"So let me understand," Leigh said with an air of superiority. "Your Grayson MacCarthaigh is not dead?"

Phelan glared as he watched Leigh turn away from the window and face him. "No, vampire, she is not."

"And she has gained even more power?"

"It would appear so."

"And you didn’t get Sebastian, either, correct?" Leigh continued as she swiped the blond hair from her face. Her dark, dead eyes stared absently. "Pity. And you even lost your dagger…" She waved her hand in an impatient gesture. "Sword thingy…"

"The ancient athame from my father," Phelan corrected her and continued, "This is true."

Leigh shook her head in dismay. She leaned against the desk and grinned, her canine teeth protruding over blood-red lips. "And the Grayson ensemble killed your daughter, you say? Neala? The one who was supposed to do Grayson in?" She watched Phelan’s eyes grow darker as he breathed deeper. "Careless, darling. Perhaps just a smidge?"

"Perhaps," Phelan said in a dark voice. He stretched his neck angrily, popping vertebrae down his spine. His lips pulled back in an evil grin. "It did not go as planned."

"I dare say," Leigh said emphatically. "Nicholae will not be amused. We put our collective faith in you, Phelan." She gave him a scathing look.

Phelan put a hand over his heart and bowed slightly. "For my sins, madam."

"Of which you have many, I’m sure."

They regarded each other for a moment before Leigh slowly walked up to Phelan. She draped her arm around his neck, her fingers lightly running through his long dark hair. They traveled down the side of his face and lightly traced his lips. "You naughty boy. I’d like to bite you."

Neither jumped when the doors to the room opened with such a resounding bang it shook the old mansion. Nicholae stood there, his anger apparent to Leigh. The ancient vampire glared at her and Phelan. Leigh cleared her throat and slowly removed her hand from around Phelan’s shoulders with an apologetic grin. She glanced at Phelan and saw the smirk on the immortal’s face as he watched Nicholae.

"Nicholae, guess who’s here?" Leigh asked. When Nicholae didn’t answer or vaporize them, she continued, "Why, it’s our old comrade, Phe—"

Nicholae shook with rage as he slammed the double doors. They winced then. "Do not try my patience." He walked up to Phelan, who grinned, making a sweeping bow.

Leigh put her hand on her hips. "I wasn’t," she said indignantly.

"Nicholae. Always a pleasure," Phelan said as he stood. "And before you spontaneously combust, allow me to explain."

"I am well aware of your failure, Tynan."

"A minor setback, Nick," Phelan said. "Relax, Vlad."

Leigh heard Phelan’s condescending tone and winced. She watched the transformation in Nicholae and stepped back, pulling at the back of Phelan’s jacket. "Darling, if memory serves me well, and I truly hope it doesn’t, I believe he’s about to blow," she whispered in Phelan’s ear.

Nicholae howled as he threw his head back, his canine teeth becoming razor sharp. His fingers grew long and gnarled—his fingernails grew also, protruding well over his fingers. He looked like some primeval animal as he stood there, shrieking.

There was much Leigh did not recollect from her past life as a vampire; when Nicholae resurrected her that night in the woods, she came back from…well, she thought, it was probably hell. However, her memory was returning—enough to remember Sebastian and the insufferable mortal Dr. Alex Taylor. Leigh also remembered how Sebastian, her sexy companion, destroyed her back in Chicago. They were enemies now; the thought had Leigh fighting the anger that rose deep within her. What a waste of a sexy vampire, she thought regarding Sebastian. Nicholae brought Leigh back for one reason and one reason only—to destroy Sebastian and end the threat to Nicholae once and for all.

Leigh brought herself back to the present situation when she noticed Phelan doing a little transforming of his own. From behind him, Leigh watched as his head lowered. His back stretched and ripped out of his jacket—Leigh hoped it wasn’t Armani. In the next instant, Phelan transformed into a very large black wolf; Leigh was impressed as she watched vampire and wolf circling each other.

"A shape-shifter!" She squealed with excitement and clapped her hands. "What fun!" But then she winced and waved her hand in front of her face. "Darling, you reek."

Just as quickly as the transformation took place, Phelan shifted back to his human form, sans clothes, Leigh noticed with a raised eyebrow. Phelan had a perfectly toned body. She picked up the tattered remnants and held them out to him.

"Bravo, darling," she said in a sexy drawl. She slid her fingertips over the large tattoo and glyphs on his left shoulder and down his arm. "Very interesting."

"Very ancient." Phelan took his clothes with a chuckle. "I must remember to bring a change of clothes."

"I’ve seen your kind before, Tynan," Nicholae said. "You’re nothing special."

"Au contraire, Nick." Phelan took the black cape that Leigh had taken off and offered.

"You look marvelous in black," she whispered.

Phelan laughed. "As I was saying. You have no idea what I’m capable of, vampire."

Nicholae grunted sarcastically. "Apparently not capable of destroying one human."

"Well, now," Leigh said, "I think this Grayson MacCarthaigh is far from human."

Nicholae banged his fist against the fireplace mantel, sending chards of mortar flying like shrapnel. "I do not care about this insignificant human Grayson MacCarthaigh! I want Sebastian!" he bellowed, banging his fist against the stones again and again. "I want her destroyed!" He threw his head back and howled once again. "Just as Tatiana was destroyed." He whirled around and looked at Leigh.

Leigh’s vacant gaze darted around the room. "I-it seems that part is a little fuzzy, Nicholae. Perhaps if you enlighten—"

"I want her head!" Nicholae nearly screamed. He glared at Phelan. "You had your chance, you lupine lunatic. It’s our turn now." He gave Phelan a dismissive glare and regarded Leigh. His voice was low and deliberate. Leigh thought she heard a deep growl, as well. "I…want…Sebastian’s head."

"Oh…kay," Leigh said slowly and put her hands up.

With that, the doors of the library opened, and Nicholae was gone. Phelan and Leigh stood in silence for a moment.

"It appears my services are unwanted," Phelan said with a sigh. "You’re on your own, Leigh."

Leigh agreed. She knew the reason Nicholae resurrected her. "What a shame."

"What will you do?"

"Do? I will do as my lord bids, darling. I believe Sebastian is still with that Grayson MacCarthaigh mortal-immortal friend of yours and the historian in Ireland. She’ll go back to England soon." Leigh then rolled her eyes. "She’ll need to be lovey-dovey with the mortal. It makes me bilious. I really do wish I had killed her in Chicago. Sebastian was very clever that day."

"Is Sebastian that powerful?" Phelan asked, leaning against the desk.

Leigh laughed ruefully. "Oh, darling, you have no idea how powerful she is and how sad it is that I must be the one to destroy her." She took a deep breath and laughed. "But…destroy her I must." She walked over and threw the window open, letting the night breeze blow through her hair. Folding her arms across her chest, Leigh inhaled deeply as she watched the full moon rise. "Her search for her humanity will be her downfall."

The clouds passed in front of the moon as Leigh closed the window and stepped back. "Sebastian, do you have any idea what’s about to happen?"