old friend Napoleon, and guessed that he’d already have taken control of this coven. They were probably al inside it, arguing about something right now.
They were a contentious bunch.
Kyle bounded up the marble steps three at a time, eager to see him, to let them know who was boss. Napoleon had power, but not nearly as much as Kyle. After al , Kyle had survived for thousands of years, while Napoleon was stil a child.
Kyle kicked open the massive doors and strutted inside.
As he suspected, the huge marble building was completely packed with his own kind. It was chaotic. The enormous, marble room was shaped in a circle, with huge columns framing it in every direction. It had a marble floor, and an arched ceiling, culminating in an oculus. It was as grand as the Pantheon in Rome.
Except this one was fil ed with vampires screaming and yel ing over each other, pushing and shoving. As he suspected, they were in the midst of a heated debate.
And at the center of the crowd, standing on a podium, was Napoleon, yel ing to be heard.
Kyle pushed and shoved his way through the crowd, elbowing people as he strutted right to the center.
As he did, the huge crowd slowly began to gain awareness of him. He was so tal , he towered over everyone else, a foot above the crowd, and his scarred face gave people pause. Slowly, the room began to turn his way.
Kyle had no intention of waiting his turn. He had urgent business. He had an agenda to fulfil , and Napoleon and his people could be of service to him.
Kyle took two huge steps and leapt up onto the platform. As he did, he reached up, grabbed Napoleon by his shoulders and hoisted him high in the air, until he was at eye level with Kyle.
The entire crowd gasped, and grew quiet in shock.
Kyle stared down at Napoleon with his disfigured face, with his one good eye, and he saw Napoleon stare back, recognition and fear in his eyes.
“Kyle,” he whispered, startled.
Kyle broke into a crooked smile. He was happy to see his old friend again. He couldn’t help admiring his audacity.
“You little bastard,” Kyle answered.
And then, in one swift move, he threw him, flying, into the crowd.
A gasp raced through the room, as several guards scurried to catch his fal . They caught him, and looked up at Kyle in shock, wondering who on earth could have the audacity to do such a thing to their leader.
Kyle smiled.
“I have returned,” he said.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Caleb stood at the entrance of his castle, watching Caitlin fly away, completely baffled. He could not understand why she had left so abruptly, or what he had done wrong. He thought the night before had gone so wel , and she had seemed so happy to be there. Why her sudden change of mind? He racked his brain, trying to think what it might be.
Maybe she blames me, Caleb thought, for having to come back in time for me. For losing our child of the 21st century. If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t have had to come back, she would be safe and sound in the 21st century, with everyone she knew, with everything that was familiar, with that child.
Or maybe, he thought, she was stil blaming him for turning her. She had asked him, she had begged him, to turn her, and he had urged her not to. But he had relented. Did she resent him for that? For a life stuck in immortality?
Or maybe she just doesn’t love me anymore, Caleb thought, at least not like she used to. Maybe she loved the idea of me, but the reality of being here, with me, settling down for a life together—maybe it scared her away.
Whatever the reason, Caleb had to know. He couldn’t just let it go until he at least had an answer.
He set out from the house determined to find her, to discover the reason, and to do whatever he could to make wrongs right. In some ways, it was like heading off into a battle. In fact, he wished he was heading into battle instead.
This, he realized, was harder. Love, caring for someone, he was realizing, could sometimes be the hardest battle of al .
*
Caitlin walked on the sand, barefoot, alongside the crashing waves, Ruth beside her. The day grew overcast, and the strong wind pushed back her hair. She had never felt so sad. Just at the moment