Ace of Swords

By

Arabella Kingsley

Text copyright © 2019

Arabella Kingsley

All Rights Reserved

Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter One

Port Appin, Fife, Scotland, 1893
The demonic beast came to lie over me in the

disguise of my queen. Her false red curls caressed
my face as she moved restlessly upon me, pulling at
my clothing as I lay on top of my bed. Her fevered
kiss cast a wanton poison across my lips as I
reached for her. Caught in the brief moment
between sleep and wakefulness I truly believed
Juliet lay above me. I kissed her passionately,
joyfully believing she had awakened from her death
like slumber and our time to consummate our love
had come.

Her slender nimble fingers undid the buttons

of my vest and then made fast work on my shirt. I
moved my hands to her small waist and hungrily
devoured her mouth. I had been starved of Juliet’s
closeness for too long and I could not satisfy my
thirst for her. She opened my shirt and straddled
me, hitching her skirt about her waist. I had not
expected such forthright physical behaviour from
her but I was glad of it.

I smiled against her lips as she giggled and

began to undo my trousers. My ardour rose to meet

her. I raised my body from the bed to roll her
over. I wanted her beneath me. But she suddenly
hissed her disapproval and flattened me back down
on the bed with her palm resting on my chest. My
eyes widened with surprise and confusion.

Her pretty face now wore a scowl. I stared

and slowly she softened it. I saw Juliet but as I
looked more closely I felt something was wrong.
Juliet’s coyness and been replaced with lust and her
delicately carved features bore a harsh cruelness
about them that I had not seen before. Her scent
was different. My mind seemed clouded. Although
I felt Juliet inside my mind, her consciousness did
not equate with the woman above me.

Her palm caressed my chest, hoping to

subdue me with seduction. But I relentlessly
pushed through the fog that filled my mind,
knowing that answers lay beyond it. The woman’s
free hand rose to stroke my throat. My eyes
narrowed darkly at her, a small cruel smile lighting
my lips as I found my answer. Juliet’s form
shimmered and the scales were cast from my eyes.
The spell of illusion was broken.

A harpy straddled my body. Her great wings

flapping out behind her in an agitated beat. She
bore an attractive face, the arms and legs of a
human and the voluptuous breasts and body of a
female’s naked form. But her hands and feet were
bird like with great long black talons. Her body

was dark grey apart from her breasts and face that
were a pale white. Her long grotesque tail thrashed
at my legs as I let go of her to reach down for my
sword resting on a small table next to the bed. She
gave a shriek and her talons were suddenly around
my throat.

I vainly reached for my sword but as I

hurriedly made to grab hold of it, the sword
clattered to the floor. The harpy had me pinned to
the bed and pride would not allow me to call my
friends for help. She laughed as though reading my
thoughts. When she spoke her voice bore a
slithering sickly sound to its tone that turned my
stomach.

‘My mistress desires your blood. The Knight

of Swords blood is powerful and she must have it.’

‘Who is your mistress?’ I demanded.
The creature gurgled a laugh.
‘I must not tell you. I will drink your blood

and regurgitate it for her. Tis her wish, vampire.’

My face twisted with repugnance. I began to

wrestle with the monster but she was a strong
creature to defeat. She lowered her mouth and
sharp teeth to my chest. Her bite stung as she
painfully drew blood from my body.

I searched the small room at the Scottish

coaching inn for an idea to assist my escape. A fire
blazed brightly in the hearth on the cold winter’s
evening. I leaned my head away from the beast

and stared at the fire across the other side of the
bed. I searched through the flames and lifted the
hottest of the coals from the fire with my mind. I
guided them across the room and poised my
collection of fiery weapons in mid air behind the
harpy and then directed them at her back in one
punishing blow.

The harpy screeched and lifted her savage

mouth from my bloody chest. Her body was set
alight. Her hold over me was lost in her torment.
Her hand left my throat and clawed at her body in a
vain attempt to remove the flames. I seized my
chance and rolled out from under her and down to
the floor to reach my sword.

I stood and coldly watched the tortured

creature burn. Her large wings beat air against my
face as I thundered a question to her.

‘Who is your mistress, harpy? Why does she

want my blood?’

‘You will not defeat Drusilla. She is too

powerful even for you Knight of Swords. Accept
your fate. You will belong to her.’

‘I belong to no one but my queen.’
The creature’s wailing increased as the fire

burned hotly through her thick hide.

‘Release me Knight. Drusilla will kill the

Queen of Talus. Tis written. Accept your fate.’

‘Enough, harpy. You have a sharp tongue.

Now accept your own fate.’

I fanned the flames upon her body with my

mind and coldly watched them engulf her form with
my blackened eyes and icy heart. When I could
stand no more of her wailing I swept my sword
through her middle and cut her in two, ending her
demonic life.

Dylan and Jason swept into the room and

stopped dead as they viewed the scene. I stood
before them, a bloody mess on my chest as I
watched the two halves of the harpy’s body burn to
ashes. I related events but was interrupted by the
innkeeper and his wife making their way to my
door in a panic after hearing the noise. I
despatched Jason to make them forget the event
had ever occurred.

‘A harpy. I haven’t seen one of those in a

very long time, especially so close to humans.’

‘I have never seen one, nor do I wish to

again.’ I wiped my mouth with my sleeve trying to
remove the taste of the beast. I vainly attempted to
erase the very idea that I had nearly made love to
the harpy from my mind.

‘They are bound to the lower orders of the

world and are the servants of witches. They are
sent to torment those who have offended the
witch. They bring disease and death to the humans
by contaminating their food or preventing the poor
soul from eating so they starve,’ Dylan informed me
as he gazed down at the creature’s ashes littering

the floor. ‘This Drusilla, the harpy talked of,
sounds a powerful witch. We must tread carefully
until we can find out what she wants. I am now
glad you doubled the guard around the queen
before we left. The witch will not be able to harm
her.’

‘I wish I had not left Juliet without my

protection.’

‘You have no choice if you wish to wake her

from the coma Sebastian forced upon her. We need
this cure the lycan leader has promised.’ But still
Dylan appeared uneasy. ‘I wish Gabriel were here.
He knows so much about the demonic creatures . .
.’

I interrupted him quickly feeling my anger

and frustration rise inside me at the mere mention
of the man’s name. I still blamed him for my
Juliet’s fate. ‘I will not talk of Gabriel. I do not
wish his name to be mentioned in my presence. We
will find the truth ourselves. He cannot be trusted.’

Dylan’s dark eyebrows rose at my outburst

and then he slowly nodded. ‘Perhaps, our
charismatic Lycan leader Marcus Duart will be able
to enlighten us about the demonic entities in these
parts.’

‘Yes, perhaps he will.’
‘You must change. We leave for his home in

precisely one hour and we must be punctual.’

I nodded. ‘Do you really believe he has a

cure or is this just another ruse?’ I was surprised at
the plea in my voice and my need for reassurance.

Dylan stared at me directly and rested his

hand upon my arm. He spoke quietly. ‘I have
every faith that Marcus Duart is an honourable
man. I just wish I had been able to read his mind
but then I might not have lived if I had offended
him by doing so.’ He finished his sentence with a
grin. ‘Marcus Duart does not suffer fools.’

‘Good, neither do I. And woe betide him if

he lies and tries my fragile patience,’ I told Dylan
darkly.

‘Indeed.’

Dylan, Jason and Byron accompanied me in

my carriage. It climbed the steep path that led to
Castle Roydon, Duart’s family home that sat upon a
high rock shaded by woodland. It was a dark foggy
night with remnants of icy snow still clinging for
life upon the road and our surroundings. I felt an
uneasy stirring in my stomach as though we
travelled into an unseen danger. I spoke not a word
of it. Perhaps I was paranoid. I was about to enter
the lair of a Lycan and his clan. I had every right to
be.

The Lycans were an unpredictable, volatile

race I had been told and their trustworthiness was
to be questioned. Although allied to our people
there had been incidents within our joint history

that had brought us into conflict over territory and
the stealing of our women, for their females were
also depleted in numbers. They had fooled our
people many a time into accepting their false trust.
I decided that I would form my own opinion but
keep my wits about me.

I handed my top hat and evening cloak to the

footman and with my men followed the butler to
the drawing room. Marcus Duart greeted us with
much enthusiasm the moment we walked through
the door, rising to shake my hand and introduce his
raven haired beautiful wife who came to stand by
his side.

I studied him closely as we exchanged

pleasantries. He was a little shorter than myself but
only by a couple of inches. His chestnut hair was
brushed back from his forehead. It was full and
long and streaked with strands of the colour in his
eyes, russet. His features were handsome but older
than my own. He appeared around the age of
thirty. Small fine laughter lines creased his eyes as
he smiled and a small dark goatee beard gave him a
dashing air that many a woman of my acquaintance
would have found endearing.

Eventually Marcus spoke of the reason for

our visit when we were apart from the group by the
fire.

‘I am sorry to hear of your predicament.

Sebastian is a cunning enemy. You must be fearful

for your queen. I have been told of her great
beauty and her strength. Had I not wed such a
wonderful creature of my own I would envy you,’
he informed me glancing back at his wife as he
took another drink from his glass of malt whiskey.

I nodded. ‘I have been told you possess a

cure.’

He smiled and took another gulp from his

glass. I stared at him, waiting patiently for his
response. He lowered his voice so the others could
not hear us above their conversation with his wife
Kathleen and his sister Liza Duart who had only
moments ago entered the room.

‘It is not a cure as such but I believe it or

rather he should be able to help your queen. I
caught the boy wandering into our territory
uninvited. He is one of your kind, a Taleian
vampire hybrid just like yourself. He appears to
have no memory but he used all kinds of wizardry
against my men when they attempted to apprehend
him. Thankfully, he was weak, half starved of
blood and we eventually caught him. He now
languishes in my dungeon.’

I gave Marcus a curious look.
‘But first, Lord Valancourt, we must eat.

After dinner, I will bring the wretch to you and you
may read his mind. Maybe you will be able to shed
light on who he is and if he may help.’

‘Must I wait,’ I said fiercely. I groaned

inwardly at my expression of impatience. My
diplomatic skills were required with Marcus not my
temper if I were to procure a cure for Juliet.

But Marcus’s face lightened with sympathy

and not with disapproval.

‘I would be in the same temper if it were

Kathleen, Nathan. But patience is a virtue. The
wretch is not fit for company before dinner and
besides he does not take well to Kathleen. He
appears to be afraid of her despite her efforts to
befriend him and he has twice bitten her. I do not
wish for her to be hurt again. We will wait until we
are without her presence.’

I agreed and restrained my impatience to

follow Marcus with the others to the dining room,
wondering about the boy.

Chapter Two

Both my men and myself had been kindly

offered blood from donors who Marcus had hand
picked from his staff but we declined having
deliberately fed earlier. We were on dangerous
territory and needed to keep on our guard. Four of
Marcus’s men surrounded us on either side of the
large wooden dining table elaborately set with
silver dining ware. We did not wish to be distracted
by the need to feed. Instead we joined Marcus and
his family in drinking their fine stock of vintage
wine and malt whiskey. Although a pleasant
pastime, the alcohol had little effect upon our
bodies. But the consuming of liquor did well to
appease the hospitality of our host.

I watched Marcus devour the meal of meat

that he was served with relish. I would never eat
meat again. The blood of an animal was a poison to
my kind and now I was filled with distaste watching
Marcus eat. The smell of the dead animal was
nauseating and the blood that seeped from the steak
was almost unbearable to view. The man was doing
this with deliberation, perhaps to test us and try my
impatience. I would not give him satisfaction and
neither would my men. Damn lycans.

I heard soft laughter in my mind. My heart

leapt. Juliet. It was the first communication I had
engaged in with her since she had entered her
forced sleep. I urgently tried to communicate with
her but she hushed me.

‘I am still weak Nathan but getting stronger

and fighting the poison. I am winning the battle. I
have settled the sickness in your stomach. My poor
knights, they suffer with you. I have soothed them
as well. Marcus is teasing you.’ There was
contempt in her voice, ‘He is a man that is fond of
playing games with his enemies and winning. Do
not be fooled by his kindness. He does not trust
any of you. He wants something from us in return
for his help and I fear it is not something we can
give. I know not what at present. Be careful.’

She was suddenly silent and I began to

believe with sadness that I had lost her to sleep
again but to my relief she began to speak once
more.

‘Bring the young man Marcus talks of to me

and care for him. He will help me. Marcus has
treated him cruelly and his wife no better. He is
special Nathan. He must stand at my side as Queen
of Talus.’

‘Only I stand at your side, Juliet,’ I was

perturbed and darkly jealous in my tone.

Again, I heard her soft laughter.
‘You are so possessive, Nathan and I love you

only the more for it. He is born of the lineage of
our magical advisors. He is my magician and he
must become caretaker of the Book of Talus on my
behalf. He will assist both of us in protecting my
people.’

Her voice sounded suddenly weary.
‘I must go now. Nathan . . .’
‘I will not fail you. Don’t go. I miss you.

When will you awaken? I cannot bear this
loneliness much longer,’ I sounded desperate. I did
not care.

‘Soon, Nathan. Bring the young man to me

and all will be well. Nathan, be careful of
Drusilla.’ A restrained hysteria broke out in my
queen’s voice, ‘She means to take you from me. I
can’t . . .’

‘No one will take me from you. I am yours

and always will be. I will not be parted from you.’

I felt her comforting relief wash over my

mind but a small portion of her fear remained.

‘I must go now. My energy is fading and I

must conserve it to fight this poison. Heed my
warning, Nathan. I will not lose you. Drusilla will
pay the price for taking my mate.’

Before I could speak I felt the weight of her

consciousness retreat to the outer edges of my
own. I was left with a mixture of joy and pain at
having spoken to her only to lose her once more. I
looked towards Jason. His eyes rose from the table

towards me. They were glassy and a smile
lightened his lips. He had felt Juliet as did my other
knights and their expressions were elated. We had
all done our best to avoid watching Marcus and his
family eat but now we turned to view them with
confidence that we could bear the vicious spectacle
with humour, safely protected by our queen’s
influence.

I could not but help chuckle.
Marcus grinned and put down his knife and

fork. ‘What is it that amuses you so much,
Nathan?’

I squarely faced him. ‘Do you not think you

have played with us enough Marcus. I see that you
like to play games with my kind to prove yourself
as a lycan male. You are well aware that we cannot
stomach you eating meat in front of us. Have we
not past your test and proved that we can stay the
course without losing our tempers? I will wait no
longer. Bring the boy to me before I lose my
patience, sir.’

I finished with a polite smile. Marcus began

to laugh loudly.

‘You have discovered me vampire. I believe I

like you despite your arrogance. Richard bring the
boy. I believe the game is over and this time I have
lost.’

He nodded at me as he raised his glass of

wine in salute. I nodded back, taking a drink of my

red wine. I watched Marcus lean over to his wife
and whisper something in her ear. She appeared
displeased, a pouting frown lighting her handsome
dark features that I could not help wondering if she
had inherited from a Spanish parentage.

A latin temper also appeared to be in her

nature. She made to argue with him but he was
plain in his stance that her rebuke would not be
tolerated. She stood abruptly, scraping her chair
back noisily out from under her along the stone
floor making everybody’s eyes raise towards her in
surprise.

‘Goodnight, gentlemen, and Liza,’ she said

with harshness in her tone.

She did not wait for the surprised murmurs of

goodnight but turned on her heel in an angry
manner and left the room. Marcus ignored his
wife’s departure and Liza Duart remained seated at
his opposite side. He turned to one of his lycan
men, ‘Richard, bring the boy.’

We did not have to wait long until the wretch

as Marcus eloquently called the boy was brought to
us in the dining room and I received a shocking
surprise at his identity.

I did not recognise him at first. He was

brought into the room in chains with manacles
around his wrists and ankles, pushed along by the
lycan male who had been sent to fetch him. In true

hybrid fashion he was a handsome youth and I
determined his age around seventeen by the dirty
black public school boy uniform that he wore. His
hair was short and a vibrant chocolate brown. His
features were gaunt from starvation and black
shadows surrounded his eyes. He desperately
needed rest and blood.

His face was in a temper when he stood at the

bottom of the table and looked upon us. His dark
eyebrows arched as he took in our faces and
assessed us one by one. I was drawn to his eyes.
They were strange, unworldly eyes. They were a
chartreuse green but a pale blue rimmed the yellow
green of his iris and in the middle orange circled the
pupils. I had seen those eyes only once before in a
child when I was but one myself at six years. They
were the eyes of my baby brother who was lost to
my family in death a week after his birth. I did not
understand but as the boy cast his eyes upon me
every sense I possessed told me that it was he who
stood in front of me.

I stood up in shock. For a brief moment he

stared and then the menace in his expression
faltered with a recognition he could not seem to
place. I remembered holding him as I sat on the
bed next to my mother after his birth. I had talked
to him of all the games we were to play when he
grew and how I would care for him all of my life.
Why had my mother and father lied to me about his

death? Where had he been all of these years? All
this time I believed I was alone. . .

‘Xavier?’ I whispered his name afraid I was to

be proved wrong.

The boy turned his head slightly to one side

studying me but he did not answer.

‘You know him?’ Marcus enquired.
‘I’m not sure but . . .’
I approached the boy and reached out to

touch his arm at the precise moment I attempted to
steal into his thoughts. His top lip suddenly lifted to
bare his teeth in a snarl. He hissed out at me and
shot forth a burst of energy from his mind to repel
my invasion with enough force that sent me reeling.

Marcus laughed as I lowered my arm to my

side. ‘It seems he does not like others reading his
mind and stealing his privacy just like myself.’

Marcus’s humour was becoming tiresome. I

ignored him and addressed the boy once more.

‘Is your name, Xavier?’
‘I don’t know what my name is or how I

became this vampire. I cannot remember anything
of my life but this. He raised his captive arms up to
emphasise his angry frustration that was heavily
evident in his tone. ‘I have been beaten and
starved by these wolves. They fear me and they
have good right to because when I have escaped
these bonds I will tear them to pieces for their
treachery.’

Marcus’s man Richard slapped the boy hard

with the back of his hand knocking him to the
floor. Rage erupted inside me and I am afraid my
temper was lost amongst it. As the man made to hit
Xavier once more for his insolence I caught hold of
him and swung his body with force against the wall
of the dining room. The moment he made contact
with the wall his eyes changed to a blazing red and
orange glow. His jaw widened and I watched his
teeth enlarge and grow. His face began to pull
back, stretching the skin taut over his cheekbones,
small tufts of grey fur sprouting across it.

I was unafraid as I watched his

metamorphous, watching him closely with my own
eyes changed to black as they did whenever I was
ready to commence battle with an opponent or
feed. But Marcus was suddenly at my side.

‘Richard, calm your temper. There is no need

for fighting. Stop your change at once. I will not
tolerate your disobedience. Be gone out of my
sight. You should not have struck the boy.’

‘You have not seen his wizardry, Marcus. He

is more dangerous than you realise,’ Richard
insisted, appearing to hold his change in
suspension. I watched fascinated as I stood in front
of Xavier to shield him.

Marcus’s own eyes changed colour to glower

at Richard and his voice was deep and weighed
with threat.

‘Leave before I pull you apart wolf and cast

your burning pieces into the fire. Know your place
or give me your death.’

‘You would protect vampires . . .?’
‘I do not protect them. They came to us in

peace and I seek only to help their queen who is
related to our brethren by lineage and blood. No
more.’

Richard growled and then obeyed the

instruction of his leader. Slowly his face receded to
normal. He stormed from the room slamming the
door behind him.

Marcus took a breath and then turned to me.

The glow in his eyes had faded. ‘I can only
apologise for Richard’s behaviour but you must
understand that we are all a little on edge.’

I nodded. ‘I know the boy. His name is

Xavier, Xavier Valancourt. He is my younger
brother.’

Everyone turned to look upon me in shock

surprise, including the boy when I pulled him to his
feet. I explained.

‘But how can I be your brother? You said

your brother was dead?’ Xavier asked me with
confusion.

‘I can only be led to believe that you were

either stolen from my family or I am ashamed to
say it, given away. I was lied to about your death.’

‘But why?’

‘I don’t know.’ I rested my hand on his

shoulder as he was allowed to sit next to me at the
table. ‘But I believe you are special and will be
able to help our queen wake from her slumber.
Marcus tells me that you possess the powers of a
magician.’

Again, Xavier appeared bemused. ‘I do

things I do not understand. When I am angry my
mood appears to be reflected in the weather around
me. I can summon things that I want or need to
appear before me. I know things I do not
understand. Sometimes I speak a language that I
have never heard before. I remember nothing of
my past. I know only what you tell me.’

‘We will discover what happened to you. I

must take you home. Our queen must come first.
Marcus I cannot thank you enough for myself and
on behalf of our queen for your assistance and your
hospitality. But we must leave for London
immediately.’

Marcus pressed his fingers together as he

leaned his elbows on the table. He looked grave,
downcast. My senses became alert. Out of respect
I had not read his mind but now I considered it.
Deceit was filling the air around me. That cold
unseen feeling of danger I felt in the carriage earlier
that evening blew across my thoughts once more.
Marcus sighed heavily. Liza Duart tapped her
finger nervously on the white damask tablecloth

and looked upon her older brother with pity.

‘I wish it were but that easy, Nathan but I

cannot allow you to leave. Your knights may take
the boy to your queen but you must stay here.’

Instinctively I narrowed my eyes at him. He

lifted his own eyes to meet me without fear.

‘You would seek to keep me from my queen’s

side, Marcus?’ I hissed.

‘No, Nathan I do not. But I have no choice.

I must make you my prisoner. Drusilla . . .’

‘The witch?’
‘I see you already know her.’
‘I was visited by one of her harpies this

afternoon.’

‘Those harpies of hers carried off my two

children late this afternoon because you prevented
one of them from taking your blood. The witch will
kill my boy and girl if I do not give you to her. I am
sorry Nathan but they are my children . . .’ he
thundered at me clearly disgusted that he was
forced to such action.

I challenged him. ‘No one shall make me a

prisoner. You want a war on your hands between
our races? I will help you retrieve your children
from the witch but you will not hold me.’

He stood up.
‘Do you not think I haven’t tried to defeat

her? Two of my men died trying to rescue them.
She has eyes everywhere and she anticipates your

actions before you take them. She cannot be
defeated. Perhaps if your magician here,’ he
gestured with a rigid hand to Xavier. ‘. . . Had
mastered his powers he may have been able to
outwit her intelligence and guile.’

Marcus moved from the table to come to my

side. I stood to meet him ignoring the protests my
men made to him, ready to fight.

‘I will have to keep the boy and kill him if

you do not capitulate to my demands. I will not
risk the lives of my children no more than you
would risk the life of your queen. I believed this
would be your reaction that is why Drusilla has
someone in your household undetected, ready to
cut the beautiful head of your queen from her
shoulders as she sleeps. And yes, for the safety of
my children I would cause a war between our
races.’

My hands reached out to lift the lapels of

Marcus’s dinner jacket and pull him towards me.
‘You would do no worse in my position, vampire,’
he growled at me his eyes glowing again.

‘If anything happens to my queen I will hold

you personally responsible. When I have killed
Drusilla I will then come for your own mate and
repay the kindness you showed to mine. I have no
doubt a war between our people will be
unavoidable,’ I threatened, holding back the urge to
rip his throat out.

‘Let us hope it does not come to that. It is up

to you vampire.’

I let go of him and pushed him away from me

with distaste. Liza rushed to his side.

‘I will do as you ask. Let Xavier go to Juliet

and I will meet this witch.’

Jason and the others began to object but I

held up my hand to silence them.

‘I will defeat her where you have failed,

wolf,’ I told Marcus with firm belief.

‘We will see Nathan.’
I turned to the others as they crowded around

me and lowered my voice as I gave my instructions.

‘Go now and protect Xavier. I do not believe

that I am about to say this, but Dylan, Byron
contact Gabriel. He will know what must be done
with the magician and perhaps he will be able to
lend me some assistance in defeating this witch.
For whatever reason she wishes to possess me it
cannot be good for anyone.’

‘But we can fight with you Nathan,’ Jason

urged.

‘No. Do as I ask. I want Juliet to be safe

with the men I trust around her.’ I watched Jason
reluctantly nod in obedience to my command and
was struck with a sudden anxiety. I caught his arm
before he moved away. ‘Jason do you remember
our truce over Juliet?’

‘Yes. You wish me to keep her safe from

Gabriel when she is awaken?’

‘I am afraid after I sent him away in such

anger he will simply take her by force without
challenging my right to be her mate in the proper
way.’

‘I will protect her with my life. Then we will

fight our own challenge for her hand.’

I nodded respectfully. ‘Thank you. I owe

you a debt.’

My men took a bewildered Xavier with them

vowing to return for me ready for a battle with the
wolves. I sat back down at the table to face
Marcus and spoke.

‘I have done as you ask wolf. Is it not time

that you summoned your witch?’

Chapter Three

We sat in silence around the dining table.

Only the crack and spit of the fire could be heard.
Marcus had informed me that no one summoned a
witch, especially one as potent as Drusilla. We
would simply have to await her arrival at the overly
dramatic appointed time of midnight. It made for
an uncomfortable evening.

Despite the danger of my predicament I could

only feel relief that Xavier and the others journeyed
to London in the hope of reviving Juliet from the
prison of her slumber. Finding Xavier had been an
unexpected gift and I longed to be reunited with
them both. And as long as I was here giving the
witch what she wanted they were both safe.

‘What does this witch look like?’ I asked

Marcus as I awaited my fate with growing
impatience unable to bear the silence any longer. ‘I
have never seen one before. I believed they only
existed in children’s stories. Is she a hideous old
hag or is she beautiful and alluring?’

Marcus sighed. ‘Why does it matter? You

should be afraid of her, knight, either way. I am
aware of your reputation in charming London’s

famous beauties but this is one woman I would
advise you not to trifle with. You have already
seen that she is capable of forcing a man to
dishonour himself.’

‘Still, I am merely curious.’
Marcus would not answer me but his pretty

fair headed sister Liza would answer my question in
her small nervous voice.

‘The truth is, no one that is, no one here has

seen her face.’

I turned in my chair to give Liza my full

attention and the full effect of my confused frown.

‘She hides her face from us with . . .’
Liza’s words drifted away. A strong wind

blew down the chimney blowing out the fire and
flew around the large room in the castle rattling at
the display of swords, other armoury and paintings.
One of the small windows tucked in an alcove
shattered causing us all to rise to our feet knowing
that we were being visited by a presence.

The wind was almost gale force, propelling

our bodies to sway as it travelled around us. A
white mist now accompanied it. It appeared to be
playing with us. The mist eventually settled near
the fire and rose from the floor to from the outline
of a woman’s body. It whirled within the outline
for a moment increasing the brilliance of its
whiteness. It then became golden and formed into
the flesh and bone of a human. I gazed upon the

sight with wonderment.

The witch, Drusilla wore a dress of deep

crimson around her slight but curved form and a
velvet cloak of the same colour was tied around her
neck with a satin ribbon. The hood of the cloak
covered her hair and on her face she wore a mask
of some metal fashioned in the shape of a golden
sun. She was laughing loudly.

She looked upon us all and spread her white

gloved hands wide. Her voice was young and
Scottish in origin.

‘I am sorry but I love to make an entrance.

You should have seen your faces.’ She stopped
laughing. ‘Why do you frown so badly, all of you?
Did you not like my game?’ There was
unmistakable hurt under her loud fierce provoking
tone. Marcus pulled Liza protectively to his side.

I felt the corners of my mouth lift into a

sarcastic smile. The witch had the mind and
temperament of a child. And although that made
her more dangerous and unruly with emotion and
whim, it also meant that she could be manipulated
with a firm hand.

‘Drusilla, I have done as you wish and

brought you the Knight of Swords. Please give me
back my children.’ Marcus could barely contain
his anxiety for his young in his voice. It threatened
to be his downfall for the child witch would play
upon his feelings all the more.

‘All in good time, Marcus. Now hush.’
She began to walk towards me. I stood still,

the mocking smile still lighting my lips in defiance
of her power. I had a brief sense of her mind to
know that she despised weakness and above all
fear. Like Marcus she loved to play games with her
prey and sought a worthy fearless opponent that
would keep her entertained and test her
intelligence. If he lost or proved weak after a time
she would become bored just like a child and his
life would end.

‘You are in my mind vampire,’ she said to me

with humour in her voice. ‘Leave it.’

‘Why don’t you make me and show me what

you can do witch?’ I smiled.

She stopped in front of me.
‘Oh, I have better things to make you do,

knight.’

She removed one of her white silk evening

gloves and curved her long slender fingers around
my jaw.

‘You are just as I hoped,’ she whispered

almost to herself. ‘Handsome, virile and your
power. . .’ She gasped and sighed with pleasure.
‘Is so strong.’ Her fingers travelled down over my
chin brushing against my skin like velvet. I stood
both amused, curious and indifferent to her caress.

I looked at her elaborate mask wondering

why she had chosen one of the sun and why she

would not show herself. Her personality suggested
that she would be gleeful of making others know
her identity and how much power and fear she
wielded over them. Perhaps, she was afraid of
being recognised for some reason I could not
fathom. She would not show me herself in her
mind either and she now placed barriers to her
thoughts in my path. This was not the time to
antagonise her by breaking them down.

Drusilla’s fingers stopped at my chest where

she pressed her palm hard against me. I felt a
shiver travel up her arm and another aroused
pleasurable gasp from her lips. ‘Your power is wild,
untamed, raw. I will have it and . . .’

Her voice was cut short by Marcus’s

interruption.

‘Please, Drusilla you have what you want.

Where are my children?’

Marcus was angry. He now stood beside us.
‘Be quiet, wolf. Now knight where were we .

. .?’

Marcus took hold of her hand tearing it from

my chest in a temper. His eyes were glowing once
more and his teeth were bared like an animal ready
to tear flesh from its victim. Drusilla appeared
unimpressed by this fearsome sight and anger
centred upon her. With a wave of her hand through
the air Marcus was tossed aside. He fell against the
dining table knocking over the silver dining ware

with. It did not curb his anger and he did not heed
my verbal warning of the danger he put himself in
as he rose to tackle her once more.

‘You try my patience, lycan for that you will

die. Now give me your heart.’

Casting him aside once again, Drusilla turned

her eyes upon him and twisted her hand in the air.
As Marcus came at her he stopped suddenly
paralysed. He clutched at his chest. I tried to
intervene.

‘Drusilla, you have no need of this violence.

Give him his children and I will come with you
willingly. He is a weak opponent for your strength.
He is not worthy of your attention,’ I said calmly.

‘But I am tired of his whining. If only he was

quiet than I might not be so hard on him. He must
die and then I will not have to put up with him
anymore,’ her sentence ended with a high melodic
tone of unfeeling. I could not help but look upon
her with distaste as Marcus fell to the floor in a
wave of agony.

Drusilla laughed as she twisted her fingers as

though grasping something imaginary in her hand.
Marcus’s chest began to bleed staining the white of
his dinner shirt. My eyes searched the room and
caught sight of the weapons displayed so proudly
on the walls. I stared as Liza Duart begged on her
knees for Drusilla to stop her brother’s murder. I
moved two of the daggers from their tethers,

disrupting the circle in which they hung so neatly
organised and set them at Drusilla with speed.

But as they flew towards her chest they were

poised in mid air by her eyes. I pushed with my
own mental strength against her sensing a small
weakness in that she could not concentrate both on
tearing Marcus’s heart from his body and the
daggers. She was not Juliet. With a cry of anger,
she let go of her hold on Marcus and concentrated
her will upon the daggers as I predicted.

I battled against her, my will against hers.
‘Leave Marcus alone and bring him his

children and I will not harm you,’ I commanded
with firmness.

‘You are arrogant vampire. I like it but you

pose no threat to me.’

Still we battled and I was jubilant that I was

making headway in forcing the daggers ever closer
to her. But I heard the doors to the dining room
open wide and the troop of men’s footsteps behind
me. My concentration faltered just for a moment
as I strained to hear what was going on. She gained
ground. I quickly pushed back forcing the daggers
towards her once again.

Drusilla gave a sharp instruction to someone

who now stood close behind me.

‘Chain him with the iron.’
‘No.’
I turned quickly but it was too late. I fought

hard against the white masked men dressed in blue
cloaks that manhandled my body placing an iron
collar around my neck and manacles about my
wrists. Drusilla laughed as I felt the iron infuse my
body with pain and heavy weakness. Iron was
perilous to my kind. It left us like babes without
the protection and use of our powers and our
strength. I fell to the floor, the daggers clattering
with me. Drusilla leaned down.

‘I admire your bravery Knight of Swords but

now you are mine to do my bidding. You will help
me kill your queen and take the throne of Talus.’

‘I shook my head. I barely had the energy to

lift it but the beast inside me wanted to provoke
her. I would not be defeated.

‘You will never take the throne of Talus. You

are just a spoilt child. You have the mind of an
infant and you are no match for Juliet’s power or
my army. I will defend my queen and kill you
witch, that is a promise I give you,’ I threatened
with what little strength I had left.

I could feel her anger explode around me as

she lifted my face upwards toward her bent figure.
Her voice was bitter and venomous as she rebuked
me.

‘I am not a child. I am stronger than you now

and soon I will be more powerful than your queen.
I will break you Knight of Swords and you will
stand at my side obedient and warm my bed.’

I laughed in disbelief.
‘I want never gets.’
She let go of my chin and slapped her hand

across my face. Again the beast inside me laughed.

‘Take him away to the dungeon and starve

him of blood,’ she ordered. ‘We’ll see how long
you last vampire. You will kneel at my feet and beg
my forgiveness when the hunger drives you mad.’

Two of her minions came to remove me from

the room. I could hardly move my feet as they
dragged me down the stairs and cast me into the
dark damp dungeon beneath the castle.

Chapter Four

The iron drew my strength and energy like a

devil sucking life from my very bones. Rage
ravaged my mind and at first it’s ferociousness kept
me awake. I fought to gain hold of my thoughts
and order them so that I could work out a means of
escape but they were jumbled, untidy and
scattered. Even telepathy that was normally so
natural and easy proved impossible. My sanity
threatened to leave me. The witch Drusilla was a
cunning enemy. Eventually exhaustion took its toll
upon my weary body and I drifted into a restless
sleep on the cold hard stone floor.

I awoke to find myself lying face up on the

dining room table. My shirt was pulled open.
Around my neck I still wore the iron collar and
manacles around my wrists. Although not tied to
the table I found I could not move. My forehead
was covered in beads of sweat and a dull throbbing
pain echoed within my head. I felt a heavy weight
upon my body. There was a sickly sound of
suckling, too close for comfort. I strained my head
upwards. One of Drusilla’s obedient harpies was
straddled over my chest drawing forth my blood

into her grotesque mottled mouth.

I began to struggle but it was a futile gesture.

An even greater physical weakness was filling my
body with every mouthful of my blood the harpy
stole and a tremendous hunger was replacing the
empty vacuum it left.

The monster’s naked slimy flesh between her

thighs rubbed excitedly over my chest. Her task
was proving an arousing one for her. I remembered
Gabriel’s words of warning after my first ever
feed. If you feed from a woman, they will want
you to take them. They sense your power and will
wish to be consumed by it. I banged my head back
down on the table sickened by the harpy and the
sexual gratification she was taking from the process
and the trace it would leave on my body.

I heard laughter behind me. Drusilla. I heard

her dainty footsteps come towards me across the
stone floor. I twisted my head so that I might see
her. She bent down at the side of my head and
gave a childish giggle. She still wore the mask.

‘What a sight you are, Nathan. If your queen

could only see you now, unfaithful to her with a
harpy of all wicked things.’ She paused and put a
finger to the hole in her mask that mimicked her
mouth. ‘But wait she can see you. Both of you
share such a strong mental bond even as she lies
asleep. Oh she must be vexed. She will be angry
she can do nothing to save her handsome knight

from the cruel witch.’ She giggled again. I wished
that I could strike her head from her shoulders. She
was about to continue but the harpy interrupted
her.

‘I have finished mistress. But I want more.’
Drusilla’s voice cracked through the air with

the force of horse whip as it struck.

‘Enough. Remove yourself from him.’
The harpy whined in protest but lifted from

my body giving me some relief in my pain from her
weight.

‘Yes mistress.’
The harpy cowered at Drusilla’s feet as the

witch rose from her bent position.

‘You have done well harpy. I will give you a

reward and allow you to feast on the bones of the
Lycan’s children.’

‘Drusilla, you can’t . . .’ I snapped raising my

head from the table with concentrated effort.

I heard her sniff and retort. ‘I can do

whatever I wish, knight. Besides they are tiresome
noisy creatures and the world will be a better place
without them.’

‘They are children . . .’
She ignored me.
‘Harpy, I am pleased with you. Now go and

regurgitate the blood for Orlatha and he will mix
the potion as I have directed.’

The harpy smiled and beat her wings with

glee, her face shining with the effect of her
mistress’s praise. She turned her back and prepared
to fly to the door when Drusilla called her back.

‘Wait harpy, I forgot something.’
Just before the harpy turned Drusilla

materialized a sword in her hand. She gave a laugh
and raised it into the air to plunge it through the
heart of the harpy as she turned. The creature gave
a screech. Her expression was one of confusion,
pain and hurt. She fell backwards to slide along the
floor, her wings moving slower and slower as she
struggled to lift herself from the ground. Drusilla
turned to issue an order to the white masked guards
behind her.

‘Quick, take her to Orlatha before she dies

and drain every last drop of her blood or the potion
will not work.’

The two guards dragged the dying, screeching

harpy through the door leaving us alone. I looked
at Drusilla with contempt.

‘What is the potion for, Drusilla? What does

it do?’

She laughed and waved a finger at me.
‘You are very rude to pry, knight. It is not for

your ears. Not yet, maybe in time, if you please me
I will tell you what it will do to me so I can steal
your queen’s immense power.’ She gave a gasp
and covered her mouth with her hand. ‘Oops. I am
careless to give that away,’ she mocked.

I struggled fiercely against the power she

used to hold me down on the table.

‘If you hurt Juliet I will rip you apart, witch.’
She moved behind my head and wove her

fingers through my hair. It would have proved a
soothing action had it not been from the touch of
this witch. Her breath drifted across my ear as she
bent to whisper to me.

‘You care for her so much, don’t you? You

cannot help yourself. I wish that I could be able to
read your thoughts and feel your emotions as she
does. I confess I am a little jealous of your
precious Juliet. Would you like to see her? I have
been watching her closely for days now. In fact,
since I first sent you to the dungeon.’

‘Days?’ I wearily asked trying to work out for

myself how long I had been incarcerated and even
how time had passed without my conscious
knowledge.

‘You have been asleep, Nathan. I like to call

it resting. The iron is such a potent weapon against
your people. I have been able to keep you
unconscious for three days. Now, would you like to
see your queen?’

‘She’s here?’ My voice was growing hoarse

and my hunger was beginning to gnaw at my senses
and mind making me delirious with need.

‘No, Nathan. Now be quiet you are trying my

patience. Watch the wall.’

Her fingers where suddenly supporting my

head and lifting it from the table so that I could see
the far wall clearly. She lifted one hand away from
my head and gave a wave of her fingers. An image
flickered into life on the wall.

It was a strange sensation to watch Juliet and

my knights from a far. It was like watching those
moving pictures only all of the colours and
vibrancy of life were visible not that dull black and
white colour. I could see everything. I was
astounded.

Our secret viewing had stumbled upon some

activity involving Juliet. My knights had brought
her sleeping form to Scotland, not far from the
castle, into the small inn in which I had occupied a
room a few days before hand. I did not understand
why they would bring her in such close proximity
to danger but I was not at liberty to find out.

Jason, Cedric, Xavier, Dylan and Bryon

crowded the small bedroom in which they stood.
The open coffin in which I had kept my sleeping
queen for her safety lay on the floor. Another
tailored figure approached the coffin and lifted
Juliet up into his arms.

‘Gabriel,’ I could not but help hiss his name

through my teeth out loud. I did not trust him with
Juliet. He wanted her, wanted my position as
Knight of Swords at her side. He was one of many
challengers I was required to duel with and defeat

before I was allowed to join with Juliet as her mate,
as the rules of our people dictated. He was perhaps
the worst of my challenger enemies but the only
man who could effectively protect and care for
Juliet to my satisfaction in her predicament until my
return. I would have to force myself to be content
with his presence and take some relief that she
would be safer with him.

Drusilla giggled and remarked on my jealous

anger as I watched Gabriel look down at Juliet with
undisguised love and concern in his eyes. I fancied
his desire for her was more potent since their last
meeting. Gabriel laid her gently upon the bed and
sat down next to her. By his side Xavier stood. He
was nervous. He was frantically rolling up his
sleeves. The rest of my knights stepped back to the
edges of the room. They too appeared nervous. I
grew excited lost in the world upon the wall,
forgetting my pain, even Drusilla’s presence. They
were about to wake Juliet from her prison of sleep.

Xavier outstretched his hands to rest over

Juliet’s body without touching her. He gave
Gabriel a frightened look but he merely nodded and
instructed him to proceed. Xavier’s hands trembled
and he made an effort to still them by holding his
body firm and upright. He closed his eyes and
began to speak some archaic words that I did not
understand.

Drusilla appeared fascinated and excited –

two emotions I had never expected such a scene to
generate in her being. She saw Juliet as an enemy,
surely to have her awake was a threat and not an
event to cause jubilance.

‘He speaks your ancient language. He speaks

of purification of her soul. He is forcing the poison
to dissolve and vanish. It is a hard task for such a
young magician to perform. His energies are yet
scattered he does not have full mastery of the
ancient power bestowed upon him by birth. Yet he
tries. It will hurt your queen and drain the boy. He
is more than likely to fail but I do so hope that he
doesn’t.’

I looked up at her masked face. ‘Why do you

want Juliet awake? I thought . . .’

‘You disappoint me Nathan by asking such a

question. I don’t merely want to take the queen of
Talus’s power I want to rip it from her. I want her
to suffer as I use it to kill her brave knights and
start a war between yourselves and the
werewolves. I won’t rest until your war has wiped
every single member of both your races from this
planet.’

I struggled hard. She put both hands on my

head and held me still.

‘Enough, vampire. I want you to watch your

sweetheart awaken.’

I stared at the wall feeling more helpless than

I had ever done before. I watched Xavier repeat

his words over and over. At first nothing happened
and my younger brother grew impatient – his brow
covered in sweat from his efforts. But Gabriel
persisted in encouraging him to continue, silencing
his protests with a firm commanding tone. On
Xavier’s seventh attempt Juliet began to stir
moving her head from side to side as if in some
form of pain.

‘Good, it is now beginning to work. Keep

going, Xavier. You must not stop now or Juliet may
be lost in sleep to us forever,’ Gabriel instructed
calmly.

I felt my whole body tense. Xavier

continued. Juliet began to cry out with pain. A
colbalt blue healing light now emanated from
Xavier’s hands. It settled over Juliet’s body and
hovered there for a while. Then with a nod from
Gabriel, Xavier began to chant different words.
The light shimmered. Tears seeped from Juliet’s
eyes as she cried with pain and then Xavier thrust
down his hands in one solid movement. The light
under them fell with the pressure of his hands upon
it and penetrated Juliet’s body. Xavier’s hands
landed hard against Juliet’s stomach as it
disappeared. With a loud scream Juliet sat up wide
awake and my brother quickly removed his hands
and stepped away from the bed exhausted.

Juliet was shaking. She was disorientated,

afraid. Gabriel immediately wrapped his

comforting arms around her trembling body. She
clung to him like a child waking from a nightmare.
I listened to him whisper gentle words of
reassurance and protection to her as the waking
world came to dwell in her mind. I felt her
wakefulness in my mind, felt the euphoria of her
strength and thoughts run strong once again along
our mental bond. Despite my circumstances I
could not help but feel relieved and a little of my
strength was renewed. Only Gabriel’s own
radiance at her waking and the soft gentle touch of
his lips upon her forehead to soothe her soured my
feelings.

‘Do you see the knight in the corner standing

by the chair. Do you recognise him?’ Drusilla
asked.

I looked closely sensing one of her wicked

plots. I did not see him when I first viewed the
scene but now I could plainly see a stranger
present. ‘No I don’t. Why is he there? None of
my knights would allow a stranger near Juliet.’

‘It is one of my harpies with a spell I gave

her. It casts an illusion upon them all. They
believe he has always been one of them. So knight,
I believe it is time you gave yourself to me, body
and soul in my bed or I will instruct my harpy to
take your queen’s head.’

‘Gabriel will never leave her alone. He will

stay by her side. Your harpy will not be able to kill

her. He will make sure of that.’

‘Perhaps in her bed as well.’
‘You try my patience, witch.’
‘Why do you lust for that pale insignificant

woman you call your queen. You are a man that
requires a woman fire. You are wasted on her, let
your rival Gabriel have her. With me you will be
more powerful than you will ever be with your
queen. In time you will learn that. But for now if I
have to threaten your queen’s life to extract your
obedience then so be it. I hope you do choose to
sacrifice your body for her because I want her to
suffer when she sees you standing fighting by my
side.’

‘I will never fight for you and I will not be

your whore.’

‘I think you will or your precious Juliet will

die a lot sooner than I would like. And I am sure
you want to feed and be strong again. Give me
your obedience and you will get all that you need.’

I stared at the wall watching the disguised

harpy move ever closer to Juliet. I needed to think
no more. I would do whatever it took to protect
Juliet even if meant betraying her.

Chapter Five

I would give my obedience and loyalty to the

witch as long as it served my purpose and protected
the life of my queen. I had spent an entertaining
career as a womaniser and rake in London society
before I met Juliet and discovered my Taleian
heritage. On many an occasion I had sexually
gratified myself for the win of a bet or challenge set
by my friends in seducing a famous London beauty
I felt no love for. I would view the task of making
love to my enemy with similar disdain. I viewed
Drusilla’s need for me with both curiosity and great
amusement and I would make sure it was to prove
her downfall.

‘Let me up Drusilla. I need blood or I will be

of no use to you and not perform my duties well,’ I
demanded stealing a last view of Juliet from the
moving picture on the wall. I hoped my queen
would forgive my wanton behaviour but her life
was at stake and too precious for me to lose.

Drusilla waved her hand at the wall and the

moving pictures faded. Juliet was from my sight
but her presence remained strong in my mind. I
would not be able to prevent her from knowing or
even watching me make love to Drusilla. For that I
was sorry. Even now I could feel Juliet’s
consciousness instinctively reach for my own and
the euphoria we both experienced as a result but I
could not communicate with her.

Any guilt I felt would hamper the

performance of my task and perhaps endanger
Juliet’s life. I stayed silent and erected as many
mental blocks as I could to deter her
communication. My heart ached. After so long
without the touch of my queen, of her thoughts and
physical presence I was distraught I could not be
with her and display my physical need to possess
her as my mate. I callously tossed Juliet’s image
and thoughts to the edge of my consciousness and
concentrated on Drusilla. I hoped my queen would
not make me pay dearly for my treachery and
would understand my motives. But she was a
woman and despite attempting to save her life I
fully expected to be made to regret my actions!

‘I am so glad you have decided to see things

my way, knight.’ Drusilla pressed her hands
together in a clap. She motioned to one of the
guards. ‘Quickly, untie him and remove the irons.’

I strained my head up towards her as two of

the guards came forward and began to untie my

bonds. ‘Drusilla, I need blood . . .’

‘I know, knight.’ She paused as though

considering her next words. ‘You will feed from
me.’ She sounded timid, tentative, childlike once
more.

‘Do you believe that wise. I will need a lot.’
‘Yes, besides, I will not allow you to feed

from another, especially another woman. I know
the effect feeding from a woman has on you
knights. I should be jealous and then I would have
to hurt you. I don’t want to do that.’ She gave a
small nervous laugh as though she were regretful
that she had betrayed some secret emotion, as
though she really cared for me. I began to realise
what power I had over the witch.

I nodded with a gentle smile. ‘I should prefer

it that way,’ I lied beginning to play the game.

There was another pause as she lifted her

body to sit upon the table next to me. ‘Good.’ She
seemed pleased. The witch was definitely a child.
A child with a fragile ego that if massaged in the
correct manner could be controlled to a palpable
degree.

I sat up slowly. ‘I should like to freshen up

first. And will you not remove your mask. I should
like to see the face of the woman I am to make love
to.’ I did not understand her preoccupation with
wearing the mask. It piqued my curiosity why she
should hide her face from me.

‘I will not remove my mask,’ she told me with

volatility. ‘You will have to make do with my
body,’ she tried to calm her voice by injecting a
sliver of humour in her tone.

I decided not to evoke her passions any

further. I had gained an advantage and I was not
about to lose it. ‘As you wish.’

‘And no, you may not freshen up. I will have

you make love to me the way you are . . .’ She was
quite firm upon that point.

I grinned. The moment I sat up I took hold

of her roughly by the front of her dress, my fingers
brushing against the white flesh of her breasts and
pulled her up onto the table. She gave an excited
gasp. Her guards rushed forward as I flattened her
down against the table. I straddled her body as she
began to breathe hard underneath me. She shouted
to the guards.

‘No, I am fine. Go back to your posts.’
I leaned over her. ‘Aren’t you going to make

them go away or do you prefer an audience?’ I
whispered leaning over her neck, allowing my
breath to caress her skin. I felt her shiver beneath
me.

‘They will not leave me.’ She raised her

voice to address her guards as I bent to kiss her
neck feeling her blood draw my attention. ‘If he
attempts any violence whilst I am paralysed by his
venom, kill him without hesitation.’

I smiled against her skin. Her breathing

deepened.

‘So, you like an audience.’
‘Does that bother you? I have heard of your

exploits in London. Audiences do not concern you
either.’

‘No, they do not, although if my love making

is to mean anything I should prefer it private.’

‘It is a pity but I do not yet trust you knight,’

she said firmly. ‘Perhaps, in time . . .’

I nipped the soft skin of her neck between my

teeth. She moaned softly.

‘Perhaps . . .’ I said. ‘Now where were we . .

.’ I said with humorous impatience, brushing first
my lips and then my lengthened incisors. I felt her
body tense in anticipation and become perfectly
still with the venom. It would have been so easy to
rip her throat out but I was weak having been
deprived of blood and I would not make it out of
the room alive. I would have to be patient and wait
for my opportunity. For now I would be content to
punish her with my painful bite, although a part of
me believed she would derive great pleasure from
the pain just as much as myself. It seemed we
would both be satisfied! I raised my face to look
upon her with a cruel smile and before she could
utter an exclamation I tore a small opening in her
throat with my teeth and began to take my fill of
her blood.

I felt Drusilla’s body move with need

underneath me, small pleasurable gasps escaping
her lips. Her fingers raked through my hair holding
me to her neck as I fed like a glutton upon her
blood. My hand was tucked underneath the bodice
of her dress curled tightly around the soft
plumpness of her breast, my thumb roughly flicking
over her taut nipple. My grip had to be painful,
even leaving a bruise and the imprint of my fingers
on her pale skin but Drusilla was arching her back
craving more of the roughness of my touch. I had
woven my fingers around her hair with my free
hand and I tugged it harshly from her scalp holding
her in a vice grip to ensure a successful feed.

After a while, I removed my hand from her

breast and gathered up the skirt of her red gown. I
tore at the material of her under garments to give
my fingers access to the dampness seeping between
her thighs. I cupped the small tight mound of curls
to her entrance and tugged sharply on them forcing
a painful squeal from her lips. I felt the need to be
inside her engulf my senses and parted her legs
wider with the demanding kick of my foot against
them. I wasted no time roughly inserting two of my
fingers inside her pliant opening.

It seemed Drusilla was still a virgin. At any

other time, with any other woman I would have
been gentle but with Drusilla it was no matter. I
wanted to hurt her. I cruelly thrust my fingers

inside her to the hilt. Never penetrated before, her
body jumped in a spasm of agony. She cried out
and whimpered just as she had done when I had bit
into her neck. I was satisfied when I felt the
wetness of her tears against my cheek. Still she did
not stop me and I doubted at this point if anyone
could have stopped me.

It was an aggressive and distasteful lust I had

for Drusilla’s body. Not one I had ever felt before
with a woman. I feared its strength and its
repugnance. I needed to crush her, consume her
whole. I wanted to place my bite all over her body
and feel her blood pour from every new orifice I
made. I wanted to take her sexually in every
painful way I could devise, such was my need. I
seemed to be fired with a potent anger that spurred
my own lust. It took me a moment to realise that
this reaction came from Drusilla’s blood and the
dark spirit of her life essence within it.

Drusilla had allowed me to go too long

without blood, and what she now gave me was
tainted with her demonic power forcing the beast
inside me I kept leashed to rise to prominence. I
hated her. My desire for her was not love not even
one of pity but a forced violent compulsion. My
reaction was her own deliberate doing but for all
her wickedness I would not hurt her in such a brutal
way. Despite her wicked desire for it. With great
effort I quickly tore myself away from her throat

and sat up with a growl. I wiped at my mouth and
moved away from her body.

She lay motionless for a moment. I fancied

she was surprised.

‘Nathan, what is wrong? I thought . . . Tell

me that you have not changed your mind and
tricked me.’

She sat up. I sat next to her bending my leg

so that I might rest my elbow on my knee.

‘I had to stop. The blood lust is too strong.

Your blood . . . it has done something to me. I am
not myself. I will hurt you,’ I said gruffly.

She gave a small laugh of as she leaned back

on her elbows.

‘I want to feel your passion, Nathan, all of it.

Good or bad. You will not hurt me. I do not fear
you.’

It was as though her words were a trigger. I

took hold of her arms tightly and ferociously
pushed her back and down onto the table banging
her body and head against it. Her head rolled from
side to side, dazed.

‘You should be witch,’ I bellowed at her as I

held her there beneath me, her hands above her
head.

She began to laugh, soft and low.
‘That’s right. That’s how I need you to be. I

want to feel your turmoil, your anger and your
power. I feed from it just as you take my blood. It

makes me strong. Now take me or I will kill Juliet
without a second thought. Let go Nathan and be
mine, if only to save the life of your precious
queen.’

I snarled at her, hissing and baring my teeth,

unable to stop my anger at her words.

‘You trifle with danger, witch. When this is

done and my queen is safe, I will kill you.’

Before she could speak to me again I took

hold of the bottom of the skirt of her dress and
began to tear it up the middle in a mad rage.

I drove myself inside her naked body like a

man possessed. It was our third coupling and still
her poisoned blood drove me to wanting more. I
had positioned her upon my lap and thrust up inside
her. The white masked guards stood motionless as
statutes but they were watching with interest. For
the third time Drusilla cried out her pleasure as I
tensed and found my own bitter enjoyment.

It seemed her need was satiated for she

slumped against me, her body damp with a fine
sheen of perspiration. Her arms enveloped me as
she rested her head against my shoulder. I was still
hard inside her but she not seem to want me to
move. I felt the cool metal of her mask press
against my skin. I dropped my hands to my sides
and sat lifeless upon the dining table thinking of
how I had betrayed Juliet.

‘Hold me Nathan,’ Drusilla’s voice, was

sleepy, soft like that of a child who had need of
comfort.

I ignored her request not wanting to comply.

How could I hold someone I did not care for. It
would be another betrayal. I heard her sigh.

‘At least pretend I am her. Pretend that you

hold Juliet in your arms. Her life depends on it, my
love.’

I looked to my side and down at her with

hatred and it was with disdain that I swept my
fingers up her back and through her long fair hair to
press her against me.

‘Why do you hate Juliet so much?’ I asked

her in a low voice.

‘Because she has everything I want. She

possesses so many things that should be mine.
Because she is loved by you. I want to destroy her
bit by bit. I want her to feel the pain and sorrow of
rejection when she learns we have been together.
But it’s just the start. The Queen of Talus must pay
for the sins of her royal ancestors.’

‘You know I won’t let you destroy her,’ I said

firmly but quietly, frowning as I considered
Drusilla’s words. ‘What do you mean she will have
to pay for the sins of her ancestors? Did someone
hurt you?’ I asked with curiosity.

‘Hush, knight, do not ruin the moment. At

least, allow me to pretend that you are mine.’

I said nothing else. Perhaps in time I could

get her to reveal more. Maybe I would then find a
way to escape and protect Juliet and her throne.
Juliet would now know of my actions. I hoped with
all of my heart she would in time forgive me.

We sat for a while. I thought Drusilla asleep

against my shoulder but she suddenly stirred and
sat up.

‘We must hurry. A visitor is coming soon.

You must bathe and be properly attired Nathan.’

She moved off me and slid with elegant grace

from the table to stand upon the floor. One of her
guards held her cloak and moved forward to drape
it around her bare shoulders. She wrapped it
around her body and gave a small excited jump.

‘Who is this visitor who makes you so

excited? ‘ I asked feeling a sudden anxiety quicken
in my stomach once again.

‘It is your queen, Nathan, ‘ she told me

gleefully. ‘She means to fight me for you,’ she
sounded in awe. ‘She must really love you, Nathan
to risk such a dangerous enterprise on her own.’
This is going to be so much better than I planned.
Now I have her exactly where I want her.’

Chapter Six

My wrists were clamped back in the irons

after lunging at Drusilla and threatening her with
violence if she harmed Juliet. I was not yet strong
enough to fight her guards despite the blood I had
taken from the witch. My head swam and my
senses and thoughts seemed fogged with an
oppressive pressure bearing down upon them. It
was a strange lethargic feeling that settled in my
limbs that only confirmed that I had been poisoned
by Drusilla’s blood.

I was led to one of the many rooms in the

castle where I was forced to bathe and dress with
attention from a valet. I went about the task in a
docile, obedient manner. I tried in vain to reach for
Juliet in my mind but every attempt was
unsuccessful. The fog around my thoughts
appeared to grow thicker and the rage my body had
been infused with by Drusilla in our coupling was
bubbling hotly under its surface. Both my mind
and my body did not feel my own. It was as though
I were watching events around me from afar. My
very identity and soul felt as though they were
receding, into the darkness of my being to be lost

from view. I did not know who or what was to
take my place at the helm of my consciousness.
What had she done to me?

When my valet had finished attending me

there was a knock at the door and Drusilla entered,
sweeping into the room in a magnificent electric
blue gown. She wore a different mask. A softer,
more feminine one, fashioned in the likeness of
Venus, the goddess of love.

‘Nathan, you look so handsome. I trust your

clothes are to your liking. I know how particular
you are with dressing. I have watched you for a
while. Have I done you proud? I made sure your
clothes were made by the finest tailors in Scotland.
Do you like my dress?’

I stared wanting to argue with her and

demand to know how long she had been planning
this escapade but instead I found myself
complimenting her on the dress and the clothes she
had provided me with. It did not sound like my
own voice. It bore a deeper, rougher tone to its
bass and a mocking cruelty that appeared to amuse
and delight Drusilla.

She reached up to smooth her fingers around

my jaw. Her eyes were wide, childlike and happy
as she gazed upon me with foolish misguided love.

‘I see the transformation is nearly complete.

I do admire this better side of your character. The
true vampire inside you should be allowed to reign

supreme not restrained by the weakness of your
human traits. Nothing will hold you back now
Nathan from being the beautiful terrifying creature
you really are. You are like me now Nathan,
untamed and free. Together we will do so much
and conquer this land. Everyone will bow before
us, including your Queen,’ she told me passionately.

I did not answer her but my silence was not

met with disapproval.

‘Come, Nathan. She is here. Take my arm

and we shall greet her together as a couple.’

I took her arm under my own without

protest. My will was no longer my own. The
darkness closed in. My heart feared for Juliet. I
wished that she would leave, run while she still had
the chance and time. Drusilla meant to crush her
and to do it she would torture my beloved Queen
by flaunting her power over me. I would not be
able to protect her.

We walked to the drawing room. The two

guards that stood outside the room opened the
double oak doors as we approached. A lonely
figure stood with her back to us warming herself by
the roaring fire. She turned quickly on hearing us
enter the room.

Juliet was dressed in a black velvet riding

outfit, her titan curls piled neatly on her head under
the elegant black top hat that she wore.. She was
beautiful and even my alter ego had to catch his

breath at the sight of her radiant beauty.

Her green eyes came to rest upon me with

stern disapproval and then left me to narrow at
Drusilla.

‘What have you done to my Knight of

Swords, witch?’ Juliet demanded with firm
authority in her raised voice.

Drusilla gave a giggle.
‘My, you are quite formidable, Queen of

Talus. I thought you meek and mild but I can see
that you have spirit. I must admire your boldness
to come here alone without the protection of your
knights.’

Juliet ignored her.
‘I asked you a question, witch. His eyes . . .

they are darker than midnight itself. Our eyes only
change that way when we feed or fight or . . .’

‘When you make love,’ Drusilla finished for

her with a mocking smile.

Juliet’s eyes narrowed to a sharp point.
I have simply called forth his true vampiric

nature and quelled the human in him. Don’t you
think it suits him better. I fancy he is more
handsome for it,’ she giggled.

‘He is not your puppet Drusilla. Give him

back to me and my knights or there will be a war
between us.’

‘But that is what I desire most, Juliet. I crave

war.’

Drusilla moved away from me towards Juliet

until she was almost touching her. Drusilla’s voice
turned hard, angry, embittered with hatred. She
banged her fist against her chest to emphasise it as
she leaned over Juliet forcing her to reel away to
gain some distance.

‘I want your people and the Lycans to engage

in battle until nothing is left but the carnage your
rotting bodies left behind.’

Juliet stared at Drusilla with angry disbelief.
‘What caused you to feel such bitterness for

our people and the Lycans? What have we ever
done to you? And why should we fight amongst
ourselves when our quarrel is with you? We shall
be united.’

Drusilla was shaking with rage. She raised

her hands to the scarlet ribbon that tied the mask to
her face behind her head. I watched with interest.
It took Drusilla more time than it ought to have
done to untie her mask. She fumbled with the small
knot. Her impatience almost brought her to tears
and she began tearing at the mask in a frenzy. With
the frustrated stamp of her foot she ripped the mask
away from her face.

‘This is why, this is why, Queen of Talus.’
Juliet’s eyes widened with shock and horror.

As for my own they simply looked upon Drusilla
without pity. A mocking smile lit my lips as I gazed
upon the monstrous face before us. The witch’s

face bore evidence of two races. She was half
Lycan, half Taleian vampire. One of her eyes was
coal black, the other a yellow brown glow. One
half of her face was covered in the black hair of a
wolf with a raised snout for a mouth and flaring
nostrils. Her teeth were gleaming white but those
of a large canine. On the other side, three quarters
of it was covered in smooth pale skin but scarred
with sharp claw marks. It was hideous to look
upon. Drusilla was a freak of nature. Tears
streamed down her grotesque face as she pulled
away the long straight mane of blonde hair to
reveal the black ill kept shaggy hair and ears of a
Lycan.

I could see pity begin to lighten Juliet’s dark

expression as she looked upon Drusilla. I felt
nothing. The fog inside my mind was now so dense
I was disappearing. I could only feel fear for my
Queen. I was powerless to help her.

‘This . . . this . . . is the result of an affair

between my royal Taleian mother and a Lycan. I
was the bastard child both of your races tried to
destroy. I was taken from my royal mother when
the last Queen of Talus reigned. Her Knight of
Swords was a brute of a man that ruled her with an
iron fist and she loved my Lycan father who was a
strong leader of his people. The Knight of Swords
killed his Queen for her unfaithfulness and my
father was killed by his own people. The Queen’s

magician and her knights did not want the royal line
poisoned by a freak that nature had produced so
they tried to kill me with the consent of both sets of
elders from the lycan and Taleian race. But I found
I had many powers and I escaped their clutches and
I ran away. I was left to starve. I was beaten and
whipped in the streets as an abomination and
hunted night after night by Taleians and Lycans
alike. My life has been a cruel one Juliet, one for
which both the Lycans and the Taleians and their
hybrids will pay for.’

‘I can only pity the life you have had but I

cannot allow you to hurt my people or the Lycans.
You must cease this needless anger. Let me help
you.’

‘I do not want nor need your help or your

pity. I just want you to suffer. When the Queen of
Talus dies at the hands of the Lycans an almighty
war will commence between your races across the
globe.’

Juliet glared.
‘I can see that I am wasting my time. If it is

force you wish me to use to make you set my
knight free and foil your childish plan then so be it,
witch,’ Juliet threatened.

Chapter Seven

Juliet narrowed her eyes at Drusilla. The pity

that dwelt in them turned icy and froze. With the
elegant wave of her slender hand through the air,
Juliet’s power swept away the furniture that lay in
her path to Drusilla. It banged nosily together
against the wall. The witch laughed and opened her
arms encouraging Juliet to come forth.

I wanted to move, to place myself between

Juliet and Drusilla to protect my Queen and
sacrifice my life on her behalf. But I could not
move my limbs or voice a warning. I watched
helplessly. Juliet curled her fingers and two balls of
glowing orange flames appeared and sat on her
palms. She held them above her head and directed
them squarely at Drusilla. At any other time I
would have pitied the recipient of those fireballs
but I knew Drusilla enough now to know that they
would not hurt her. I stared dumbfounded as the
witch thrust out her own palms and elegantly
caught the fireballs.

I fancied Juliet’s expression was not

dissimilar to my own. Drusilla held them up and
stared at the neat curls of flames in wonder. For a
moment I thought she might direct them back at
Juliet but she simply blew gently at each one and
they fizzled out to smoke in her hands.

Juliet was quick in thought and action and as

Drusilla was blowing the second fireball out, two
small daggers from the display above the fireplace
and underneath Marcus’s painting of his father
were hurtling towards her in mid air. Drusilla was
able to repel one of the daggers with the wave of
her hand but the other dug sharply into her breast
with force. She gave a loud cry and Juliet
advanced, reaching out her hand to draw a
ceremonial spear from a coat of arms from the wall
across the air and into her grasp with ease.

Drusilla grunted with pain as she pulled at the

dagger in her breast as Juliet aimed the spear in her
direction and came even closer. I stood still, to
Drusilla’s side. I did not offer any help or any
comment but I could feel my lips twisting with
devilish satisfaction in watching the females war
with one another. Drusilla dropped the offending
dagger to the floor and covered her bleeding wound
with her hand. For a brief moment she looked
down at her wound. Her twisted freakish face
frowned and contorted with disgust.

‘Now look what you have done, Juliet. You

have ruined my beautiful blue gown with
bloodstains. I shall make you pay.’

She caught the sharp end of the metal spear

as Juliet targeted her heart. She would not be able
to finish the witch in that fashion but it would have
incapacitated her long enough to find a way of

removing her head to end her immortal life. But
this time Drusilla was quick to offer her reaction.
Holding the sharp blade of the spear with a
tightness that drew blood from her hands, she
began tugging Juliet closer with it.

Juliet held her ground pulling back on the

spear. Drusilla began to chant in a language I
vaguely recognised as the one Xavier had used in
waking Juliet from her long sleep. It seemed that
with the words she recited Drusilla grew stronger. I
watched her wound heal miraculously in front of
my eyes and all of a sudden Juliet seemed to be
finding it difficult to hold on to the spear and gain
any ground.

Eventually the struggle was won and Drusilla

whipped the spear from Juliet’s hands. My Queen’s
hands and whole body were shaking. Her eyes that
had turned black in her fight suddenly dissolved
back to green. Her power was depleted. Her fine
features bore the effects of exhaustion. Still
Drusilla chanted, her voice rising an octave with
excitement as she viewed the growing results of her
ghastly spell upon my Queen.

Juliet found herself falling to her knees

bemused. Drusilla continued speaking her rhythmic
archaic words and turned the spear around. The
small voice that was all that was left of my human
goodness cried out in protest at Drusilla in my
imprisoned mind and it was to go unheard. Drusilla

thrust the spear into Juliet’s stomach with a force
that could have only been driven by fierce hatred.
I felt as though my heart were being ripped in two
as I watched Juliet shake and groan with the
terrible pain inflicted upon her.

Drusilla pulled the spear out from Juliet’s

flesh and stopped chanting. She held it up and
revelled at the sight of Juliet’s blood spread thickly
upon it. She laughed down at Juliet as she fell back
against the floor, her hat falling from her head as
she did. Drusilla brought the end of the spear
closer to her face and to her lips. Her lithe tongue
resembling more of that which belonged to a wolf
than a human licked the blood from the blade. Her
eyes closed as she shuddered and savoured Juliet’s
taste.

‘Your power is so potent Queen of Talus. Yet

now you are unable to use it against me. I have
paralysed you. Now I will take it all for myself.’

Juliet looked up at her.
‘I won’t let you do this . . .’ she panted.
‘You have no choice. The Knight of Sword’s

blood runs strong in my veins in the potion my
apothecary Orlatha mixed with the assistance of my
binding spell. Your power is attracted to it. It
cannot be separated from his . . . See it comes to
me.’ Drusilla began reciting more archaic words
with determination as she came to stand over Juliet.

My Queen shouted my name, begging me to

fight the poison that dwelt within me and come to
her aid. But my will was contaminated and this evil
that invaded my soul controlled me with a firmness
I could not break alone.

A red glow was lifting from inside Juliet’s

body, permeating the open pores of her skin into
the outside world. The process caused Juliet great
pain. Tears sprang from her eyes without warning
as she fought a mental battle to hold on to her
powers. But her strength was diminished by her
paralysis and the severe wound that cut a hole
through her stomach. It was a battle she was not to
win.

With a final strangled cry Juliet’s power was

torn painfully from her soul like a babe from a
mother’s womb. The glow separated into fine
strands of scarlet energy that found their way to
Drusilla. They began to weave around her body,
tighter and tighter until Drusilla could bear no more
of their strangulation and cried out. Then with a
suddenness they seeped into her body burning
through her flesh and into her blood to join my
own.

Juliet forced herself to sit up on her side as

Drusilla looked down at the singe marks left on her
clothes from where the energy had passed through
her body, laughing with triumph. She quickly
leaned down and leered into Juliet’s face making
her blink and reel away from the spittle that

sprayed forth from the bitterness of the witch’s
words and her foul face.

‘How does it feel? How does it feel to lose

everything? Your power? Your mate? They all
belong to me now. You are nothing!’

Drusilla gripped hold of Juliet’s hair and

pulled her to her feet and off them, suspending her
in the air. With an angry pull of Juliet’s hair, she
threw Juliet across the room towards the window.
She landed heavily under it and was trying to lift
her dazed injured body before Drusilla reached her
but the witch was nimble in her foot. Again, she
pulled Juliet up by her hair and thrust her face
against the window pane.

‘Look. Your knights came to your rescue but

they are too late. Now they are mine too. See how
they fall to their knees clutching their heads. They
are like helpless children, they cannot fight my
power, especially now I have yours as well.’

She began to drag Juliet back towards me.

She forced Juliet to look at me. I will never forget
the betrayal that cloaked Juliet’s tired darkening
features. I had failed her yet again. I was not fit to
be her Knight of Swords. Gabriel was right. The
dying human inside me turned away defeated.
Drusilla laughed at my reaction.

‘There is still a little too much human in you

Nathan. You have fought the poison well but you
grow weak. Juliet, I am going to give you a chance

to escape me. I love games, don’t you?’

Juliet glared at her and spoke no words.
‘What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?

Never mind. I am going to let you see how far you
can get out of here. Maybe I will count to a
hundred and then I am going to set the Lycans after
you and my Knight of Swords.’ The witch’s eyes
flashed with glee. ‘Now, beware if Nathan catches
you, he must kill you. I anticipate that you will not
last very long with your wound. It is beginning to
heal but my draining of your powers has left you
weak so I think you won’t make it out of the
castle. They say there is peace in death. Now you
will find out. Run, former Queen of Talus.’

She let go of Juliet who eyed her with

contempt.

‘I won’t let you get away with this. I will

take back my powers and my throne and I will kill
you,’ she thundered at the witch.

‘One, two . . . I’m counting you better run.’
Juliet gave me one last piteous look and

clutching her bleeding wound she dragged her
aching body from the room as fast as she could
manage.

Drusilla continued counting as she picked up

her mask and put it back on. My heart pounded as
I thought of Juliet taking flight alone and the role I
was to be forced to play in her demise. Drusilla
walked back to the window.

‘She is crossing the courtyard and out into the

hills. She has gone further than I thought. She has
surprised me again. She does indeed have spirit.’

I backed away from the witch in a desperate

attempt to run from her power over me so that she
could not use me to kill Juliet. It was with great
effort that I turned from her.

‘Nathan,’ she snapped. I suddenly felt an

energy all around my body that rooted me to the
spot on which I stood. ‘Where are you going? I
thought you would have fully transformed by now.
You are a fighter. I cannot help admiring how you
have fought me but you cannot win. Go to her
Nathan, and bring her head back to me.’

I turned to stare at her but it was not with

horror. The monster inside me smiled back at her
and I was suddenly springing free from my
paralysis and running out of the door to pursue
Juliet. One of Drusilla’s guards outside the door
handed me a sword as though he had been waiting.
I felt my human side grow fainter. I had little time
left.

I ran down the steps followed closely by a

transformed Marcus and Richard who I presumed
were also under Drusilla’s power. They retained
their human upright form, arms and legs but their
bodies were black apart from a spine that rose in an
arc and was made prominent by a redness to the
skin that covered it. Each Lycan bore a shaggy

mane of hair that covered their heads and half of
their back. They wore no clothes and their prowess
hung free and long between their legs. They
followed me across the courtyard that was now
covered with snow in the fading grey light.

Juliet was beginning to scrabble up the hill,

hampered by her wound and her long dress. My
knights were joining with me. But there was one
missing, Gabriel. I had no time to wonder where he
was or Xavier for that matter. I was being driven
on against what little was left of my conscience.

I heard a loud sob utter forth from Juliet’s lips

above me on the hill that rose from the courtyard. I
could see her dig her fingers into the freezing snow
and earth to help her climb the hill side. The
demon inside me forced me to slow my pursuit
curious to see what would happened when she
neared the top and found that she had nowhere to
run. It was a foolish place to run but then she had
little where else to go. The castle sat on a rock
surrounded by hills and a loch.

I climbed the hill slowly, instructing my

knights to stay back but the Lycans to follow me.
A wicked smile lit my features as I watched Juliet
continue to climb for her life. Finally, she reached
the top and I picked up my pace. I believe she
thought she may be able to climb over it and make
her way down the other side. I watched her stand
and look over the praecipe and shock force her to

step away from the edge. I came to stand at her
side.

The Lycans surrounded her. I looked over

the edge. It was a high sheer drop down a slate
cliff to grey rocks and the loch at the bottom. It
was a long way down. Even for a Taleian hybrid
vampire, the injuries may cause untold damage that
would hamper her existence for an eternity and
make her easy prey should she fall or even jump.

Jump? Would she even consider it? But she

would. I caught the stray thought from her mind. I
shook my head at her. She stepped away from me,
sniffing back her tears, determined to look upon me
with hatred rather than fear. She turned sharply
realising she had nearly backed into Marcus with
his large white snarling teeth. A part of me died
inside as I felt the strength of her fear.

‘There is nowhere to run Juliet. You cannot

escape your death. My mistress will have your
head.’

They were not my words yet they came from

me. The darkness closed in around me. There was
no escape for me either. I could no longer fight
what I was becoming. The witch had taken my
soul. Juliet remained silent. She glanced over the
edge once more and back to me. She was
desperate.

The wind howled around us, driving biting ice

against our faces and lifting our hair around our

faces. Blood still seeped from Juliet’s wound
through her fingers as they vainly attempted to plug
the hole. She stepped closer to the edge. I grew
confused and narrowed my eyes at her. I had no
further time to waste. I raised my sword.

‘Nathan, please . . .’
With the hardness that now enveloped my

heart I brought the sword crashing down towards
her neck. I heard her take an almighty breath as
the blade cut through the air and then I watched her
step serenely over the edge. Her eyes never left
mine until she disappeared over the ledge. They
were determined, regal and devoid of fear.
Bemused, I looked over the praecipe to watch her
fragile body land hard against the rocks like a
broken doll and slip down into the loch to sink. I
felt the last of the darkness consume me and I knew
no more.

Chapter Eight

Juliet

I was barely awake when I felt the cold black

water seep into my lungs. I did not try to fight the
water’s mighty strength for I had none to equal it.
Instead I longed for the icy water to swallow me
whole, that I might disappear into its darkness,
never to be seen again. I closed my eyes and
allowed it to consume my broken body. I would
not die a physical death but the heart of my soul
had ceased to beat. What would become of me
now he was gone?

The tormenting pain of betrayal and

loneliness were my only companions in my descent
to hell. I had no will to fight to break the water’s
surface. There was nothing above that gave me a
fond motive to return. I longed for death but I
would be denied. Perhaps I should have allowed
Nathan to take my head. Maybe now I would
know peace.

I would sink to a watery grave where I would

lie buried alive with no one to find me. Only
madness would seek me out. A wave of terrifying
claustrophobia was to prove my salvation. I began
to try to move my limbs but they were
unresponsive to my command. Their bones were
shattered. If I had still been Queen there would
have been enough power to move them but that
honour was no longer mine. My mind was filled
with an unforgiving tirade of dreadfully fearsome
imaginings of lying alive entombed in the loch. I
sank deeper and deeper. The harder I tried to move
the heavier my limbs became and the faster I sank.
I feared I was to be lost.

It was only a few moments later that I felt

something grip the collar of my coat and pull
sharply until I feared I might choke. I stopped
sinking and an arm wound around my waist. I felt
my body rise and the light of the surface shine
down on me through the blackness of the water. I
rose rapidly to break the surface with a lift into the
air, only to land back in the water but safely held
by my rescuer, Xavier Valancourt.

I felt him pull me against his broad chest and

swim towards the shore. Another man was in the
water shouting to him. The voice belonged to
Gabriel. I did not know how they came to my
rescue. I thought all of my knights were gone,
captured and turned by Drusilla and her savage
cruelty. I could only feel relief and joy that I was

not alone. I was usually a good swimmer and I
wanted to help but I still could not move my limbs.
I hung limp in Xavier’s arms as Gabriel swam up
next to us. He was eyeing me with distressed
concern but he did not speak until Xavier was
pulling me out of the water on the opposite side to
the loch and dragging me across the pebble beach.
I could utter no sound of communication other than
cries of pain as my fractured bones rippled and
jarred over the small boulders.

Gabriel came out of the loch in front of me.

Water cascaded from his fully clothed body in a
torrent as he wiped his face and rushed to my side
to sink to his knees. I looked behind him up to the
top of the hill from which I jumped but Nathan and
the others were no longer to be seen. Xavier was
now behind me, lifting my head onto his wet bent
knees. Gabriel’s hands were shaking when he
cupped my face.

‘Why did you disobey me and go alone? I

thought he’d killed you. I thought he’d taken you
away from us. I won’t let him live for what he’s
done to you. He will die,’Gabriel’s words were full
of calculated menace and frustration at my actions.
They made me fearful. I moved restlessly wanting
to speak but somehow, I could not find the words.

Xavier ‘s hand suddenly gripped Gabriel’s

arm above me.

‘You are distressing her. She went because

you were just going to leave Nathan there to die at
Drusilla’s hand. Juliet is in love with Nathan. They
are meant to be together you can’t kill him. He is
her Knight of Swords whether you approve or not.
Juliet won’t let you. It isn’t Nathan’s fault. The
witch did this to him. He did all he could to protect
our Queen . . .’

Gabriel lost his temper. He shook off

Xavier’s hold and let go of my face to push
Xavier’s shoulder with his fist so hard the boy
reeled backwards.

‘If he hadn’t sent me away I could have

warned him about Drusilla. He needs me but he
can’t bring himself to acknowledge that. He is too
possessive of Juliet and afraid of losing her to
rightful challengers. His love for Juliet is excessive
and the folly of youth. He does not command the
Queen’s discipline as he should. It has made him
careless. He has failed to keep her safe from harm
because of his recklessness and arrogance.’

There was a tremor in Xavier’s voice when

he spoke and it revealed his fear of Gabriel. ‘We
should stop arguing and take Juliet away from
here. They will be on their way down here to look
for her. Drusilla will not rest until she has her
head.’

Gabriel glared at Xavier and then looked

down at me. I saw pity and love in his eyes just
like that day in the woods when he took me away

from Nathan. It made me feel weaker than my
broken body. I detested that feeling. That was not
how Nathan looked at me. It was always with
admiration of my strength and spirit as well as the
deep love we shared for each other. Now it was
only hatred for me I saw in Nathan’s eyes. The loss
was too much too bear. A strangled sob betrayed
my depth of feeling as my treacherous lips
whispered Nathan’s name in the agony of my loss.

My outburst only spurred a further piteous

expression from Gabriel. I turned my head away
from him ashamed of seeing the weakness of my
character reflect back at me in his eyes. Xavier’s
gentle fingers stroked my brow soothing my
agitation. When I looked up at the young man I
found that it was with wonderment and admiration
that he looked upon me. It gave me new strength.

‘Our Queen needs blood if she is to heal and

take back her throne and her Knight of Swords.’
Xavier spoke determinedly. In his mind, there was
no question of admitting defeat. He was more like
his brother than he knew.

Gabriel nodded. ‘She will indeed take her

throne back.’ He made no reference to Nathan and
I decided that I must heal as quickly as possible if I
were to stop him killing my knight. Gabriel slipped
an arm under my body and another under my legs.
I felt the agonising pain of movement echo out
from my lips in a fierce cry as he lifted me into his

arms and stood. Mercifully, I fainted away.

I spent a restless night in a dwelling I did not

recognise. I lay in bed attended by a woman who
appeared vaguely familiar but it was not until I saw
her with Gabriel as he came to sit on the bed next
to me did I recognize her as Camille. She was
generous with her blood, blindly eager to please
Gabriel with her sacrifice to me. The man’s cruelty
to this woman in the way he coldly discarded her
love for him in favour of myself knew no bounds.
A human, Camille loved Gabriel despite knowing
everything that he was to her kind yet his lust for
the position of Knight of Swords was to outweigh
every warm feeling of love she gave him. I could
never love a man like him.

My mind was feverish with sounds, thoughts

and dark images of the day’s happenings as I
slipped in and out of wakefulness throughout the
night. I knew that Nathan searched for me and I
defended several attacks he made upon my mind to
discover where I hid from him. I had little strength
to keep him at bay now I was no longer to Queen of
Talus and weak with my injuries. We were linked
by a strong mental bond and able to travel freely
across each other’s thoughts. But his mind was
now closed to me, barred by Drusilla’s power and I
would suffer for the loss.

Just after the dark hour of midnight I felt

Nathan steal inside my consciousness once more
and this time I turned to confront his image in my
mind. I confess I wish that I hadn’t done. It was
not my love that stood before me but the same
hurtful, spiteful imposter from the hill that sought to
destroy me.

In my mind, I stood in a vision of the desolate

snow covered countryside surrounded by the hills
and the castle facing Nathan. I had erected a
barrier to protect the entrance to my
consciousness. A line over which Nathan could not
enter. It manifested as an invisible wall but it did
not prevent him from attempting to break it down.

He paced restlessly alongside the line on its

other side watching me with frustrated anger. It
was with confused feelings that I looked upon him.
His appearance was wild and untamed from its
usual polished demeanour. It appealed to the
wildness inside my own soul and I felt a physical
yearning for him even though he desired my death
and his betrayal stung what was left of my heart.
His eyes were still black portraying his lust for
violence.

‘Let me in Juliet. I want to know where you

are. You cannot hide from me forever, my mistress
will have your head and I will not let her down.’

He slammed his figure against the barrier,

hissing and snarling at me with a vehemence that
both shocked and excited my own untamed beast.

I took a step back suddenly afraid my barrier and
my will not to go to him may not hold.

He persisted banging at the wall with his fist

and I kept watching, sadly transfixed by his hatred
and his behaviour. Yet I felt close to him, close to
the real Nathan locked somewhere inside the
animal that now stood before me. I could feel him.
But it was to prove the beginning of my downfall.

Nathan found an unguarded weakness of

feeling for him in my barrier and punched his arm
through. I took another step back as his free hand
began to punch out another hole. I fought hard to
mentally repair the wall but it appeared a futile
action. Nathan was nearly through when Xavier
came to stand by my side in the vision.

He took hold of my hand and squeezed it

tightly. His expression was one of reassurance.

‘I will help you keep him out. Join with my

consciousness.’

Xavier raised his free hand and held it up to

the wall just as Nathan began to ease his body
through the hole in my barrier. A bright white light
sprang from Xavier’s hand and shot forth at Nathan
propelling him backwards away from the invisible
wall. Nathan rose into the air and landed heavily
on his back in the snow. My relief was immediate.

Xavier quickly directed the light along the

wall, strengthening it once again. Nathan jumped
to his feet and rushed towards it but this time he

could find no way through. Xavier gave me a
gentle smile of encouragement.

‘As long as we remain joined we can keep

him out of your mind and he will not be able to find
you.’

I nodded my thanks as Nathan jeered at me.

He gestured at the invisible wall.

‘This will not stop me from finding you and

nor will he,’ he gave a harsh bitter laugh. ‘The
mighty magician who cannot even remember his
name or his birth right has feelings for you, Juliet.’
Nathan mockingly sniffed the cold air. ‘I can sense
them.’ He began tuting loudly, his tone weighted
with sarcasm. ‘You would give me up so soon and
have another man take you to his bed. You should
be known as whore of Talus,’ he gave another
raucous laugh at the expense of his own humour.

I told him fiercely, ‘Be gone devil. You are

not Nathan or my Knight of Swords. You are an
imposter. Warn your mistress, faithful dog, that I
will be coming to reclaim my stolen throne and my
knight. I will stop the war she begs to entice with
her falsehoods and then I will rip the very life from
her. Now leave. You are not wanted here.’

Nathan continued to test my barrier and jeer

like a madman in an asylum but with Xavier’s help
I formed its image into a heavy brick wall and
blocked Nathan from my sight. It was a
claustrophobic feeling to have such a tall brick

monstrosity erected in my mind and it placed a
heavy oppressive isolating feeling in my
consciousness. But there was nothing else to be
done and I would have to live with it until I grew
strong enough to fight the witch another day.

Chapter Nine

It was to be another three days before I was

able to gather my strength. Xavier had sat by my
bed hour after hour reading to me as I laboured
under the pain of my bones healing and joining
themselves together again. His occupation kept me
sane and when the torment became a frenzy of
agony he would reach for my hand and hold it tight
as though he could pass his strength into me that I
might ride the wave of agony a little easier. I would
be forever grateful for his tender care.

Xavier was now linked to my consciousness

and when he often reached for my mind to soothe
my pain and calm my fears, I am ashamed to say
that he found me slumped in the snow against the
brick wall that kept Nathan out. My hand and face
were pressed against it and tears brushed my
lashes. I could hear Nathan shout his abuse to me
behind the impenetrable barrier but still my heart
yearned for his presence and love. I could not bear
to be parted from him in this way. It was the nature
of our people, that once loved we would never
forget.

Xavier was kind enough not to make any

judgements upon me and would simply sit beside
me quietly. Although, I often fancied that he was
also keeping guard over any impetus action I may
have decided to take in letting Nathan in. I was
grateful that Gabriel made little attempt to connect
with my thoughts. I detected a shame in Gabriel
that he had not been able to prevent the events that
had unfolded and his guilt forced him to keep a
distance from me until my healing was nearly
complete.

I wondered what action Gabriel would now

take with me. I was vulnerable with my injuries
and without Nathan’s protection he could easily
force me to join with him. Perhaps I would be
fortunate and he would not want me now I was no
longer Queen of Talus. But it made me realise just
how precarious my situation was as a single Taleian
female with so little of us in number. The Taleian
hybrids were desperate for a mate and some no
longer adhered to the mating rules of challenging
the destined mate of the female. They simply took
her for themselves and once taken she was lost to
that hybrid for an eternity.

It was not just Gabriel that gave me cause for

concern. Any Taleian hybrid could make advances,
especially as I was the destined Queen. It would be
vanity to believe it was for always for myself, but
my power was a potent aphrodisiac. Without
Nathan’s protection I was more vulnerable that I

would care to admit.

If Gabriel wanted to kill Nathan he would

have to join with me first otherwise Nathan’s death
would precipitate my own. When one mate died
the other would follow them into death. I had to
keep faith that I could free Nathan from Drusilla’s
hold and protect him from Gabriel. It was vital that
I became stronger and learned to defend myself. I
decided that I should learn how to handle a sword
just like my poor captive knights. I was no longer
Queen of Talus at this juncture but might there be
another title for me? Queen of Swords? Now all I
had to do was to find some willing soul to teach
me. The door to my room opened as I began to sit
up with Xavier’s help. It was Gabriel, an expert
swordsman and the perfect teacher.

He was the only one who could teach me and

I would have to use every moral power of
persuasion to convince him to. Gabriel was
frightfully old fashioned despite his youthful looks.
He firmly believed a lady should know her place
and act accordingly in obeying a man without
question whether she was Queen of Talus or
otherwise. It was going to be a difficult challenge
but like Nathan I was stubborn and would find a
way to convince him. I gave Gabriel a gentle smile
and watched his features brighten. The game was
on.

‘How are you feeling?’ he asked me softly

sitting on the bed.

‘Better, thank you,’ I replied looking more

closely at my surroundings and the large four poster
bed in which I lay. ‘Where are we?’

‘Kealan lodge in Glencoe. Camille procured

the residence for us. Once you are fit to travel we
will leave for London. I must call a meeting with
the other hybrids and Lycans and discuss what we
should do next.’

‘Gabriel, I can’t leave without Nathan . . .’
Gabriel gave a sigh and covered my hand on

the bed with his own and gently squeezed.

‘I know this is hard for you to accept Juliet

but Nathan is lost to us as are the rest of your
faithful knights. There is no possibility of saving
him or them. The Nathan you knew is dead.
Drusilla killed him with her poison.’

I snatched my hand away from him, viciously

stung by his words.

‘I do not accept that. He is alive, I know he

is, I feel him.’ To my shame, tears rolled heavily
down my cheeks blurring my vision without
warning. ‘He isn’t gone. I must help him.’

But Gabriel was not to be moved by my

outburst.

‘I am sorry Juliet but I believe you sense

remnants of his human soul . . .’

‘No, I won’t have you say such things. I will

find a way with or without your help.’

My tears were being quickly replaced with

fury that I was not to be believed. I moved away
the covers of the bed and attempted to rise. Xavier
was immediately at my side urging me to stay in
bed, informing me that I was too weak to stand
when as I swung my legs free of the confinement of
the bed I cried in pain. I leaned back against my
pillow defeated as both men helped me back into
bed.

‘I do not mean to hurt you Juliet,’ Gabriel

spoke tenderly. ‘But we must face facts. In any
event even if what you say is true there is nothing
we can do for him at present. We must go to
London and seek help. You must retrieve your
power. That is more important than anything else,
even Nathan.’

‘How did this happen, Gabriel? How was

Drusilla able to take it? And for that matter, how
did she not take both you and Xavier?’

Xavier interrupted.
‘I saw what was to happen. Gabriel forbid

me joining the fight but as the knights entered the
castle and engaged in their battle I had a
premonition. I warned Gabriel immediately. He
tried to help the others but it was too late, they
were already falling. When Drusilla took your
power, she was able to command the knights. I
joined minds with Gabriel and I kept her away from
him. I have powers I still do not understand . . .’ he

trailed off.

‘Your power as Queen is volatile, untamed

and not fully imprinted upon you until you are
joined with your mate. It is the same for the Knight
of Swords. Until you have accepted your fate and
joined with another your power is attracted to those
who would master it. Until you sit on your throne
joined to your Knight of Swords there will be many
a thief ready to take your throne.’

I sat quiet.
‘Now do you understand why it is impossible

for you not to take a mate when you are Queen
again? The joining between you and the knight
solidifies and harnesses both of your powers. No
one will be able to take it from you then,’ Gabriel
told me with frustration.

I nodded as I duly thought about my

responsibility as Queen of Talus should I be granted
the honour once again. But I turned to look upon
Gabriel with determination. I would not join with
him as he was now indulgently hinting.

‘Nathan is my mate and the rightful Knight of

Swords and I will join with him the moment he is
free.’

Gabriel shook his head and then looked upon

me with a dark determination that made me shiver.
His voice was low and deep with a tone that bore
the softness of velvet and commanded my full
attention.

‘I pray that you are right and Nathan may be

freed. If not, and you continue to refuse my claim
upon you then I will have no choice but to take you
by force. And I am a man good to my word. I
have been patient long enough Juliet. The Queen
of Talus must be ruled just as she rules her people.’

My eyes widened in white hot anger as

Xavier jumped to his feet in indignation.

‘I will not allow it, sir,’ he told Gabriel

fiercely.

‘She will not have Nathan to protect her

anymore.’

‘I will protect her myself,’ Xavier hissed.
Gabriel gave a smile.
‘You can do little to stop me.’
‘I will stop you,’ Xavier challenged.
Gabriel’s smile widened as he stood.
‘You will challenge me in a duel Magician?’,

Gabriel’s tone was light and disbelieving.

‘Yes, I will. I won’t let you hurt her.’
‘Admirable. Perhaps we should go outside

now and test your worth?’

Xavier’s eyes blackened and I could see him

trembling with his anger.

‘As you wish, Gabriel.’
‘Enough,’ I shouted unable to bear anymore

of their arguing. ‘We have more to quarrel over
than my hand, gentlemen. I will hear no more of
your threats Gabriel. Nathan will be freed and

when I tell him of your vile threats to me then I will
have no doubt he will wish to severely punish you
for them. Now leave.’

Gabriel gave me an arrogant smile that told

me he was undeterred by my own threat and a bow
before uttering a command.

‘I will send Camille to attend you and to

ready you for travel if you are well enough.’

‘Insufferable man,’ I shouted as he closed the

door behind him. ‘And to think I wanted him to
teach me how to use a sword. I could not bear any
such training from that man. What was I thinking?
As if he would even lower himself to teach a
woman.’

My tirade of words was addressed to myself

but as they were uttered out loud Xavier could not
help but be party to them.

‘You wish to learn fencing Juliet?’ he asked

with surprise.

‘Yes. There are ladies in London who do

learn,’ I told him angrily. ‘They have their own
clubs. I just wish to defend myself.’

‘I could teach you.’
I looked at him quickly.
His eyes widened with a small amount of

affront. ‘Please do not look so disbelieving. I am a
year older than you at eighteen and I have been
taught fencing at school. In fact I am a champion.’

‘Just like your brother,’ I remarked excitedly.

‘You would really teach me?’ I asked with tentative
eagerness.

‘Yes, of course.’
‘Gabriel would not approve.’
‘He is loathsome and old fashioned. Perhaps

I could teach you in secret,’ he grinned.

‘How thrilling! Yes, I would like that. I am

grateful to you Xavier.’

‘The pleasure is mine.’ His smile quickly left

him as he looked upon me with concern. ‘I meant
everything I said. I won’t let him force himself on
you.’

I reached out to take his hand and smiled.

‘Thank you, but hopefully if you teach me well I
will be able to stop Gabriel myself.’

He grinned and raised my hand to deposit a

kiss upon it, surprising me. ‘I have never known or
seen such a brave woman like yourself. It will be
my honour to teach you.’

Chapter Ten

Camille helped me to dress. Every movement

I made was painful but I was determined to show
no weakness to Gabriel that he may have exploited
to control me. We were to travel by train to
Edinburgh from a small station, not far from Port
Appin and I prayed that we were not to be seen. I
gave Gabriel a suggestion that would hopefully
make our clandestine travel in part a little easier. I
told him of my plans as I descended the stairs of the
lodge behind him.

‘I wonder if I may shape shift and travel as a

man? That way I will not draw attention to us.’

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
‘It is of little consequence, Drusilla will know

of our movements. I wonder that she has not sent
Nathan to attack the lodge . . .’

I interrupted him. ‘No, I told you the last

time I felt her watching us. She could only see us
because of Nathan’s bond to me. I have closed that
down.’

Gabriel gave a sigh and elegantly leaned his

elbow on the bottom of the banister to look up at

me.

‘No. You are too weak to change. You must

conserve your strength. We have a long journey
ahead of us and when we reach Edinburgh I will
need to meet with the Lycans and other hybrids to
prevent war and discuss what we should do about
Drusilla. I will need you to accompany me to sit at
my side . . .’

‘Gabriel, I am Queen of Talus I will meet with

them and discuss what is to be done. That is my
vocation, not yours,’ I informed him regally, jutting
my chin out at him defiantly.

I would not let him sweep me aside as a mere

figurehead to his obvious authority. I wondered
why the previous Queens of Talus had not used
their mighty powers to assert themselves when
dealing with knights and courtiers. It was with a
fondness that I viewed the strength and conviction
of Queen Victoria and I intended to follow her
example.

Gabriel raised one eyebrow at me, clearly

surprised at my demand. He did not appear to be
amused, then neither was I. But I must confess I
felt a stir of unexpected delight at the dark intense
way he began to look upon me. My feeling must
have betrayed itself upon my face because a
knowing smile twitched upon his lips. I felt warmth
seep into my cheeks.

I had always thought Gabriel handsome. All

of my knights were attractive in their own unique
way. It was a trait of our kind. Might I not observe
this at my leisure. I felt a small amount of guilt for
Nathan but then I attempted to reassure myself that
it was all part of our shocking mating ritual.
Nathan and I were meant for each other, that was
given. But there were challengers to Nathan’s
claim upon me for he was required to prove his
worth as my mate.

Challengers as well as my prospective mate

were chosen at birth as being compatible with me,
seconds to Nathan’s command of my heart and I
would undoubtedly be drawn to them. It was part
of the process whether I cared for it or not. The
Knight of Swords was not just to fight a duel with
these challengers but to stop them from stealing my
heart. I had not missed Jason’s advances towards
me as one either nor the unexpected jolt of small
pleasure that had also created within me. This
harsh ritual would ensure that the correct match
was made.

That had obviously not been the case for the

last unfortunate Queen of Talus, if Drusilla’s
account of history was to be believed. But then it
was more than likely that the former Queen had
been forced to join with that knight against her
will. I stared at Gabriel still confused by my
feelings after his threats. Would he really force
himself upon me when I was Queen once again? I

could not afford to trust him as a gentleman and I
decided to keep a tight leash on my feelings.

I thought of Nathan and the witch making

love and his vain attempt to keep it from me. I had
been consumed with jealousy. His passion was so
intense. I knew that he sought to protect me, that
he thought nothing of Drusilla but still I felt the
heavy burden of his betrayal. Perhaps Nathan was
indeed lost to me and I should consider one of the
challengers as my new mate and resign myself to
my fate. I lifted my hand to my dead heart feeling
tears well up inside me at the prospect of never
seeing Nathan again and hurried past Gabriel
before I betrayed myself any more.

But he was to catch my arm gently at the

bottom of the stairs.

He spoke softly, ‘I do not mean to sweep you

aside, I only wish to provide you with counsel and
assistance. I apologise if I offended you.’

‘It is a little late for apologies. I would have

thought you would have learned by now that I will
not be silenced,’ I said abruptly blinking back my
tears.

Gabriel lowered his eyes and bowed his head

with acknowledgement.

‘Yes, but it will not stop me from trying to

help you. I apologise once again and pray that you
can forgive me,’ he said raising his hazel eyes again
to capture my gaze with sincere concern. ‘You are

without doubt a brave and strong Queen unlike any
other Queen of Talus there has been. I simply
request that you allow me to support you. I wish to
make the task easier for you in your present state of
illness. I have no ulterior motive.’

‘Mind that you do not mistake illness for

weakness, Lord Masters.’ I informed him curtly.

He nodded.
‘Are you sure you are fit enough to travel

Juliet? The journey will be over rough ground and
arduous in the carriage to the station.’

‘I will manage, I am sure.’
‘Here take my arm. You look tired. Lean on

me,’ he gently urged, gallantly offering the support
of his arm.

I looked upon him with suspicion provoking

another raising of his eyebrow. But I did not
decline his offer secretly grateful of his assistance
as we walked to the carriage under the cover of
darkness where Xavier and Camille waited.

It was indeed a painful journey that roused

many a small cry from myself on more than one
occasion. Twice both men and Camille suggested
we stop and take shelter somewhere discreet so I
could rest. But I thought it more prudent to
continue our journey lest we should be discovered.
After a while I fell into a fitful sleep lulled by the
motion of the carriage next to Gabriel.

I did not perceive how long I had been asleep

but I awoke to the sound of Gabriel’s voice. To my
horror, my hat had been removed and my head was
cradled against his chest with his arm around me,
drawing me close. His gentle fingers played across
my cheek as he called for me to wake. I had
obviously found comfort there in my sleep. I sat up
quickly. That insufferable smile blinked across his
lips again.

‘How are you feeling, Juliet?’ Gabriel asked.

‘We are nearly at the station.’

I did not know where to look. Camille stared

blankly at me from the other side of the carriage.
Xavier simply looked cross and had narrowed his
eyes at a smug Gabriel.

‘A little better for my sleep, thank you,’ I

answered stiffly avoiding his eyes and reaching for
my hat.

‘Good. You can sleep again when we are on

the train.’

‘No I will be fine,’ I said quickly. Again, that

smile. I wished that Nathan was there so he could
remove it from him.

The carriage clattered into the small station

and I was grateful to alight. That was until Gabriel
took hold of my arm again. I would have refused
but my injuries were aching and walking was
difficult. It seemed as though Gabriel was intent on
keeping me by his side whether I desired it or not.

We did not wait long on the platform for the

train to announce its arrival with a whistle of
steam. The air was cold, I feared we were to have
more snow. I was heartily sick of the cold weather
even though it did not bother me physically as
strongly as it once had as a human. But I still
longed for warmer climes. A heavy mist had
accompanied the train’s arrival and as I looked into
it I was filled with a sudden apprehension that
something lay behind it. I fancied I heard the
pounding of horses’ hooves.

I was forced to dismiss the idea when Gabriel

handed me into the first class carriage of the train.
The train pulled out of the station unhindered, yet I
could not shake my feeling of anxiety. Xavier
looked at me quizzically sensing my unease in the
link we shared between our minds to keep Nathan
from entering my thoughts.

I tried to reassure him in our mental

communication that it was a passing fancy of fear
and not to be alarmed. But I sensed he remained
alert. The train picked up speed and I occupied
myself with planning a stratagem for our meeting
with the Lycans and hybrids. This time I would not
fall asleep in Gabriel’s arms.

We were ten minutes into our journey when I

heard the sound of heavy footsteps pounding on the
roof of the carriage. I looked up in alarm as the
noise was followed by the grating sound of metal
being torn apart. I stood up quickly. Gabriel was

already on his feet cursing.

‘Damn it, he has found us.’
He opened the door of the carriage and

looked out into the corridor. I could hear screams
and the sound of more footsteps hastening towards
us. Gabriel drew his sword he had been concealing
under his long winter coat. He took hold of
Camille’s hand and stood her next to me as Xavier
drew his own sword. I clutched at Camille’s
trembling hand and pulled her protectively towards
me. She was human and I was sorry for what she
was about to go through on our behalf. Gabriel and
Xavier moved in front to shield us from the danger
that approached.

The train fell silent. All I could hear was the

deafening frantic beating of Camille’s heart echoing
around the walls of the small space that confined
us. Only one set of footsteps approached us, slow
and steady. Camille shook and pressed her face
against my shoulder, closing her eyes. I looked
down and held her tighter. When I looked up again
he was standing in the entrance to the small
compartment. His eyes as black as the night settled
upon me, a wickedness playing in a smile upon his
lips and a dangerous arrogance in his tall handsome
figure. Once again his name was a treacherous
whisper of need and desire upon my lips.

‘Nathan.’

Chapter Eleven

Nathan took a step forward, his intent to

reach for me but Gabriel stood firmly in his way. I
knew of the danger but still I wanted Nathan near.

Nathan’s voice was a soft velvet caress but

there was no mistaking the cruel menace that laced
the words he spoke.

‘Juliet you cannot hide from me forever. I

will have you and I will not stop until I have you in
my possession. My mistress desires your death.
You will not keep her waiting for it any longer.’

He took another step forward seemingly

undeterred by Gabriel and Xavier’s presence.
Gabriel raised his sword and placed it’s point at
Nathan’s chest as the train relentlessly trundled
down the track shuddering the small carriage and
those of us who stood inside it.

‘You will not have our Queen nor her death.

I will see you die first.’

Nathan looked down at the blade pressed

against his chest and laughed mockingly.

‘You will do anything to have her, won’t you

Gabriel?’

Nathan narrowed his eyes upon me. A shiver

shook my body. I could not decipher whether it
was with fear or dare I say it or wish it, pleasure.
His eyes still rested on me but he spoke to Gabriel
once more, a underlying sarcasm and triumph
echoing out from under his tone. I fancied I could
see the unmistakable fire of desire in his own eyes.

‘You waste your time Gabriel. Even now she

wants me and not you. I can feel her need for me
burning within her even though I bring her death.
Give Juliet to me.’

Nathan pressed against the blade until a small

trickle of blood appeared on his silver vest visible
through his open long riding coat. But the injury
did not provoke him. It only served to make him
more amused. I could not help but tremble with
fear that my love for Nathan would be the death of
me.

‘Never. She cannot help herself. You share a

strong bond. She cannot simply close her feelings
down for you. She hopes naively for your rescue. I
on the other hand have no wish for it.’

‘It will be your downfall, Juliet’ Nathan raised

his voice and I sensed his sudden discomfort with
Gabriel’s words, as though something inside him
wrestled uncomfortably with the truth and his own
feelings.

Nathan swept his hand at the sword knocking

it away from his chest but Xavier was quick to
replace it with his own. His voice was high, a little

shrill but determined as he challenged his older
brother.

‘Is it not to be your own downfall, Nathan? I

sense that you cannot completely shut down your
own feelings for Juliet. The way you look upon her
with a need you do not understand. My brother
still lives inside you . . .’

Nathan gave a roar of anger and with one

sharp flick of his eyes swept Xavier across the
carriage to fall against the window and strike his
head with force, rendering him unconscious.
Camille jumped and whimpered against me. I
pulled her behind me as Nathan began to advance
and engage in a fierce fight with Gabriel who
viciously sought to defend me.

Their fight was to take them out into the

corridor. Unable to use the swords effectively in
such a confined space both men were reduced to
bare knuckle fighting. It was a gruesome violent
sight to behold but my attention was distracted in
assisting an unconscious Xavier with a bleeding
forehead. I sought to revive him but he would not
move. I reached for his sword that lay on the floor
of the carriage. I had never held one before. It was
a heavy instrument in my small slender trembling
hands but one I would master. I raised it in front of
me and began to approach the men but Camille
placed her hand on my arm to stop me.

‘No please, your ladyship. It is too

dangerous. They are fighting like animals.’

I reassured her.
‘I will be fine, stay back and look after

Xavier.’

‘No miss, please. Gabriel, would not forgive

me if I let you . . .’

‘Hush, Camille, tend to Xavier. I cannot just

stand by and do nothing,’ I raised my voice harshly
at her and she shrank away from me nodding with
reluctance.

Although it was impossible to use such an

impressive weapon in the small enclosed space I
fancied that I might be able to run my sword
through Nathan, weaken him for Gabriel’s sake. I
moved into position and stood poised waiting for
my chance. As Knight of Swords Nathan had the
advantage in strength over Gabriel and had been
gaining ground but Gabriel refused to retire. I
watched the men hold each other by the lapels of
their coats and continually spin each other around
banging the other off the wall to dint it, each one
vainly trying to gain ground. It seemed there would
be no end to it.

For a breath taking moment Gabriel pinned

Nathan against the opposite wall. He shouted
angrily at him.

‘You won’t have her Nathan. She is mine as

she should always have been. I have waited for her
for a long time. I don’t care if you really are still

inside there. There is no place for you now. I have
her and I am going to join with her even if I have to
use violence and force her. And there is nothing
you can do to stop me. Your reign as Knight of
Swords is over, pretender.’

Nathan growled and hissed venomously at

Gabriel, the black in his eyes intensifying with his
hatred of the man. I believed it was not just the
demon in Nathan but the buried human who also
fought Gabriel. As a consequence, the fight was
renewed with a stronger level of violence in which
Nathan took the advantage once more. Only this
time I noticed that Gabriel now held a dagger in his
hand and was raising the deadly weapon to plunge
it into Nathan’s heart. With Nathan weakened it
would be easy to take his head.

In those few moments before I decided to

take action I thought calmly about my task and its
ramifications. To help either one of the men would
prove a danger to myself and with consequences
that could destroy my life. But there was only
choice. I could not bear to see his death or live
without him. I thought no more. God help me.
Madness had taken hold of my sanity.

I raised the handle of the sword and brought

it crashing down upon Gabriel’s head with all the
force I could muster. His body slumped sideways
and downwards unconscious, the dagger clattering
to the floor from his grip. My would be conqueror

lay prostrate on the floor by Nathan’s feet.

I looked at Gabriel, wildly wondering what I

had done and in a fright, I stumbled backwards
quickly, too afraid to look up at Nathan.
Somewhere distant above the rumbling of the train
on the track and my frightened guilty accusations in
my mind I heard Camille crying and cussing at me.
What had I done? What was to become of us
now? I had acted with stupidity. Nathan was no
longer my mate and protector but a monster the
witch had created. What had I done? Love had
blinded me.

I suddenly felt my wrist being taken hold of

tightly as I stepped further back into the carriage
towards Camille. I resisted, whimpering at the
painful strength of his grip as he tugged me back
into the corridor so roughly my feet hardly touched
the ground. He turned me around and pushed my
back against the wall of the carriage with a crash,
banging my head against it. I looked up at him a
little dazed as he pinned my wrists up against the
wall either side of my shoulders.

He leaned in close trapping me there. His

black eyes looked down at me with curiosity. He
wore a confused frown about his handsome dark
features as though my actions had perplexed him.

‘Why did you do that?’ he demanded gruffly.

The blackness suddenly receded from his eyes to
reveal a flaring desire that I was afraid might

consume me. I felt his fingers reach out and touch
my cheek with reluctance as though I were a
deadly poison he must not touch.

‘I don’t . . .’
But he would not wait for my answer. It was

as though he could not help himself, he brushed his
lips firmly against my own, cupping the side of my
face to hold me in place. At first I became still,
afraid of his actions but my own need would betray
me as he forcefully deepened his harsh kiss. His
body pressed against my own crushing me against
the wall and trapping me against his body. It felt as
though we were both consumed with passion for
each other. I only wanted more of him, I had been
too long without the closeness of his body and his
touch. But with some concerted effort he lifted his
head.

‘He whispers your name,’ he told me angrily

with an expression on his face that closely
resembled disgust. My heart sank. ‘He will not
cease his torment inside my mind,’ Nathan
continued. ‘What is it that he sees in you? It is
more than your obvious beauty. I do not
understand but when I look at you I feel this
sickness and weakness as he does. It is the only
thing that stops me from killing you this instant. I
was grateful you jumped from the hill so I did not
have to kill you. I need you to explain this
sickness,’ for a moment he sounded desperate,

helpless.

My eyes widened in surprise. The demon

talked of the human inside himself and my knight.

‘You are two halves of one whole. Drusilla

has simply separated you and allowed you to
flourish above your human side. Neither of you
can function without the other. You were made for
me Nathan both the human and vampire inside
you. The witch has never understood that. She
sees only your destruction and what that can
accomplish for her as a vampire. She is too angry,
too blind to realise that your need for me cannot be
separated from either part of you, nor my love for
you from me, even if you end my life. We are
meant to be together and not even the witch can
stop that from being,’ I whispered.

He was leaning in close to my face again, his

lips brushing against my cheek with the touch of a
feather this time.

I felt him grip my hair and pull it painfully,

forcing my head to lift backwards and my throat to
be exposed. He pressed his lips to my neck and
sniffed. His lips smiled with approval. Then I felt
the tingling graze of his teeth against my vulnerable
skin. The blood in my veins began to pump
excitedly. I fought to keep my wits about me. I
could not let him initiate the mating ritual before he
had fought the challenges otherwise we could never
be together in peace. I moved restlessly fighting

the desire that threatened to carry me away.
Nathan responded by tightening his hold on my
body until I could no longer move.

His breath blew across my ear raising a

pleasurable shiver across my body.

‘I should kill you. It is what she wants. But I

want you just as much as he needs you. And I
don’t want either of them to have you. I want to
possess you myself.’

‘No . . . I need you to be whole again. I

won’t let you take me . . .’

The graze and gentle press of his teeth into

my skin without breaking the surface silenced my
protests. But after a moment I regained my
composure.

‘You have no choice. You cannot fight me,’

he told me.

‘You are not Gabriel. You won’t force me. I

know you won’t.’

‘But you don’t appear to need to be forced,’

he grinned.

I opened my mouth to offer some futile

rebuke when I felt a sharp stinging pain to my side.
I quickly looked sideways and down to find a
dagger protruding from my side. Camille was
backing away from me, disgust mingling with her
tears.

‘He told me to stop you. Gabriel knew you

would fall. The bond is too strong. How could you

hurt Gabriel, he only seeks to protect you. You are
not worthy of his love,’ she sobbed with hysteria.

My body began to slump against the wall. I

was too weak to recover quickly from my fall into
the loch. Nathan held me up. He looked down at
the dagger with disdain and reached to harshly pull
it from my side. I screamed in agony. Now he
turned to look upon Camille with darkly narrowed
eyes.

‘No please, don’t hurt her. She doesn’t

understand . . .’ I begged.

A low growl of anger came from Nathan’s

lips. My eyes were blurring with loss of blood but I
heard a strangled yelp from Camille and the loud
noise of her body falling to the ground in a faint.

‘Nathan, we must hurry. The train is about to

pull in to the next station and we must be gone,’ I
recognised Jason’s voice.

There was the sound of more footsteps and I

grew afraid. If Nathan had not decided to kill me
yet perhaps one of my other knights may complete
the task. But Nathan was to act quickly. To my
surprise he ignored Jason and the others and pulled
me back into the carriage. With his mind he
opened the carriage door.

A flurry of wind and snowflakes whistled

through the carriage and blew against my face.
Nathan scooped my injured form up into his arms
and without further hesitation he jumped from the

moving train carrying me with him.

Chapter Twelve

We tumbled down the bank when we landed,

separated from each other. My whole body spun in
a roll that I dreaded would never end. The thick
wet snow covered my body and invaded my hair
soaking me through. I could faintly see Nathan ‘s
dark shape rolling next to me. I decided that I
needed to be up and running from him the moment
I came to a rest.

Eventually the torture ended and I hurried to

haul my aching bleeding body to my feet and began
heading for the trees as the end of the train
clattered past. I clutched at my side that refused to
stop it’s bleeding and a terrible anger overtook me.

‘Where are you going?’ A dark deep voice

commanded an immediate answer.

I did not turn around and kept my movement

constant and undeterred. But I answered him with
sharpness.

‘Somewhere no one will wish to cause me

anymore harm.’

I stumbled and growled with impatience at

my insufferable weakness. Must I continue to
suffer so much pain and agony? Why did so many
people dislike me and want to destroy me? My
cousins initially wished to harm me then Sebastian,
Drusilla and now Nathan. I felt sorry for myself.
Self pity is not a worthy trait and my anger only
burned all the more because I was ashamed that I
felt it.

I heard Nathan’s footsteps crunch through the

snow as he began to follow me closely but he did
not make any move to stop me.

‘You are going the wrong way. My men will

have left the train and will be hunting us from the
direction in which you travel.’

I did not seem to care.
‘Perhaps I will just let them catch up with me

and end my miserable existence. At least there will
be no more pain or hatred,’ I shouted into the
freezing air.

I felt his hand wind tightly around my wrist

and turn me to face him.

‘I do not desire your death. I will not let you

die. I do not wish it.’

I raised my chin at him with haughty

disapproval.

‘Oh, so you have changed your mind now,

Lord Valancourt. I thought your mistress desired
you to kill me and you served her with the loyalty
of a faithful dog,’ I retaliated with contempt.

The moment my loose words left my mouth I

regretted them. The blackness returned to his eyes
and his hand was suddenly tightly around my throat
and my feet were lifting from the earth beneath me.

‘You trifle with my temper. I am no one’s

dog,’ he told me with fierce anger.

I stared at him, fear threatening to overwhelm

me but I would not let him see it. Just as he was
not anyone’s dog I would not be made to cower in
fear at the feet of another.

‘And I am not afraid of you nor your

strength. You may kill me but I no longer care if
you do. I will not kneel at your feet. I am your
Queen, demon.’ I informed him with determination.

His black predatory eyes widened and he

turned his head on one side to study me with the
same curiosity he had used to looked upon me on
the train. He did not speak but loosened his grip
and allowed me to drop to the ground in an untidy
heap. I coughed and spluttered as I forced myself
to rise again and resume my disorganised flight. I
did not even know where I was to go. I had to
make a plan and decipher what I should do to fight
Drusilla. Everything in my world was disintegrating
around me and there seemed there was nothing I
could do. I was hunted like prey by my enemies

and those who had first sought to protect me.

‘You will not leave,’ Nathan commanded as I

began to walk again. ‘You will stay with me. I will
not permit you to leave my side. You are weak and
in need of blood.’

‘I will go where I choose, Nathan.’
Once again his footsteps crunched through

the snow to follow me.

‘I will not be disobeyed,’ he thundered at me.
I would have turned to challenge his words

but my vision was now so blurred both by my
injury and the snow that fell around us in thick
flakes that I stumbled and tripped upon my skirt. I
fell to land on my face. I felt defeated and broken.
A part of me wanted to lie there and sob like a
child. I hated Drusilla, I hated what she had done
to the new life I had just started as a Taleian hybrid
and most of all I hated that she had taken Nathan
from me and turned him into someone I did not
even know or trust. Her cruel revenge would
indeed have fulfilled her want.

I moaned with pain and lifted my head to see

Nathan’s boots in front of me. I tried in vain to
summon the will to rise, afraid of what he was to do
next but he was already lifting my arm to turn my
body and raise me from the ground.

‘I do not need your assistance, sir,’ I

stubbornly hissed, still vexed by the fear he
resonated within me.

‘I beg to differ, madam,’ he told me firmly.
It seemed I was to be given no choice but to

accept his chivalry. He stooped and wound his arm
around my back and one under my legs to lift me
into his arms again. The act proved more painful
than anticipated and I could not help but to cry out
my discomfort. Nathan paid my utterance no
attention and began to march at a fast pace through
the snow carrying my injured body with enviable
ease into the night. I did not where we travelled or
what were his intentions despite my breathless
urgent questions. He refused to answer.
Eventually my body could take no more torment
and sought solace in sleep.

I woke to the sounds of feeding. It stirred my

blood. My body ached with the compulsion to
feed. I opened my eyes and felt the glow of a
brightly lit fire warm my face. I lay upon the snow
wrapped in Nathan’s riding coat. It smelt of him
and I could not stop myself from holding it tight
around me so that I might feel him close.

I slowly sat up to find him standing across

from me, feeding from a poorly clothed man.
Nathan appeared to be taking his fill from the man
and I doubted there was much life left in the poor
wretch. I curled my tongue around my incisors
feeling them sharpen in anticipation.

Suddenly Nathan pushed at the man and

knocked him to the floor. He fell dead into the

snow a bloody mess. I watched Nathan wipe his
mouth and turn to look at me. There was
unmistakable anxiety in his eyes. For a time, my
own Nathan looked upon me and then he was gone
as quickly as he appeared. I grew excited. Nathan
was fighting Drusilla’s poison to be whole again. I
could feel it, see it. Even the demon inside him
needed the other part of his soul and was allowing
his return. Somehow my presence was a catalyst.

Nathan walked towards me with purpose and

I thrilled at his approach just as much as I reeled
away with fear. He came to stand over me.

‘You must feed or you will not recover quick

enough and we need to leave soon. I will hunt for
you,’ he told me abruptly.

I stifled an unexpected giggle, possibly from a

submerged hysteria. ‘Mr Darwin would be proud
of you as a hunter gatherer,’ I said somewhat
sarcastically.

Nathan did not seem to share my amusement

and gave me a rather threatening frown. I hushed
quickly.

‘You will stay here and not move while I am

gone. I will not go far. Drusilla will be displeased
and will send the Lycans to retrieve us. You must
not disobey me or you will die at their hands or
perhaps mine if you try my patience any further,’
the demon informed me.

‘I am tired of your threats, Lord Valancourt,’ I

snapped unable to bear his condescending tone.

‘You will do well to heed them.’
‘What do you intend to do with me?’
‘I intend to keep you. When you are near

this sickness you and he call love eases and he
stops his torment in my mind. I have a need for
you I do not understand. Once we are safe, I will
decide what we are to do.’

‘I need to reclaim my throne.’
‘You have no need of it now. Your place will

be with me.’

I stood up slowly, still feeling pain and hunger

racking my body.

‘You insult me, sir. Being Queen is my reason

for existence. It is you who stands by my side as
my Knight of Swords. It is our destiny to serve and
protect our people.’

‘Hush your chatter,’ he snapped in a loud

voice. ‘Sit. We will talk of it no more.’

I thought it best to sit and not agitate him any

further. My mind began to tirelessly work on a
means of escape. How was I to retrieve all of what
had been taken from me and protect the one I
loved. Gabriel had talked of Taleian elders in
London who would be able to advise me and there
was Xavier – if he could harness his power might
we all work together to right history? Would we
prevent war between the Lycans and the Taleians
and put a stop to any other devious plans Drusilla

had not cared to share with us.

Nathan was preparing to leave. He towered

about me and issued me with a dark warning in that
soft velvet voice of his that left me trembling.

‘Stay close by the fire. If I find you gone I

will track you down and rip you apart.’

I swallowed hard.
‘I will be here for I have nowhere else to go

and for no other reason,’ I told him with haughty
defiance.

He gave me a cold look and then bent to grip

the collar of the poor unfortunate dead tramp to
drag into the forest behind him.

I had to admit I felt fearful alone in the forest

despite my own predatory nature. I did not like the
dark or the strange noises I could hear. It had
begun snowing again and I sought the comfort of
Nathan’s coat even though I did not require its
warmth. But Nathan was to be true to his word
returned quickly.

He walked back into our makeshift camp

carrying a helpless young woman over his shoulder
as though she were a slain deer. I wondered if he
had retrieved her from a nearby farm. I stood up
ready to go to her aid but it was not pity I felt for
the girl when I stood it was an insatiable hunger. I
could hear and feel the beat of her heart and the
rich blood that nourished it. I stepped back fighting
to keep my control.

He threw her down at my feet and watched

me with interest.

‘Feed Juliet.’
The girl was dazed, half fainting.
‘I can’t, I begged.
‘You must or I will force you,’ Nathan

ordered.

‘But I have never fed from someone on my

own before. I have been fed like a baby by Gabriel
and the others but I have never had a chance to
learn. I do not wish to hurt anyone.’

I took another step back from the girl and

began to fidget with my skirt. Nathan appeared
irritated that I had not accepted his gift. He bent
and caught hold of the girl’s hair to pull her up. She
gave a high pitched squeal like one you would hear
in a farmyard. I trembled.

‘I will teach you,’ he informed me.
He held the girl up against him and pulled her

head to one side exposing her neck. I watched the
tip of his tongue lightly lick her skin and saw that
she became still and quiet. Then he cruelly raised
his mouth only to viciously plunge his teeth into her
neck and draw her blood. He only took a little and
then raised his head. He beckoned me with his
outstretched hand.

I shook my head, afraid. He reached over

and caught hold of my arm in a harsh unforgiving
grip and pulled me towards him and the girl. His

hand moved to my hair and before I knew it he was
forcing my lips to the incision he had made the
helpless woman’s neck. I could not resist the blood
and as my lips brushed against its velvet texture I
sank my teeth into her skin and drank like a babe at
her mother’s breast.

Nathan held me there. His fingers were still

entwined within my hair, using them to hold me in
place at the girl’s neck but after a while, as I fed
contentedly, I felt his grip relax and noticed that his
fingers now stroked through my hair in a gentle
caress.

I found it in me to hold back from killing the

girl. I had no wish to take a life and to my relief
Nathan was not about to force me. He was sniffing
at the air and directing his attention to the dark
shadows that surrounded our camp.

There was menace and fierceness to his tone

when he spoke.

‘We must leave. ‘The Lycans are here and

unlike myself they will not let you live.’

Chapter Thirteen

Nathan pulled the young woman away from

me. She fell to the ground whimpering. He made
his way to the fire and kicked snow upon it to
destroy it. He unsheathed the sword that was
fastened to his side and took hold of my hand
tightly making me grimace as he drew me painfully
to his side. His eyes blackened as they searched
the forest for an unseen presence. I watched him
sniff the air again and joined him. I was also able
inhale their earthy animal smell. The lycans were
approaching fast from the north. I gave Nathan an
anxious look but he was staring down at the girl
savagely baring his teeth.

‘Run,’ he growled at her. ‘Before I rip your

throat away.’

The girl screamed and scrabbled to her feet. I

began to pull on his hand as she turned and began
to run in the direction of the advancing lycans.

‘Nathan, she will be killed. We must help

her.’

‘Yes she will. I am counting on it. She will

distract the lycans while we flee. They cannot
resist the taste of human flesh.’

‘Nathan, I protested, doing all in my power to

wrench my hand free of his hold. ‘Your cruelty . .
.’

I was afraid that all I accomplished was to

push his demon temper over the bounds of
gentlemanly civility. He gave a sharp pull on my
hand and brought me close to face him. I was
forced to stand on my tiptoes as he brought the
blade of his sword against my throat and pressed it
against my skin.

‘Now is not the time for your wilful

obedience. It will cost you your life. You care too
much for the humans. They would deny us
existence without a moment’s hesitation,’ he hissed
at me. ‘I wonder how he tolerated you?’

‘You are a cruel monster,’ I challenged.
‘Silence,’ he snapped in that dark menacing

but smooth as silk voice that always brought my
attention to heel. ‘You must be tamed. You will
obey me as Knight of Swords or I will punish your
wilfulness with a horsewhip.’

‘Nathan,’ I was genuinely shocked for I knew

he spoke the truth of his intentions. ‘You push my
own patience, sir. As your Queen I will not tolerate
your behaviour. It is I who commands your
obedience.’ I hissed back knowing that I toyed
with my life, yet my blood stirred with need at the
conflict between us as though it was a potent
aphrodisiac. I could not help but blush at my

thoughts with shame. A cruel smile of triumph
curled his lips indicating that he knew of my
feelings.

‘You are no longer Queen of Talus and you

will be ruled by your mate.’

I began struggling in his grip, ready to force

him to take back his vile words when a loud howl
like that a wolf would make echoed through the
forest. We both froze. He lowered the sword from
my throat and replaced it back in its sheath. Then
in one fluid motion he threw my aching injured
body over his shoulder and began to run.

Danger was all around us and it’s scent

thickened the air and made it heavy. Nathan
moved fast despite the snow around his feet and the
burden of my body. Somewhere, not far in the
distance I heard the loud piercing screams of a
woman . Nathan picked up speed and I clung on to
his shirt and the back of his vest for fear of falling.
The screams grew fainter and then a deathly silence
fell upon the forest.

‘The human is dead, now nothing deters them

from us,’ Nathan coldly informed me.

For a moment I closed my eyes, feeling for

the girl and the grisly death she had just met. But I
was to mourn her death at a later date, if we were
to be given the luxury of escape. I lifted my head
feeling the rush of cold air and the panting of
animal breath not far from us. The sky had cleared

and the winter moonlight was piercing though the
bare trees. I could see three fearsome lycans, one
directly behind us and one to either side running
down the banks through trees towards us. I did not
have time to utter a breathless warning to Nathan.

The lycan to our left caught up with us first.

His attack had both Nathan and I falling into the
snow with force. I was thrown clear of Nathan and
landed heavily on my back. One of the lycans was
upon me almost immediately. I attempted to crawl
away but the monster slashed his viciously sharp
claws down across the back of my head and back
to rip the material of my long black velvet coat and
my silken ivory vest and blouse to my skin. The
sting was painful and drew a loud cry from my lips.

But anger at my pain was to give me

strength. I turned in his grip as he pulled me up and
I shape shifted, using the gift only given to the
females of the Taleian race. The transition was to
hurt in my injured condition and I hoped I would be
able to keep the form I had chosen long enough to
inflict damage upon the creatures and aid our
escape. I rose out of the lycan’s grip in my
favourite incarnation as a golden eagle.

I soared into the air away from the monster to

see Nathan being circled by the other two lycans,
With the third now joining them I had no time to
waste. I watched Nathan swirl his sword around to
tackle one of them who came at him. He slashed

viciously at the lycan’s hide but his preoccupation
enabled the others to advance.

I swooped low and flapped my wings at their

large hunched black shapes wildly. I dug my talons
into the heads and scratched mercilessly at their
faces, beating my large wings to prevent them from
attacking Nathan whilst he dealt with the third
lycan. They howled like the dogs they were as
their blood began to drip onto the snow.

I could feel my energy sapping. I was not

strong enough to have changed. Gabriel was right
but I had to continue or we would die. I
endeavoured in my relentless pursuit of the lycans
as they hit out at me with their claws, narrowly
missing my body. I could see Nathan was now
devoid of his sword and wrestling in the snow with
the lycan. But he managed to raise himself and
stamp a foot hard on the creature’s stomach to hold
him in place as he reached down to grip the lycan
under his chin and began to pull at his head like a
man possessed by madness.

I hoped Nathan would hurry with his kill.

The sight sickened me and I was growing weak.
My distraction was to prove a mistake. I was not
mindful of my own challenge. As Nathan broke the
neck of the Lycan and neatly pulled his head from
his man like shoulders, one of the other lycan’s
swipes reached up to hit my bird body. I was
suddenly falling to the ground. I felt my form begin

to shimmer and fought hard to maintain it and
regain height.

It was a fight I would win and I soared away

from the lycans as Nathan engaged them in battle,
now possessed of his ancient sword again. He
majestically struck out at the lycans with a sword
fighting elegance I envied . His blade ripped
cleanly across the black and grey stomach of one of
the monsters and his insides began to spill. It was
not enough to stop the fight. Nathan had to take
the lycan’s head just like he had to do with any of
our own kind. As a Taleian female hybrid my
mental powers were stronger than any male’s but
my physical strength in comparison was mute. But
as Queen of Talus I could have commanded the
lycan’s minds and brought about their destruction
in an alternative way such was the vast mental
power awarded to the Queen. I felt my resentment
at Drusilla rise again.

My anger would serve me no valuable

purpose, my main concern was to assist Nathan as
much as I could but it was hard to dampen it. I
flew at the other lycan as he tried to come to his
brethren’s aid and attack Nathan from behind. But
he appeared to have learnt how to deal with a
attacking bird of prey. He swiped at my body hard,
scratching his claws along my stomach. I was
falling once again. I could see my blood dripping
from the air staining the snow below me as I

careered towards the ground.

Nathan swung his sword high and sideways

slipping his blade through the lycan’s neck as the
half man/half wolf clawed his arm. Now free of my
interference the lycan caught Nathan’s neck in a
brutal hold and lock as the other’s head rolled
across the snow away from them. I had to find the
strength within me to come to carry on or Nathan
would die.

Before I hit the ground, my form shimmered

and I transformed into a animal I had very much
admired in my learning, a snow leopard. An animal
whose skill for fighting would not be hampered by
the snowy terrain. I touched the ground with my
paws as I landed upon it.

Nathan’s arms were raised as the creature

forced him on his knees as he strained to remove
Nathan’s head. Nathan pulled at the lycan’s shaggy
mane trying to tear away his head. I bounded into
a sprint and launched myself atop the lycan and
savagely tore at the flesh upon his back.

The creature gave a roar of pain and stood,

taking Nathan with him. But he would not let go of
my Knight of Swords. I ripped away his flesh and
sank my teeth in deeper until I felt them graze
against his bone. He moved from side to side trying
to shake my hold but I am proud to say he could
not deter my hold upon his back.

Finally he had to let go of Nathan and both of

his hands reached around behind him tugging at my
fur with his claws to rip me from him. His strength
was to outweigh my own and as Nathan recovered
himself the lycan succeeded and threw me a
distance away high against the trunk of a tree. The
jolt shook my body and previous injuries with pain
it was to also shake my senses.

I began to slide down the tree still in animal

form unable to stop my fall as darkness gathered in
around my vision. But I was awake long enough to
see Nathan run his sword through the lycan’s
middle and then turn in a perfectly executed circle
of movement as the creature fell to his knees and
strike his head from his shoulders. As I hit the
ground I felt my human form reshape itself and my
world slept.

I awoke to find my head upon Nathan’s lap as

he sat in the snow against a tree. Dawn was
breaking and casting a faint misty orange glow over
the forest. His fingers stroked through my hair that
lay spread over his legs in the way he had arranged
it in his tireless caress as I slept. I could see love in
his gaze upon me and the confusion it brought to
the demon within him.

I lay contented for a moment. I didn’t want

to speak. I just wanted to feel this peace, to hear
the birds chatter among us in the freezing air and
watch the sun ascend her throne in the winter sky.

‘How do you feel?’ he asked me softly in his

clipped tone.

‘At peace,’ I answered with a smile. ‘I know

it will not last but for this precise moment I am
happy.’

He gave a frown.
‘But you are injured, exhausted.’
‘Do not ruin it Nathan.’
‘You need blood. Your bravery . . .’ his voice

was wistful and then it’s dark tone returned
abruptly. ‘I did not expect you to assist me. I
thought you might rejoice in my death,’ he said
awkwardly.

‘I tried to lift my head but he guided it back

down against this leg clearly displeased with my
movement and continued playing his fingers
through my hair. I warmed against his soothing
touch and the surprising tenderness the demon
displayed.

I looked up at him.
‘I am your mate for better or for worse I will

always assist you whether I should or not, just as
you are doing for me now.’

He looked uncomfortable again.
‘Come we have work to do. Can you sit?’
With his help I slowly sat curious as to what

work we had to do.

I looked down at my ripped bloody coat, silk

vest and blouse that had also been ripped from the
front and felt exposed. But I was relieved to see he

was not paying any attention to the gape of material
exposing my bodice. I was sure it was the only
thing keeping my poor broken body together in one
piece!

I could not help myself. I ached for comfort.

Without caution I pressed my body against his and
clung on to him, hoping he would find it in him to
hold me. At first there was no movement only
coldness but I persisted and eventually I felt his
arms move awkwardly around me. It was enough.
We sat in silence for a while until it was broken by
Nathan.

‘Come we must find safe shelter. I have

decided that we must work on a way to reclaim
your throne.’

I stared at him surprise.

Chapter Fourteen

Nathan held out his hand out to help me rise.

Once I stood he suddenly frowned and narrowed
his eyes darkly. I grew afraid of his apparent
anger. The demon who had mastered his senses
made him unpredictable and dangerous. But I was
to find relief that his temper was not centred upon
me when he swung around away from me in one
sharp movement to search the forest with his eyes.

His voice was imbued with bitterness and a

fierceness that made me shrink from him when he
spoke.

‘She is watching us. I can feel it.’
‘Drusilla?’ I questioned. ‘But she cannot read

our minds.’

He turned back to me. He appeared

impatient with my lack of understanding.

‘The witch is cunning. She sees everything.

She sees pictures like those taken by a camera, only
they are vibrant in colour and they move. Do not
doubt me. She has shown me.’

He turned again, unsheathing his sword to

point it threateningly into the air towards an
invisible ethereal being.

‘I know you watch us witch,’ he shouted into

the air. ‘You should have learned that you cannot
control me. I do not exist to serve you. I will not
be tamed,’ he moved forward and then to the side
in an agitated manner. ‘You thought you could
keep my Queen from me, force me to destroy what
was mine to keep for all time. You are a pretender
to the throne of Talus. It is time you were removed
and Juliet was crowned.’

His speech was animated, passionate. I was

warmed with love at the return of his loyalty to me
yet chilled by the venom and anger he felt towards
Drusilla. He seemed determined to taunt the witch
and provoke her into action. I feared we would be
ill prepared for it. But I dared not question his
method.

‘My loyalty and my love is with my Queen

however much you or I fight it. The bond cannot
be broken. Your reign is at and end witch and now
I bring your death.’

An angry female cry of pure rage erupted and

echoed around the forest. The birds scattered and
flew away. A sharp icy wind blew whipping up the
snow around us as the sky clouded with grey.
Nathan gave a deep sarcastic laugh of triumph.
‘She comes.’

To my shame I felt myself retreating pulling

what was left of my velvet coat around me,
suddenly feeling the icy tinge of fear upon my skin.

I was not ready to face Drusilla. Fractured images
of our last meeting tormented my mind. I was
weak, unable to defend myself. How could Nathan
do this to me? I felt my brow furrow into an angry
frown at his back. We would die for sure this time.
I determined to leave to gain strength to fight
another day as I had planned. But Nathan was to
forbid my departure.

He reached behind him to grasp my arm the

moment I tried to leave as though he had
anticipated my action. He forcibly dragged my
reluctant body towards his side with a cruel
harshness I abhorred. He held me tight to prevent
my escape and I was made to halt my protestations
for freedom as the wind grew stronger shaking the
snow from the bare trees to the ground with an
eerie howl.

My fear grew until I trembled. Nathan must

have felt the quiver in my body for he turned to me,
a softness returning to his eyes. He stuck his sword
into the snow and cupped the side of my face with
gentleness despite the firm crushing hold he
maintained with his other on my arm. He tilted my
face towards him.

‘Do not be afraid, my Queen. I will not let

the witch hurt you.’

‘Why are you doing this? We are not

prepared. Why the change of heart to make me
Queen again? I thought you did not desire it.’

He smiled. ‘I thought about our lives as you

slept. I cannot fight my destiny any longer. I seek
the peace of our union and of the power it brings
us. My blood yearns for yours. I have tried to fight
it with all of my strength just as the witch forced
me too but your name is imprinted upon it. I can
do nothing to remove the brand. The bond that
exists between the Knight of Swords and his Queen
may not be broken. Just as the ancient power of
Talus cannot be parted from its rightful Master.’

His voice lowered to a whisper as his hand on

my arm moved around my waist and brought me
closer to face him. The outline of a woman
appeared before us in the snow suffused with a
swirling gold colour. Drusilla was nearly upon us.
My trembling increased.

‘Watch and trust Juliet. I speak the truth,’ his

voice was a soft dark caress as he bent his head to
study me closely before brushing his lips with the
lightness of a feather against mine. ‘Do not be
afraid,’ he told me with firmness gazing down at my
lips. ‘Nothing will come between us again.’ Once
again I felt the more urgent press of his mouth and
found my body and spirit obediently responding
with need until the spell was broken by Drusilla’s
venomous voice of hatred.

Nathan refused to answer the witch

immediately as she shouted his name in command.
I believed he sought to teach her a lesson, one you

would instruct a tempestuous child to learn to
politely await your attention. He would not remove
his eyes from me. I noticed that they twinkled with
mirth and the heavy darkness that clouded his soul.
He truly meant to kill Drusilla. To the shame of my
conscience I was glad of it.

He tilted my face up towards him once again

and bestowed another urgent kiss upon my mouth.
I whispered his name in fear lest we provoke the
witch but it was quite clear that was his intention
and he hushed me.

I felt a sudden rush of violent energy between

us lifting my hair from my shoulders as Drusilla
demanded that Nathan turn to obey her. But the
energy was to do us no harm. I turned towards the
witch when Nathan removed his hand from my face
and heard him laugh.

Drusilla wore a jade green velvet coat

trimmed with gold and satin that tied around her
throat. The hood covered her hair and the plain
gold feminine Venetian mask that she wore gave
her angry taut body a confusing appearance of
vulnerability.

‘You would betray me with her. I sent you to

kill her. I will finish your work for you vampire.
Come to me Juliet and I will tear your head from
your shoulders with my bare hands and force you
to endure a painful death.’

‘You will try and fail witch. I see you still

have a flair for the dramatics,’ Nathan teased her.

She shot the burst of energy with her fingers

towards us once again, trying to compel my mind. I
cried out feeling the force enter my mind Nathan
tightened his grip upon me and held me against him
protectively as I feared the worse. But her power
lingered for only a moment and then dissolved. I
was confused.

Nathan was grinning with malicious triumph.
Drusilla growled her anger and tried again

and again.

‘It is just as I thought Drusilla. The power

you stole from my Queen has tried to suffuse with
your body but does not recognise you as its
mistress. It has awakened to your deceit just as I
have. The Queen’s power knows it’s true ruler now
and it will not harm her. It will only seek to protect
her as I do.’

‘That is impossible Nathan. The power is

commanded it does not live as an entity on its own,’
Drusilla spat with contempt.

‘You are wrong. It does when it is separated

from its rightful owner. You cannot break the
ancient power of Talus.’

Nathan let go of me and pulled his sword

from the ground to raise it at the witch, pointing its
tip to her throat. She froze.

‘Now I will take your head and reclaim the

throne of Talus on behalf of my Queen and ensure

peace between ourselves and the lycans.’

‘You are too late, ‘Drusilla hissed. ‘My

harpies have already spread the news of the
Queen’s death. Some believe it and right now they
war against each other in London. They believe
that the lycans killed your Queen in retaliation for
the murder of their Lycan brother and Scottish
leader Marcus Duart and his family.’

‘Nathan, she has started a war. I do not

understand Gabriel was talking with some of our
people and telling them that my death was a lie ....’

‘Yes, but they felt the loss of your power

when I took it. All of your people felt your loss just
as they felt your birth. They did not believe
Gabriel. Besides I now have him in my power
while his human love is sport and entertainment for
my army.’

My anger overwhelmed my fear and I made

the mistake of attempting to move from Nathan’s
side to vent it upon Drusilla. His hand moved
quickly to my wrist and pulled me to heel. I
struggled but it was futile. He pushed the tip of the
blade into Drusilla’s throat until it pressed against
her skin. She gave a nervous laugh but persisted in
riling us both.

‘So, you see Nathan, Juliet, it does not matter

if my power will not work against you I have won
and I can always employ my army to do things the
old fashioned human way to hunt you down and kill

you both.’

‘I look forward to the challenge,’ Nathan

smiled.

‘What about Xavier? What have you done

with Xavier?’ I questioned a rise of hysteria evident
in my tone. I could not help it. My fear for
Nathan’s younger brother was strong.

‘The Magician?’
I nodded and repeated my plea for her to tell

me but she just laughed and then her form was
shimmering and dissolving into gold and lifting to
be carried on the wind that rose around us again.

‘Why did you let her go?’ I demanded of

Nathan.

‘Because I cannot kill her until the power is

yours again. It is my belief that it will not simply
transfer itself or it would have done it by now. It is
trapped within her and will by all accounts die with
her if we do not succeed.’

‘Do you think she has Xavier? Has she hurt

him?’

Nathan rubbed his thumb in a soothing

motion over my knuckles.

‘Calm yourself. I do not believe that she has

him. He is also more cunning than he would have
you believe. He managed to outwit the lycans
before he was caught and he will have done the
same to Drusilla. We must find him, he is the only
one who will be able to transfer the power from

Drusilla. We have no time to lose. I know you
have a link with him in your mind. Call him.’

But I was doubtful. ‘What if she has him?

What if he can’t or won’t come. He will think little
of me now after what I did to Gabriel on the train.’

Nathan gave a hollow laugh.
‘Oh, he will come. He cannot but come to

your aid, he is in love with you.’

Chapter Fifteen

I closed my eyes and called out to Xavier

with my mind. I was relieved to find that he was
not far away from us after jumping from the train to
evade capture. He had been tracking us all night.
He had viewed events through our link and was
keen to make his older brother answer to his harsh
treatment of me. I pleaded for him to keep his
senses and treat Nathan and his demon nature with
the utmost care. But he would not be told and he
left me feeling a mixture of relief and fear for his
arrival.

I opened my eyes and found Nathan gazing

intently upon my face. He read my worried
expression and frowned. I felt him push at my
thoughts to ascertain the reason for my distress but
the bond I still maintained with Xavier’s assistance
remained intact. Nathan growled, infuriated by my
barrier and scolded me.

‘I have every right to be in your mind as your

mate and knight, yet you bar me with the assistance
of one of my challengers.’

He caught my wrist and pulled me to him,

‘Your disloyalty and disobedience is disrespectful.’

I leaned away from him but ushered strength

and indignation into my words, ‘Yes, you do have a
right but until you are whole and your behaviour as
a gentleman improves you are barred from my
thoughts, sir.’

My statement only served to rile him more,

‘It is not only I who feels your disloyalty it is the
human inside me. He desires to be in your thoughts
as much as I. You are weak with injury and have
begun to trust me again. It has given me a foothold
into your mind without you even noticing and the
advantage is mine. I can force you to accept our
bond once more if you leave me no choice.’

My head was suddenly filled with painful

energy that made me cry out. His finger tips
caressed my chin and lifted my face to him. His
features softened as his thumb stroked along my
cheek.

‘Nathan, please,’ I protested. ‘I cannot let

you in . . .’

‘Shh, I do not wish to hurt you allow me to

enter I will not have to hurt you anymore,’ he
whispered gently as he thrust another sharp painful
burst of energy into my mind without warning. My
thoughts scattered as he began to break down the
wall Xavier had helped me construct to keep him
out.

‘I must be inside you. You wrongly believe

Xavier seeks to protect you from me but he tricks

you. It is not all he intends. He wishes to establish
a bond with you as a mate. It is part of the criminal
art a challenger will employ to drive me from your
mind and your life. I must be present in your
thoughts and you in mine or he will weaken our
bond. You must be made to understand I will not
permit any Taleian to take you from me and I will
do what must be done even if it brings you pain.’

I felt Xavier attempt to maintain the wall in

our link as I struggled in Nathan’s mental and
physical grip. I had used most of my strength in
shape shifting to fight the lycans and my successive
injuries had left me scarred and my mental prowess
was depleted. I had little left to fight with. And I
did not care much for the small voice inside me that
told me Nathan spoke the truth about Xavier
however noble his intentions had first appeared.

Nathan’s eyes narrowed and there was malice

in his voice as he slipped easily into my mind now.
‘Do you not see how he has been building a bond
between you?’ he questioned. Nathan’s hypnotic
blue eyes held my gaze to attention as he
penetrated the entrance to my bare soul.

‘Normally you are so strong yet you have

been so weak with injury and pain at my loss that
even Gabriel has broken down some of your
defences,’ he informed me.

There was a pause as he read more of my

thoughts. A dark cloud suddenly covered his

handsome features turning them hard and angry. I
feverishly trembled in his grasp wondering what
secret he had discovered that displeased him and
the punishment he was about to deal out.

‘Gabriel means to take you from me when

you are Queen again. He does not seek you as a
mate like the others, he only seeks control of your
power and my title as Knight of Swords. He is
determined to use violence and rape you to make
you his.’ I struggled again not wanting to hear him
ravage my mind.

‘He told you of his intentions and I believe

you are more afraid of him than you are of me.
You should be afraid of us both in equal measure. I
will kill him slowly for his arrogance and allow you
to watch in retribution.’

‘No. I don’t want you to hurt anyone.’
Nathan pulled me closer, ‘Why must you

persist in questioning me? The challengers are
dangerous and you cannot survive their attacks
without my protection.’

He caught hold of my hair and pulled back

my head so that he might look into my eyes again.
He had just about forced his way through every
barrier I had erected. It felt as though a great force
of water was pouring into my mind and washing
away everything in its path. Xavier’s mind was
retreating from mine. The choice to break our link
was his alone. He was leaving me at Nathan’s

mercy.

Nathan gave a grin, ‘Your magician is a

coward, he retreats from your mind ungallantly
leaving you to fend for yourself. Do you see his
treachery and falsehood now? He retreats because
he is afraid I will find out what he knows but he is
too late.’

‘What are you talking about?’
‘He knows of Gabriel’s plan. He has been

coerced to win your trust keep you supple, pliant
and quietly obedient while Gabriel directed you to
London to the elders. There you were to be kept
under lock and key away from me until your power
was returned. Then Gabriel would forcibly unite
with you. But none of them realised Xavier wished
to make you his alone. Your magician has played
us all for fools.’

I opened my mouth to voice my anger but no

words came out. I’d heard the footsteps in the
snow too late and although Nathan still held my
hair and stared at me he was instantly prepared for
the intruder. His sword was outstretched to the side
with lightening ferocity to clash with Xavier’s own
weapon. With a sharp cruel tug upon my hair
Nathan swung me behind him and pushed me down
to the ground out of harm’s way.

Xavier must have heard our conversation. He

was angry, more angry than I had ever seen him
before. He clearly meant to end Nathan’s life but

Nathan laughed at him as he easily beat him back in
their duel. The two men whirled around each other
hoping for the perfect strike. I shouted for them to
stop but I would not be heard.

I felt the same sense of foreboding the day I

boarded the train as I glanced around the forest.
Some danger was approaching us from the East and
these fools fought like mad dogs. I feared Drusilla
was being true to her word and allowing her army,
the lycans and my knights to hunt us down.

I rose to my feet in time to see Xavier thrust

his free hand towards Nathan and a blue light shoot
forth from his palm towards Nathan’s chest.
Nathan was to dodge it’s path and it landed to burn
into the snow. It reminded me of the flames I could
produce from my hands as Queen. I wished I still
had that power. I could have put an end to their
fighting in an instant. We had more to worry about
than they realised.

Again Xavier aimed his palm and the light but

this time Nathan shielded himself with the blade of
his sword and reflected it back. Xavier was
surprised and unprepared. It struck him squarely in
the chest. He cried out as the light burnt a hole
through his flesh. He fell backwards into the snow,
a small trail of black smoke emanating from the
wound. I sought to run to his aid but Nathan
caught my wrist and brought me to his side.

‘Stay here. He is not to be trusted,’ he

commanded with sternness.

I nodded convinced I should not push

Nathan’s temper by the dark look he gave me in
warning.

Nathan walked over to Xavier as he

attempted to rise. Nathan towered over his
younger brother and raised his foot to bring it down
upon his wound. Xavier shouted in the agony of
pain but Nathan paid his moans no attention. He
lowered his blade across Xavier’s throat.

‘You are not yet skilled enough to take me on,

Xavier. You are a weak opponent and your powers
as a magician are undeveloped. Now, I could kill
you but that would cause my mate distress and I
fear she is too weak at the moment to take any
more pain. Instead I have a way for you to redeem
your conduct towards our Queen. But first you
must confess the truth to her for I know she doubts
your participation in Gabriel’s treason plot.’

‘Rot in hell, Nathan.’
‘So, you choose death?’
Nathan began to slice into the skin that

covered Xavier’s throat with his sword. I cried out
in horror but was immediately hushed into silence
with sharp words.

‘Without me, Juliet can’t get her power back

or her throne,’ Xavier gurgled as blood dripped
from the wound Nathan continued to cut along his
throat.

‘I will find another way,’ Nathan told him

with a confident untroubled smile that chilled my
very bones. ‘Now be a good boy and confess and I
will let you live.’

‘For pity’s sake, Nathan he is your brother!’ I

urged.

‘I care little for familial ties at this present

moment. Tell her, Xavier before I take your head!’

‘I never agreed with Gabriel’s plan.’ I

watched Xavier angle his eyes towards me. ‘Many
of the elders didn’t even believe you had survived
but he was determined to bring you to them to
prove it. I was forced into it but I would not have
let him hurt you. I intended to kill him before he
violated you.’

‘Yes, so you could take the prize for yourself,’

Nathan hissed menacingly.

Xavier growled at Nathan and turned away

from us both. His silence was confirmation. I
covered my mouth with my hand feeling a sob
threaten to overwhelm me as tears stung the back
of my eyes at his betrayal.

‘And your agreement to teach me how to

sword fight? That was another lie?’ I demanded.

More silence apart from Nathan’s sarcastic

laughter. I walked away from both of them feeling
the weight of my foolishness and humiliation.

Chapter Sixteen

I stood behind the tree listening to them argue

over me. I seemed to be nothing more than an
object of power and lust for them to covet and
conquer as their own. My anger made me
surprisingly hot. It was high time I asserted myself
as Queen and brought out the suffragist inside me.
I would stand for no more inequality. I
remembered Nathan’s mocking tone as he accused
me of being one when we were first changed.

My temper grew and set my determination on

its path. I would endure their unruly behaviour for
as long as it suited my purpose and then as they set
their greedy eyes upon me when I retrieved my
powers I would teach my knights a lesson they
would never forget. The Queen of Talus would not
be ruled.

Nathan was calling my name, demanding that

I came out from behind the tree at once. A deep
breath forced down my urge to show him the
manner of my feverish temper. I could little afford
to lose my control and grant him the luxury of
another excuse to bring me to task with a

horsewhip when he could lay his hands upon one.
And I feared my hair would not stand for any more
of his brutal pulling of it.

Swallowing my pride I felt a delicious thrill of

power over Nathan in my deceit as I walked
towards him. He still held a limp Xavier by the
collar.

‘I have a plan,’ I announced with authority

not paying Xavier any of my attention or giving
them any opportunity of embarrassing me any
further. ‘Drusilla’s army approaches us from the
East. I can feel them moving fast. We must
capture as many of them as we can and Xavier you
will rid them of Drusilla’s influence and convince
them to work on our behalf,’ I finished haughtily.

Both men stared at me in silent disbelief.

Nathan raised one eyebrow and shook his head as I
glared back at them.

His tone was mocking and cruelly sarcastic

when he spoke, ‘And how do you propose we carry
out this preposterous feat?’

It was my turn to smile with sarcasm, ‘Xavier

will use his power, I will shape shift to surprise
them and you will use your fighting skills. And
here I thought you were quite the fearless warrior,
ready to take on anyone’s army, Lord Valancourt.
Perhaps you mock me because you are a coward,
sir,’ I finished my speech with unlady like shouting.
I could not help myself. But I had to acknowledge

with relief that he could not let Xavier go to exact
the severe punishment his blackened eyes indicated
he wished to give me.

He took two large steps towards me and

growled, dragging Xavier with him. I took two
back in fear inwardly cursing my wayward tongue
but made sure my demeanour and raised chin
remained suitably defiant.

‘If you value your life, woman you will not

dare to question my bravery, again,’ he hissed
baring his teeth at me.

To my shame I could not prevent my body

from trembling at his ferociousness. Yet my temper
would not let him have the last word. But Xavier
was to speak before me as he began to struggle in
Nathan’s grip.

‘You will not lay a hand on her or . . .’
Nathan shook him hard.
‘Or you will do what, Magician?’
Xavier ‘s actions spoke much louder than any

words he may have uttered in retaliation. He
pressed his palm against Nathan’s chest and pushed
with force. To my shocked surprise Nathan lost his
grasp of Xavier and flew backwards into the air
with great speed to crash heavily against the trunk
of an oak tree, just as I had done earlier. I clapped
my hands together gleefully as Nathan sank to the
snowy floor with a thud. It was time Nathan
received a taste of the medicine he so lovingly

handed out to me.

Nathan was up on his feet shaking the snow

from his hair and running back towards Xavier. I
quickly took shelter behind Xavier and urged him,
‘Again, hit him again. Just once and convince him
of what your power can achieve.’

The young man gave me a quick confused

look but Nathan was just about upon us and in a
moment of frenzy Xavier pushed out both of his
hands. Nathan was forced to halt. I felt the pull of
his mind as he fought Xavier’s power with his
mental gifts but he was to make little headway.
Xavier raised his hands and Nathan’s feet left the
ground to hang in mid air.

Nathan was cursing him, threatening terrible

violence to Xavier. But Xavier did not wish to hear
anymore. He pushed his palms towards Nathan and
raised him higher into the air and then threw him
against a tree only to keep hold of him and swing
him against the opposite tree and back and forth in
abject rage.

‘Xavier, that is enough,’ I demanded alarmed

at the depth of his anger. ‘You have proved
yourself. Stop.’

But Xavier would not cease his attack upon

my knight. His eyes were black and a cruel twisted
smile curled his lips as he moved Nathan faster and
faster. I could not bear it any longer. I pushed him
sideways as hard as I could. It was sufficient to

subvert Xavier’s focus and cease Nathan’s torment.

Xavier hissed at me like a devilish swan about

to attack. I stood back in fright as Nathan
crumpled to the ground moaning. Xavier walked
away from me to pick up his sword that lay next to
Nathan’s in the snow. Nathan was lying prostrate,
only his head moved from side to side dazed and
half conscious. I became afraid for his life as
Xavier walked towards him with his sword and
purpose in his walk. I grabbed the boy’s arm
ordering him to end his violence but I received
another hiss and the hard strike of the back of his
hand across my cheek. The force of his painful
blow knocked me away from him and down into
the snow on my side.

It was an effort but I reached Nathan’s side

before Xavier. I positioned myself in front of
Nathan in a protective stance. I had shape shifted
using what little strength I had left into a large
tiger. I growled menacingly at Xavier as he came
towards Nathan with his sword raised to take his
head. I considered attacking him, ripping his
lifeblood from his body and tearing his head with
the tiger’s mighty jaws but I needed him. I growled
again and roared baring my teeth at him in warning
and prowled up and down beside Nathan’s now
unconscious body.

Xavier halted and glared at me.
‘You will not stop me from taking his head.

Out of my way, you do not frighten me.’

His stare intensified and he snarled at me.
‘Back to your human form, woman,’ he

ordered. I growled again and crouched ready to
attack but I was to be stopped by a burning
sensation that engulfed my whole animal body. I
felt my form shimmer and collapse. I slumped face
downwards into the snow back into my human
body.

My reaction was too slow and impeded with

pain. Before I could act, Xavier had turned me
over onto my back and straddled my body to hold
my arms above my head. I looked up at him.

‘Why are you doing this?’ I breathed.
He gave a small cruel laugh.
‘Because I want you. I am one of the many

suitors and challengers for the Queen’s hand. It is
my right to take you from Nathan if he does not
successfully protect you.’

‘I hate you.’
‘Now, now there is no need to take that

impolite tone. You know the mating rules.’

He lowered himself closer to my face.
‘You smell wonderful. I want you right now.

I want to take you in front of him. I want him to
see you submit to me.’

‘You are mad. I will not submit to anyone.’
Xavier shook his head in mock disapproval.
‘I’m afraid you must, you have no choice or

you will be forever hunted until you do. Everyone
wants the Queen as mate and not always for love.
The fact that you are not joined to anyone is
creating a tension between the males in our race.
They are desperate to find a mate and such a
shortage of females makes them wild and not very
gentleman like.’

‘Rather like yourself.’
‘Well needs must, I am afraid. I suppose I

should wait until I have returned your power and
mastered it before I brand you blood with my bite
but perhaps I could just make love to you.’

He held both of my arms down with one

strong hand and stroked his fingers along my cheek
and then traced the curve of my throat. His eyes
followed their progress with lustfully. ‘My brother
wouldn’t like that and I do so want to take
something precious from him. You have such soft
and beautifully pale skin, Juliet.’

I gulped as his invading fingers found the hole

the lycan had created in the vicious swipe of his
talons in my clothes. Xavier stroked the flesh
above my corset. I grew more afraid.

‘Why do you wish to hurt your brother so

much?’

‘Because he has you,’ he answered quickly.

‘I have been wanting you since I heard of your
knights travelling the country for a cure to make
you wake from your curse. It was as though the

knowledge of your existence awakened something
inside me. When I am around you my powers
unfold and increase. I must have you, don’t you
see?’

I decided it would be best to keep him

talking. Perhaps I could deter him from attacking
me with speech.

‘Where did you learn of their quest? I

thought you were at school.’

‘I was. My true father, not the one who gave

me life with my mother, sent me there. One of his
assistants came to tell me he was ill and had to go
away for some time but he would be back and I had
to guard myself against the knights should they
discover me and . . .’

A deep foreboding, stronger than the fear I

now found myself in consumed my body as I asked
him, ‘Xavier, who is your father?’

He laughed.
‘Surely you already know from what I have

said so far. Sebastian is my father. He took me
from my parents as a babe because they were
disturbed by my powers and my dislike for Nathan.
I suppose even then in my presumed fragile and
innocent state I knew he was to have you and I was
born to be one of his challengers,’

The challenger’s mirth increased.
‘Even as a babe I made attacks upon Nathan,

my father told me. He would have many accidents

whenever I was near him. Nathan’s mind denies
the torment I caused him because he feels
misguided love for me but the demon inside him
does not make excuses for me. My parents
recognised what was happening and were at their
wits end so they gave me to Sebastian, who they
wrongly believed an elder of the Taleian race to
raise me as his own.’

My attacker’s eyes widened and brightened

as he gazed upon me and a wonder lit his
expression.

‘Juliet, your eyes sparkle like precious

jewels.’

‘Oh please, Xavier, cease your contemptuous

flattery,’ I told him with anger, shaken by what he
had just told me.

I was rewarded with a sharp slap across my

face. Tears sprang into my eyes as he now verbally
scolded me.

‘You will learn to curb your offensive female

tongue when we are united, Juliet. I shall admire
you as much as I wish to and you will listen to my
flattery in silence whether it offends you or not.’

‘Does Sebastian know you are here?’
He laughed and began to rip at the material

that surrounded the hole in my clothes. I could not
prevent myself from sobbing and vainly struggling
as I considered my fate and the pain that was to
come.

‘No, Sebastian does not know I am here. I

don’t even know where he is and I am glad. He has
controlled me for too long. Father or not he is a
challenger and I will kill him. It is amusing but I
never sensed he was one for all the years I have
known him. I took his precious Book of Talus in
reprisal. No one will ever find it.’

I believed by the way Xavier talked of

Sebastian he did not know of his father’s dual
identity. I did not think it the time to enlighten him.

‘So, it was you who took the book?’
‘Yes. Did you know that I managed to enter

your mind while you were under Sebastian’s curse
of sleep. I let those stupid lycans capture me
because I knew of Drusilla and that she was to take
Nathan and your power. Unfortunately, I could not
prevent her from harming you but I would be there
to pick up the pieces.’

Another sob and cry for Nathan’s rescue

escaped from my lips as Xavier successfully ripped
open my corset. But he continued his story as
though he had not heard me.

‘Did you not also realise that Marcus’s

hateful wife, Kathleen was Drusilla all along?
Marcus’s wife died when she gave birth to her twin
children over eight years ago. The witch used
Marcus’s pain to make him believe she was still
alive so she could force him under her will and
draw Nathan to the castle. She is quite the genius

but I did so want to hurt her when I found her
intention was to kill you.’

I struggled like a wild animal as his cold hand

reached into my corset and gripped at my breast.
He gave a groan of pleasure.

‘Nathan, is right I have deluded your good

nature. He managed to wash me from your bruised
and injured mind but I shall rebuild my bond with
you when I claim you as mine and feed upon your
blood. Now, let me kiss you. I have been patient
long enough.’

A nauseous wave of claustrophobia engulfed

my senses as Xavier settled his weight upon me and
smothered my mouth with his damning kiss. I
struggled for all my life’s worth. I vainly attempted
to call for Nathan once more but he was
unconscious. I was alone in my attack.

Frantically, I fought to shape shift again. I

startled Xavier by turning my shape into that of a
deadly cobra. I wound myself tight around his neck
before he could do anything to stop me and
squeezed. He clawed at my flesh and to my horror
I was to feel the pain of burning in my insides once
more and I fell to the ground back in my human
form. His hand wound around my throat and pulled
me from the ground. I watched him raise the back
of his hand as he stood but it was to stand poised in
mid air.

We could both hear the gallop of horses and

the cry of the lycans. Xavier’s eyes searched the
forest and he lowered his hand but he still held me
by the throat.

‘Drusilla’s army approaches. We have no

need to capture them. I will take you to her and
reclaim your powers now you have unleashed my
own gifts. We will leave Nathan to his fate. Come
and do not fight me or I will drag you there by your
hair,’ he growled at me giving me a shake to
emphasise the true brutality of his intentions.

I was defeated.

Chapter Seventeen

I fought to free myself from Xavier’s tight

hold upon my body but his strength overwhelmed
me. I could only think of Nathan and his
vulnerable condition as the army approached. I
could not leave him like that. It was all of my
fault. But I was to have no choice. Xavier’s arm
wound around my waist and lifted me against his
side before he broke out into a fast run. We were a
blur against the picturesque white landscape.

My cheeks were damp from tears as I

desperately tried to wake Nathan from his slumber

through the power of my mind. But the demon
would not allow me admittance to his
consciousness and a hard barrier was in place. It
seemed he was to know of my thoughts but his own
remained guarded to me. I cursed him angrily but
there was no avenue for communication. I feared
for his life. My only hope for his salvation was that
Drusilla would somehow forgive him and take him
back into her arms. At least he would live, the
price of losing him to her would be worth the
sacrifice.

After what seemed like an age, Xavier slowed

and came to a stop. He dropped me
unceremoniously into the snow. I sat looking up at
him as he walked past me to stare upon a desolate
farmhouse. He sniffed the air just as Nathan had
done.

‘Humans,’ he informed me turning his head to

look back at me.

‘This is good. I need you to feed well. You

must regain your strength as much as you are able
in your weakened health. The injuries from your
fall into the loch still hamper you and it will be
dangerous to transfer the power. You may be
consumed,’ he said without emotion.

He turned back to study the farmhouse and

spoke again.

‘It is a chance we will have to take with your

life.’

I felt no fear. At that point in time death

seemed preferable to living a life without Nathan in
the world. Xavier moved quickly to my side and
pulled me to my feet by his tight grip on my hair. I
struggled with anger and clawed my finger nails at
his hands, baring my teeth at him in an attempt to
gain my freedom.

I only entreated laughter at my pathetic

struggles.

‘You are so tempestuous, Juliet. It only

serves to heighten your attraction to the males.
Even as a demon, Nathan could not resist you,’ he
grinned.

Xavier began dragging me to the farmhouse.

Three men were present and Xavier quickly
subdued them to silence. They stood before us
their eyes blank, their bodies still. Xavier pointed
at the youngest of the men. He looked no older
than Xavier himself. He forced the young man to
step forward and then caught my arm and pulled
me in from of the handsome youth.

‘You will feed from him and make sure you

drain every drop.’

I took a step forward. To refuse Xavier’s

command would only cause me to be the victim of
more violence and loathe though I was to admit it, I
desperately needed to feed. I was nervous but
ready to remember everything Nathan had taught
me that night when he made me feed from the

young woman. But I had no intention of killing the
man.

I stood up on my tiptoes to reach his neck.

This would be on the second time I had fed directly
from a human. I was more than a little anxious as I
rested my hands gently upon the young man’s arms
and prepared myself.

‘Wait,’ Xavier suddenly pulled me away.
‘You have never fed from a man before, have

you?’ he questioned.

‘No. I have not,’ I retorted feeling confused

and surprised, heartily wishing the event to be done
with. ‘Why?’

A smile slowly spread over Xavier’s lips and I

fancied I saw lust return to his eyes. I frowned at
him as he ordered me to feed once again. I set
about my task but was halted once more.

‘Wait, take your coat off,’ Xavier snapped.
I whirled around to offer my indignation and

demand to know his intention but he was suddenly
behind me and undoing the buttons with his
dextrous fingers. He pulled the long velvet and
sable fur coat over my shoulders and down my
arms with surprising slowness. He cast it to the
floor leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable in
my ripped silk shirt waist. But my alarm was to
increase when his fingers busied themselves
undoing the buttons at the back.

I struggled like the cornered frightened

animal I considered myself to be but he hushed me
loudly, pulling my arms back tight and forcing me
to remain still.

‘I will not hurt you, Juliet, as long as you do

my bidding without question.’

‘I thought you wanted me to feed?’
‘I do. I just want to be able to see and feel

the pleasure you take in it.’

‘Why should I feel pleasure in feeding?’
He gave a dark laugh but did not answer my

question. He was mocking me and I detested it.
With one cruel hand he ripped away the back of my
shirt waist and made short work of the rest of the
tattered garment. I could not help but to tremble,
afraid of what action he would next employ against
me.

I viewed the remnants of the clothing at my

feet and expected my corset cover and ripped
corset itself and perhaps even my skirt to be next.
But, Xavier was to be merciful and he left the rest
of my garments alone.

‘Now, you may feed,’ he told me softly giving

me a gentle push towards the young man. I glanced
at Xavier nervously but his stern features told me
he would not tolerate any more hesitation. I stood
on my tiptoes once more and gently, carefully
moved my compelled prey’s head to one side. I
remembered Nathan’s instruction and flicked my
tongue lightly over the surface of the young man’s

neck. I felt his whole body stiffen against me as my
venom paralysed him. I grazed my incisors softly
over his skin and with a deep breath I closed my
eyes and sank my teeth in sharply.

The glorious velvet liquid spilled warmly into

my mouth and dribbled over my swollen lips as I
sucked the life force from him. It was nothing like
my experience of feeding from the girl. I could feel
the man’s strength, his power and a pleasurable
want I ought not have to felt. My body arched as I
pressed against him. My fingers twisted through his
rough woven shirt, delighting in the sensation of
friction against my skin.

My body appeared to have a wanton will of

his own. I wanted to be in his arms. I wanted him
to touch me to . . . I was ashamed but so willing to
have this man, this human stranger take me to his
bed and make love to me.

I was not alone in my need. My prey moaned

against me and I felt the brush of his lips against my
hair. The harsh coarseness of his unshaven jaw
scraped against my cheek when he buried his lips
against my own neck. His arms wound around my
waist and he drew me closer, just as he would have
done to his lover.

I heard Xavier give a small soft laugh and

then I felt the caress of his fingers down the curve
of my naked arms. He pressed against me, forcing
me onto the man.

I could not remove the delectable assault on

my senses as I continued to feed. Xavier’s lips
were upon my shoulder just as my prey’s were
against my neck. I shivered with a mixture of sheer
pleasure and fear as Xavier’s incisors pressed
against my skin and his hands moved between
myself and my prey to brush across my breasts. I
wanted to tear away, stop the feed, stop my
shocking thoughts of need and guilty sinful joy but
it proved a greater task than I could manage.

Xavier gripped me tightly and groaned.
‘I can feel your arousal inside me. You are

still virginal in your need, Juliet and your pleasure
is all the more potent because of it. Do not stop,
drain his blood,’ he whispered feverishly against my
ear.

‘No, no I can’t. I won’t kill,’ I told him

breathlessly.

‘Shhh, you must. I need you strong,’ he told

me in between the soft kisses he caressed my
shoulder and arms with.

I began to feel the young man weaken despite

the strength of his ardour and the way his hands
invaded my hair to hold me down to his wound. I
drew on every last once of mental strength I had
and began to fight both of them men that
constrained me between them. I begged Xavier to
let me go and to my surprise after only a small
amount of struggling he pulled me away from the

man.

I found my way to one of the chairs around

the kitchen table and sat feeling shaken. The young
man stood motionless again, his eyes lost once
more.

Xavier beamed his excitement at me. ‘That

was breathtaking, my love. But it is a pity you
could not finish your meal. I should make you go
without next time,’ he mocked.

‘I could not kill him.’
‘You are still yet new as a vampire. You will

learn not to feel so much compassion for these
human creatures or you will find that they will use
it against you. They pose a far greater threat to the
world than we do. I shall finish him for you.’

‘No, please let him go. He is young.’
‘Hush and recover yourself, we will be on our

way again and you must find some clothes to wear.’

Xavier walked to the man and cleanly broke

his neck, tossing him to the floor like a broken doll.
I gave a loud sob that gained me a callous
expression of impatience from Xavier before he fed
from the other two and ended their lives in a similar
fashion.

Chapter Eighteen

We reached the castle in the late afternoon of

the following day when the sun was setting on the
beautiful wintry landscape. I had been forced to
drink blood from another helpless victim on our
travels and I was as well fed as a fattened pig. My
thoughts had been of Nathan. I wondered what
fate had befallen him and as to how exactly Xavier
planned to take the witch and the castle on by
himself. Whenever I asked I was dismissed with a
laugh and notified that he would simply walk in and
capture both for himself. I considered that he may
have lost his mind but he would chide me for my
words and ordered me to wait and see.

The castle was heavily guarded by both the

lycans and my knights who were all still under the
influence of Drusilla’s spell. Xavier held my arm
tightly as he studied the castle from our hidden
viewpoint.

‘You will do everything I ask of you, Juliet or

you feel the strength of my punishment, ‘ he
snarled, giving my arm a shake.

I did not respond. He appeared satisfied by

the fearful look I had no doubt rested upon my face

and then he began to drag me out of the cover of
the small brick building we had taken shelter
against. He called out to the lone lycan guard at
the foot of the hill on which the castle rested with a
firm tone.

‘Lycan, take me to your mistress. I have a

gift for her,’ he said smiling cruelly, glancing
towards me to indicate that I was to be the gift.
The lycan was so much taller than my petite figure
and he was a fearsome sight to behold up close. He
bent down and sniffed the air around Xavier and
then surveyed me with intense scrutiny. He sniffed
so close to my face that I reeled back against
Xavier. But he was to offer me little protection and
pushed me back against the creature. I believed
Xavier became excited by the creature’s interest in
me.

‘Take the prisoner and lead me to your

mistress,’ he ordered. ‘The witch has been waiting
too long for the former Queen of Talus’s head. Do
not deny her the pleasure of taking it any longer.’

The lycan snorted his approval and took hold

of the front of the simple plain white dress Xavier
had found for me to wear at the farmhouse. His
claws scraped through the thin material wounding
me as he pulled me to his huge bare dark grey body
that hid none of his modesty. He pulled my small
form over his great shoulder as though I were a
piece of meat or dead prey he was taking home to

feast upon. The indignity was too much to bear and
as he turned to carry me up the path that led up hill
to the castle gates I heard Xavier snigger just like
the silly school boy he was. I lifted my head up
from the lycan’s back to look at him.

‘They are so Neanderthal are they not,

Juliet? I fancy you look quite the beautiful damsel
in distress like that. It is a shame your knight is
incapacitated and cannot come to your rescue,’ he
laughed as he followed closely from behind.

‘When this is over, Xavier, you will pay for

you actions. And if anything has happened to
Nathan . . .’

‘Quiet, or I will feed you to the lycan,’ then

he laughed again. ‘I am quite enjoying this game
with the witch,’ he said. ‘I am told she loves to be
challenged. She respects a strong opponent and she
will definitely find one in me.’

‘You are such a child in need of a good

spanking, Xavier,’ I snapped.

He remarked in a light sarcastic tone, ‘Tut,

tut, mind you be a good girl. I sense this lycan
would like to play with you. He is half human and
that part of him finds you attractive. He loves your
scent. Maybe, I could get Richard here to play
with you a little for my amusement. I am curious to
see what he would do in his lycan form,’ he said
leaning over to whisper to me.

‘You are vile monster,’ I told him with venom.

I heard no more from Xavier as we ascended

the hill and passed through the gates and for that
part I was relieved.

We made it through unhindered but as we

walked a strange silence began to settle over the
castle. I had not wanted to look upon my knights.
I did not wish to see their haunted captive faces
betray the pain of their forced servitude to
Drusilla. I contented myself that once my powers
were returned I would be able to free them and
defeat both the witch and Xavier. I would find a
way.

The thud of a body hitting the ground drew

my attention as we moved inside the castle. I
looked up to see one of Drusilla’s guards lying on
the floor, yet we had not been challenged and there
had been no fight to gain entrance. Confused and
startled I lifted my head and looked backwards, a
suspicion entering my mind. All of the knights and
lycans we had walked past were collapsed on the
ground as though we carried the plague of death
across the land. The lycan who carried me
appeared oblivious to this occurrence. I looked at
Xavier with alarm. He had done this. I feared for
my knights. He smiled and posed his index finger
to his lips.

‘Shhh, people are sleeping.’
We continued on and more people fell into

the prison of sleep. We eventually reached the
great hall which housed Marcus’s Druart’s dining
room and Drusilla’s adopted seat of power. A
flurry of guards came to stop us. I did not like their
masked faces, nor their strongly coloured robes
that flew around them and made them look as
though they glided along the floor like phantoms.
They pointed their vicious spears in our direction.

But there was little to worry about. As they

reached us they collapsed in our path into a deep
sleep. Xavier moved in front of the lycan who
carried me and stepped over the fallen bodies to
swing open the double heavy oak doors into the
room in true dramatic style to announce our
entrance to the witch.

‘Ah, Drusilla, there you are. Come we have

much to talk about,’ Xavier said out loud as the
quartet of guards that rushed forth to protect the
witch fell to the floor unconscious.

I could not see the witch for I was still

hung over the lycan’s back. I heard her say, ‘Yes,
Xavier, I wondered how long it would be before
you developed those magnificent powers of yours
and came calling upon my door. Your power is
deliciously strong. I must have it.’ Her excitement
revealed itself in her tone. She was unafraid of
him.

Xavier’s laughter was contemptuous. ‘I must

disappoint you, Drusilla. I intend to keep my

power but I have brought you a gift that I believe
you will value more. Perhaps we can negotiate. I
will give you, Juliet if you make me your Knight of
Swords.’

I heard Drusilla clap her hands together just

like a small child.

‘I believe we may find a way to work

together and perhaps share our power. Of course,
you will need to kill Nathan Valancourt before I am
able to even offer you the title of Knight of
Swords.’

‘Of course, that is if he has not already been

killed by your army you sent to hunt us. I ensured
he would be no trouble to them.’

‘No, I would have known of his death. I

cannot reach him at present but I am sure I would
have felt it. Your task therefore still lies ahead of
you.’

‘Indeed.’
Xavier sounded uneasy. I was glad of it.

There was hope my beloved knight was still alive.

‘Now, may I have my gift, kind sir,’ Drusilla

mocked.

In the next instant, I was being dropped onto

the dining table in a harsh barbaric manner. My
head hurt as it banged against the table. Xavier
stood over me.

‘Lycan, go to the fire. You will find a chain

made of iron with manacles,’ Xavier instructed as

he looked down upon me with a blank expression.
I grew more afraid. My eyes questioned Xavier in
silence. He paid me no attention. The lycan
obeyed as Xavier took my arm and pulled me up
from the table.

I noticed the witch was wearing her feminine

mask with a beautiful blue gown as Xavier
manhandled my body to standing near the large
spitting fire in the Great hall. The lycan lifted the
burning iron manacles and chain from the flames.
It scorched his skin but he uttered no complaint.
Only the smoke lifting from his hands told me he
was in pain. What evil had the magician conjured?

I flinched at the way the bonds I knew were

meant for me glowed with the heat. Xavier’s cruel
malicious smile shone down upon me as he
instructed the lycan to fix the manacles to my
wrists. I whimpered and struggled but Xavier held
me fast. He took hold of my arms and held them
out to the lycan.

‘Fix the manacles to her wrists,’ he ordered.
My screams were deafening as the lycan

placed the torturous hot metals upon the fragile
skin of my wrists and arms. I fell to the floor as
Drusilla began to laugh. Xavier ordered the lycan
to drag my sad pathetic burning figure along the
floor to the pillar by the chain and tie me too it.

I sobbed uncontrollably, calling for Nathan’s

help as the lycan fixed the chain around the pillar

and the burning metal seared into my flesh and the
iron weakened me. Xavier was a heartless fiend.
He caught hold of my waist and pulled me up to
standing, catching me as I slumped to almost faint
at his feet.

He uttered some words and a sword

materialised from nowhere to land and embed it’s
point in the middle of the dining table. The lycan
brought it to him. I could barely stand as Xavier
took hold of my hair and swept it from my neck
and forward to hide my face. He bent my head and
rested the blade upon my neck. I felt it slice gently
into my skin. Drusilla laughed and clapped her
hands again. I hated her more than I could ever
hate anyone.

So, I was to die, after all. Xavier did not

really want me. He wanted some cruel revenge
upon his brother. I felt resigned to my fate. If
Nathan was dead I could not bear to go on. I would
try to meet my fate with dignity but not without
difficulty.

I felt Xavier’s free hand cup my chin and lift

it. I could not clearly see him through the tangled
mass of my curls that hung over my face. He spoke
to Drusilla.

‘Look at her eyes, Drusilla. Come, see.’
I saw the witch bend down to look at me.
‘No, you must remove your mask,’ he told

her. ‘I want you to see this, you will enjoy it. Do

not worry. I know who and what you are. Do not
be afraid. I still desire to be with you.’

Drusilla was silent and then slowly,

unexpectedly, she undid the bow that held her mask
in place. With trembling hands, she removed it and
cast it to the floor with a sense of liberation.

‘Look at her, Drusilla. Can you not see the

fear in her eyes?’ Xavier asked excitedly. ‘She has
lost everything. She has lost her knight, lost her
parents and their love, her friends, and she is about
to lose her life. Can you see it? Does it not excite
you?’

Drusilla bent and stared at me with the

innocence of a child through her gruesome
features. It was as though she were hypnotised by
my eyes and to my horror I found that I could not
tear my own from hers. They were imprisoned
within her gaze.

Xavier continued, ‘Do you see how she is

what you once were? What you could be if you
were in her place?’

A terrible fear struck Drusilla’s pained eyes

and I realised she could not remove her eyes from
mine either. I could see a well of fear emerge from
deep inside her soul into her eyes.

Xavier laughed and dropped the sword to the

ground with a clatter.

‘Now I have you witch. Your own fear has

paralysed you into my power.’

I could not speak and it was the same for the

witch. I could see her try to move but she was
trapped in our mutual prison. A gasp was drawn
from my body as I heard Xavier begin to shout
words from our ancient language and a chord of
blue energy wound first around my waist and then
Drusilla’s joining us together.

The witch made small utterances of pain and

I was to join her as the energy cut into our flesh. It
had all been part of Xavier’s plan to retrieve my
crown and the gifts it bestowed. If he was to
succeed and I regained my position as Queen of
Talus I would need to find a way to free myself
from my bonds before he took me for his own. I
had little time to act.

Chapter Nineteen

The blue energy given form in a ribbon

squeezed tighter and tighter until I thought I might
be cut into two halves. Xavier continued to chant
in the archaic language of our people, a wicked
smile of triumph settling upon his face as he stood
to the side of us with his arms out folded. I am sure
he believed he was about to gain all that he desired
in that moment. I could not help but pity his
misguided thoughts and billowing arrogance. He
would gain nothing, only loss and pain, perhaps
even his life at my hand before the day was
through.

There was a new hardness to my thoughts and

I briefly wondered at what point did my naivety
and sensibility move aside for such anger and
contempt towards my fellow man. I was changing,
growing into the woman I needed to be to rule over
my people. There was no room left for gentle
words and careless kindness. My people needed a
brave ruler, an adult, not a child, someone who
would serve and protect their needs. I would not
let them down.

I could barely move my hands because of the

burns from my manacles. I swallowed my pain as
much as I was able although I could not stop the
flow of tears from down my cheeks. Drusilla began
to frown with intensity. Not once did her eyes
blink, just like mine, but I heard movement not far
from us, the clash of metal on the stone floor. Out
the corner of my eye I could see the sword that
Xavier had conjured lift a little from the floor only
to fall once again.

The noise only momentarily distracted

Xavier. He glared at the witch but he appeared
satisfied that she could do no more harm with the
sword and continued with his magic. But I knew
the witch would refuse to be defeated. Drusilla’s
face contorted and the sword began to move once
again.

Xavier’s eyes attention was diverted to the

witch yet again but his reaction to defend himself
as Drusilla swept the sword through the air with her
mind towards him was slow. As though wielded by
an invisible knight it struck out at him. It’s sole
intention to maim and prevent Xavier from
completing the ritual.

Xavier was wounded by a slice into the flesh

of his shoulder and across his middle. He growled
at Drusilla and I could see him concentrate on
fighting her power as he continued to chant,
mastering both acts. He pushed the sword back
with his mind and it hung suspended in mid air

before it turned towards Drusilla. I heard a small
gasp of disbelief at her defeat seep from her lips.
Xavier’s eyes and features were full of bitter hate
as he aimed the weapon at the witch.

Drusilla’s body shook with her mental

exertion to regain control of the sword. It flew with
speed towards her and embedded its blade with one
sharp deep thrust into her spine to have its point
emerge cleanly through her chest, her body
contorting upwards with its cruel penetration. My
own body jumped with shock. It was a viciously
painful sight to behold and had I been able to move
my eyes then I would have turned away. Still our
eyes were locked together and the witch mumbled
her pain in a series of squealing whimpers for
Xavier had taken away our power of speech. Tears
began streaming down the contours of her ugly
misshapen face. I confess I began to feel a depth of
sympathy and horror for her agony.

A sudden gush of air swirled around my body

and began to lift my feet from the ground tightening
the grip of the energy chord that bound Drusilla and
I together. Only the bonds on my wrists tethered
me to the pillar and kept me from rising too high. I
would have screamed but for my dumb
struck voice. My being was light weight as
Drusilla’s body gave birth to the red mist that
encapsulated the stolen ancient power of Talus
through the pores of her broken body that lay

slumped on the floor. The captured gaze between
our eyes was broken as Xavier raised his hands and
suspended the power in mid air before addressing
me.

‘I am so sorry, my beloved Queen, but the

transfer of power is going to be painful for you.
The power is tainted from Drusilla’s evil and
bitterness that refuses to allow it to part from her
hold. The power is eager to return to its rightful
mistress but to meld with you essence it will have
to fight a war to expel the witch’s spell and you will
be caught in the crossfire. I wish that it could be
easier,’ he said with a callous playful tone. ‘But
needs must, my love. I will comfort you in bed
afterwards.’

I ignored him and stared into the eyes of my

fate. There was to be no escape from my destiny. I
welcomed whatever pain was dealt out. I knew I
would be powerful once again and ready to fight
Xavier when it was over.

‘Make it come to me, Xavier. I am ready,’ I

commanded loudly finding that my voice was now
free.

‘As you wish.’
Xavier moved his hands sideways and the red

mist charged towards me. I held my body as stiff as
I could on my bonds as I hung suspended in the air
and awaited my power’s return. The mist separated
into its own strands of energy ribbon as it reached

my body. They wove around me burying me in a
tight red cocoon. I could not but scream as it
covered my mouth and eyes to lock me within its
embrace, blinding all of my senses.

Drusilla was still unable to speak but I felt her

draining power pull at the red chords around me.
Their response was to bind themselves tighter and
tighter around me, creating more strands. I could
see nothing. They pushed themselves through my
mouth and down my throat until I began to choke.
I was so afraid but my own determination gave me
strength.

Just when I believed my ordeal would never

cease and my muffled choking screams of pain
would never find cause to end the chords began to
burn like a brand through my flesh and in to the
insular world of my body and the blood that fed its
functions. I fell from the air to land heavily on the
ground upon my knees, free of the blue and red
ribbons of energy that had so steadfastly bound me.

There was a hushed silence around my aching

shaking body. Although my head was bent and my
hair tumbled over my face hiding my vision, I had
the strange sense that a multitude of people stood
around me as still as statutes. I looked to my side
without moving my head and saw the booted feet
of many men.

I slowly lifted my head and found I was still

bound by my manacles to the pillar but I made use

of their support to stand. All around me stood my
knights, Gabriel included. They were mesmerised
by what had taken place and their figures were as
bolt upright as swords as they stood like guards
around me. I believed they were free of Drusilla’s
power but now under Xavier’s control.

Xavier moved around in front of me and

pushed me back against the pillar, his hand around
my throat crushing my larynx to prevent me from
uttering a word.

‘Now, my, sweet beautiful Queen, time to

make you mine in front of all of these witnesses.
Do not struggle and try to fight me, even the Queen
cannot fight when she is bound and drained by
iron. Kiss me.’

Xavier grinned and pressed himself against

me as he held me back against the pillar. His mouth
was moist and most unappetising as he began to
force his tongue between my lips. I struggled
furiously against him wishing my bonds were
broken. His hand reached to push my head to one
side and expose my neck to initiate the mating
ritual and stain my blood with his hurtful bite
before his rape of my body. He barred his teeth
and curled his tongue over his incisors with relish as
to the act he was about to perform. But a dark
velvet voice rang out to echo around the great hall
commanding Xavier’s attention.

‘Brother, you have forgotten the rules I see.

You must fight a challenge with the Knight of
Swords before you may make my Queen your
own.’

My heart leapt with joy.
Xavier gave a heavy sigh of impatience and

closed his eyes for a moment before he issued a
small growl.

‘Nathan, I thought you were dead. You really

are tiresome. No wonder we did not get on as
siblings, brother.’

‘We never would have we had too many

similar tastes, especially in women.’ There was
humour in Nathan’s voice as he jumped from the
window ledge upon which he was standing.

‘Must we really fight a duel?’ Xavier said

with lethargy moving to the crumpled witch. He
heartlessly pulled the sword through her body and
out her back to arm himself producing a strangled
whining scream from her grotesque lips.

Nathan stepped forward through the

motionless knights to the centre where I stood
bound and began his duel with Xavier. I wanted to
be free. I strained on my bonds with a unladylike
guttural growl from my throat as I watched Xavier
unfairly use his powers against Nathan, desperate
to ensure his victory. I wished and willed my
knights to move but they were stuck fast. I fought
Xavier’s power to release them but my will did not
seem strong enough. I had all of this ancient power

bestowed upon me but I could not simply set
myself free or lift the curse from my poor knights.
I was confused and worried that I was not fit to be
Queen of Talus.

Xavier beat back my Knight of Swords until

he was lying upon the ground without the
protection of his sword. Xavier stood above him
wielding his already bloodied sword of Talus at
Nathan’s throat. I grew frantic with grief. What
use was my power if I could not employ it to good
use? I would not let that schoolboy take the life of
my handsome knight who I loved with every fibre
of my being, demon or otherwise.

With all of the energy I possessed I strained

on my bonds and believed with confidence that I
could master the powers of Talus. I gathered my
will and with a cry broke free from my bonds to
rush to my brave knight’s aid.

Xavier’s sword cut into Nathan’s flesh upon

his neck as he paralysed my knight’s movement
with his magical power. I aimed my palms towards
Xavier and set him alight in a gulf of flames. I had
no choice. Xavier’s startled screams were
deafening as the flames spread like wildfire up and
down his tall figure.

I felt remorse and sickness but Nathan was on

his feet sheltering me against his body with comfort
as I trembled at the vicious act I had perpetrated.
Nathan directed my face against his chest and

hushed my sudden sobs with the gentle stroke of
my hair as Xavier flayed about trying to wipe the
flames from his body.

I struggled against Nathan’s hold but he was

much physically stronger than I and I was made to
rest in his embrace. I could not bear Xavier’s
tormented screams as he ran in a ball of fire to the
window and crashed through it. No doubt to douse
the flames in the snow that lay upon the courtyard.

As my knights came back to life and their

senses, I opened my eyes again and looked back at
the witch wondering what should be done about
her. But she was gone.

Chapter Twenty

Nathan let go of me. He ran to the broken

stained glass window to jump up upon its ledge and
look out upon Xavier as my knights and the lycans
regained their senses. But the witch concerned me
more. I knew Xavier was suffering the intense pain
caused by the burning of his flesh. He was
incapacitated as an enemy, unable to move from his
sunken prison in the cooling snow. He was no
longer a threat.

I could feel the power coursing through my

veins, rejoicing in its return to its rightful mistress.
But there was something new. I appeared to be
saddled with a new hardness that at first I believed
came from the witch’s imprint upon the power but
came to realize that it came from my very soul. I
had changed. I’d been given no other choice. All
that I loved and presided over as Queen was in peril
and it was high time I learned how to take office.

I searched the castle for the witch with my

mind’s eye. She had taken human form again from
her travel through the air in energy form and was at
the foot of the stairs down to the dungeons. My
eyes widened with alarm.

‘The children . . . She is going to kill them,’ I

shouted to everyone, although I did not address
them directly. I began to move from the room,
ready to face and tackle the witch on my own but
my movement was to be abruptly and rudely
stopped by a strong grasp around my wrist.

‘You will stay here, Juliet,’ Nathan

commanded. ‘I will deal with the witch.’ His tone
left no room for challenge but he was about to
receive it as he pulled me around to face him.

‘I will not.’
He ignored me, calling on Cedric and Jason to

guard me from harm. But I was not to be stopped
and I could see that they were about to have their
hands full with battling Drusilla’s awakening army.
I struggled as he dragged me to the knights in
question who frowned upon him with distaste at his
cruel treatment but did not dare challenge his
authority. I feared I would not break free but a
curious thing happened.

A strange force rose within me not like

anything I had experienced as a newly born Taleian
vampire. It was a power the witch had somehow
passed to me. My body began to dissolve into
small molecules and into a fine white mist. I was
exhilarated and floating upon the air. I had
direction in my movement and I began for the door.

Poor Nathan appeared most perturbed. Had I

been in my human form I would have laughed in his

face. But I paid him no further attention and
escaped through the far door to travel through a
vast array of rooms within rooms and down to the
dungeon. I was, however, aware of Nathan
following me and that he was suddenly joined by
Jason, Cedric and two lycans, Richard and Marcus
Duart himself. I could feel Marcus’s pain of
anxiety as I moved ahead of them. I would not let
his children die. He could be sure of that.

I floated down a set of narrow red carpeted

stairs at great speed hearing the desperate cries of
the children as they called for their father. The
witch had now left the dungeon and was dragging
the two unfortunate children to the armoury. I
heard another woman’s voice. I recognised its
owner as Camille. She was pleading with the witch
for her to show mercy and let the poor mites go. I
cleared the foot of the steps and seeped through the
keyhole of the armoury door to emerge into my
human form

The witch could barely move. Blood poured

from the vicious wound Xavier had inflicted upon
her. But she was adamant that the children would
die in revenge for the failure of her plan. The death
of the lycan Marcus’s Duart’s family would incite
further violent disagreement between the lycans
and the Taleian vampires. I had never seen anyone
possess so much hatred.

She held the two children in front of her, a

Taleian Knight’s sword to their small throats. They
were twins, a beautiful boy and girl of eight years
old. I could not bear it. I stood straight in front of
her as tall as my small stature would allow. I was
no longer filled with fear of her and I wished to
convey the sentiment.

‘Drusilla, you have failed. Let the children

go,’ I commanded, briefly wondering where she
would have acquired the sword. My answer lay
upon the walls of the armoury. It seemed Marcus
Duart was more than fond of displaying sharp
weapons. I did not find it a healthy preoccupation.
There was a large circle of Taleian swords that had
been taken from my knights in battle from centuries
past, displayed with arrogance as trophies. One of
them was missing.

I continued, ‘You will not succeed in your

war. They will know of your treachery.’

The witch gave a laugh and then coughed. I

did not believe she was going to stop. She snorted
and pressed the sword’s blade against the small
throats. The children cried. I was then aware of
Camille’s presence. She was sobbing. By her state
of dress and the dirt on her face I considered that
she must have been locked in the dungeon with
them.

‘I will only spare their lives on one condition,

that you give me your death in return, Queen of
Talus,’ she shouted to me.

I stared at her and then turned on hearing the

sound of men’s feet hurrying down the stairs not far
from the room.

‘You try me, Juliet,’ she pushed pressing the

blade to nick the skin of the little boy’s throat. He
gave a loud helpless scream that tore at my heart. I
put my hand out and begged her to stop. I could
not live knowing that my life was spared on the
account of the death of two children. I would give
her what she wanted.

I moved forwards and lifted the skirt of my

dress so that I might kneel down in front of her.

‘Let the children go and I will give you my

head as you ask,’ I told her with a trembling voice.

‘No tricks with your power, Queen, or I will

take their sorry little lives.’

‘No. I give you my life.’
I wasn’t accustomed to lying. Only on

occasion had I found myself untruthful and today I
was to add to my small collection of indiscretions
and for the first time be heartily glad of it.

Drusilla finally allowed the children their

freedom and shooed them from the room with a
shake of the sword towards them. I dutifully bent
my head and she came for me in a rage, sword
raised to swipe my head from my shoulders. I
flicked my eyes towards the circle of emerald
encrusted swords and separated them with my
mind. I dispatched them like spears towards

Drusilla. They dug into her clothing, her arms and
legs as I propelled her backwards through the air
and down onto the wooden floor where the swords
impaled her to the floor. I stood quickly and made
to stand over her.

Nathan, Jason and Byron were already in the

room. They were accompanied by two lycans in
their animal form. I sensed one was Richard the
other was Marcus who was in human form and
dressed. His highly dishevelled appearance told me
he had also been held in the dungeon. Nathan was
behind me in an instant. His fingers swept across
my shoulder in comfort and up to caress through
my hair to gently cup the side of my face. He
turned me to face him and studied me closely as
though checking my skin for any damage or hurt
for he found me foolhardy in my task.

His expression was cross but admiration

shone in his eyes and I felt triumphant. But it was
not to last.

‘I should whip you strongly for disobeying

me. You could have been lost to me, yet again,’ he
said darkly.

My eyes immediately widened with affront

and I made the grave mistake of attempting to pull
my face away from his hold. He tightened his grip
upon it, making me frown.

‘It seems that is all you wish to do with me,’ I

told him curtly.

‘You should not be so disobedient.’ The

demon smiled at me.

‘You insufferable man. . .’
‘Hush, I must finish the witch,’ he told me

sternly, placing a finger to my lips. ‘I will deal with
your intolerable behaviour later,’ he grinned.

Drusilla had been deathly still in her prison of

swords but now she spoke, almost in a whisper.

‘I might die, Queen . . .’ she tried to laugh. ‘I

should call you Queen of Swords. But you will not
have your knight. He is lost to you. I do not hold
him under a spell. It will not die with me. I only
brought out what was inside him. He refuses to
accept both sides of his nature. They war with
each other. He will never be whole. Your Knight
will always be a demon who seeks to dominate
you. I pity you. Every man may be yours but the
cost is too much to bear to take one of them for
they all seek to bring you to your knees.’

Nathan’s sword was at her throat preventing

her from speaking again. He was angry.

‘Your end is here, witch. You have nothing

useful left to say. Juliet will be mine. Prepare for
your execution.’

I heard the witch begin to pant with fearful

anticipation.

‘If it must come, make it swift and fast with

your sword.’

The demon smiled, then he laughed as he

leaned over her, showing his disgust for her upon
his features.

‘Oh no, I will not make your death an easy

one. It is not my honour to dispatch your life,’
Nathan gestured for Marcus to come forward.

He was tired but eager and nodded

respectfully to Nathan who stepped away. Drusilla
was horrified and began begging. It was one thing
to have your head swiftly removed so that you felt
no pain but to have your throat ripped and then
your head pulled away in a brutal slow fashion by a
lycan was another matter altogether.

As Marcus took the form of a lycan and

gripped the head of the witch to rip her throat out I
backed away covering my mouth with my hand. I
felt a sickness and horror rise from the pit of my
stomach. I was sick of the sight of the violence that
surrounded me and I was weary with it. Tears
sprang into my eyes as Nathan stood near the witch
regally presiding over proceedings. I wondered if
she was right about Nathan? I fled from the room,
my hands covering my ears unable to hear her
screams and the break of bone and tissue as her
head was pulled from her spine.

Someone followed me along the corridor and

out to the stables. A woman called after me, it was
Camille. I stopped. She threw her arms around me.

‘Oh, your ladyship, I really thought she was

going to kill those poor children. And I am so sorry

I hurt you on the train. Please forgive me, miss.’

I hugged her tight, genuinely relieved that she

was safe.

‘What happened to you?’ I asked.
‘I was brought here to the castle. The guards

. . . Never mind, miss. We must get out of here.’

‘Camille, I am sorry about Gabriel. I do not

love him and I do not understand why he does not
wish to be with you when he clearly and
undoubtedly bears love in his heart for you alone,’ I
said quickly catching her hand in mine.

Her eyes lowered and she moved her hand

over her stomach. She smiled. My eyes widened in
surprise.

‘You are carrying his child?’ I questioned.
‘Yes. He knows.’
‘But this is wonderful and . . .’
My speech faltered on hearing footsteps into

the stable. I turned with a smile to find Gabriel.
His eyes rested on me briefly. He looked down at a
cloth bag he was carrying at his side. Then he
gazed upon Camille. There was a softness in his
eyes for her.

‘It was exactly where you said it would be. I

read your mind well despite its bruised and beaten
state,’ he told her.

My countenance frowned with curiosity as

Gabriel threw the bag to Camille. She caught it
with effort and betrayed its heavy weight.

‘What is it?’ I asked light heartedly.
Gabriel refused to meet my eyes when I

turned to address him before turning to look at
Camille as she opened the bag. That was my
mistake.

‘It is something that I am afraid is necessary.

I have been pushed too far,’ he answered gravely
looking behind me to Camille. I regret that I must
take action. I hope in time you will forgive me.’

A terrible fear overcame me. I sensed potent

danger swirl with a deadly hiss around me. Camille
moved quickly behind me and placed the iron
necklace around my throat before I could retaliate.
My whole body began to sink to the floor almost
immediately despite my frantic tussle with Camille.
I tried to evaporate into the mist. But it would
deny me freedom.

‘I am sorry, Juliet. But you do see that I must

do whatever my child’s father asks of me. He must
have you to rule. We will both be by his side.’

I could not believe what I was hearing. Vile,

wicked creatures. What madness had overtook
them? I tried to call out for Nathan but my voice
was a whisper as Camille fixed manacles around
my wrists. Mental communication was difficult but
I hoped I had reached Nathan. Gabriel came to
tower imperiously over my weakened form. He
bent down on his knee and looked at me directly.

‘This is the necklace that the witch used to tie

Nathan in the dungeon,’ he told me softly. They
have taken Xavier to the dungeon and placed a
similar one on him. It seems very effective. It is
not just iron it is endowed with a subduing spell
strong enough to quell the fight in a Taleian hybrid.
Even the Queen of Talus will find it difficult to
overcome. It was left in the dungeon and Camille
devised this idea. She had thought of many ways to
use it upon you when we were free. She was quick
to act in communicating with me when we gained
our freedom. I realise that I cannot be without her
or my child but I will not give up ruling the power
of Talus. I should always have been Knight of
Swords. I am better suited to it than Nathan.’

He leaned over me to kiss Camille as he took

hold of the back of my hair.

‘Now you will be made to learn what it means

to be Queen of Talus, Juliet.’

He stood up and began to drag my helpless

body through the door of the stables and into the
snowy courtyard by the cruel hold on my hair
where two horses waited, already saddled.

Chapter Twenty-One

‘We must hurry, Camille, or she will find a

way to use her mental powers against us. Juliet,
you will be pleased to learn that I have your friends
the Caratacos demons waiting to assist me in
preventing telepathy between yourself and Nathan.
You will endure the pain they inflict until I can
transport you back to London,’ Gabriel told me
with great satisfaction.

He lifted me to my feet and without

ceremony placed me over the front of his horse
face down. There seemed to be no one around I
could call upon for assistance. All of my knights
and the lycans were fighting Drusilla’s army of men
and harpies and dragging a burnt Xavier to the
dungeon. I was required to help myself. I lifted my
head as much as I was able with the spell and
weight of the iron necklace forced to hang around
my neck. At first, I could not find anything to aid
my escape. But I found my answer as Gabriel
quickly helped Camille onto her horse and began to
mount his own.

Part of the ramparts were crumbling. I would

expend the greatest part of the small amount of

strength I could conjure in my predicament and
make it move. It would prove my only chance of
escape and raising the alarm. I concentrated on
moving the ramparts as I made to distract Gabriel
from my action in cursing his kidnap plot.

He gave a laugh as he turned his horse and

began to hurry it towards the gate down the hill.

‘But it was not my idea, Juliet. It was

Camille’s and the elders thought her plan a wise
one. Their wisdom should never be questioned,
especially not by a misbehaving child Queen. They
are your advisors in ruling the people of Talus and
their methods are never to be questioned for they
act only for the good of the people. I am only
obeying rules,’ he said with heavy sarcasm.

‘And, you to be a father as well . . .’
‘I am rather lucky, aren’t I?’
‘You do not deserve it. Your child will

believe his father a monster when he learns of your
treason and vile treatment of the Queen.’

‘Hush your wicked tongue. He or she will do

no such thing. Content yourself with your fate and
let us have no more word or I will gag you.’

He turned to check that Camille was safely

behind him and broke out into a trot past the
ramparts and the Eastern tower. I had to act now. I
closed my eyes and willed my strength together. I
heard the crumbling wall begin to move and
scrape. Just a little more. At first Gabriel did not

hear it. His attention was more concerned with
meeting Nathan or any other knight that wished to
halt his progress from the castle with his prize
possession. I concentrated harder until sweat
dampened my forehead and finally a little more of
the stone began to dislodge. A small amount broke
free and swept downwards towards us.

Gabriel’s horse reared and I feared I might

fall from its shoulders. Gabriel looked upwards and
shouted his abuse.

‘You will not stop me, Juliet. It is useless to

fight, ‘ he informed me emphasising his words by
the sharp pull of my hair. ‘Nathan, can’t help you.
He’s fighting Drusilla’s army whilst they try to burn
the witch. He doesn’t want to distress you with the
images because you were upset so he closes his
mind to you. He believes you safe with Camille.
Gallant but foolhardy. Then he always is. That is
why he isn’t fit to be your Knight of Swords.’

I ignored him and the desperate urge to strike

out to fight for my life. Once again, I concentrated
in the hope of bringing more of the ramparts to the
ground and block Gabriel’s path. Gabriel
manoeuvred his horse around the debris and was on
the verge of breaking the horse out into a gallop
when I finally succeeded in my quest and exceeded
my expectations in my mental feat.

Part of the ramparts gave way and the whole

of the small Eastern tower fell towards us. My fear

must have been acute as Gabriel’s horse backed
away and he shouted at Camille to do the same, for
Nathan’s consciousness penetrated my mind like a
hot stinging needle demanding to view the source
of my sudden great distress.

I knew Nathan was coming to my rescue as I

slipped from the horse and fell to be trampled
upon. I curled up into a ball to protect myself. I
was not the only one to fall from the horse. Gabriel
was to follow me. He recovered quickly as the dust
and debris settled to dirty the virgin snow that lay
around the large courtyard.

It was all I had in me in my present condition

and I prayed that it was enough. But Gabriel was
immediately on his feet coming for me. I was sore
and believed some of my ribs may have been
broken from the horse trampling me underfoot. I
bravely tried to turn over carrying the burden of the
heavy necklace and manacles and attempted to
crawl from his grasp. But he was upon me, pulling
me up by my hair. I squealed with the agony of his
treatment.

To my relief his hold was not too last. I found

myself falling face down back into the snow when
Gabriel was attacked by a lycan. I lifted my head
to see three lycans surround Gabriel and another
three circle my fallen body in protection.

Camille was down from her horse and

screaming, begging them to leave him alone but

Gabriel was not about to give up possession of me.
He charged towards the lycan at a speed that
blurred the eye barring his teeth to jump and sink
them into the throat of the lycan. But the others
were quick to descend upon Gabriel. I could not
help but to turn my face away, unable to watch the
bloody spectacle.

I felt a presence and somebody was allowed

to penetrate the circle the lycans had created
around me. They slid across the snow in an effort
to slow the speed they had been travelling at and
sank to their knees. It was not Nathan but one of
my other knights. I heard a familiar voice call my
name with great concern. Jason Alexander’s cool
hand moved up my back in a soothing motion. I
felt him take hold of the iron collar and I called out
for him to stop lest it harm him but he would not be
mindful as he looked for the lock. To my relief he
was to receive help from one of the lycans who
took the metal in his hands and ripped it apart and
the manacles around my wrists were to follow.

I leant on my elbow for support as I dared to

view the noisy gruesome scene expecting to find
Gabriel in several bite size pieces scattered across
the courtyard. Surprisingly, he was still whole but
leaking blood from many cuts and vicious rips upon
his flesh. He looked a fearsome site. His skin was
almost translucent and as white as the snow that lay
on the ground.

Two lycans stood either side of him, each one

holding one of his arms out to the side, forcing him
to bend forward. Jason helped me to sit and closed
his arms around me. I felt exhausted and sank into
the gentle comfort he offered in his arms, resting
my weary head against his chest. He held me
tightly as I was distracted by Nathan’s presence
walking across the courtyard and over the debris.
He was carrying his sword by his side as he walked
with Marcus, back in his clothed human form. I
grew afraid for Gabriel.

I struggled to rise in Jason’s embrace but he

was to restrain me with ease and keep me seated
when I discovered from Nathan’s thoughts that he
meant to end Gabriel’s life. He was to be a father.
I could not deny the child a father. The demon was
not impressed with my pity and rebuked me,
reminding me of Taleian law and Camille’s
treachery. They had brought it on themselves.
Nathan and the rest of my knights were unanimous,
they would not tolerate anyone ready to defile their
Queen and force her into slavery, especially one of
their own.

As though to confirm Nathan’s statement, I

felt the sudden weight of all the thirteen other
knights weigh heavy upon me with their resolve. I
also felt their admiration as they all gathered over
in the courtyard fresh from winning their battle
with Drusilla’s army and viewed the results of my

attempt to stop Gabriel taking me from them.
Gabriel had betrayed their Queen and them. They
did not respect elders or their wisdom. Their duty
to their Queen always came first.

In matters of this nature that concerned the

Queen’s safety I was out ruled by The Knight of
Swords. I would not be allowed to spare Gabriel’s
life. It was Nathan’s right alone to bestow the
penalty of death upon anyone who committed
treason against the crown of Talus and the Queen
herself. Nathan was keen to point this out to me. I
had no choice in the matter. It was his role to
ensure my safety. I may not be able to bare it but I
must accept.

Nathan approached Gabriel and the only

sound audible was Camille’s crying. I struggled
once more. Jason directed my head to his chest
and kept it pressed there as he kissed the top of my
head to soothe my distress.

‘Don’t look, my Queen. It must be done. We

all know Gabriel. He will never give up. Nathan
must take his life.’

I clung to Jason as though my life depended

on it and gave up my struggles. To my shame, tears
began to run down my bruised face and onto
Jason’s coat. He rubbed my back.

Gabriel spoke as Nathan came to stand in

front of him.

‘You had better end my life, Knight of

Swords, if you are man and vampire enough,’ he
panted with anger. ‘I will never give up. I will hunt
Juliet down and kill whomever tries to stop me
from taking her and making her mine to rule. I
simply ask you spare the love of my life and our
child. Prove yourself as the true Knight of Swords,
Nathan. If you love Juliet, protect her and . . .’

Nathan swung his sword high in an arc and

did not waste any further time. Gabriel’s head fell
loosened from his shoulders to land in front of his
headless corpse. A terrible scream of grief and
anger welled from deep inside me to echo out from
my lips in unison with Camille’s.

I struggled to free myself like I had never

done before. Nathan was to come to my aid but I
did not want him near me. I had seen too much,
witnessed too much death in my young years.
Camille was collapsed upon the ground and I could
only think of her child, however, cruel her
behaviour had been to me.

I succeed in my endeavour and before Jason

and Nathan could take grasp me to them I backed
away holding out my hand for them to halt. I
wanted to be alone. I wanted no one by my side. I
felt heartily sick of my existence and the role I was
required to play. I was done with all of them and
their rules and the insane mating ritual.

I loved Nathan but I kept thinking of the

witch’s parting words that I would never have him

whole again and the demon would always reign
supreme inside him. I fancied Nathan could not
face himself and what he had become just as I
could not endure my own new identity. It would be
easier for him to hide behind the demon. I also had
the suspicion he wagered that if he stayed the
demon he could protect me better and had lost faith
in his ability for such a task as a human.

The witch had left a cruel legacy in which

Nathan could not forgive himself for forcing me to
jump from the hill into the loch. He could not have
prevented it. The witch had full control of his
nature at that point. As long as Nathan hid behind
his demon persona I could not comfort him nor he
myself. We were cut off from each other.

I needed to escape, to rest and decide what I

should do. I wanted to have Nathan as my mate
but not in his present state and I refused to take
another. Nathan would come to me whole or not at
all for our joining. I thundered my reasoning to
them but they were to take little comfort in it.
They believed me tired, exhausted and in need of
rest.

‘I am leaving. I need some time to decide

what I must do. At this moment, I cannot be your
Queen. I cannot endure anymore violence and
treachery. I want to be alone and you must grant
me that peace.’

‘No,’ Nathan was firm. ‘It is too dangerous.

I read Gabriel’s mind. The elders are set upon their
course of action, they wish for you to be suitably
controlled and under their power for their political
needs with the warring clans abroad. They will
send another knight and more if he fails to make
you his. Word has spread that you are still not
joined and many knights journey across the world
to take you,’ Nathan snapped with impatience. ‘Do
you believe that I will allow you to be unprotected
from them?’

‘I am unafraid,’ I challenged.
He laughed with sarcasm. ‘You are foolish!’
Jason interrupted, indignant to the demon’s

insensitivity to my distress.

‘I will take you wherever you wish to go,

Juliet, and keep guard. I will allow you all of the
time you need.’

Nathan glared at him.
‘No, Jason, thank you but I want to be alone

or I fear I will lose my mind.’

It was then that Marcus stepped forward.
‘I believe you should listen to your Queen.

She needs rest and should not be bothered by the
mating ritual until she is well again . . .’

But Nathan was to interrupt his speech.
‘She must. For every moment she denies me

she places herself in danger.’

‘You have not finished fighting the challenges

yet, Nathan. You are not yet allowed to make her

yours until all the true challengers have been
defeated. I am one and may I remind you,
Sebastian is yet to be defeated. And what are we to
do about Xavier? He is also a challenger.’

‘Xavier is defeated.’
‘He still lives.’
Nathan moved towards him frustrated. He

wondered if I was ever to belong to him. I felt the
same despondency.

‘No,’ I shouted. ‘No more violence. Enough,

I command it,’ I said with anger.

Marcus interjected again on my behalf.
‘Act like gentlemen, your Queen has given

you a command. This ritual makes you insane. I
am glad my kind are not party to it.’ He turned to
address me, his hand on his heart.

‘I am forever grateful at your sacrifice and

the way in which you saved the lives of my
children. I and my clan and the lycan kind are
forever at your disposal. If you should need my
assistance you know where to find me,’ he
informed me with deep gratitude.

To my surprise I felt Marcus open his mind

and invite me in to show that he could be trusted. I
nodded my own gratification.

‘I will leave you now. When you have come

to your senses, Lord Valancourt, I will see you but
not until then,’ I informed in a haughty regal
manner.

‘Now is not the time to act the suffragist,

Juliet. I will not tolerate your behaviour . . .’
Nathan rebuked me in a severe voice but was made
to abruptly finish his sentence as I evaporated my
body into the fine mist, once again.

I knew the witch’s power would not last

much longer for it was dying it, only a momentary
benefit from the transfer of power. But it was
sufficient to spirit me away to freedom leaving a
shocked Nathan and my knights anxious as to my
state of mind and the danger I had placed upon my
person.

Chapter Twenty-Two

I made my way to London. I journeyed there

with caution and disguise once I could no longer
use the witch’s power. Nathan’s warning echoed in
my mind and I could not look upon any man
without suspicion. My imagination was active and
I tried to console myself that I would recognise a
Taleian Hybrid knight when I saw one. They were
striking in their handsome looks and I am sure I
would sense their presence around me before it was
too late.

I procured some money from the allowance

given to me from my uncle’s inheritance in the
relatively quiet haven of Baker Street in rooms.
My life was a dull one. I kept myself to myself and
rarely went out. I had not fed since Xavier made
me and although I could go for a few days without
feeding before feeling the serious effects of hunger,
just as a human, I now desperately needed to feed.

But I was reluctant. A curious depression had

come over me. I was disgusted with my existence
and repelled by my need to feed from humans. I
could not stop my mind endlessly ruminating about
the violence that surrounded me and the weight of

my responsibility for it. I thought of my treatment
of Xavier, then Gabriel, the humans who had
suffered and the poor elderly housekeeper of my
lodgings I gazed upon with greedy eyes as an
appetising meal. And after considering my recent
past I saw my future as a bleak one. I was greatly
ashamed. I could not resign myself to my fate and
sought to take matters into my own hands.

Perhaps, it was better that I did not survive. I

lay upon my small bed looking out upon the foggy
sunlight of London during the day and the stillness
of the night contemplating this fact as the hunger
rumbled inside me, increasing with each passing
hour and the fight to keep my control around the
humans began to erode. The idea that I may
consume animal blood in quantity and end my life
came to dominate my thoughts.

As I wrestled with the subject of suicide and

often I would fall into sleep and dream. Time and
time again I would jump awake in a fever of fear
believing that Nathan stood over me and once that
Gabriel did without his head. My need for blood
and company made me delirious. I ached to feel
Nathan’s presence, his tender loving arms around
me and then I would remember the cold demon that
inhabited his soul and who he would only show to
me. At that moment, the demon’s hold alone would
have sufficed if my will had not been strong upon
the matter.

Nathan had made many an attempt to contact

me and penetrate my consciousness but now my
power was returned so far my efforts to repel his
invasion into my mind were holding. But the
silence and the loneliness without the flow of his
thoughts was too much to bear. I needed to make a
decision to live or die before the demon inside
myself took control and killed to satiate its desire
for blood.

My deteriorating health caught the observant

attention of my landlady Mrs Gray. She did not like
the pale colour I was turning nor the way I did not
seem to eat a morsel of the food she provided. She
told me that a doctor lived at her friend and
neighbour’s lodgings not too doors up, and I should
go and see him. A doctor could not help me,
however much I wished he could.

On the third day I made a decision. I had

thought much on the subject and decided that just
because my circumstances had altered and I was a
Taleian hybrid vampire would it not still be a sin to
God to take my own life? Was I to be exempt from
this rule? I did not consider myself as so. My new
existence was a challenge perhaps set by God. I
had been given the responsibility as Queen to care
for my people and to protect their needs. If I died I
would be letting more than myself down and
deserting those I loved most. I had a duty even if it
was not an altogether pleasing one and it was one I

would master for others if not myself. Maybe in
time I would learn to accept my role and my new
identity with open arms even though the notion of it
at that present moment made me nauseous with
fear.

I needed to learn to hunt without causing too

much hurt to anyone and exposing my identity if I
was to survive alone. I would take some time to
recover from my ordeals and decide how I could
best effect my rule of the Taleians and reunite them
in friendship. There was also the need to deal with
the diabolic trade of the slavers who took the
Taleian women and the elders. I found some
strength in logical matters of state and closed my
mind to further discussion of my existence. If I was
to carry out my plans I needed to first master the
skill of hunting.

I found myself walking in London late

afternoon down by the river as the sun began to set
in the winter sky. The neighbourhood was not fit
for a lady but I hoped to find a person alone,
preferably female, maybe one of the prostitutes
who frequented the area who I could easily
overcome. I ventured further into the housing that
led to the docks at Wapping finding no suitable
person. It was then that I felt a Taleian presence
and I knew I was being followed.

I looked up at the houses and down the small

dirty street I was in but I could see no one. There

was more than one and they were mixed with
human heartbeats. I grew afraid and began to
blindly run sensing their intention to capture me.
Tonight was to be my first encounter with one of
the knights who came to make me his own and I
was too weak without blood to fare well in our
confrontation. Even now as I ran my legs felt
difficult to move and my vision was blurred.

I ran as fast as I was able down a small dark

alley and another, knowing that they followed me.
I journeyed further into the slums of the poor on
the docks. There were prostitutes on the corners
heckling their foul language at the drunken men
who passed them. They whistled and laughed at
me, mocking me for my fine clothes and class.
Perhaps I was mistaken in believing I was a lady for
no lady would be seen here. I had to agree with
them.

I know the men that chased me did so over

the rooftops of the small houses and nautical
shops. I could see their shadows dance across the
dimly lit walls as I ran down to the docks
themselves as night came to rest on top of the fog.
They were nearly upon me. Never had I felt so
vulnerable despite the return of my powers. Now I
understood why the Queen was bestowed with the
protection of her Knight of Swords. I was on the
verge of regretting my decision to leave Nathan but
if I wanted to gain my independence, my freedom

and my equality in our race I had no other choice
but to fend for myself.

I ran out onto the docks, only to be startled

by a hansom cab. I shrieked with fright believing I
was about to be run down. I was brought to an
abrupt stop. It proved fatal to my flight from the
Taleian men. I turned hearing two of them jump
down from the rooftops to land at my feet. I
backed away towards the fishing boats in the water
that bumped lightly against the sides as they barred
their teeth and hissed at me.

The fog was thick and heavy around us now

and I sought in vain to hide myself from them in it.
I threw energy from my mind towards them that
was sufficient to propel my would be assailants
back and up in the air to land against the brick wall
of a building. I turned to run along the docks and
into the fog but another two men appeared in front
of me. One of them held a sword and was clearly
the knight who meant to make me his own, the rest
were simply party to his plan.

I threw my energy once more as they

advanced upon me and they were thrown
backwards to slide along the ground. I looked
frantically for something to aim at my original
assailants who were upon me once more, fully
recovered from my assault upon them. There was a
heavy ship rope lying discarded. It was all I could
find. I gave it life with my mind. It unravelled from

its tight coil and snaked upwards into the wet air.

I forced the rope to coil tightly around one of

them. He was brought to his knees and with
another push of my mind I slid him across the damp
ground and down towards the dock edge past me
and into the water.

I grew confident by the act but it was to be

short lived as the other Taleian jumped to land
directly in front of me before I could think of what
to do next. He reached out to take my arm as he
grinned widely at me baring his incisors with
menace. I whirled around sensing the knight and
his companion behind me again. But he was joined
by two others this time. I trembled with fear I
fought hard not to show.

The knight and the Taleians circled me like

the prey that I undeniably was to them. I was
about to change into a animal to fight when I
noticed the handsome knight no longer held his
sword but he addressed me. His accent was French
and highly educated. I turned to view him with
haughty indignation. It only served to amuse him
by the widening of the smile that played upon his
lips.

‘Your majesty,’ he smiled bowing from his

waist.

‘Your respect is mocking,’ I told him fiercely.

I thought of Queen Victoria and how she would
deal with such an intolerable situation. ‘And I am

not amused, sir.’

I closed my eyes and inwardly cursed when I

heard his annoying and displeasing laughter.

‘Your beauty is breathtaking and your

temperament as fiery as the rumours would have it.
But I did not expect to find you so young.’

I kept turning in my own circle watching the

movement of the men around me in the hopes of
anticipating their intentions.

‘I am to be eighteen in only a few days. Do

not think that my young age will give you an
advantage, sir.’

More laughter.
‘You are quite magnificent. I would love to

idly chat with you all night my beautiful Queen but
we must to business. I do hope that you will simply
surrender yourself to me, I have no wish to hurt
you,’ he informed me ever so politely.

I smiled with sarcasm.
‘And I haven’t even had the courtesy of your

name, sir.’

‘My apologies for my rudeness. My name is

Gerard Valoire and I am to be your new Knight of
Swords and mate.’

‘The position is already taken, Monsieur

Valoire.’

Another smile but there was impatience in his

tone when he spoke again.

‘You are not yet joined to Nathan Valancourt.

Besides he has left you vulnerable and
unprotected. He has failed in his duty to you and is
clearly and unworthy mate. You are mine to take.’

‘I choose to be alone, Monsieur Valoire. And

you have not established a bond with my mind.
That is one of the requirements before a joining
may take place. Besides, I will not be made to
yield and bow under the control of a Knight who
fancies himself King and above me.’

Gerard’s features tightened and he now

looked down upon me with annoyance.

‘As Queen, you must be counselled and

protected. Times have changed. Bonds are
unnecessary. With the shortage of female Taleians
we must take a mate where we can. Your power is
dangerous and untamed in the simple hands of a
female. She is not a born leader. You cannot be
without a mate.’

‘You mean ruled. And I beg to differ, sir. Do

not insult my sex. If a female was not a natural
born leader than why would she have been given
such power?’

‘It is beyond my comprehension but this is

the way it has been for centuries. She must be
ruled it is for her own protection. The Knight of
Swords must counsel and assist his Queen in
matters of state and be her master just as a husband
is of his wife in the human world. It is Taleian law.’

‘It is a law that must be changed just as the

human one must be.’

‘And you must learn your place, child. You

will be taken and you will be mastered like every
other Queen of Talus,’ he shouted to me. ‘You may
keep using your powers against us and I have no
doubt that you are formidable but you lack the
physical strength of us males and eventually you
will be hunted and brought down. I will not give up
and you will be broken to my will by the time I take
you.’

Fear of his words began to overwhelm me. I

shape shifted into a tiger, just as I had done with
Xavier and charged for Gerard’s throat. He stood
his ground and quickly reached for a weapon one
of his men handed him. I had not seen it, the man
had hidden it from me. It was a crossbow. I had
made a grave error. He was smiling as though he
had anticipated my attack as he shot me with a
heavy bolt. I fell to the ground unable to retain my
form. My vision blurred further and I felt a
sickness rise within me as I tried to stand. I had not
felt this way since I had consumed the blood of an
animal. I looked down at the bolt protruding from
my chest and confirmed my suspicions when I
smelt the animal blood it was covered in.

My torment was not to end. As I lay there

trying to move the men surrounded me and Gerard
loaded the crossbow once more, shooting me again,
his face devoid of any emotion as though I were a

mere animal he had hunted in the woods. A third
shot engulfed my body in a debilitating numbness.
Gerard bent down and smiled at me. He was
triumphant his plan had worked. I felt a fool.

‘You fought well but you are no match for us

knights. We are a cunning lot.’ He patted my arm.
‘Do not worry little one I will carry you to Paris
where you will live in splendour fit for a Queen and
as long as you behave and do as I ask we will get
along famously. I hope I never have to hurt you
again to ensure your obedience. But I am sure it
won’t happen as you now know how far I will go if
you give me cause, chérie.’

I gave a strangled cry of angry torment and

turned my face away. I and my new life of freedom
had come to a frightful end. I was to become a
slave. My sobs were almost deafening when he
pushed each of the bolts in further and twisted
them to make sure the poison was well inside my
system. Then he pulled the bolts from my flesh
without care. I wanted to kill him.

Two of Gerard’s assistants were human.

They began securing a fishing net around my body
in which they placed small pieces of iron. They
tied the end at my feet with rope and I began to run
a fever and felt close to fainting.

Gerard stood and prepared to leave. One of

the humans bent to pick up the bottom of the net
that trailed away from my bound feet ready to drag

my body along the cold damp ground. But Gerard
shook his head and took hold of his burden.

‘Thank you, Jacques, but I should like to

carry my trophy,’ he mocked. ‘Time for you to
start your new life with me in Paris, Juliet.’

My captor had won and now he was claiming

his prize. He appeared approving of my silence and
began dragging my body along the dock into the
fog. I made every attempt to keep my face from
the ground but it scraped and bruised along the
coarseness of the net and the cobbled path. I did
not want to belong to anyone but Nathan and a life
where another cold stranger was forced upon me
would drive me to find a way to die. That would be
my escape and Nathan’s proof of my loyalty and
undying love if he ever became whole again.

Gerard continued to drag my aching body

over the cobbles along the docks to an unknown
destination and into the fog that rolled over the
Thames and into the city. But he was to suddenly
stop. I could see his shoulders tense as we all heard
the sound of footsteps in the fog ahead coming
towards us in a determined manner.

Gerard ordered the two human men forward

to investigate. Each of them drew a knife from
their breast pocket as we watched them disappear
into the ghostly white air that swirled around us to
obscure our vision of what lay ahead. Our
heightened Taleian vision was of no use in the fog,

only the night. There was no sound apart from
their own footsteps now and the sound of the water
and boats lapping against the side of the dock.

Silence reigned for a minute or more and then

the distant cry of a man was heard and the sharp
slice of a sword moving through the damp air. The
sound was followed by the bounce of an object
hitting the ground and rolling out of the fog towards
us. I gave a startled gasp when the human’s
decapitated head appeared. Another slice of air
and the next human’s head quickly followed with
enough force to roll and touch Gerard’s foot. With
an angry growl Gerard kicked the head away from
him and out into the Thames.

‘Give me my sword,’ he demanded of the

Taleian that carried it.

The other two Taleians took a defensive

stance as Gerard raised his sword ready to strike at
his unseen opponent and the determined footsteps
continued once more towards us.

A tall shadow emerged from the fog in the

dim gas light. He was immaculately dressed as a
gentleman of birth with an aristocratic elegance
about him that no other seemed to bear. Relief
flooded the blood that still pumped through my
veins and my heart swelled with love.

Nathan was a terrifying haunting vision as he

emerged from the night. His eyes were dark and
were narrowed in anger at Gerard. For a moment,

they were drawn to my pathetic captive figure and I
felt the spark of his fear for me. It was only brief
for it turned to explosive anger.

‘Another challenger?’ Gerard hissed. ‘I got

here first. She is mine and I am taking her.’

Nathan’s eyes widened.
‘You dare to take my Queen and defile her?’
Gerard gave a small nervous laugh. ‘Who are

you to call her your Queen?’

His question appeared mute, for his curious

and anxious tone told everyone he already knew
who Nathan was to us all.

Nathan’s voice was dark and soft as melted

chocolate when he spoke. It only served to
heighten the menace of his position.

‘I am the Knight of Swords.’
Gerard bared his incisors and hissed more

violently. But Nathan’s sword was already striking
at my kidnapper. Gerard dropped the net and
ordered the Taleian men to take me as he fought his
challenge with Nathan. Both took one end of the
rope and lifted me into the air to carry me off.

Nathan roared with anger when he saw what

they were doing and I could see him employ the full
capacity of his strength as the chosen Knight of
Swords by fate to beat Gerard back, each thrust of
his sword tearing a painful slice of flesh in Gerard’s
body as he fought to get past him to me.

Both the demon and the human’s fear for me

grew into a tempest that drove him on but my time
was running out. I desperately tried to struggle
against the numb feeling in my body, hoping the
men would drop me before they took up the speed
and disappeared into the night carrying me with
them. But my act was to prove futile and I began
to lose hope.

Chapter Twenty-Three

I was just close enough to see Nathan win his

duel. He swung his body in a perfect arc to slice
his sword through Gerard’s middle as though he
were cutting through butter. The two halves of the
knight’s body fell in opposite directions to sink into
a scarlet pool of blood. Nathan had not finished.
Arrogantly he skewered Gerard’s vacant head with
end of his sword and tossed it into the water before
pursuing my captors at blurring speed.

But Nathan was to receive help in my rescue.

There was an eerie howl, half human, half wolf in
its character. I remembered the sound from the
woods that night. My kidnappers were brought to a
sudden stop when three lycans descended from the
rooftops into their path as Nathan came behind
them holding his bloodied sword, expectant for
another fight.

Both Taleians dropped their cargo and I

landed with a thud on the ground, injuring my
forehead. Nathan was in no congenial mood to
hear the hissing from one of the Taleians or his
spoiling for a duel. Nathan’s sword was quickly
slashing through the man’s neck vertebrae. Behind

me, one of the lycans had bitten into the throat of
the other Taleian and ripped his throat and head
away.

Nathan appeared confused by the presence of

the lycans and their unexpected assistance. He
moved to my side watching them suspiciously as he
began tearing at the fishing net. A shadow passed
across my vision and another set of hands were
tearing into the fishing net as the lycans came to
stand over us. I looked up to find Marcus Duart
frantically ripping at the net. Surprised as I was,
Nathan demanded to know what Marcus was doing
there.

‘I came because your Queen is in danger and

she needs my help,’ Marcus told him firmly.

‘She did not call for you. I would have felt

it,’ Nathan responded. ‘She believes she has kept
me from her direct thoughts and her whereabouts
but she has not taken blood for so long and
thankfully her barriers have weakened as a result.
It has made tracking her whereabouts easier. So, I
would have known if she’d contacted you.’

Marcus smiled as he continued ripping at the

net and throwing away the pieces of iron on
Nathan’s behalf, ‘I can go one better. Before Juliet
left the castle I opened my mind to her.’

‘You had no right. She does not belong to

you.’

‘But you would be glad of my help. I wanted

Juliet to know that she could trust me, that she
could count on my assistance if she needed it.
Once a Taleian has brushed your mind you sense
their presence unseen and feel some of their
emotions. I felt her pain and fear and I came to her
aid. We have memorised her scent and have been
tracking her for days.’

‘She does not need lycan help,’ Nathan

retorted as he helped lift me to sitting and
supported me with his arm around my back. Both
he and Marcus were shocked at my painful wounds
and Nathan was anxious that I should be fed blood
but Marcus was quick to act.

Marcus asked me hurriedly after glancing

uneasily at Nathan, ‘Do you still wish my help?’

I stared at Nathan, feeling the loss before it

had begun. My eyes filled with tears as I nodded.
A dark shadow crossed Nathan’s features as he
read my thoughts and almost immediately he
reached to pull me up and to his side before Marcus
had the chance to take me from him. But Marcus
had clearly anticipated his move and I was swept
up and under the protection of his arm in an instant.

‘You will not leave me,’ Nathan thundered

but there was no mistake in recognising the depth
of pain he felt at my anticipated loss once again. I
could not but help to tremble against Marcus with
the ferocity of his feeling.

‘I have no choice. I told you of my wishes at

the castle . . .’

‘I do not care for your wishes,’ he snapped

callously, taking a step towards me. Marcus moved
to shelter my body and the other transformed
lycans closed ranks. But Nathan was undeterred.
‘You would walk away from your throne when you
fought so hard to recapture it? You have seen what
happens when you are without my protection.
Knights from every part of the globe are hunting
you. Without me, without our joining you are in
danger and prey to their violence. You will come to
me now,’ he commanded holding out his hand.

‘No,’ I uttered my command with firmness

vainly attempting to remove the tremor within my
voice. Nathan ‘s eyes narrowed darkly. ‘I will not
have you, sir, until you are whole again,’ I insisted.
‘As for my throne, I need time to decide what I
must do for my people. There are many problems
for me to consider. I need peace to deliberate and
come to a decision.’

‘You try my patience. I am better able to

protect you. The human half of me is too weak to
be allowed any influence. And you need my
counsel to help you decide what is best for our
people.’

‘But seeing as that you wish to remain as you

are we will never be joined,’ I continued undeterred
and mindful that if Marcus would let go of me I
would sink to my knees and never move again. ‘I

will take no other mate, I will not be ruled by any
Knight of Talus and will make my own decisions. I
am Queen of my people . . .’

Nathan interrupted me with the issue of a

fierce command, ‘I will not hear anymore. Come
to me now of your own free will or I will take you
by force.’

I swallowed hard. The demon was as

stubborn as myself and I had no doubts that he
would carry out his threat. I was at a loss. I could
not defeat his resolve with words or pleadings.

‘If you loved me, Lord Valancourt . . .’
‘And if you were respectful of my position

and authority in your life, madam, you would obey
me without question. I am your Guardian and your
mate.’

I was about to retort but Marcus raised his

hand to halt our argument. Carriage wheels were
clattering against the cobbles towards us.

‘Enough. Juliet has asked for my help and I

am more than willing to provide her with it. She
requires rest, blood and time to recover from her
ordeal without the hindrance of your preposterous
mating ritual. She is now under my protection and
of every other lycan in my clan. Marcus tightened
his hold upon me.

He continued fiercely with his words, ‘You

will take her nowhere, Nathan. If you try, your
action will meet with violence. I suggest if you

wish to win Juliet’s hand you recover the human
half of yourself and do as your Queen commands,’

The demon was frustrated and I grew afraid

that he would become reckless.

‘I will not let you take her. She is helpless

without me. You cannot protect her from the
knights and I cannot be without the contact of her
mind. It is the way of our people she must accept
my rule.’

‘Nathan, the human part of you, the man you

deny existence would never seek to rule me . . .’ I
started to speak.

‘Then he is more of a fool than I take him for.

You would never be safe with him.’

A man got out of the carriage when it came to

a stop near us and came to stand next to Marcus
who addressed him with an order.

‘Richard, help Juliet into the carriage.’
Richard nodded and took over the support of

my ailing body from Marcus and began leading me
to the carriage. I glanced back at Nathan with
fright when I heard him growl with disapproval. He
had raised his sword and now pointed its tip at
Marcus’s throat. The transformed lycans circled
him ready to attack, their breath snorting like
smoke in the air. I froze in fear for Nathan’s safety.

‘Richard, ensure that Juliet is safe in the

carriage,’ Marcus repeated. There was no fear in
his voice even though the tip of a blade scratched

at his throat, only humour.

‘You will give her to me, lycan. Without my

protection she will be taken. I will not lose her,’
Nathan persisted.

‘Put down your sword or my men will attack.

I will take care of your Queen. She will be safe and
protected. I give you my word as a gentleman and
as a lycan. Allow her the time she craves and
remedy your inner struggle. Court her like the
gentleman I took you for and perhaps you will win
her heart again.’

Richard gave a gentle tug on my arm and

handed me into the carriage. He closed the door
and stood guard outside. I was now only able to
view proceedings from the window.

‘Give her to me,’ Nathan shouted with

angrily. ‘Or I will kill you where you stand.’

Marcus gave a soft laugh.
‘Are you so arrogant that you will take us all

on believe you will survive the fight?’ he asked the
demon. ‘And what use will you be to your Queen
when you are dead?’

I watched Nathan study the lycans around

him with suspicious calculating eyes but then
slowly lower his sword with a heavy frown of
realisation that his action would prove senseless.

‘You may have won now Marcus but you

cannot hide her from me. I will come for her.’

‘And I will be waiting. You will not see her

until she desires it.’

Marcus did not share another word with

Nathan. He turned and walked towards the
carriage. He gave me a sympathetic look as he sat
down across me and Richard entered. He told the
driver to hurry and we began to leave. I looked at
Nathan as the carriage began to trundle away from
the dock to disappear into the fog. The
transformed lycans stood guard as the carriage
departed. He stared at me, the hurt in his beautiful
blue eyes would haunt me forever.

But the demon would not give me up and that

very evening he would come to take me from
Marcus’s London home. I had bathed and my
wounds had been cleaned. I had also fed well.
Marcus and his kind sister Liza tried in vain to
persuade me to rest in bed but I did not wish to be
left alone with only my thoughts as company.

It was still difficult for me to move and it

would take days for the poison to disappear from
my body but I found myself passing an evening of
merriment playing cards with Marcus, Liza and
Richard by the fire.

It was approaching midnight when I felt

Nathan’s presence outside the long narrow
windows that overlooked the landscaped grounds
of Marcus Duart’s London home. I turned quickly
in my chair to see those haunting blue eyes
watching me with burning intensity. I felt Nathan’s

pain and frustration at what he perceived as my
betrayal and his resolve to carry me from the house
by any means necessary. This time he was
accompanied by three of the other knights and all
of them were united in mind for the task that lay
ahead. The window shattered and broke with a
deafening noise making us all jump to our feet. It
was quickly followed by the destruction of a
second window.

‘Liza, take Juliet upstairs, quickly,’ Marcus

briskly instructed as Nathan, Cedric, Byron and
Dylan entered the room through the holes that once
housed glass at the far end of the room.

My whole body ached with the poison in my

veins and it made my flight slow and laboured. But
we were to successfully reach the landing that
overhung the large drawing room and we could
hear the conversation down below.

‘How did you get past my men? What gives

you the right to break into my home?’ Marcus
angrily demanded of Nathan.

Nathan’s sarcasm was heavy in his tone when

he answered,’ I threw them a bone. I gained the
right to break into your home when you stole my
mate.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. I did not steal Juliet and

nor do I covet your mate, Nathan.’

‘No, but he does,’ Nathan snarled.
I heard Richard speak and found myself

remembering what Xavier told me at the castle
about the lycan’s interest in my scent. I feared for
him but Richard was to deny it rather more
viciously than I would have liked.

‘You disgust me. I have respect for your

Queen but I would never take a Taleian hybrid
female as my mate,’ he insisted with venom. ‘Be
assured, I do not challenge your position. I would
be loathe to.’

‘You insult her?’ Nathan was growing more

angry by the moment.

‘That will do,’ Marcus snapped loudly.

‘Richard, curb your tongue. Nathan, you must
leave your Queen in peace. She needs rest.’

‘She will take rest with me. Where is she?’
But before Marcus could issue another threat

to drive Nathan from the house I could hear
movement and a scuffle of sorts that was
accompanied by threatening raised voices on both
sides. Fearing the worst, I quickly shrank back into
the dark shadows taking Liza with me. But it was a
useless activity. Afraid, Liza urgently whispered at
me to move again so that we could take safe shelter
in one of the rooms. But we were brought to an
abrupt stop as Nathan jumped to the landing and
over the banister to land with majestic grace
directly in our path.

He straightened and came towards me with

purpose. I backed away towards the stairs

instructing Liza to stand away from me for her own
safety but Byron was standing at the bottom of
them preventing any escape. It seemed that despite
Nathan’s crisis of identity his knights were behind
him in thought and believed his judgement sound
although his execution was somewhat cruel to
them.

They were all afraid for my life and they

believed I would only be safe by Nathan’s side,
demon or otherwise and surrounded by them. Not
one of them trusted the lycans with my life. They
were intent on doing whatever it took to bring me
back. I would find no ally among them to plead my
case to Nathan.

My feelings for Nathan as he came towards

me to grab my wrist and pull me to him where once
again an odd mixture of fear and potent desire. But
I was firm in my will that I would not accept him as
he was.

‘Did you really believe you could hide from

me? Did you really think I would allow you to
leave me?’ he asked me fiercely.

‘Nathan, please let me go. I am firm in my

will. I will not have you until you are of a balanced
nature. Do not doubt your ability to protect me
with the aid of your human nature. You have
always done me proud.’

‘No, he let you down,’ he angrily insisted.

‘He let Sebastian rape you and he betrayed you

with the witch. You nearly died because of his
failure to protect you.’

Tears stung my eyes as I began to realise what

was troubling Nathan and why he rejected the
human inside of him.

I attempted to reassure him, ‘You have never

let me down. That was not your fault . . .’

‘No. He is not worthy of your love.’
‘You are wrong,’ I informed him, tears

streaming down my cheeks as I further considered
the measure of pain Nathan hoarded in his
conscience on my behalf.

He held both of my arms now in a tight

unforgiving grip and gave me a small shake.

‘The Nathan you knew is gone,’ he told me

with calculated bitterness.

‘Then you are dead to me, sir.’
Another shake.
‘You will be mine. Perhaps I need to take

you by force right here and now.’

’And your head would be lifted from your

shoulders before you could finish carrying the ritual
out.’ It was Marcus. He was now standing beside
us. ‘Leave my home and your Queen in peace until
you obey her command. I will not stand for your
presence until she desires it.’

Two transformed lycans came to circle us.

Their fearsome tall savage naked forms never failed
to fill me with apprehension especially when

Nathan ignored them.

‘You and your knights are outnumbered,’

Marcus informed him with an impatient tongue.
‘Leave before we make you. Do not push me,
Nathan, I will go as far as I need to. Your Queen
saved my children and was ready to sacrifice her
life for them, there is nothing I won’t do for her.’

Nathan continued to look upon me, ignoring

Marcus. ‘You trust your life with strangers?
Lycans? They cannot be trusted.’ He softened his
angry tone but his voice betrayed the strained effort
he used to control his frustration. ‘Please, Juliet,
come home with me where I can keep you safe
from harm.’

‘No, Nathan,’ I told him with firmness despite

the audible tremble within my voice. ‘I am sorry
but I will not settle for less than both of you. I will
not do without either side of your nature, vampire
and human. I love you both equally.’

His eyes narrowed and he viewed me with a

cold dark stare that chilled me to the bone. The
cruelty in his features returned. He glanced at the
lycans standing around us as though calculating
how he could simply carry me out. I tried to pull
away in response but he held me still. Marcus
shook his head at him.

‘Do not try it, Nathan. You will be stopped.’
‘I will be watching your every move. You

will not escape me, Juliet. Mind that you do not

leave her alone for a moment, Marcus, or I will
take her from you and I won’t be so lenient with
you as I am now being, Juliet. You cannot hide
from me I will hunt you down. I will never stop
and you will never get the peace you so selfishly
crave,’ he snapped at me.

He pushed me away from him with force and

I fell back against Marcus who caught my arms to
steady me. Nathan’s gaze lingered in dark warning
over me burning my flame of need for him all the
more and then he leapt from the balcony. It proved
unbearably painful to deny my need for him.

Not more than a moment later Richard came

hurriedly up the stairs announcing that Nathan and
the other knights had departed. He was full of
temper. I could not blame him.

‘We should not be making the Knight of

Swords so angry. It is dangerous. Perhaps we
should return her to them,’ he told Marcus in front
of me without little care for my feelings. I turned
away remembering his conversation with Nathan
downstairs.

‘Mind your manners, Richard. And show

your respect. I will not have you use your lose
tongue around Juliet,’ Marcus bellowed at him
making me jump.

‘Nathan is not going to give up trying to take

her from us.’

‘I agree. I have a plan,’ he turned to smile at

me. ‘It is one I think you will like very much,
Juliet. I believe we could all do with a trip.’

Chapter Twenty-Four

I stood on the promenade deck of the

steamship, The Adeline, alone. It was with quiet
humour that I recounted she belonged to my
uncle’s passenger steamship company, the Cameron
Passenger Shipping Line that he had bequeathed to
me. Although the company was held in trust until
my 21

st

birthday, the ship was mine and I employed

all of those souls working upon it. I felt honoured
that my uncle believed he could trust me to
safeguard and continue his grand legacy despite his
knowledge of what I was. She was indeed a
beautiful ship that would carry me to Italy and
hopefully to a life of peace for as long as I needed.

We had not yet left the dock at Southampton

and as the ship began to manoeuvre away I closed
my eyes feeling the bitter sting of emotion as I
considered all that I left behind. But I had little
choice if I was to keep my freedom. My eyes were
blurred with salty tears when I opened them once
again. I cast my eye over the docks and at the
crowd that were waving their tearful goodbyes to

the other passengers that stood next to me blowing
their kisses and earnestly waving back. And then I
saw him.

His tall elegant figure stood out at the front of

the crowd. He was not alone, my
knights accompanied him but it was only he who
captivated my attention. His blue eyes were full of
sorrow and confusion. I felt the gentle brush of his
consciousness and heard the caressing whisper of
my name upon his lips in my mind. I closed my
thoughts and turned away from him unable to see
the cruel hurt that I caused him etched into his
beautiful features.

I held on to the ship’s rail feeling the weight

of my pain begin to crush my small body and
quickly covered my mouth to stifle the sound of a
loud sob. I will never forget the terrible pain I saw
in his eyes and felt in his thoughts. It was as though
I was ending his life.

A hand covered my own gloved one that

gripped the rail and gently squeeze to give me
comfort. I looked up at my fellow traveller and met
the sympathy in his eyes. Marcus Duart looked
down at Nathan standing on the dock before
turning to me. He reached into his morning coat
inside pocket and handed me a white silk
handkerchief. Nathan’s eyes were becoming
distant as the ship inched further away but I could
still feel his sense of betrayal. I thanked Marcus for

his gallant attention and dabbed at my eyes as he
studied me closely.

‘You do know that Nathan will never give

up? He will come for you,’ he said a hint of caution
in his tone.

‘Yes. I will have to continue to evade him

and hope in time he will decide to grant me the
peace I desire if he will not accept who he is,’ I
informed him gathering myself together.

Marcus’s expression was not hopeful but he

nodded.

‘Whatever happens I do believe you need rest

and recuperation from all that you have been
through and I am glad you have decided to take up
my offer and become my travelling companion
around Italy. I believe the trip will do you good and
I have much to show you.’

I smiled widely feeling excitement at seeing

the sights of another country.

‘Then we will return to Venice where I shall

keep you busy attending several parties. I also
intend to throw a ball at my residence that will
enable you to indulge your passion for dancing,’ he
told me with much enthusiasm.

My eyes widened with gleeful expectation.
‘It sounds truly perfect, Marcus. I cannot

begin to thank you enough for helping me escape
and taking me in like a stray.’

‘I owe you my life and those of my children,’

he spoke softly, a gentle smile on his lips. ‘Without
your help and kindness none of us would be living
today. I will help you forget your troubles. It is the
least I can do,’ he smiled.

I lowered my eyes and gave a small blush.
‘Thank you.’
I heard the playful voices of young children

running along the Promenade deck towards us.
Frederick hugged at his father’s leg and looked up
at me just as Thora tugged on my hand.

‘Juliet, please come and play with us. I want

to show you the promenade deck. It goes all the
way around the ship. Please say you’ll come,’ she
whined affectionately.

‘Yes, please say you will come Juliet, please,

please,’ Frederick chorused. It was a divine feeling
to be wanted by the children but I still felt a little
shaken and tired by yesterday evening and the
hurried plans we had to make to acquire a place on
the ship. Marcus was quick to notice.

He lifted Frederick into his arms and looked

at them both with the tenderness of a father.

‘Hush both of you. I dare say Juliet will

indulge you later but she is tired and needs some
rest for the moment. Now go and play and do as
Mildred tells you.’

There was disappointment but then Thora

shouted out another idea for a game of play and
Frederick was only too eager to follow her. Marcus

laughed and kissed the top of his son’s head before
setting him down on the deck. They were moving
the moment they touched it leaving poor Mildred
their nurse running after them. Marcus ruffled his
daughter’s hair and watched her move away from
us.

‘She becomes more like her mother every

day,’ he said with sadness.

I nodded sympathetically now knowing of the

constant pain he felt at the loss of his wife and the
blame he attached to his part in her death. I
glanced out over the ship again. We were far
enough away from the dock now to believe that we
had really begun our journey and I felt relieved.
Most of the people on the dock were leaving and
disappearing but one lonely figure stood watching
the ship depart into the distance. Marcus was right,
Nathan would never let me go.

I resolved not to look again. Marcus was

standing next to me against the rail now as he
looked back at Nathan. He addressed me once
more but this time lowered his voice and spoke
gravely.

‘As long as you do not wish to see Nathan,

his presence will not be tolerated anywhere near
you. And any other knight that assaults you will be
dealt with in the severest of terms.’

I nodded and was gracious in my thanks. I

felt safe again. Marcus smiled at me and offered

me his arm.

‘Now, I suggest some afternoon tea and

maybe a game before dinner. How are you at
playing chess?’

I laughed and linked my arm with his and

allowed him to lead me down the deck.

‘I am quite the champion. I was forever

beating my uncle.’

‘Ah, I like a challenge.’
‘Then you shall have one,’ I laughed.
I felt happy and at ease but I knew Nathan

would already be making plans to follow me and
reclaim my heart as did Marcus. I briefly wondered
how long it would be before he caught up with us.
I prayed that when he did he was of balanced
nature for I may not be able to hold myself back
from him any longer and my life would not be all I
hoped it would in our joining. I prayed he would
find it in his soul to confront the source of his
depression and find a way back to me for both our
sakes.