The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (54 page)

I drew away from him slowly as I leaned
over to reclaim the dagger. I felt my sluggish heartbeat stagger as
he unsheathed his own.

“Adem taught you well, but how well? I
think I shall cut off your hands and feet so you cannot escape me.
Then I shall take you with me, trapped in a box until your hunger
is so great you will not be able to resist me. Then you will drink,
renew our bond, and you will be mine.”

There was no time to retort for he was
on me. Our weapons clashed together as I moved to defend myself. I
was afraid, but also exhilarated by the heat of our battle. His arm
slashed at me, moving faster than a human could ever see. But as a
vampire, I could see his strikes and moved my blade to intercept
his brutally placed blows. Our blades clanked together, scraping
off tiny rivulets of silver as we struggled. He grabbed for me with
his free hand, but I was faster than he anticipated. My feet
carried me swiftly away from him as I managed a sharp slash across
his back. I swung about in time to meet his dagger with my own, the
jolt from the impact forcing me off balance. I fell and raised my
arm to defend myself. I felt the blade plunge deep into my forearm
and screamed. With my other hand, I thrust the dagger at his heart,
missing and slamming it into his upper chest.

Blood gushed from his lips and he
smiled. “Yes, we are alike.”

I yanked my weapon free and slid to my
feet like a snake rising to strike. “I shall never
relent.”

“You shall,” he vowed.

Aware of his weakened state as well as
my own, I feared that in the end he could possibly outlast me. I
then saw Ilinca standing in the corner watching. Her presence was
not truly a surprise. That she should come to see our final
confrontation seemed to be in her nature. Her full, ruby lips were
slightly smiling.

His attack was far faster than I ever
anticipated. I felt his blade slash my throat and my blood pour
out. I rammed my blade into his neck all the way to the hilt. He
staggered back, both of us gripping our necks as our blood fell to
the slick, bloody floor. He pulled the dagger from his throat and
smiled.

Without a weapon, my blood streaming
down my body, I knew I was close to losing. I could not depend on
the regents to protect me. Vlad would fulfill his promise to lop
off my hands and feet and entomb me. I would be lost. Damned
completely.

I would not let that happen.

I saw a blur of motion and moved my
body to absorb the impact of his assault, while coiling my power
and my body into a tight spring. Vlad drove both daggers into my
chest and back, the pain nearly toppling me to the floor, but my
body burst into action as I unleashed the wave of power built up
within me. I shoved my shoulder into Vlad’s chest as my power sent
him hurtling backward. The windows shattered as he sailed through
them and into the wintery night.

My trembling fingers drew out the
silver daggers, my body burning with their poison. I gripped their
cold handles, hearing my blood and Vlad’s dripping from their
blades. I waited for him.

There was no dramatic entrance. He was
merely before me in an instant, growling, his teeth
bared.

“You are done with this discussion,”
Ilinca announced.

Vlad took a step toward me.

Ilinca appeared between us. One hand
rose toward Vlad as she said, “Do you dare to risk challenging me
now?”

“Or me?” Gavril emerged from the empty
air to stand behind Vlad.

His wide shoulders heaving, Vlad
glowered at me. I felt his silent plea for me to side with him and
plunge my daggers into Ilinca. Instead of obeying, I dropped them
to the ground and curtsied.

“She is ours. Not yours. We protect
her. You had your talk. I see by your ‘discussion’ with her that
you see what we see. A powerful vampire that is an asset to any
vampire court,” Gavril said, slowly walking around Vlad. “A pity
you have lost her.”

Gently taking my arm, Ilinca guided me
to the ballroom. Covered in blood, wounded but healing, I lifted my
chin in triumph. Vlad had failed.

The door opened at her beckoning. We
stepped through and heard gasps. I instantly found Ignatius and saw
the horror in his eyes. Laura let out a gasp, her hands clasped
over her mouth. To reassure them, I smiled.

Vlad swept past me. He did not say a
word, but grabbed hold of Cneajna’s arm. She cried out as he
dragged her behind him, but went willingly. She cast one more
hateful look over her shoulder, then was gone.

“He will be escorted from our domain,”
Ilinca assured me.

I nodded slightly, unsure if I was free
to go or not.

Ilinca kissed my cheek, her hand gently
pressing the dagger back into my hand. “Go home, dear Lady Glynis.
Rest. Be restored. Return in a fortnight.”

Lounging on his throne, Gavril inclined
his head. “Good evening, fair warrior.”

Though I wanted to rush into their
arms, I forced myself to walk in a lady-like manner to Ignatius and
Laura. My progeny flung her arms around me as Ignatius pressed a
loving kiss to my brow. Our gazes met and an understanding passed
between us.

“You are my love,” I said to him. “Even
my Master cannot quench my love for you.”

“He is of no consequence for now.”
Ignatius kissed my lips, his love warming me.

Vlad was vanquished and I was
free.

Laura sobbed into my neck as Ignatius
guided us through the door and out into the cold, wintery night. A
carriage awaited us. Adem and his guards were shocked to see me,
but Ignatius simply shook his head and they visibly
relaxed.

Inside the carriage, Katya and Magda
let out gasps of delight. Katya flung open the door for us and
Ignatius lifted me inside. I was surprised to see both women had
pistols at their sides. Magda hastily hid something in a bag and by
the repulsion I felt I suspected it was holy relics. Laura sat
between Katya and Magda and Ignatius held me in his arms as we took
the seat across from them. Adem surprised me by sliding into the
carriage and closing the door.

“It is a relief to see you alive and
well,” Adem said, touching my hand. “We were prepared to fight for
you. We have been awaiting Ignatius’s signal to storm
inside.”

“You were going to rescue me?” I was
surprised, yet touched.

The carriage lurched into
motion.

Magda leaned over and kissed my hand.
“Adem and Ignatius were going to leave us behind, but we
insisted.”

“I was going to shoot them with my
pistol,” Katya informed me proudly with her little
smirk.

Laura pulled up her skirt to reveal a
sheath. She patted the hilt of the dagger. “I was going to fight,
too.”

Tucked into Ignatius’s arms, I felt a
wave of gratitude and love fill me. “You are truly wonderful
friends.”

“And now the House of Wright,” Ignatius
pointed out.

“What?” Magda gasped.

Adem shook his head, chuckling. “Truly?
We feared that Glynis would die tonight and instead she is granted
her own vampire house?”

As he stroked my hair and held me
tight, Ignatius explained all that had occurred. By the end of the
tale, Adem was laughing and Magda was beaming.

“So we’re no longer Draculas, but
Wrights,” Laura said proudly. “I am Laura of the House of
Wright.”

“So what is my title?” Katya asked
excitedly.

“Katya, Servant of the House of
Wright,” Ignatius informed her.

“That’s all? That’s not very fancy.”
Katya pouted.

Taking her hand, Laura kissed her
cheek. “How about Katya, Servant of Laura of the House of
Wright.”

Katya pondered this, her fingers
tracing over her throat provocatively. “Perhaps.”

“Considering that you were willing to
give your life for Laura, I’m sure we can give you a nice title.
Perhaps...” I thought for a moment…“Lady in Waiting to Lady Laura
of the House of Wright.”

“That I like!” Katya declared with
gleeful delight.

Magda shook her head, partially
annoyed. “I say we send her back to her father.”

“Oh, shush, you.” Katya
scowled.

Laura bestowed a look of affection upon
Katya that bothered me just a little bit. “I will not allow it. She
will stay with me.”

Burrowing my face into Ignatius’s neck,
I clung to him as I listened to Katya and Magda bicker at one
another.

I was home.

Chapter 35

The Journal of Lady Glynis
Wright

December 7,
1820

The Dosza Palace

Just Before
Dawn...

We are home at last. No
one disturbed our journey through the streets of Buda and we are
now safely ensconced within the Dosza Palace. This is now the home
to me and my vampire house. It pleases me to no end. I have
achieved a victory I had not expected and I am grateful to those
who would have fought for me.

Though I am happy to be
home, I am still disquieted by my interaction with Vlad. The moment
when I almost lost my very essence to his power still frightens me.
I can never allow myself to become the woman he desires me to be.
Despite my initial joy at my victory, I am now struggling with my
emotions as I consider what transpired between me and
Vlad.

I gaze at the man I love
and I worry that he thinks less of me...

“Do you forgive me?” I dared to ask
Ignatius as I set my journal and pen aside.

His eyes were downcast as he slowly
rubbed my feet. At my question, his gaze lifted to my face. “There
is nothing to forgive,” he answered gently.

“I almost lost myself when he bit me.”
I swallowed, my disgrace making my face flush. I averted my eyes in
shame.

“His blood is in your veins.” Ignatius
reached out to touch my hand. “There is nothing to
forgive.”

I dared to look at him and saw the
sincerity in his eyes. I let out a harsh cry, tears unexpectedly
filling my eyes. “I am disgraced and fouled by him.
The...bond...”

Ignatius moved to sit by me on the bed.
His fingers gently stroked my cheek and neck. “Be calm, Glynis. Our
nature works against us. Torments us. Our blood ties to those who
created us are dangerous and cruel at times.”

“I laid with him once of my own free
will. I was so alone. So...tormented. It is the only peace I have
ever found with him. But tonight I just felt sullied when I felt my
darkness call to him.” I couldn’t bear to gaze upon Ignatius’s
face.

“And when you are with me?”

“Joy,” I answered easily. “Love. Peace.
Happiness.”

Drawing my face to his, my beloved
Ignatius kissed me. It was a soft, chaste kiss. “There is nothing
to forgive.”

We lay down together, facing one
another. I drew up my knees and curled up on the pillows. His
fingers brushed my hair as he smiled at me.

“How can you be so kind?”

“It is easy with you.” Ignatius
replied, smiling. “You bring out all that is best in
me.”

His smile drew out my own. “And you do
the same for me.”

“Come here,” he whispered, drawing me
close.

I slid into the shelter of his arms and
he wrapped himself around me. My face buried in his throat, my
hands resting against his chest, I felt safe and loved. I sobbed
softly as his tenderness began to scour away the taint of Vlad’s
touch. He made no move other than to hold me, listening to me cry
as his fingers trailed through my curls.

It was I who rose up to kiss him.
Ignatius kissed me lightly, his hands cupping my face. I deepened
the kiss, tasting his tongue and lips. My fingers trembled as I
began to undress him.

“Are you certain?” he
whispered.

“Yes. I want to be cleansed by your
touch.”

Sliding his fingers into my hair, he
kissed me passionately.

When he entered me, his lips and tongue
upon my breasts, I closed my eyes and felt only my love for him. I
wrapped my legs tighter around him, pulling him deep, experiencing
the exquisite sensation of his manhood full and hard inside of me.
My hands traced down his back, feeling the strength of his muscles
as well as his long silky black hair under my palms. This was the
man I loved, and I relished his touch and his body. When he at last
filled me, I let out a soft gasp of pleasure as he kissed my
throat, my cheeks and my mouth.

Tangled together in the aftermath of
our lovemaking, I knew that all was perfect between us and all fear
and pain was banished.

Chapter 36

The Journal of Lady Glynis
Wright

December 24,
1820

The Dosza Palace

Christmas is here! Though
we are practically buried under snow, the house is full of light
and warmth. Ignatius ventured into the blizzard and returned with a
pine tree for us to decorate. We made a fine evening of popping
corn and stringing it on thread. Katya and Laura brought up apples
from the cellar and tucked them into the branches. Though we had no
gifts to set under the tree, we still had a joyous time.