save you." Wicked laughter bubbled up from his throat. "I know the power of those chains. He does not have the strength to remove them. Even now, the silver burns his flesh and weakens his powers. Only a vampyre who has lived as long as I could withstand them. And he is but a babe compared to me."
He gazed down at her, his eyes glowing with hatred. "He took Antoinette from me, and now I shall take you from him. I will defile you, here, in his presence, and then I shall destroy him. And when that is done, you will be mine for a hundred years. And he will know it. In whatever hell he finds himself, he will know it."
He bent her back over his arm and licked her face, laughing when she shuddered with revulsion.
"It is time to end the game."
Grabbing her by the hair, he forced her to her knees. "Disrobe."
"No."
"Do it!"
Marisa shook her head. She slid a glance at Grigori. His eyes were dark with hatred. She could see him trying to summon his power, knew he was trying to get past the pain, the loss of blood, trying to find the strength to free himself of the heavy silver that weighed him down.
You can do it! I know you can. She tried to will him her strength, rocked back on her heels as Alexi slapped her across the face.
"Do it!"
She was reaching for the zipper when the bedroom door slammed open and Edward burst into the room. Mouth stained with blood, eyes wild, he hurled himself at Alexi, the stake in his hand aimed for the vampire's heart.
With a cry, Marisa jumped to her feet. Hurrying to the bed, she lifted the heavy chain from Grigori's chest, and thrust her arm in his face. "Hurry!"
He didn't argue. She felt the prick of his fangs, the oddly sensual flow of blood from her veins. He seemed to drink forever, yet it was only a handful of seconds, and then he put her from him and rose to his feet.
He was wholly vampire now. His eyes blazed with a pure red flame.
Marisa watched it all, too terrified to move.
Edward and Alexi were locked in a fierce embrace. The stake had missed Alexi's heart. He pulled it from his body with a savage cry and tossed it aside. Unmindful of the blood that spurted from his chest in a dark torrent, he flung Edward against the wall, held him there with one arm while he jerked Edward's head to the side and buried his fangs in his throat.
A strangled cry rose from Edward's lips as the vampire began to drink.
And then Grigori was there. Like an avenging angel, he pulled Alexi away from Edward. With a triumphant cry, Grigori snatched up the stake and drove it through Alexi's heart.
A horrible cry of anguish and rage rose in the vampire's throat. With a look of satisfaction, Grigori twisted the stake, driving it deeper, deeper. Alexi sank to his knees, his eyes growing dull. He tried to dislodge the stake, but he lacked the strength. A horrible hissing sound issued from his lips as he sank to the floor. His face turned a hideous shade of gray.
"Marisa, bring me the chain."
She stared at Grigori, one hand pressed to her mouth.
"Now, Marisa."
Unable to take her eyes from the horror before her, she picked up the chain.
"Drop it over him."
She did as she was told, though it seemed unnecessary. Alexi Kristov was truly dead this time.
"Marisa. Marisa!"
She blinked up at him, and then fell into his arms, sobbing. "Edward... what about Edward?" She looked over her shoulder at Edward, who lay sprawled on the floor, a gaping hole in his throat. "Is he...?"
"Not yet, but soon."
"We can't let him die. Please, Grigori, you've got to do something."
"He won't like it."
"Please! He saved our lives."
"Very well. But you will have to take the blame."
"I will. Please, hurry."
"As you wish, cara."
He let her go, and then put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right?"
"Fine. I'll be fine."
Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her across the floor and placed her in the chair. Yanking the bedspread from the bed, he covered her with it. "Rest." He brushed a wisp of hair from her cheek. "You might want to close your eyes."
She nodded, but she didn't. Hands clutching the bedspread, she watched as Grigori knelt on the floor and drew Edward into his lap. With surprising gentleness, he turned Edward's head to