have one.

“Has Drake told you of us, what we are?” Rodin asked.

Elena hesitated; then, remembering Drake’s admonition to tell the truth, she nodded.

“You wed him knowing what he is?”

“No. I did not learn that until later.”

“What has he told you?”

“Very little.”

“Do you know why I summoned him here?”

“Yes.”

“Your presence complicates matters. My son is betrothed to another. Their marriage was to take place when the moon is new.”

Not knowing how to respond, Elena remained mute.

Liliana took a step forward, her gaze fixed on Elena’s face. “Are you in love with Drake?”