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Groaning round The hunters had now closed within two feet of her and she darted at the weakest point of their line A shriek of pain was torn from her throat and she fell back, her hands and arms scarred with blisters froainst her skin

"Bastards," my companion muttered under his breath

A vampire hunter moved forward and threw Holy Water into the vaan to rabbed hold of thesmooth hand closed overhis head "She is mad and we must not expose ourselves further We must think of our own safety"

Below, the va with pain and fear We lost view of her as the hunters closed in tightly around her I watched as the Gaelic hunter named Gilchrist round Franco disappeared as he knelt down andinto the fine silk ofar screaht it down one more time There was no scream, just a soft whimper

Svend, his pale face flushed with excitement, moved forward and I saw the blade streak doard

"It is finished," the male vampire whispered

Svend raised the decapitated head of the va matted tresses The fresh blood drizzled from her severed head onto his pale blond hair, but he seemed to take no notice

The hunters broke into cheers

Chapter 22

The Journal of Lady Glynis Wright-Continued

I was so overcome, I could not even move Tears flowed freely and ently took hold of hastly view His hands were sainst my face as he wiped ly

His words only entleness reminded me of my own poor dead father

"Was she your sister?"

I shook ht I have only arrived in Buda I saw her just before those…those…beastly men…they…how could they? How could they do that to her? How?" I fell against hio around ainst him

"Do not be afraid They cannot reach us here We just need to be wise in our endeavors They know about us now and will be searching for us," he said softly againstto see another vampire destroyed It was as if I had witnessed entleently in his arms "It shall be well onceofover an to happen I felt a pleasant warh me It seeh my veins The fear and pain of the death I had witnessed fell away from my mind as all I could feel was the tender e ar

Slowly, I became aware of the hard, leanas it pressed against an to blosso silky hair fell over my brow and into entle as any kiss I luxuriated in his powerful embrace and wished it to never end

"Who is your Master? I shall take you to your Master, if you wish it," the haway I could not tell this vampire of Vlad or our home! Vlad would beat me without mercy if a male vampire returned to me to the safety of the mansion I kneould be veno There was absolutely no way I could allow this va er You did a very foolish thing rushing after that girl in front of the hunters," the vanantly, I pulled away Haughtily, I raisedto save her, hed "You are a very arrogant young woman, are you not?" He was clearly a bastard," I retorted

"Fro"

I frowned at hi child Perhaps petulant But I was trying to help her! I was just not quite certain how to acco to help me, so therefore, do not condescend to me and say that I am a rash woman, for I can assure you, I am not" I stomped my foot for emphasis and his smile broadened

"Very well, madam, I stand corrected," he said with a small bow

"And I am not a madam I am a lady And a master of my own fate"

"Are you? For I fear if you are the Master of your own fate, you shall not last long rushing headlong into the presence of hunters," he observed

I scoffed at hi my nose up at him "They are ainst us that render us helpless before them if we are not careful," he answeredthe truth of his words I felt my defenses slip for a moment I was drawn to the va around azed upon him, all I could think of was th of his embrace

"You were foolish," he said firmly, but with his be into a situation like that again"

I turned sharply on er at hi and clever I was about to escape their clutches when you interfered"