He took only two steps before coming to a reluctant halt. “Bloody hell. It is too late.” Spinning toward her, Sebastian pointed toward the heavy desk that dominated the room. “Get over there.”
Amelia did not hesitate to obey. The mere thought of facing the bloodthirsty vampire was enough to make her tremble in terror.
As fast as she moved, however, she had barely reached the desk when a bone-deep chill entered the room. With wide eyes she watched Drake Ramone step into the library with slow, deliberate motions.
Almost inanely, she noted the perfect cut of his black coat and ivory breeches. Even his curls had been carefully crimped and brushed toward the thin face.
A perfect gentleman, she grimly acknowledged, unless one looked close enough to perceive the flat deadness of his eyes and the cold cruelty of his mouth.
A cruelty made even worse when a sneering smile curved the thin lips.
“Well, well, Sebastian,” he drawled as he deliberately regarded the taller gentleman’s bare chest. “It appears that you are not entirely the eunuch that I feared. Of course, I cannot approve of your taste. Mortals are so utterly repulsive to discriminating vampires.”
Sebastian’s expression remained stoically indifferent to the insult. “What are you doing here, Drake?”
“I wished to speak with Miss Hadwell.” Slightly turning, the intruder performed a mocking bow toward the desk. “Good evening, my dear.”
Although consumed with a choking fear, Amelia managed to tilt her chin to what she hoped was an imperious angle.
“I have no desire to speak with you.”
Lethal fury flashed through the pale eyes before the taunting smile was forcibly returned to his lips.
“What you desire matters little, my dear. I have given you the opportunity to be sensible. Now, I fear I must be more direct.”
Her hands instinctively shifted to grasp the amulet about her neck. “I will not give you the Medallion.”
“Oh, I believe you will.”
Across the room, Sebastian abruptly stepped toward his brother vampire, his expression set in determined lines.
“It will never belong to you, Drake.”
“My words are for Miss Hadwell,” the intruder snarled, his hands clenched at his side. “And after this evening I doubt your bothersome interference will be welcome.”
Sebastian growled from deep in his throat. “I have no patience with your riddles—if you have something to say, then speak plainly.”
“Very well.” Drake held out a thin, skeleton-like hand. “Miss Hadwell, I desire the Medallion.”
Amelia took an instinctive step backward. “No.”
“Why do you remain so stubborn? It can mean nothing to you.”
“Sebastian has warned me of your plot to destroy the Veil and return vampires to London. I will not allow that to occur.”
His gaze narrowed to icy slits. “And you believe you are capable of standing in my way? You are a fool.”
Amelia readily concurred. She was a fool. Had she the least amount of sense she would be fleeing from this dangerous madman with all possible speed. Unfortunately, her knees were barely capable of holding her upright, never mind allowing her to move so much as a step.
Instead, she was forced to meet that threatening gaze with as much courage as she could muster.
“You cannot force me to give you the Medallion.”
“Ah, but I can,” he drawled.
Sebastian once again moved forward, placing himself between Amelia and the threatening vampire. In his hand the dagger glinted with deadly intent.
“Do not take a step, Drake,” he warned. “I do not desire to destroy you, but I will do whatever is necessary to protect Amelia.”
A harsh, rasping laugh echoed through the room. “I have warned you to remain out of this, Sebastian. Miss Hadwell will not thank you if some ghastly fate were to befall her beloved brother.”
The icy terror that had gripped Amelia was suddenly forgotten at the mention of her brother. Without a thought, she moved around the desk to confront Drake with a frantic expression.
“William? What do you mean?”
Drake lifted his golden brows with a faint smile. “Did I fail to mention that sweet William is now my guest at a rather remote cottage?”
“No,” she breathed, her heart squeezing in horror. Not William. She could not bear it.
Easily sensing her rising panic, Sebastian placed a comforting arm about her shoulders.
“Amelia . . . do not.”
She barely heard his words. Her attention was grimly focused upon the smiling vampire standing before her.
“What have you done to him?”
Drake lifted an indifferent shoulder. “For the moment he is merely my guest. I cannot promise, however, that he will remain unharmed for long. My servants will soon grow impatient if I do not appear with the Medallion.”
The image of William alone and afraid in some remote cabin brought tears to Amelia’s eyes. What sort of monster would harm such an innocent soul?
“No . . . please . . .”
“Amelia.” Sebastian sternly turned her to meet his steady gaze. “Do not fear. I will retrieve William.”
“He will be dead before you even locate the cottage, Sebastian,” Drake retorted in icy tones. “The only way to save him is to hand over the Medallion.”
Sebastian’s hands tightened upon Amelia’s shoulders. “Amelia, you must not.”
Swallowing the thick lump in her throat, Amelia squarely met the warning gaze. She fully understood Sebastian’s fierce desire to keep the Medallion from the vile traitor. He had to consider what was best for vampires. It was his duty.
She, however, had a duty to William. A duty that she would not deny, no matter how great the cost.
“Sebastian, I will not allow William to be harmed.”
His features hardened to forbidding lines. “Drake will kill your brother no matter what you do. And you as well. I will not allow you to do this.”
Her heart squeezed with regret, but her resolution never faltered. She loved this gentleman with all her heart and soul, but she could not abandon William. Not for anyone or anything.
“I am sorry, Sebastian, but it is not your decision to make,” she said in low tones.
His brows snapped together at the determined expression upon her pale features.
“You will sacrifice yourself, and perhaps all mortals, on the impossible hope that this traitor can be trusted?”
She bit her lip at the harshness in his voice. “I have no choice.”
“Amelia, you are being utterly irrational.”
Unnervingly aware of Drake’s glittering gaze and the ominous chill that shivered over her skin, Amelia reached up to gently touch Sebastian’s cheek. She could not hope that he would comprehend, or even forgive, her obligation to William. But she had to at least make the effort to explain her rash behavior.
“Perhaps it is irrational,” she admitted in sad tones, “but I will not allow William to be harmed. For his entire life he has been treated as an embarrassment, a mistake that his own family desired to hide away and forget. I am the only one who has ever fought to ensure that he is treated as a person of worth. I will not turn my back upon him now.”
Something that might have been pain rippled over his elegant features, but his mouth remained set in a frustrated grimace.
“You are not thinking clearly, my dear.”
There was an impatient rustle as Drake shifted closer to Amelia, filling the air with a stench of cold, relentless steel.
“On the contrary, Sebastian,” he drawled. “She has at last come to her senses. Now let us be done with this. I will have the Medallion.”
Reluctantly turning toward the ghastly intruder, Amelia forced herself to square her shoulders. A frightening plan was beginning to form in her mind. Unfortunately, she was uncertain that she possessed the nerve to carry it through.
She had always considered herself a bold, courageous wo
man. A woman who faced life and all of its troubles without flinching. Only now did she truly grasp the realization that it was a simple matter to be bold when confronted with meaningless fears. What did the censure of society, or the disappointment of her parents, or even organizing her own household mean when compared to the thought of what must now be done?
Courage without sacrifice was effortless.
“No,” she said firmly.
“What?” Drake snapped.
“Not until I can be with William and make sure that you keep your word that he will be allowed to leave.”
An ugly frown twisted the too-perfect features. Just for a moment, she feared that his arrogant temper would overcome his desperation for the Medallion. Then, with an obvious effort, he gave a stiff nod of his head.
“Very well. Come.”
Sebastian’s low groan echoed through the air. “Amelia, no. Do not do this.”
She slowly moved closer to him, her eyes filled with remorse. “I am sorry, Sebastian.”
His gaze anxiously swept over her, almost as if he were aware of her dark scheme.
“You speak of saving William, and yet you expect me to allow you to walk into danger.”
“I . . .”
“Enough,” Drake snapped in annoyance. “I weary of waiting for what is mine. Either you join me, Miss Hadwell, or your brother dies.”
“Forgive me.” Keeping her gaze locked upon Sebastian, she covertly reached to slip the dagger from his fingers, tucking it into the sleeve of her gown before turning toward the impatient Drake. “I am ready.”
Reaching out, the vampire grasped her arm and roughly hauled her against him. He was wise enough, however, to keep a wary gaze trained upon the furious Sebastian.
“Do not think to follow,” he warned as he deliberately tightened his grip upon Amelia to a punishing level. “Unless you wish to have this delicate flower crushed beyond recognition.”
Visibly trembling, Sebastian clenched his hands at his side, the promise of dire retribution smoldering in his silver eyes.
“Drake, I will destroy you if you harm her.”
The vampire merely laughed at the threat. “Soon I will possess the Medallion and you, along with all vampires, will be bowing to me.”
Sebastian’s nose flared with loathing. “It will never be.”
“Oh, yes. No one can stop me now.” With a sharp jerk, Drake sent Amelia stumbling toward the door. “Prepare to bend your knee to me, Sebastian.”
Feeling Sebastian’s gaze upon her, Amelia refused to glance backward as she was roughly hustled from the library. She could not afford to witness the disappointment she was certain to see in his eyes. Not now.
William, and perhaps the entire race of vampires, depended upon her to maintain her staunch resolve.
She could not falter.
Her stoic resolve, however, did not prevent the tears from clouding her vision, or the ice-cold fear that was lodged in the pit of her stomach. She had never been so terrified in her entire life. Nor so heart-wrenchingly sad.
She had just discovered the man of her dreams. Now she would never, ever see him again.
Chapter 13
The drive through London and into the dark countryside was interminable. Perched stiffly on the edge of the carriage seat, Amelia did her best to ignore the vampire who lounged directly opposite her. Not an easy task when his cold eyes remained locked upon her pale face and the smell of him filled the air.
Somehow she had hoped that once she made the decision to go with Drake, a numb acceptance would protect her. Absurdly, however, as the miles rattled past, the thick, pulsing fear only increased.
With every turn of the wheel she was being hauled ever farther from Sebastian. She could physically feel the distance growing between them. Soon enough there would be no more than the faintest sense of him. She was forced to accept the knowledge that she was alone and at the mercy of a murderous, unfeeling monster.
In desperation she blocked out all thoughts of Sebastian. She should be considering William, she sternly reminded herself. The poor boy was no doubt hysterical by now. He was in a strange place with ruffians who had forced him from his bed, and who knew what else. He would be calling for her and unable to understand why she was not at his side.
Her heart gave a sharp twinge. If only she could save William, then all would be well. That would give her all the strength she needed.
She kept that thought foremost in her mind as they continued ever onward. And onward. She barely noticed the passing fields or the thickening woods about them. Not even when the carriage at last rolled to a halt.
Indeed, Amelia had barely assimilated the fact that the sickening sway had come to an end when Drake was thrusting her out of the door and up a twisting path.
“Move along,” the vampire growled.
Struggling to regain her balance, she hurried forward, her fogged senses briefly discerning a crumbling cottage with a thatched roof. It was just as remote and desolate as Drake had warned; only the faint glow of candlelight that could be seen through one of the broken windows assured her that someone was inside.
Reaching the door, she was briefly halted as the vampire reached out to grasp her arm. Warily, she turned to study his tight features.
“What is it?”
He paused for a long moment before giving an annoyed shake of his head. “Nothing. Let us be done with this.”
The bony hand reached out to shove the door open. Amelia did not wait to be pushed forward. Instead, she rushed into the cramped, dust-shrouded room with anxious haste.
It took but a moment to spot her brother huddled in a dark corner. With a soft cry, she moved to kneel beside him.
“William.” She placed her arms gently about his shoulders, not at all surprised to discover that he was trembling in fear and weariness. He had probably been curled in the corner since he had been brutally kidnapped. “My poor William.”
He slowly lifted his head to regard her with wounded eyes. “Bad man.”
Tears filled her eyes as she softly brushed his hair. “Yes, they are very bad men.”
A growl from behind her had Amelia shifting to face the vampire, who filled the small room with his repulsive presence.
“You see that he is alive,” Drake stated in flat tones. “Now give me the Medallion.”
Amelia reluctantly rose to her feet, her heart racing so fast she feared it might burst. It had come to the moment of crisis. She would now discover if her desperate ploy would work, or if she had lost all on a daring gamble.
“Not until William is released.”
His eyes glittered like shards of glass. “Do not attempt to play me the fool. Sebastian is pathetic enough to be seduced by your wiles, but I am far too clever for such games. If you do not believe me, I can reveal the corpses of any number of beautiful mortals who thought to please my fancy.”
She swallowed heavily, not allowing herself to remember the battered and abused bodies of those poor maidens. She had to concentrate upon William. Only William.
“You promised that my brother would be kept safe. I want him allowed to leave before I give you the Medallion.”
A dark, nerve-shattering silence descended as he regarded her with malicious fury. The very air seemed to crackle with his fierce desire to punish her for her audacity.
“You try my patience, wench,” he rasped, his lengthening fangs suddenly visible.
Amelia nearly balked. Saints above. He was a ruthless vampire. A beast that killed without mercy. How could she possibly hope to outwit him?
Then from behind her, she heard the faint sound of William’s whimper. He had clearly sensed the danger in the air. A danger that only thickened as Drake glared at her with murderous intent. Much to her astonishment, she felt her chin tilting with a renewed determination.
“Do you desire the Medallion or not?”
Her fate hung upon a knife’s edge as the pale gaze lowered to the amulet glowing with a tantalizing power. For a heart
beat she was icily aware that his lust to torture her for her daring far outweighed his need for the amulet. Only when her fingers closed protectively over the Medallion did he abruptly regain control of his anger and step back.
“Send him away.”
Urging William to his feet, Amelia warily led him across the room, her arms wrapped tightly about him. Once at the door she pulled it open and gazed into her brother’s worried eyes.
“Listen to me carefully, William,” she said firmly. “I want you to run from here as fast as you can.”
His brow wrinkled in puzzlement. “Run?”
“Yes. Run to Mr. St. Ives. He will protect you.”
There was a moment of silence before he gave a reluctant nod of understanding. “Run.”
“As swiftly as you can.”
“Be on with it,” Drake interrupted sharply.
Drawing in a deep breath, Amelia shoved her brother with all her strength. “Do not look back, William.”
He stumbled, but thankfully he was swift to recover and was racing down the dark path with gratifying speed. Whatever his lack in intellectual prowess, William had always been large and physically strong. She offered up a silent prayer that Sebastian would rescue her brother before the henchmen who belonged to Drake could find him. She did not doubt for a moment that the stubborn vampire was following as closely as he dared.
Watching as William disappeared into the shadows, Amelia slowly turned back to the impatient Drake. She had done all that she could to protect her brother. Now it was time to pay the cost of that protection.
As if sensing her dark thoughts, the vampire stalked toward her, harsh greed etched upon his face.
“There will be no further delays.”
“No,” she agreed softly, pulling the dagger from her sleeve. “The time has come.”
Drake came to an abrupt halt, but his lips twisted with cruel amusement rather than fear.
“How very charming,” he drawled. “Do you think to frighten me with that bauble?”
She grimly lifted the dagger higher. “Do not come any closer.”
“Or what?” He deliberately stepped forward. “You will attempt to harm me? Fool. You are no match for my powers. Shall I demonstrate?”
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