Page 87 of Bite at First Sight

Clayton’s mocking laughter echoed softly behind him. “Tomorrow when I am Lord of this city, she will be the first to taste my wrath.”

Rafe slowly glanced back at him over Cassandra’s shoulder. “I’ll see you dead before I see you as Lord of any city.”

Twenty-nine

When they left the ball, Rafe felt Cassandra’s relief strongly indicated by her audible sigh. Despite her courage in facing Clayton, he could see that her hands continued to tremble. That made his words even more difficult when they reached Burnrath House.

“We need to feed,” he told her when he assisted her from the carriage. “I think it best you stay here under guard. Anthony, Elizabeth, and Carlisle will remain with you since the Lord of Blackpool is to meet us here soon.”

Cassandra’s eyes were wide with trepidation, yet she managed a tight smile. “I understand.”

Anthony hopped down from his driver’s perch to unfasten the horses from the carriage. Elizabeth and Carlisle emerged from the shadows.

“Do not worry, my lady.” Elizabeth drew a rapier from the sheath strapped to her hip. “We will protect you.”

Cassandra nodded and allowed them to lead her into the house. Rafe rang for tea and coffee before pulling her into his arms and claiming her lips in a hungry, gentle kiss. “I will return quickly.”

Once outside, Vincent eyed him with a smirk. “It is strange to see you play the gallant.”

Lydia slapped her husband on the arm with her fan. “Oh, leave off. We have a meal to seek.” She frowned and looked down at her elaborate ball gown. “It will be difficult enough in this attire.”

“Perhaps we may pay a call to your grandmother,” Rafe suggested.

Lydia laughed. “Oh, that is tempting. However, I am hungry for blood, not vinegar.”

In the end they feasted on a group of richly garbed aristocrats leaving another ball. Rafe was pleased that his meal was one of the two females who’d snubbed Cassandra on the street a month earlier.

Rafe, Vincent, and Lydia returned from their hunt to find Blackpool’s retinue stationed outside Burnrath House with Anthony and Carlisle. Cassandra was talking with the Lord Vampire in the blue salon.

Rafe’s fists clenched at his sides, and a surge of territorial protectiveness speared through him at the sight of her alone with the other vampire. Then he glimpsed Elizabeth sitting unobtrusively in a chair by the fireplace, watching over his woman. His hands relaxed.

Blackpool looked up and met Rafe’s gaze, brown eyes solemn. “I gather you have not apprised the Elders of the situation with Lady Rosslyn yet?”

Rafe shook his head. “I do not know what to tell them, and with the situation with Clayton—”

“Precisely!” Blackpool drummed his fingers on the oak table. “Your first explanation of the delay should be the truth. That you have been handling a mutiny…unless you’ve already reported such.”

Stomach writhing in discomfort, Rafe looked down to withdraw his cigar case, avoiding the vampire’s gaze. “I have not just yet. I wrote to Ian first, as is protocol since he is the true Lord of London. The Elders frown on being pestered about every little territorial squabble. A good Lord should be able to handle the matter on his own.”

“Yes, they have been known to replace Lords who cannot manage their people without intervention.” Vincent poured a cup of coffee. “Has Ian replied?”

Rafe lit his cigar. “No, and I hadn’t expected him to. He and his wife are traveling. It will take an eternity for my letter to catch up to him.”

“What will you tell these Elders about my situation?” Cassandra spoke up suddenly.

Rafe’s heart froze in terror at the inevitable. “I—”

“For the time being, you must find a way to stall them.” Blackpool waved off a cloud of smoke. “Give them some pithy explanation for now, until Clayton is subdued.”

“Agreed.” Vincent blew on his coffee to cool it. “Lady Rosslyn should not be put to death. It is no fault of hers that you were unable to vanquish her memory.”

Elizabeth stood from her seat in the corner. “Furthermore, she healed Lord Villar. Such a vital talent should not go to waste!”

“Indeed.” Blackpool folded his arms. “What she did with your arm was nothing short of a miracle.”

Vincent nodded. “Which is why I shall write a petition outlining Lady Rosslyn’s skills and virtues and recommend that she be permitted to live until arrangements can be made to Change her.” He paused. “As I was under censure with the Elders the previous year, I believe more signatures would bring further weight to the testimony.”

“I will sign!” Elizabeth declared vehemently.

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