by Brooklyn Ann
Thirty-three
Rafe’s heart plummeted as he bowed before the Elders. Despair curdled in his gut. Why couldn’t they have waited until he’d killed Clayton? Now all was lost.
Cassandra. Terror gripped his throat at the thought of his love in the presence of the most powerful vampires in the world. She needed to get away from here.
He searched everywhere for her, but he didn’t see her. Unless she was behind the towering figures of the Elders, she could be one of the bodies littering the ground.
The thought cut him like razors. Even worse was the realization that she might be better off that way.
The Lord of Rome strode forward, interrupting Rafe’s macabre speculations.
He surveyed them both with cold gray eyes before turning to Clayton. “Are you Clayton Edmondson?”
“I am.” Clayton’s remaining teeth glistened red as he smiled. “I cannot thank you enuthh thor coming to my aid. You thee what—”
A bronze blur obscured Rafe’s vision before blood splattered the side of his face as Clayton’s still grinning head flew from his shoulders.
The Lord of Rome withdrew a cloth from his waistcoat and wiped the blood from his ancient blade. Rafe breathed a small sigh of relief though he remained on his knees. The hair on his arms and the back of his neck stood on end. He was far from out of trouble.
The other five Elders stepped closer. The Lord of Edo lifted the hem of her kimono and kicked Clayton’s head out of her way with a dainty slipper-clad foot.
Her exotic black eyes coldly surveyed the litter of bodies on the field. “I see we have come too late.”
Rafe blinked. Had they come to aid him? “I presume you received my message?”
“We received no messages from you.” The Lord of New York glanced over her shoulder and gestured.
A small female vampire stepped out from behind them and slowly approached Rafe. Her shoulders were hunched and a curtain of long brown hair obscured her face. When her trembling hand brushed aside her hair, Rafe’s jaw dropped.
It was Lenore.
The frail vampire gave him a tremulous smile. “I am so happy to see you safe, my lord.”
“Dios mío, you’re alive!” Rafe gasped. “Where were you?”
Before she could answer, the Lord of Edinburgh placed a hand on her shoulder. “Miss Graves was sent to us by the Lord of Rochester after she escaped Mr. Edmondson’s captivity. According to her testimony, Edmondson had employed three rogue vampires to imprison her with the intention of discrediting your rule.”
“That hijo de puta,” Rafe growled.
Yet he was not surprised that his former second had resorted to such a dastardly action.
What was surprising was Rochester’s involvement. He glanced over at his ally. The vampire gave him a smug smile before turning back to the Elders. So that was how the vampire had learned of Clayton’s betrayal. Though Rafe greatly appreciated his aid, the scoundrel could have had the courtesy to inform him about Lenore.
Turning to his newly returned vampire, he met her gaze and asked as gently as possible, “Why didn’t you come to me?”
“Because Clayton’s rogues were chasing me.” The pleading terror in her eyes made his chest tight. “They would have caught me if I hadn’t left the city.”
He nodded. “I understand, Lenore. That was very brave of you.” It was beyond brave. Lenore had taken an incredible risk in entering Rochester’s territory without a writ of passage. He could have imprisoned or executed her. He should have returned her to Rafe.
“What happened when Clayton held you captive?” He slowly stepped closer, pity clenching his heart as she stepped back.
The Lord of Berlin held up a hand. “She may report the full details to you later. Where are the rogues who took you?”
Lenore pointed a shaky finger at two chained vampires guarded by Vincent’s people. “There are Hamish and Paul. I do not see Francis, the third one.”
Hamish spat and jerked his head to the left. “He’s dead.”
Lenore cringed at his voice. Yet when she looked down at the corpse of the third rogue, her lips peeled back in a vicious smile that was more of a grimace. What had they done to her?
The Lords of Berlin and New York approached the chained rogues. “What did Edmondson offer you in exchange for imprisoning one of Lord Villar’s people?”
The one called Paul cowered before the might of the ancients. “H-he said he’d make us legitimate citizens of London.”
The Lord of New York rubbed her temples before replying in a voice laced with exasperation. “Aside from the fact that it is illegal for any but a Lord Vampire to hold another captive, Edmondson did not have the power to do such a thing without our approval, which we never would have given for known rapists.”
Outraged gasps echoed from the surrounding vampires. Lenore bowed her head in humiliation.
A growl of fury trickled from Rafe’s throat. Not only had they kidnapped and imprisoned one of his people, but they had violated her as well? They must die.
The Lord of Rome restrained him as he lunged forward. “I am sorry, Lord Villar. These rogues had warrants for their capture before they came to London, and they are ours to judge and punish. But first we must deal with you.”
“Keep them under guard,” the Lord of New York commanded Vincent before turning back to face Rafe. “Now tell us exactly what occurred to lead up to this battle.”
Taking a deep breath, Rafe told them of Clayton’s secret meetings with half of London’s vampires and his declaration of war. He described how the Lords of Cornwall, Blackpool, and Rochester came to his aid. He avoided mention of Cassandra, though he knew that subject would soon be broached.
Holding his breath, he surreptitiously scanned the area for a glimpse of her.
There she was. His heart stopped as he saw her in the shadows of a distant copse of trees kneeling beside one of his injured people, oblivious to the dangerous presence of the Elders. Instead, she was in the process of unwrapping a bandage and handing it to… His brows rose in disbelief. Was that Thomas Wakley?
To Rafe’s horror, the Lords of Edo and Stockholm had taken notice, watching her and Wakley tend the wounded with indecipherable expressions.
The other four Elders commanded the Lords of Farnborough and Grimsby to come forward and give testimony as to why they had allied with Clayton.
Rafe didn’t pay attention to their answers. He was too busy trying to get Cassandra’s attention to signal her to flee.
“You are dismissed for now,” the Lord of Berlin said coldly to Farnborough and Grimsby. “Return to your territories and we shall send notice of when you are to stand trial.”
“What about Derbyshire?” Grimsby protested. “The yellow-bellied cur fled the field!”
The Lord of Edinburgh silenced him with a glare. “That is our concern, not yours.”
After Clayton’s allies slunk away, all six Elders surrounded Rafe.
“Now, Lord Villar, it is time to address one last matter. Why haven’t you done as commanded with your human prisoner?” the Lord of Rome queried in an ominous, silken tone. “You were supposed to have killed or Changed her last night, yet here she is, still alive and still mortal.”
As he pointed at Cassandra, she glanced up for a moment, then looked away and returned to stitching a wound. Though she did her best to appear indifferent, Rafe could feel her terror.
Rafe took a deep breath and confessed. “I am unable to Change her.”
“And why not?” The Lord of Edinburg cocked his head to the side. “We do not have record of you Changing another in the last three centuries.”
Lie, Rochester’s voice whispered in his mind. Rafe faced them with a level stare. “I used too much of my blood healing another vampire a few months ago.”
“Oh? Which vampire was that?” The Lord of Berlin’
s voice was laced with skepticism.
Rafe hesitated, feeling the noose tighten around his neck.
“It was me, my lords,” Lenore declared firmly. “I’d attempted to leap a tall fence and impaled myself in the effort.” She looked down at her toes in feigned embarrassment. “I would have died if Lord Villar hadn’t saved me.”
The Elders remained still for a heart-stopping moment.
At last they nodded and the Lord of Rome surveyed Rafe with a raised brow. “Then why have you not killed the woman?”
“I do not believe that she should die,” Rafe answered with more conviction than anything he’d ever said. “This woman may be the greatest healer to have ever walked the earth. She healed my arm”—he extended his left arm, flexing his fingers—“and she is now healing my people.”
All five Elders gaped in astonishment, staring at his arm as if they hadn’t seen one before.
“Mein Gott,” the Lord of Berlin breathed. “You are no longer crippled. I hadn’t noticed.”
Rafe fought back a disparaging sigh. No one ever noticed when things were right, only when they were wrong.
Before the urge to make a cutting remark became too strong, he continued to plead his case. “I believe Cassandra could be a priceless asset to our kind. I sent letters to my allies requesting them to Change her. Unfortunately, none were able to oblige me. However, Lord Deveril wrote a petition for you to allow her to live until arrangements can be made to Change her—”
“Is this true, Lord Tremayne?” The Lord of New York addressed Vincent by his surname. The Elders cared nothing for mortal titles.
Vincent nodded and stepped forward. “Yes, and the Lords of Blackpool and Rochester signed the document along with my wife and Rafael’s second- and third-in-command. Each also added their own testimonies to Lady Rosslyn’s merits.”
“How very touching,” the Lord of Rome purred. “Unfortunately, we received no such petition.”
One of Clayton’s rogues cleared his throat and rattled his chains. “I know where the letter is. If I tell you, will you have mercy?”
“If the information is useful, then yes, Paul.” The Lord of New York stepped over to him.
Paul returned her smile. “We killed the vampire that Lord Villar sent to deliver the message. Hamish still has it in his pocket.”
In a blur of speed, the Elder reached into Hamish’s coat and withdrew the envelope. She tore it open with a fang and read the contents.
“Yes, this is useful indeed.” She nodded at Vincent. “Your sword, Lord Tremayne?”
Vincent handed her his blade. She smiled and plunged the sword through Paul’s heart.
“I thought ye said ye’d have mercy!” Hamish whined, face pale as clotted cream.
The ancient vampire smiled. “We did. Intercepting communications to the Elders is punishable by death. I gave him a quick one. You, however, will not receive the same courtesy.” She turned her back on him and handed the letter to the other Elders.
When all had read Rafe’s letter and Vincent’s petition, they pressed together in a circle, talking too quietly to hear. Often they broke off to watch Cassandra tending the wounded.
Please, Rafe prayed, please let her live.
After an eternity, the Elders separated from their huddle and approached him. “This mortal’s talent for healing is indeed impressive. However, we cannot allow this to continue.”
Rafe’s fists clenched until his nails made bloody crescents in his palms. He couldn’t let them kill her. They would have to kill him as well, and he would take as many as he could down with him.
As if sensing his dissent, the Lord of Rome poised his sword at Rafe’s throat.
“Bring her here,” the Lord of Edo commanded. She inclined her head in Thomas Wakley’s direction. “And the other mortal as well.”
Thirty-four
An icy stone settled in Cassandra’s belly as Rafe’s voice boomed out in strained command. “Doctor Burton, Mr. Wakley, come to me now.”
Quickly, she finished stitching her patient’s wound and patted his hand absently before rising and hefting her satchel over her shoulder.
Thomas joined her, his blue eyes bulging with fear. “What do they want, my lady?”
Probably to kill me. She gave him a tremulous smile. “They likely believe it is time to erase your memory, as I warned you.”
He nodded, only the tightness of his jaw and the whitened corners of his mouth betraying his trepidation. Admiration filled her at his courage and acceptance during this ordeal.
When the vampire had delivered Thomas to the battlefield, he’d raised a brow and then calmly asked her to tell him what was going on. Once Cassandra had explained the basics about vampires and how to heal them, he’d opened his own medical bag and gotten to work.
Before long, they had the wounded lined up in an orderly fashion with uninjured vampires standing by to donate blood.
The surgeon had worked beside her with cool efficiency despite the fact that many of his patients eyed him hungrily, as if he were a juicy steak. When one lunged to bite him, Thomas stuffed a cloth soaked with ether in the vampire’s mouth and continued working.
Now nearly all of the wounded had been treated. Cassandra could not have managed without him. She prayed she hadn’t cost Thomas his life.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she neared the oldest and most powerful vampires in the world, who held her fate and Rafe’s in the palms of their ancient hands.
A petite Japanese female met her stare. Her burning black gaze seemed to delve into Cassandra’s soul. “Dr. Burton, tell us about how you healed Lord Villar’s arm and how you treated these fallen vampires.”
She took a shaky breath and recited her methods exactly as she’d explained them to Thomas Wakley.
Rafe took her hand and squeezed it, giving her strength to not stammer and curl into a shivering ball before her formidable judges.
“And who taught you these things?” a large male vampire with a thick German accent inquired, stroking his chin.
Cassandra met his gaze, refusing to cower. “I had studied medicine on my own for over ten years. Thomas Wakley then gave me the Oxford examination and offered me a few lessons.”
“The Oxford examination?” The Scottish Elder laughed. “Women aren’t allowed!”
Thomas glared at him. “I am well aware of that. It was a courtesy gesture so that she had some assurance that she is worthy.”
The Elders stared at the surgeon until he flushed and looked at his feet. Their piercing attention returned to Cassandra. “We have been discussing what to do with you, human.”
Rafe pulled her into his arms. She rested her cheek against his chest, seeking the haven of his embrace.
The other female Elder laughed. “Oh, that’s how it is.”
The male Elders chuckled and leered, though Cassandra hardly heard them over the pounding of Rafe’s heart and the fine tremor in his body. His fear intensified hers.
The Japanese Elder silenced them with a glare. “Your skills in healing are impressive and could be an invaluable asset to our people.” She smoothed her kimono and breathed a regretful sigh. “It is a shame that Lord Villar is unable to Change you. Yet we cannot allow you to go on as you are.”
Cassandra clung tighter to Rafe, her heart sinking. This was it. She buried her face in his chest, breathing in his beloved spicy scent for the last time.
“Therefore I shall do so.”
Rafe gasped. Cassandra slowly lifted her head, uncertain she’d heard the vampire correctly.
“Y-you will?” she whispered faintly.
“Yes, and I will also permit you to remain in London under Lord Villar’s rule.” Her liquid almond-shaped eyes narrowed. “However, you shall both owe me a favor.”
Rafe squeezed Cassandra’s hands as he drew them both do
wn to their knees. “Thank you, my lord. I will gratefully pay any debt in return for her life.”
“And I as well, for allowing me to remain with Rafe,” Cassandra told her. “Will you Change me now?”
The vampire shook her head. “No, I will do it tomorrow evening. I advise you to savor your last sunrise.”
One of the male Elders cleared his throat. “We must deal with the other one now.”
Cassandra tore herself from Rafe and approached the Elders. “Please, don’t kill him! It is my fault that he is here. There were too many wounded vampires and I needed his help.”
“And what did you think would happen to him after being exposed to our secrets?” the German Elder demanded.
“I had intended to ask Rafe to vanquish his memory.”
The Elder nodded and stroked his chin. “Clever woman. Unfortunately, after spending so much time in the presence of our kind, it may be impossible for one vampire to banish so many memories.”
Her stomach roiled with guilt as Thomas’s face paled further. She opened her mouth to apologize, but one of the Elders grumbled a curse.
“Oh bloody hell, quit frightening the poor mortals!” the Scottish Elder burst out. “Between the five of us, we can easily manage the task.” He turned to Thomas Wakley. “However, Edinburgh’s vampires could use a skilled sawbones as well. How would you feel about possessing eternal life and strength and power beyond imagining?”
Thomas took a deep breath and shook his head. “I am honored by your offer and it tempts me greatly. However, I have a wife and children whom I cannot bear to leave. I also have a great number of responsibilities that prohibit a nocturnal lifestyle. I want to continue my work on The Lancet, run for a seat in the House of Commons, continue my pursuit of reforming the policies of the College of Surgeons, improve conditions for the working poor, and…”
The American Elder held up a hand. “We have gathered your point.” She turned to Cassandra. “Did you purposefully choose such a prominent human to be here tonight?”
