Shadow's Claim

Right before her eyes, the bar's haze of smoke seemed to transform, changing consistency all around them. Loreans grew uneasy. More than one group shuffled, flew, or scampered toward the exit.

"What's happening?" Sabine demanded.

Bettina could no longer see the sorceress through the haze. She glanced down at her now glittering skin. Speak of the vampire. "He's . . . here." She shot to her feet, whirling around.

Daciano!

His skin was even paler now, his build rangier than the last time she'd seen him. He was dressed all in black, like a reaper in a long leather coat. His lips were thinned, his eyes black with emotion.

Rage? Vampiric hunger? Lust?

All she knew was that he was absolutely about to seize her. A male vampire in his prime had come for his Bride.

He disappeared. No, wait-

His strong arms wrapped around her from behind, enveloping her with his scent and heat. At her ear, he rasped, "Miss me, Bride?"

Through the mist, Trehan had gazed at her, a vision in her bold silks and jewels. A demonic-looking crown perched atop shining braids. A dark green mask highlighted her eyes.

He grudgingly admitted that she was even more beautiful than when he'd last seen her.

Life with Caspion must be agreeing with her.

At the thought, Trehan squeezed her tighter. Now she is warm and trembling in my arms. Where she will remain.

Just before he traced her back to Dacia, he glanced over his shoulder at her Sorceri companion. The female darted her eyes blindly, unable to see through the mist, but she looked delighted. "Have fun, Bettina! You two meet me back here in an hour. . . ."

Trehan frowned, then forced his Bride back to his home.

Inside his suite, Bettina staggered back from him. By the way she was staring at his eyes, he knew they were still black.

"Where have you taken me?" She peered around his home with an expression of dawning horror, then rushed to the opened balcony. As she gazed out over the city, she rocked on her feet. "I-I'm in Dacia."

"Yes."

Without turning back, she cried, "Why?"

"I've been accepted back in. My Bride as well."

"H-how dare you take me to this place!"

For the thousandth time, he pictured the look on her face as she'd handed him that goblet. "I dare easily." He traced behind her, inhaling her scent. "You belong to me. And it was time to collect my belongings."

In the confusion of the bar, the vampire had been able to snare Bettina so easily, plucking her like gold from a rushing stream, then taking her to . . . Dacia.

A place where outsiders could check in, but could never check out. Yes, she'd wanted to talk to him-but not at the expense of her freedom!

Barely tamping down her rising shock, she'd hastened across the spacious, gilded room to a balcony. At the railing, she'd gazed out in bewilderment, seeing everything Daciano had described of his home.

Soaring caverns, wisps of mist, carved-stone buildings. A giant crystal above all twinkled with prismed light. A haunting black castle stood sentinel not far away.

The vampire had truly ferried her to the land of the legendary Daci.

Bristling, she pivoted around, finding herself eye level with his chest. He was scant inches away, so close that she had to crane her head up to meet his gaze.

Close enough that she could take in his addictive scent. It still scrambled her thought processes.

He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, looking as confused and miserable as she'd been feeling for weeks.

Were his thoughts scrambled as well?

Part of her was outraged by his behavior; part of her was stunned that they were together. I'm with him; he's just here.

No, he'd abducted her. Sure, deep down she'd wanted him to come for her-but she'd never imagined a reunion like this. Why couldn't he have shown up, proverbial hat in hand, asking for another chance with her? Not even hat in hand-how about just looking at her with a steady gaze as he admitted they had some things to work out?

How quickly she would've folded. But nooo, he had to kidnap her with a crazed gleam in his eye! And he'd taken her to this one-way realm? Just when she was getting the hang of ruling her own kingdom? "If you think I'm going to be stuck down here, think again. You trace me back or I'll . . ." She trailed off, catching sight of a metallic sparkle out of the corner of her eye. His vast weapons collection! "Or I'll . . ."

. . . take every single one of those with me?

Lances, maces, axes, long swords, shields, blades. Arms classed in groups, divided by epochs. Shining. Flawlessly curated in gold cases. Like a monument to tissue disruption. It would take her days to investigate all the items.

When she could drag her gaze from the collection, she peeked around him to survey the rest of his home. A solitary chair with books stacked around it sat in front of a great hearth. A lazy fire burned, illuminating a luxe interior. Artwork lined the walls; she thought she recognized a few . . . from infamous heists?

One corridor branched off from this sitting area, opening up into a wing with scores of bookshelves. Through another corridor, she glimpsed a bedroom-with a bed of furs low to the ground.

A vampire's library lair.

"Investigate all you like," he told her in a rough voice. "Familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. We have all the time in the world. . . ."

Even in the midst of his turmoil, Trehan felt pride over his home, over the luxuries that his sorceress so obviously appreciated.

He stood taller, knowing she was impressed. Before, he'd brought nothing to their union-other than a coveted crystal and one family sword. Going forward, they would enjoy the wealth that he provided.