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"How could you do that to her," I deainst hihtly and he kissed ry desire I tree that felt like it would consume me Yet, the passion of thathis kiss, he leaned his forehead against mine

"As I did this to her, I will do it to you Do you understand?"

His fingers wound tightly into ainst mine

"Do you understand?" he asked

"Yes," I finally answered,with fear

"Will you write your brother?"

My gaze slid upwards to the great iron stake looht of such a fate Slowly, I nodded

"Tell me, Glynis Will you write your brother?"

"Yes," I said, and wept as he kissed ht-Continued

The Castle

Vlad returned to the castle wearing the form of a wolf The moment my bare feet touched the icy stones of the courtyard, he bounded off, his anger as tangible as the cold night wind

Gathering reat bronze door opened and Cneajna stood there, her long blond hair falling around a face so forlorn it made my heart ache I immediately seized her hands in mine and kissed her cool cheek

"What is it, Cneajna? Why do you look so heartbroken?"

"He took you to her, did he not?"

I nodded, trying not to think of the agonized screahter of Erzsébet "Yes, he did"

Cneajna sighed, then shook her head as she drew her hands quickly away Turning on her heel, she strode back into the castle, one hand pressed against her lips

"Cneajna," I called out, pursuing her I reached out and touched the gentle curve of her shoulder

She hesitated, then turned to face me

"Please, do not leave ht has ether Let us bind together our strength to carry us through this wretched night"

She gently sainst her I flungto her She whispered that if she had given birth to a daughter she ht have looked like me That her mortal husband had the thickest, most fiery locks she had ever seen until she had seen ers stroked htly

"What he did to Erzsébet, he said he will do to me if I do not obey him, Cneajna"

"Now you knohy I plead with you to obey our husband Now do you understand what he is capable of?"

I dreay fro out my hands dramatically "But it is monstrous what he has done! She is alive and in so much pain I was so horrified and afraid of her fate, I betrayed my own brother to Prince Vlad!"