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Chapter 1 Somewhere in Europe, 1899 H e should kill her. Whether or not he could wasn’t the question that plagued him; it was why hadn’t he done so already? Lying on a narrow cot in a cool, dank cell, Temple listened to the footsteps on the floor above. Long, determined strides carried his visitor toward the door that led down into the cellar where they’d sequestered him for…he had no idea how long. He knew that stride almost as well as his own now. It came out of the fog they’d kept him in—the fog that had been steadily clearing for days, though he never once let on that their drugs no longer worked. Yes, now that he had regained much of his strength, he was very tempted to kill his sweet-smelling captor. He was tempted to do all kinds of things to her. When they had first taken him, they used some kind of drug—a poison—on him. It deadened his nerves and rendered him unconscious. They kept him that way for much of the journey. And when they finally arrived at their destination—whereve
Chapter 1
Chapter 2 H e heard every word they said. Temple lay on his cot and stared up at the peeling paint on the ceiling of his cell and smiled. There was only one explanation—Vivian’s blood. He could still feel her sweeping through his veins, filling him with strength and a sense of well-being he hadn’t felt in a long time. It was like coming home. But it had heightened his senses as well. His vision was already better than a cat’s, and now it was even keener. His skin felt every brush of fabric. He could taste Vivian clearly on his lips—and her voice in his ears. It hadn’t been loud, but he had heard them as though he’d had his ear to a door. They had been outside where he normally wouldn’t have heard them, but tonight he’d heard the crunch of gravel beneath Vivian’s feet as she walked away from Villiers. Vivian spoke to Villiers as though the man was her father. How long would it be before Villiers decided he didn’t want to be her “papa” anymore? How long before he tried to press himself b
Chapter 2
Chapter 3 A few nights later… T he woman had a rifle aimed at his head. It didn’t waver, didn’t tremble in the slightest, despite the fact that she was a tiny little thing clad only in a dressing gown. The hands that held it were dry and steady—sure of purpose and not in the least hesitant. She would shoot him without so much as a question if she believed him a threat to her little haven. Slowly, Temple turned and smiled down the length of the shiny barrel, revealing his features to the bright moonlight spilling across the balcony. “You wouldn’t shoot an old friend would you, Brownie?” Kimberly Cooper-Brown—“Brownie”—uttered a sharp cry of exasperation, and the rifle dropped a fraction of an inch. “Jesus, Mary! I could have killed you, you blooming idiot!” Laughing, Temple nudged the rifle away with the tip of one finger. “But you didn’t—and unless you’ve got silver in there I doubt it would have done me much harm.” His companion snorted as she tossed a lock of curly strawberry blond h
Chapter 3
Chapter 4 S he bit his hand. It wasn’t the pain that made Temple jerk back, easing his hold on her. It was the pleasure of it. Her sharp teeth gripped the flesh of his palm and dug in—not enough to draw blood, but enough that he wanted to demand she do it harder. Vivian took advantage of his surprise, and as he ripped his hand away, she smashed her head back into his face. She missed his nose, else she probably would have broken it, but the blow was hard enough that it made his teeth snap together. It actually hurt, which surprised him more than it should have. But when she broke free of his grasp and whirled around to confront him, he was ready for her. Almost. She didn’t fight like a woman. For that matter she didn’t fight like most Englishmen. Her first attack was an arcing high kick that was definitely Oriental in origin. Temple dodged it, but not the fist she slammed into his throat. Instinct took over and he struck back. His fist caught her in the jaw, snapping her head back. He
Chapter 4
Chapter 5 V ivian knew there would be consequences. What she hadn’t suspected was that they’d jump up and bite her on the backside quite so soon. She woke up late the next day, sore but strangely replete, to find Temple slumbering beside her. Naked. As much as she wanted to explore him, study every inch of him, she wasn’t foolish enough to indulge. He hadn’t chained her or bound her in any way. The door wasn’t even locked. Surely he wasn’t so foolish as to let her walk around freely. Was he? Or if he was, it had to be because he had complete confidence in her inability to escape. Or maybe he believed after one night with him she wouldn’t want to. He wouldn’t be far from wrong with that one. It was very tempting to snuggle against his warm body, wake him up and let him claim her once more. She had given her virtue to a vampire—her enemy. That realization didn’t bother her half as much as it should have. She had enjoyed every minute of it. In fact, what bothered her was her lack of guilt
Chapter 5
Chapter 6 N o word from Vivian. Rupert Villiers fingered the length of one of his own perfectly groomed sideburns as he sat behind the massive desk of his London town home and stared out the window at the West End evening traffic as it clattered by. Almost a week had passed since her telegram informing him of her arrival in Ireland, and her preparations to journey to Clare. His own contacts had confirmed not only that Temple was on the island, and Vivian should be as well. So why had she not contacted him? Surely he would know if she were dead. Surely someone would have contacted him by now with the awful news. He wouldn’t have sent her if he thought Temple would kill her. She was far too important to him. He couldn’t have misjudged the appeal she would hold for Temple. No, she could not be dead. She was simply too important to his plans for him to believe her gone so easily. There had to be another explanation for her lack of communication. One that had her alive. More than likely she
Chapter 6
Chapter 7 “W hy does Rupert hate you?” Vivian asked him. It was evening. Temple and Vivian were on the back terrace sharing a light supper. Kimberly had business to attend to and couldn’t join them, but promised to bring a tray of tea and sweets later. Vivian expressed a great deal of enthusiasm about the prospect of cakes and biscuits, even as she filled her belly with bread, cheese, and an assortment of cold meats. Temple ran the tip of a finger along the rim of his wineglass. He’d eaten a little of the supper prepared for them, surprising Vivian. She hadn’t known he could eat “real” food. “I have no idea.” “None?” Her tone and expression were incredulous. He took a piece of cold ham from the platter and popped it into his mouth, licking the salt from his fingers. He noticed Vivian watching him as he did so, her cupid’s bow lips parted. Damn but the attraction between them hadn’t lessened since that first night, or the second. It seemed to grow, dig its claws in deeper and deeper unt
Chapter 7
Chapter 8 R unning across Europe with four vampires and a priest was not the way Marcus Grey originally planned to spend the summer. He had set out to uncover what he hoped would be the Blood Grail in Cornwall, and learn the truth about the legends of his long-dead ancestor Dreux Beauvrai. Instead, he found himself embroiled in a plot by a sinister group called the Order of the Silver Palm, and face-to-face with a man who could give him personal details about Dreux—firsthand. In June he had been nothing more than a simple scholar—an archeologist. Now he carried a pistol at all times. He hadn’t shaved in two days, and not only had he been introduced to a world the likes of which horrifying novels were based upon, but he was damn sick of vampires. So was it any wonder that when they stopped in at the safe house in Vienna whilst en route to Italy, that he rose at daybreak and went for a walk about the neighborhood? So much of his life was lived at night now, and darkness grew tedious for
Chapter 8
Chapter 9 H e was such a stupid ass. As he left Vivian’s new “room,” Temple berated himself for ever daring to trust in her or believe anything she said. Christ, he had told the woman she was the closest thing to heaven he’d ever seen and then she sneaks off to meet another man. Not just any other man. He had to be an associate of Villiers. Temple clomped down the stairs, and when he saw one of the maids, he instructed her to take another girl and attend to Vivian. Regardless of her deceit, he couldn’t bear to think of her suffering—and her wounds had to be painful. It wasn’t really deceit. He knew she was going to help Villiers, just as she knew he’d use her against the same man. So why was he so…pissed that she had kept her word to her mentor? Why did he take it so personally that she was doing what duty demanded of her? Had he really thought he could win her to his side so easily? The thought hadn’t even occurred to him until now. When he awoke to find her gone, dread had filled his
Chapter 9
Chapter 10 I t was Vivian’s blood he craved, not her. This was what Temple told himself as he sat in the library that evening, hunger gnawing at him. It made perfect sense, of course. Vivian’s blood made him stronger, sharper. When he bit her, tasted her, he felt as though he were more than invincible. He felt as though he were a god. It had to be her blood that made him feel like this, because he would accept no other explanation. It didn’t help, of course, that her scent was everywhere he went. Did she think he wouldn’t discover that she had gotten out of her prison? He didn’t know whether to be insulted that she believed him that dumb, or impressed by her cunning. She was a never-ending source of amazement, his Vivian. But she wasn’t his. She belonged to Villiers—in every way that mattered. The coded telegram and her refusal to suspect her mentor in the death of the courier was proof enough of that. Logically he knew better than to feel as betrayed as he did. He would have done exac
Chapter 10
Chapter 11 V ivian had not forsaken him. Ensconced in his new lodgings on the shore near Louisburgh in County Mayo, Rupert Villiers’s dislike of Ireland and all things Irish was overshadowed by the pleasure of knowing that at least something was going as he planned. Chapel had surprised them in England, but then those men had been idiots led by an even bigger one. In Rupert’s estimation they had deserved to die. At least Cecil Maxwell had managed to escape Bishop in Romania. Maxwell should arrive tomorrow. Unfortunately, his fabulous monster—an exceptional nosferatu—had been destroyed by the vampire Bishop, along with it most of his research. Constantin Khorza was lost to them now that he had reconciled with his dhampyr daughter, and that was all right. He wasn’t all that useful anymore—and not even enough of a threat to kill. Baron Hess was on his way as well, the last of Rupert’s lieutenants. He was also the one responsible for the fantastic debacle involving Justin Fontaine. Fontain
Chapter 11
Chapter 12 V ivian woke that morning to find the little maid Shannon standing over her, smiling as bright as a sudden burst of sun on an overcast day. “Mr. Temple left these outside the door for you.” She held up several packages in her arms. “And he says that I’m to give you the key to your room.” Blinking, Vivian sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. After her earlier escape, Temple had kept the lock blocked up so she couldn’t pick it. She didn’t think it was so much because he could keep her locked up, but rather to prove that his will was greater than hers. “The key? Really?” She sounded like an idiot, but she hadn’t slept well, and her mind wasn’t quite functioning as it should. Shannon handed her the slender brass key. Vivian stared at it as it gleamed in her palm. He hadn’t only let her out—but he’d given her the ability to lock him out as well. She could read so much into that if she wanted, but she would rather not. And he’d brought her things. Why? To soften her up? To d
Chapter 12
Chapter 13 “A re you in love with Villiers?” It was Prudence who asked the question. “No,” Vivian replied quickly, looking up from where she sat in the parlor. “He’s been like a father to me.” The pretty, slender redhead sat down next to her. “What of Temple? Do you love him?” Vivian practically choked on the breath she’d drawn. “God no! I’m attracted to him, but I’d never be foolish enough to fall for a man who only wants to use me.” She couldn’t be that foolish. Could she? It looked as though she was foolish enough to believe in Rupert why not Temple as well? God help her, but the vampire’s words had cut her to the bone. He’d made her doubt the one man to ever be good to her. How could she trust a man who’d locked her in a cage over one who had set her free from one? Olivia, a striking brunette who looked very tired, but could no doubt tear Vivian apart, came to crouch in front of the sofa where Vivian sat. “I want to believe you are innocent,” she said softly. “But if you’re part of
Chapter 13
Chapter 14 T he night was empty without Vivian in it. That was the last thought that came to Temple when he fell asleep just after dawn, and the first thought when he woke as sunset approached later that day. He had wanted to chase her when she ran from him the night before. Wanted to bring her back to his bed and hold her until sleep claimed them both. He wanted to wake up beside her and see her smile with slumber still clouding her eyes. Why? What was it about her that drew him? It wasn’t her blood, as he first thought. It wasn’t what she was, it was who she was. He respected her determination and strength. There was a vulnerability about her that made him want to protect her from the world. And when she gave her heart, she would be as fierce as any lioness. He wanted her fierceness. He wanted her tenderness. He wanted everything she cared to give him, any little scrap of feeling. She terrified him, and even though his head knew he should stay away, his heart refused to believe that
Chapter 14
Chapter 15 I t took both Temple and Payen to tear Violet off of Vivian. As it was, Vivian had a bite wound on her neck and Violet’s nose was bleeding from where Vivian had punched her in defense. She’d been lucky to land that against a vampire intent on ripping out her throat. “Let me kill her!” Violet struggled against her husband’s hold. “If I kill her Villiers has nothing.” Vivian allowed Temple to lick the bite so it would close. Normally she wouldn’t, but she still had a bruise on her forehead, a slight limp, and little welts on her fingers from falling in the pit. She’d be damned if she’d walk around with a gouge taken out of her throat as well. But why did he have to make it seem like such a tender, possessive gesture when all he did was close a wound? It felt as though he was branding her in front of the other vampires, claiming her as his own. “No one is going to kill Vivian,” Temple announced in a tone that brooked no refusal. “Unless it’s you, right?” Vivian whispered with a
Chapter 15
Chapter 16 I nstead of returning to her own room after the “incident” with Temple in the parlor, Vivian went with him to his rooms instead. There were many things she wanted to ask him now that she didn’t feel as though the world had been pulled out from under her. And she didn’t want to sleep alone. She’d never been one to lean on another emotionally, but she found herself doing just that. Temple’s strength was a comfort to her, and when she found herself thinking that no one had ever cared about her, that she was somehow lacking as a person, all she had to do was look at Temple and realized that wasn’t true. She felt it in the way he touched her, the way he seemed to worship her body with his own. Every time they came together it was her pleasure that seemed to matter most to him, and he always knew exactly how to please her. And she knew him well enough to know that when he was afraid, or when he didn’t want to admit to tender feelings, they manifested themselves as anger. When he w
Chapter 16
Chapter 17 L ater that morning, Vivian wrote a reply to Villiers and left the note in the statue as instructed. Then, she and Marcus took turns watching the statue from behind a hedge in the garden. Keeping watch was tedious work, so Marcus kept himself entertained by using his archaeological tools to dig a small hole near the hedge, in a spot that looked promising. Much to his surprise, he uncovered some broken pottery that looked Roman in origin. He’d know better once he cleaned it up. He was so pleased with his work that he almost missed the figure of a woman entering the garden, heading straight for the statue of Lilith. The sound of stone grating against stone had him lifting his head, and peering through the shrubbery. A house maid had opened the secret compartment and withdrawn the letter. It was Agnes. Marcus remembered meeting her in the kitchen with Vivian. The woman slipped the stone back into place, and with a quick glance over her shoulder, hurried off, the letter shoved i
Chapter 17
Chapter 18 V ivian was gone. Again. “Does she make a habit of just disappearing?” Saint asked, admiring a bronze figurine on the mantel. “No,” Temple replied. He kept his eye on his old friend, despite his worry. Saint used to be a thief and some habits died hard. Had Vivian given in to her own habits? Was she on her way back to Villiers, or was she out there, lying injured in another one of his traps? Bishop arched a suspicious brow. “Is it possible she’s betrayed us?” “No,” Temple replied sharply. He had discounted the thought almost as soon as it came to him. Vivian would not betray him. He refused to believe otherwise. “I do hope she’s all right.” Olivia ran a hand over her still flat stomach as she spoke. She looked better than she had since her arrival; Vivian had definitely helped her. “She’s friends with the servants,” he thought aloud. “We’ll ask them if they know where she might be.” “I’ll go,” Marika offered in her lilting accent. “I dress like Vivian, so maybe they’ll be mo
Chapter 18
Chapter 19 “T he women should remain behind.” Temple laughed in Reign’s face. They were sorting through the trunk of weapons Temple kept stashed in his cellar rooms. “You tell them that and see how far it gets you.” His friend obviously didn’t share his humor. “I don’t want Olivia in danger.” Laughter evaporating, Temple clapped a hand on the other man’s shoulder. “I don’t blame you, but do you really think she’s going to let you go without her?” An expression of defeat fell over Reign’s face, but his gaze was proud as it fell upon his wife who sat on the other side of the room, clad in trousers and sharpening a wicked-looking blade. “No. She’s determined to see this through and help save Vivian.” Temple was touched. “My thanks to both of you for that.” Reign shot him a narrow glance. “Did you think the lot of us would actually leave you to confront the Order on your own?” He shrugged. “It would be the smart choice. You have Olivia and your child to think of. You all have wives. Why sh
Chapter 19
Chapter 20 T emple roared as he watched Villiers stab the woman he loved. He threw himself forward, finally snapping the chains that bound him. Marcus rushed forth to help free the others as the guards ran for their lives—or their deaths. Reign was freed first then the others, but Temple paid them no heed as they threw themselves into the fray, ripping through guards like the men were made of tissue paper. He rushed for the altar and the woman bleeding to death on it. “Vivian!” Temple screamed, stumbling toward her. But it was too late. He knew it with a glance. She was too still, too pale. Villiers’s blade had pierced her heart. He collapsed upon the altar, weak and half crazed. Tears of blood streamed down his face as his hands caressed the body of his beloved. He couldn’t save her. She was already dead when he gathered her into his arms. There came a great roar from the foot of the altar, so full of anguish that it matched his own, and Temple raised his head to look at the woman who
Chapter 20
Epilogue
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