For a month, Dracula and I circled each other like wary dancers, never quite meeting. He no longer came for my blood. When I questioned Martha, she explained that a hospital in Florence had developed synthetic blood. Dracula had tried it and found it sustained him, despite its unpleasant taste.

"Strange, though," she added. "I expected the Count would release you once he found an alternative. Yet here you remain."


Only then did I fully understand—he no longer needed me for sustenance. A strange emotion welled up inside me. I opened my mouth to respond when sudden commotion erupted outside the castle walls.

I rushed to the window. Dark figures swarmed through the garden, torches blazing against the night.

Martha's face drained of color.


"Miss, come quickly!"

"What's happening?"


"Vampire Hunters!" she whispered frantically. "We must get you to the hidden chamber!"

"What about the Count?"

"The master is confronting them!"

I pulled away from her grasp.

"I have to help him!"

"Miss, no!"

Ignoring her pleas, I bolted from the room and raced downstairs.

The great hall had erupted into chaos. Black-clad figures surrounded Dracula, weapons gleaming in the firelight.

He moved with supernatural speed, yet I could see he was holding back his full strength.

A hunter seized a moment's distraction and lunged from behind.

"Behind you!"

I screamed.

Dracula turned at my voice, and in that split second of inattention, another hunter drove a silver blade through his shoulder.

He staggered back with a strangled cry.

My heart lurched. Drawing courage I didn't know I possessed, I rushed forward to shield him with my body.

"STOP!"

The hunters froze in confusion. "A human woman? Are you a witch? Is this vampire your thrall?"

"Anna, get back!" Dracula growled behind me. "This is too dangerous!"

"I'm not leaving you!"

The hunters exchanged bewildered glances before slowly retreating.

"You're fortunate," their leader spat. "The great Count Dracula, enslaved by a witch! The Brotherhood never mentioned this complication. We'll need to reconsider our approach."

They melted into the darkness as swiftly as they had come.

I spun around. Dracula leaned heavily against the wall, dark blood seeping from his shoulder wound.

"You're hurt!"

"A minor injury," he grimaced. "You shouldn't have interfered. It was reckless."

"I couldn't let you fight alone. But what did they mean about—"

He met my eyes, his expression unreadable.

"Foolish girl," he said softly. "It's as they said. Vampire Hunters cannot harm those who have formed blood bonds with willing humans."

"But I'm not controlling you..."

"They believe you've enchanted me—that I'm under your spell."

"So you..."

Dracula laughed despite his pain. "I'm afraid after tonight, vampire society will believe I'm your willing slave, Miss Anna. You'll have to take responsibility for my reputation!"

I remembered Martha's words about the synthetic blood. Looking at his teasing smile, I demanded: "You haven't needed my blood for a month! Why offer to release me with that speech about not wanting to trap me, when you could have simply told me the truth and sent me away?"

His expression turned mischievous. "Without that little deception, how else could I have convinced you to stay a while longer, Miss Anna?"

I glared at him in mock outrage, but still helped him to his chambers and retrieved bandages.

"Let me tend your wound."

"It's unnecessary—"

"Be still."

He quieted, submitting to my care with surprising docility.

The silver blade had cut deep. Though the bleeding was sluggish, it refused to clot.

"Is it dangerous?"

"No," he assured me. "Vampires heal quickly, even from silver."

I wrapped the wound with careful hands.

"There."

"Thank you."

He studied my face, then reached out to brush a strand of hair from my cheek.

"Don't risk yourself for me again."

My heart stuttered in my chest.

"I just wanted—"

"I know," he interrupted gently. "But remember, your life matters more than mine."

I stared at him, bewildered.

"How can you say that?"

He didn't answer, merely withdrew his hand.

"Go rest. Dawn approaches."

I rose reluctantly and moved toward the door.

In the doorway, I turned back.

He leaned against the headboard, eyes closed. Moonlight bathed his features, making him look strangely vulnerable.

I realized then that I had fallen in love with him.