Stefan and Andrei did their best to cheer her up. And they were good company, but it was hard to be around Drake’s brothers night after night. How was she supposed to forget Drake when Andrei and Stefan looked so much like him, when she was living in Drake’s house, sleeping in his bed? Maybe she should move, but where would she go? And even as she considered it, she knew she would never leave Wolfram Castle. She had no way to get in touch with Drake. Her only hope of ever seeing him again was to stay here in case he should one day decide to return.
For once, Elena would have welcomed the presence of the cat, but he was nowhere to be found.
One afternoon, needing a change of scene, Elena decided to take the car and drive to the city. She found the keys to the Porsche, grabbed her handbag and a sweater, and left the castle.
What had seemed like a good idea faded somewhat once she was behind the wheel. She knew how to drive a stick shift. She had learned in school. But she had never driven more than a few miles from home. So, she thought, switching on the engine, this would be an adventure.
It was inevitable that thoughts of Drake would fill her mind as she drove, ever so carefully, toward the city. It was there she had learned the truth of what he was. Funny, how unimportant that had seemed once she realized she was in love with him. She wondered now what they would have done when she grew old and he did not. Would he have stayed with her, taken care of her until she passed away? Or would he have left her for someone else when she became a burden?
Well, she would never know now.
Arriving in town, she parked the car and strolled along the sidewalk. Now that she was here, she had no idea why she had come. When they first arrived at Wolfram, Andrei had given her an envelope that contained more money than she had ever seen.
“From Drake,” Andrei had told her.
Drake. Just the mention of his name made her heart ache with loneliness. He had once told her to make any changes she wanted in the castle, but she liked it just the way it was, although electricity would be a nice addition.
With a sigh, Elena continued down the street. When she came to a store that sold housewares, she stepped inside. An hour later, she had purchased a set of flowered china, sets of silverware and glasses, and several new pots and pans. She also bought a pretty blue cloth for the table in the kitchen, and a pale green one for the trestle table in the main hall. It seemed strange to be able to buy whatever she wanted without having to ask permission or worry about the cost. After a clerk helped her carry everything out to the car, she strolled on down the street.
Passing by a bookstore, she stepped inside and bought every vampire book she could find.
Elena was making her way back to the Porsche when she saw her uncle step out of the hotel across the street. With a gasp of alarm, she quickly turned to look in the window behind her. Had he seen her? Heart pounding, she stared at his reflection, breathed a sigh of relief when he moved on down the street.
Hurrying to the car, Elena stowed everything on the floor and the passenger seat, slid behind the wheel, and drove for home as fast as she dared.
It wasn’t until the city was far behind that she breathed a sigh of relief. She had been so lost in her own misery, she had forgotten all about Dinescu. What was even worse, she had forgotten about Jenica.
Drake knew it wouldn’t be easy to convince his father that he had decided to make the best of things where Katiya was concerned, so he took it slow, knowing that, if he went too fast, Rodin would be suspicious. For the first few weeks, he remained cool and aloof with his bride. He was polite when they were in the presence of others. He treated her with respect, but not affection. Only gradually, did he become more relaxed. He began to smile at her. He held her hand. Once, he let Rodin catch him kissing Katiya in one of the corridors.
Katiya played her part as well. In the beginning, she made sure to let her mother know that she was not pleased to have Drake as her husband, and that Drake was equally unhappy at being forced to marry her and then, as time went on, she, too, began to smile more often.
Six weeks after Drake married Katiya, Andrei returned to the Fortress.
Drake sought him out the next night. “Elena,” he said, “is she well?”
“She misses you, of course. She cries a lot.” Andrei grinned. “She’s been reading vampire books.”
“Vampire books!” Drake exclaimed.
Andrei nodded. “None of them are close to being accurate. She asks a lot of questions. And then she cries some more.”
Cursing softly, Drake shook his head. Why on earth was she reading vampire books? If she’d had questions, she could have asked him, he thought irritably. But then, once she had found out what he was, they hadn’t had a lot of time alone.
“So, how are things going here?” Andrei asked. “Is the plan we agreed upon working?”
“I believe so. Yes.”
“How is Katiya?”
“She worries a lot.”
“I cannot say as I blame her.”
Drake grunted softly. “Rodin is hosting a feast tonight for Marcos.”
“Why?”
“Marcos has taken over the Fortress in England. He is coming here to propose a new treaty with Rodin.”
“So, Marcos now rules the Fortresses in England and Spain.”
Drake nodded. It was an old story. Vampires lived a very long time. Often, when they grew bored, the very old ones challenged each other for territory. Such fights were always to the death. In the course of Rodin’s long existence, he had defended the Carpathian Fortress over a dozen times.
But Drake had other things on his mind tonight. “Katiya is fully ripe. I am certain she will conceive tonight. Once that is accomplished, there will be no reason for my sire to insist we remain here.”
“And if Rodin still refuses to let you leave?”
Drake clenched his hands at his sides. “Pray that he doesn’t,” he said, his voice little more than a hoarse whisper. “I cannot stand being here much longer.”
The reception began at midnight. Marcos and his entourage, apparently desiring to make a grand entrance, arrived an hour later. Rodin took the stage to introduce his guests, and everyone present came forward to pay their respects, starting with Rodin’s sons.
When that was done, Drake took his father aside.
“I hope you will not be offended,” he said, “but Katiya and I desire to retire early.”
“Is something wrong?” Rodin asked, his voice curt. “You have not yet danced with your bride.”
“The night is young, and we have another dance in mind,” Drake said with a smile. “The woman is ripe and willing, and I am eager.”