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Vladsray dawn and left behind the world I had grown to love Magda sobbed as I kissed her cheek and clung to natius had also coood-byes were aze of Vlad Dracula

I am now certain that Vlad suspected all of us of duplicity and wanted nothing more than to have me far from those he consideredyou, Countess Dracula May wemy hand

It had taken allht mine for a mere second and I felt the connection of our love flare I had quickly avertedcarriage, renatius, I felt a tear on loved hand and tried hard not to express the deep despair welling up within ainst his thigh He said nothing, but his firrip on my hand was possessive

As we left Buda behind us, I laidthe

All that I had cherished in Buda was gone and I was still Vlad’s

I drea ray skin, parched and dry, drawn tightly over her bones In uish of the hunger And in my dream, her milky eyes looked up at me as she seized me and sank her teeth into ht Drizzling rain fell steadily froh the dark streets

When we alighted fro of sadness as I stared up at the countenance of the Golden Krone Hotel I had first o when un and noas almost at its sad end

Vlad ushered ushed over us, quite anxious to make sure ere perfectly content with the roory and weary from our travels and in no mood to deal with the mortal He simply chattered on in his nervous tone When we reached our rooave him my most plaintive look

"Thank you for your kindness, but it is best if you leave now," Vlad told the rim look, and i over his feet

"You are in quite a mood, ry Givea victie of the bed and pouted

"I shall leave immediately I can see that you shall not be satisfied until you have fed"

I just glared at him

Vlad leaned over and kissed my pout "I shall return"

I waved a hand at hihed My fingers played with the buttons ofcoat, but I had no desire to undress and put on one ofrobes Completely natius’ lips uponto the place of my captivity Up until then I had been uncertain of our destination When we reached Bistriţa , I understood ere returning to the castle

I couldwithin er and madness of the three woht knot inmy eyes, I drifted off to sleep for a mere mo dream

Cneajna rose up next to the bed, her body restored and once again the Hungarian beauty she had been for four hundred years Lying down beside entle kiss upon my lips

"My little one returns to ently, tears on her cheeks "My darling daughter, please come back to me I ," I answered

She lay down, curling herself aroundmy cheek softly

"I need you to hter Co hohtly I felt a great love for her in thatotten her when I was in Buda? What betrayal was this that et her calm presence in my life?

Then in my dream, she drew back and I was horrified to see her drawn, skeletal countenance Before I could escape, her fangs tore into my throat

I aith a start and sat up,off my head onto the floor

Vlad stepped out of the shadoelling in the corner of the roo blond hair fell over his ars as he walked She appeared to be in a deep swoon When he set her on her feet, she blinked dreauid expression on her face spoke of her thrall, and, as I rose, she held out her hands to hter"

I gave hiainst us?"

Vlad laughed "Drink what you need No ht her easily

"His kisses "

My arhed drunkenly and lay in a seductive little pile on the covers

I unbuttoned rily, I climbed onto the bed beside her and looked down into her transfixed blue eyes

"Katya," I said softly

She focused upon me