“Damn you to hell, Dracula!” I muttered angrily.
I curled up on the bed, pulling the covers about me. As I lay shivering, my body aching, I cried with frustration. That Vlad could still illicit such strong passion within me filled me with despair.
Covering my face with my hands, I forced my thoughts toward Ignatius. In my mind, I drew forth his image and his voice. I remembered the gentleness of his hands and the sweet caress of his kisses. I thought of his long hair whispering against my face and breasts as he kissed me. I remembered his long body pressed against mine while we made love for the first time. I had been liberated by his touch, not enslaved to it.
I filled my mind with my lost paramour and my love for him pressed away the dark terror of my dream. I drifted to sleep imagining his presence beside me.
I did not dream of Vlad again.
Later-
I had yet to dress and was seated at my desk writing letters when there was a gentle knock on the door. I quickly donned my robe and tossed back my hair from my face. I was flustered by the thought of feeding off of a willing male I did not have to draw into my thrall. I hoped fervently it would not be a repeat of Katya’s unsettling attempted seduction.
“Who is it?”
“Adem. ”
I unlocked the door and drew it wide for the two men to enter. Adem was dressed in his elegant black uniform and despite his imposing appearance, smiled pleasantly at me.
The young man accompanying him wore a more subdued version of his superior’s garb, also with black with blue symbols along his sleeves. The very tall, lanky guard’s gaze wandered around the room nervously as he tried not to regard me directly. His sandy colored hair fell in soft curls around his brow and his keen brown eyes had flecks of green within their depths. I always like to study people’s eyes. They do say much about the mind lingering behind them.
“This is Enre, my dear Countess. He would be honored if you were to feed from him tonight,” Adem explained, his hand resting on the younger man’s shoulder.
“It would be my pleasure,” Enre said gallantly, then bowed deeply before me.
“I thank you for the generous offer of your blood. ”
It was terribly awkward standing before the two men, both of them waiting eagerly for me to feed from the younger one. Usually I had to draw my victims into my power, luring them with beauty, sensuality and lust. Tilting my head, I regarded them with curiosity, unsure of how to proceed.
Adem recognized my uncertainty and quickly urged Enre forward. Falling to his knees before me, Enre leaned his head to one side, tugged back his hair with one hand and exposed his neck.
My gaze shifted to Adem. “I just. . . feed?”
“Yes, Countess. His blood is yours. ”
“Take what you will, my mistress,” Enre urged.
I could see the desire in his eyes, much like Katya’s. Whereas Katya had been flagrant with her passions, he was completely docile.
My long hair fell over one shoulder as I leaned over him, the firelight dancing along my deep red curls. My lips close to Enre’s, my eyes staring into his, I smiled.
“Thank you,” I softly murmured.
Squeezing his eyes shut, his breath came in short rasps of anticipation as he awaited my bite.
My gaze drifted to the pulse in his neck and the hunger welled up within me. My teeth ached as my fangs descended, sharp as little daggers behind my lips. My hands gripping his hair and his shoulder, I struck. It was glorious to feel my fangs sink deep into his flesh, blood welling up in the wounds. I began to suckle, drinking the elixir that would grant me life, beauty and power for yet another night.
Flushed and restored, I extracted my fangs from his neck, my tongue snaking across the wounds so they might heal. Cradling his head against my bosom, I leaned down once more to kiss his cheek.
“Thank you, Enre,” I said, and released him.
I ran my tongue over my lips, licking away the remnants of my feeding. I straightened my robe and gown before tucking my hair back from my face.
“You may go, Enre,” Adem said, dismissing the guard.
I glanced toward them to see Adem helping Enre to his feet. Blushing at the sight of the swelling in Enre’s trousers, I busied myself collecting my letters, directing my gaze to the wax seals I had so carefully created on each one.
Once the door had shut behind my willing meal, I turned, holding out the letters to Adem. “Please see that these are delivered to Buda. And should Astir ask, they merely inform the Baroness and Sir Stephan that my anger against them is now assuaged. The letters also state that Vlad has restored them to his good graces, seeing as I no longer want their heads on platters. ”