Page 75 of Wynter's Bite

“Rochester sent me a letter awhile back, as well as some of your personal effects, should I decide to take you in.” Deveril frowned. “Rather presumptuous of him to ask me to provide sanctuary for a vampire he himself exiled. One who has committed a serious crime.” He looked down at Bethany. “And who is committing it once again even as we speak. Presumptuous and arrogant indeed, given that Rochester’s and my interactions haven’t been all that congenial.”

“I knew nothing about Gavin’s letter,” Justus said quickly. “If my presence is not to your liking, we can leave.”

Deveril chuckled. “No, you cannot flee so easily. It is still my duty to detain those who violate our laws. Besides, I am curious to hear of what caused a vampire who served as a loyal second in command and valuable spy to one of the most ruthless vampires in England to fall so far from grace.”

Justus’s gut sank further. His hope for an end to his and Bethany’s peril faded by the minute.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Bethany opened her eyes with a jolt. She found herself sprawled in an overstuffed chair beside an unlit fireplace in an ancient castle solar, decorated with paintings and tapestries. Before her mind could dwell on the beauty, she bolted upright, heart in her throat when she realized it was not Justus who sat beside her.

She couldn’t suppress a gasp at her first sight of the Lord Vampire of Cornwall in the light. He was abnormally tall and lanky, with hair like spun moonlight threaded with gold. He looked more like a creature from the fey realm, more mystical and dangerous, than a human or even the vampire that he was. A sword hung on his belt and she had no doubt he could unsheathe it before she could blink.

“Ah, h-how do you do, my lord?” she stammered, wishing she had the courage to demand where Justus was.

“Miss Mead,” Lord Deveril leaned back and smirked in amusement at her visible relief when she saw Justus sitting on his right. “Lord de Wynter has been telling me about how you two met, and the ensuing disasters that occurred.”

Justus’s lips tightened in a grim smile. Her belly knotted. He didn’t look as if their petition was going well.

“None of it was his fault,” she said louder than she intended. How could Justus continue to be blamed for her mistake?

“Oh, I think it was,” Lord Deveril said mildly. “Had he not told you what he was, you wouldn’t have blurted it to your suitor.”

Bethany flinched. Would he then lock Justus up? Or worse, execute him?

“However,” Deveril continued, “I understand that no one took your outburst seriously. Furthermore, Lord de Wynter was punished for his crime. And so were you.”

Hope bloomed in her chest. “Does that mean you’ll allow us to stay?”

The Lord Vampire of Cornwall sighed. “I am not certain yet. Taking in a vampire who served as second to another Lord, a vampire who should have known better than to commit such a dangerous indiscretion... I am unsure whether that is a risk that I want to undertake. Yet to banish him would simply pass the danger to someone else. And then there is you. A human who knows about vampires must either become one or be killed if their memory cannot be erased. Something must be done with you both.” He steepled his long fingers and stared at the candle flames. “For the time being, you will remain here as my guests under observation.”

Bethany and Justus exchanged knowing glances. Guests certainly meant prisoners.

“A room has been prepared for you and—”

“Oh, there you are!” A beautiful, black-haired woman who looked younger than Bethany entered the solar. She wore a canvas smock splattered with paint. “You did not tell me we had guests.”

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