"So I did." Rayven settled his cloak around his shoulders, then advanced on Montroy. He could hear the blood flowing in the man's veins, hear the frenzied beating of his heart.
He drew in a deep breath, drawing in the scent of blood, awakening the hunger.
Montroy backed up until he could go no further. "You gave me your word," he repeated, his pulse pounding wildly as he looked into Rayven's eyes. Eyes that glowed like twin coals in the very fires of Hell, burning into his mind, burning away his will to resist. He tried to look away, tried to raise his arm, to strike out with the hammer. But he could not draw his gaze away, could not summon the strength to lift his arm.
"Forgive me," Rayven murmured, and taking hold of Montroy's left arm, he sank his fangs into the tender flesh of the viscount's wrist.
Helpless, Montroy closed his eyes, surprised that there was hardly any pain. The hammer slid, unnoticed, from his grasp.
The hunger roared through Rayven, but he forced it back. Three long swallows, that was all, just enough to appease the hunger before he went to Rhianna.
He took a deep, calming breath as the hunger abated. After licking the wound in the viscount's wrist, and savoring the few extra drops of blood, he released Montroy's arm and turned away.
Taking the cellar stairs two at a time, he hurried to Rhianna's chamber.
Bevins was there, his arms and legs securely bound to a stout wooden chair. He grinned with rare good humor as Rayven swept into the room. "Good to see you, my lord."
"And you," Rayven replied curtly. With a flick of his wrist, he set Bevins free. "Get rid of Montroy, then bring me a glass of wine."
"Aye, my lord."
Lifting Rhianna into his arms, Rayven left the room, his steps carrying him swiftly up the stairs to the east tower. She was thin, he thought, so thin. Her heartbeat was slow, her pulse faint.
Inside the tower room, he closed the hidden portal, then gently lowered Rhianna to his bed. He drew the covers over her, his heart aching for the pain he had caused her, both mentally and physically.
"Rhianna? Rhianna!"
She moaned softly, then her eyelids fluttered open. "Rayven?"
"I'm here, beloved."
She tried to smile, but the effort was too great. "Stay... please..."
"I'll never leave you again. I swear it." Sitting on the edge of the bed, he lifted his wrist to his mouth, then opened the vein with his teeth. "Here, you must drink this."
She stared at him, uncomprehending.
Muttering an oath, he pressed his bleeding wrist to her mouth. "Drink, Rhianna."
Her eyes widened as she realized what he wanted, and then she shook her head.
"Drink, Rhianna. It is the only way."
His voice wrapped around her, soft as cotton wool, demanding her compliance. She didn't want to obey, but she was helpless against the dark power in his eyes. When he held his wrist to her lips again, she swallowed once, twice.
Just enough to restore her health, though he yearned to give her more, to bring her across the bridge from mortality to immortality, to keep her at his side forever. But even as he considered it, he knew she would hate him for it. And yet... He closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of her mouth on his flesh, the sensation of his blood flowing into her. What ecstasy it would be, to drink her to the point of death and have her drink from him in return, to know she would be his forever. With a harsh cry, he pulled his wrist away, ran his tongue over the ragged wound to close it. "Sleep now."
"No."
"Ill be here when you awake."
"You... promise?"
"I promise."
"Hold me."
With a strangled cry, he drew her into his arms and held her close. "Forgive me," he murmured. A single bloodred tear dripped onto her cheek, and he wiped it away, despising what he was, the pain he had caused her. "Please, beloved, forgive me."
When she was asleep, he settled her into bed once more, then spread his cloak over her.
Moments later, Bevins entered the room carrying a decanter and goblet. Wordlessly, he filled the glass and handed it to his master.
"Where's Montroy?" Rayven asked.
"I sent him home. He did not want to go."
"Is he all right?"
"He seemed a bit dazed."
Rayven nodded. "I shall deal with him later. Where's Ada?"
"She went home earlier this evening. She said she would be back tomorrow to, ah..." Bevins drew a finger across his