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Oh, dearest diary, how sad I am to write what happens next, but I ht, after our conversation in the library, I foundpriown, ant style Mother looked very lovely in her sapphire blue gown as she sat reading her book May and Father stood near the fireplace, atte to ward off the drafty chill that haunted the library We were all quite relieved with our decision to return home, yet anxious

The sun had barely set below the mountains when Ilona announced that dinner would soon be ready and that the Prince had returned So far, the mysterious Prince Vlad had yet toforward to seeing hihtmares I had experienced

I plucked absently at the lace ofto the journey ho the lovely green trees I wanted to see Andrew and his beautiful wife rush out to greet us and feel their embrace Perhaps they would throw a lovely party for us That would be so grand I would wear reen one with the flouncy ribbons Of course, I would have to el It would be hard, but I would do anything to escapePrince Vlad I could perhaps find a way to avoid h For now, I had to convince el

The door swung open and Prince Vlad swept into the roo over his shoulders Again, I was struck by the intensity of his green eyes He i

"How beautiful you look, Lady Glynis, on this hts," Prince Vlad said

"Thank you, sir," I responded autolad to see you," Father said as he swiftly placed hi Good evening Lady May, Countess Wright" Prince Vlad greeted theentleman should "I a I meant to be here to show you my castle Some of the areas of my home are quite beautiful and rich with history"

"We did look around a bit," I said rather lightly

Again those bright green eyes settled on me "Did you? And did you like my home?"

I felt unnerved by his tone and almost could not look him in the eye I forced myself to raise aze "Yes, I suppose There were ht for ain the bowels of the castle and felt a chill down hts, afraid to study thes This castle holds a great history within its walls And a great arded Father’s skeptical gaze

Prince Vlad was such an i, all dressed in black with his long flowing hair He seeods of old, his htened h reat attraction to the poet and had behaved outrageously girlish With Prince Vlad, I felt an overwhelnetism that seemed to pull on me, yet at the same tiaze upon o and sit down before it begins to cool Ilona and her helpers have worked hard all day to make you a feast" Prince Vlad ain, I tried to linger and be the last one to depart I did not want to go near the Prince My father realized my discomfort and tried hard to keep the Prince distracted Inevitably, his green eyes see the corridor, there was a metallic clatter upon the stone floor Prince Vlad bent down to retrieve what had fallen My fa roo Prince As I neared hiht mine

"Glynis," he whispered

I stared down into his eyes and saw the passion burning in theered deep inside of hiaze burned into my soul, and I stood there transfixed

"Do not be afraid," he said as he slowly stood In his long hand was a golden chain on which a gold dragon dangled fro from my dreams had entered reality

Vlad’s sensuous mouth spread into a suiled, I slippedhi room As we entered, I could see the shocked expressions on my family’s face I sloithdrew my hand from the Prince’s arm I recovered myself and slid into the chair he drew back for an, he turned all his attention to reat effort to speak well, often searching for the right words I tried to concentrate on eating, but Prince Vlad kept asking me questions My father tried to divert his attention, but the Prince seemed determined to cast all his attention on me despite my discomfort

"Did you enjoy Buda, Lady Glynis?"

"Yes, it was very lovely," I responded, trying to take a bite of food before he asked another question

"We especially enjoyed the beauty of the cathedrals" My mother smiled sweetly at him "Which church do you attend in Buda?"

"I have my own personal chapel on aze to rand estates ere in Buda Which was yours?"

The Prince returned his gaze to her slowly, his green eyes quite intense "Near the Danube, dear lady Lady Glynis, did you enjoy the shops?"

May cleared her throat and ed to say, "We both did, sir"

"Did you now?" the Prince said in such a way that May reddened

I quickly took another bite of

My father sat down his fork and looked directly at the Prince He wore an expression that said he was done with the gaht that I inform you that we plan to leave at dawn I have already spoken with uide" His posture was stiff and his voice cool He seee erupted in the Prince’s eyes and darkened his features It literally made me jump in my chair and my spoon clattered to the floor