Page 98 of Bite at First Sight

Turning to his newly returned vampire, he met her gaze and asked as gently as possible, “Why didn’t you come to me?”

“Because Clayton’s rogues were chasing me.” The pleading terror in her eyes made his chest tight. “They would have caught me if I hadn’t left the city.”

He nodded. “I understand, Lenore. That was very brave of you.” It was beyond brave. Lenore had taken an incredible risk in entering Rochester’s territory without a writ of passage. He could have imprisoned or executed her. He should have returned her to Rafe.

“What happened when Clayton held you captive?” He slowly stepped closer, pity clenching his heart as she stepped back.

The Lord of Berlin held up a hand. “She may report the full details to you later. Where are the rogues who took you?”

Lenore pointed a shaky finger at two chained vampires guarded by Vincent’s people. “There are Hamish and Paul. I do not see Francis, the third one.”

Hamish spat and jerked his head to the left. “He’s dead.”

Lenore cringed at his voice. Yet when she looked down at the corpse of the third rogue, her lips peeled back in a vicious smile that was more of a grimace. What had they done to her?

The Lords of Berlin and New York approached the chained rogues. “What did Edmondson offer you in exchange for imprisoning one of Lord Villar’s people?”

The one called Paul cowered before the might of the ancients. “H-he said he’d make us legitimate citizens of London.”

The Lord of New York rubbed her temples before replying in a voice laced with exasperation. “Aside from the fact that it is illegal for any but a Lord Vampire to hold another captive, Edmondson did not have the power to do such a thing without our approval, which we never would have given for known rapists.”

Outraged gasps echoed from the surrounding vampires. Lenore bowed her head in humiliation.

A growl of fury trickled from Rafe’s throat. Not only had they kidnapped and imprisoned one of his people, but they had violated her as well? They must die.

The Lord of Rome restrained him as he lunged forward. “I am sorry, Lord Villar. These rogues had warrants for their capture before they came to London, and they are ours to judge and punish. But first we must deal with you.”

“Keep them under guard,” the Lord of New York commanded Vincent before turning back to face Rafe. “Now tell us exactly what occurred to lead up to this battle.”

Taking a deep breath, Rafe told them of Clayton’s secret meetings with half of London’s vampires and his declaration of war. He described how the Lords of Cornwall, Blackpool, and Rochester came to his aid. He avoided mention of Cassandra, though he knew that subject would soon be broached.

Holding his breath, he surreptitiously scanned the area for a glimpse of her.

There she was. His heart stopped as he saw her in the shadows of a distant copse of trees kneeling beside one of his injured people, oblivious to the dangerous presence of the Elders. Instead, she was in the process of unwrapping a bandage and handing it to… His brows rose in disbelief. Was that Thomas Wakley?

To Rafe’s horror, the Lords of Edo and Stockholm had taken notice, watching her and Wakley tend the wounded with indecipherable expressions.

The other four Elders commanded the Lords of Farnborough and Grimsby to come forward and give testimony as to why they had allied with Clayton.

Rafe didn’t pay attention to their answers. He was too busy trying to get Cassandra’s attention to signal her to flee.

“You are dismissed for now,” the Lord of Berlin said coldly to Farnborough and Grimsby. “Return to your territories and we shall send notice of when you are to stand trial.”

“What about Derbyshire?” Grimsby protested. “The yellow-bellied cur fled the field!”

The Lord of Edinburgh silenced him with a glare. “That is our concern, not yours.”

After Clayton’s allies slunk away, all six Elders surrounded Rafe.

“Now, Lord Villar, it is time to address one last matter. Why haven’t you done as commanded with your human prisoner?” the Lord of Rome queried in an ominous, silken tone. “You were supposed to have killed or Changed her last night, yet here she is, still alive and still mortal.”

As he pointed at Cassandra, she glanced up for a moment, then looked away and returned to stitching a wound. Though she did her best to appear indifferent, Rafe could feel her terror.

Rafe took a deep breath and confessed. “I am unable to Change her.”

“And why not?” The Lord of Edinburg cocked his head to the side. “We do not have record of you Changing another in the last three centuries.”

Lie, Rochester’s voice whispered in his mind. Rafe faced them with a level stare. “I used too much of my blood healing another vampire a few months ago.”

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