“Sebastian,” she said, struggling in his arms. But he held her tightly, with every bit of strength he possessed, anger and disgust mingling with desire and fear. “Stop!”

“Victoria, I don’t understand. Why? What are you…?” His voice trailed off, and he swallowed. Then shoved her away so hard she lost her balance and fell onto the bed.

He wanted to join her. Sebastian turned away, the nausea churning deeper.

She stood up, her beautiful face tight and perhaps a shade guilty. “I’m sorry to frighten you,” she said calmly, watching him closely. “I didn’t mean to.”

“I didn’t know that you’d become fond of… that,” he said. Horror, mingled with the taste of brandy, rose in the back of his throat… He knew well how it felt to have fangs slide in, the pleasure-pain of blood drawn long and slow from within… the sensuality of it, the light-headed eroticism. But Victoria?

She glanced at Antonнn, then back at Sebastian. “I thought,” she said in a low voice. “I thought if his blood had some Gardella blood mixed with it, it might…” Her voice trailed off as understanding washed through him.

Pesaro. She’d done it for Pesaro, for his damned Trial.

Sebastian felt his lips move crookedly. “Well, now… what an interesting thought. Though I doubt Pesaro would thank you for your interference.”

“You mustn’t tell him.” Victoria stood, swiping at the ugly marks on her arm. Hell, they were deep, and her face looked pale. She staggered a little. How much blood had she given?

“You fool,” he said, turning to rummage through his satchel. Salted holy water would help to heal the marks.

But she was weak. He saw it in the depths of her eyes and the paleness of her face.

Yet he couldn’t blame her. For wasn’t he also a fool for love?

Later that evening, word came by pigeon that Brim and Michalas had arrived in Prague, so Victoria and Sebastian went to meet them near the Stone Bridge. Brim embraced her as soon as she approached, surprising her with his affection and strength. Then the massive black man showed her the ring they’d brought from the Consilium.

“And now we have three of the Rings of Jubai,” Victoria said. “But the last two will be the most difficult to obtain. Lilith won’t give them up easily.”

“It’s in her interest to stop the demons,” Michalas said firmly, shading his eyes against the last shot of sunbeam spearing low between the red roofs. “Surely even she will understand that-especially if we are the ones taking the risk.”

Victoria grimaced. “I’m not confident that Lilith will see it that way. But we’ll get the rings. And then Sebastian will lead us to the pool at the base of her mountain.”

“And hope that they work to breach the enchantments therein,” he said grimly.

She replied, “Your grandfather would have known. I presume that’s why he wanted the ring that was hidden beneath London, because he knew how valuable it was.”

Sebastian nodded. “And the Midiverse Portal is less than two days’ ride from the pool, so if all goes as planned, we might be there in a week.”

“Wayren stays safely at the Consilium until she is needed here.” Brim looked at Victoria, understanding in his eyes. “And so we stay for another day?”

She nodded. “Until after Max’s Trial. Then we’ll be five strong and off to Muntii Fagaras.” She couldn’t help but glance toward Tэn, up on the hill, and when she looked back, she caught the exchange of glances among the others. Wayren would arrive on the day of the Trial by her own means in order to conduct the event, but until then, there was nothing to do but wait until tomorrow evening.

“Well,” Brim said, “the sun is setting, and I can think of several ways to pass the time.” He flexed his massive arm and smiled menacingly.

“I know of a place that has good brandy,” offered Sebastian.

“And what about food?”

“If it’s food you want, I can take you to a suitable tavern.” He glanced quickly at Victoria. “Not the Lone Horse.”

“And after that… some other amusements might be in order,” said Michalas. “Victoria, you’ll join us, won’t you?”

She nodded, realizing that her other option was to go back to the chamber with a snoring Antonнn and stare out at Tэn, or to hunt on the streets alone. Perhaps another night she might opt for the latter, but tonight her friends were offering companionship as well as a distraction.

And she realized she wanted both.

Hours later, Victoria sat in a large, loud, but dingy establishment with the three other Venators, who’d imbibed a generous quantity of brandy or ale or wine-depending on their preference. She, too, had had enough wine to take the edge off her worry, and found herself relaxing and enjoying the companionship of three others who lived the same dangerous, duplicitous life she did.

The tavern catered to mortals, but there were vampires mingling about, which was part of the attraction, according to Sebastian… and the reason he, Michalas, and Brim had slipped into their cups. Every time a vampire walked into the place, all four of them noticed, of course. And then the wagers began.

“He’ll go for the young man over yonder. Easy, and near the door.”

“I think not. See how he’s watching the server girl? It’ll be her.”

“No, no… see how he’s looking at the ones throwing dice? He’ll slip into the game and lure the winner away later… Then he’ll get the winnings, too.”

And then…

“She’s got her eye on that big guy by the wall.”

“No, see how she’s looking at the two over by the counter? The one with the red hair, mark my words.”

“She’s just dropped something-the bald one’s going to pick it up, and that will be his death wish.”

Coins of all denominations clanked and clinked into a small pot on the table until the vampire made a move to lure his victim out of the pub. Then the winning Venator collected his spoils, slipped them into his pocket, took a stake out… and followed.

The rest drained their glasses and poured another round.

After a while, vampires stopped coming into the eatery. Perhaps word had spread that those who did found themselves quickly turned to ash.

“It’s still early,” Michalas said, digging out a pair of dice. He tossed them on the table. “Who’s first?”

“Vioget and I,” said Brim, raising the eyebrow through which his vis bulla glinted.

Sebastian sighed, rolled his eyes, and sat up as though quite put-upon. Yet Victoria saw the gleam of challenge in his gaze. “I accept.”

Victoria watched with interest-all of these pastimes were as new to her as visiting a men’s club and watching them at cards.

Michalas rolled the bones. “Ten.” He laughed and looked up at the other two. “Good luck.”

Brim and Sebastian shoved to their feet, sending glasses clinking, and rushed out.

“Where are they going?” Victoria asked.

“I rolled a ten… Now it’s a race to see who can get ten vampires and get back here first.”

“Ten? Each?” Her eyebrows rose, and she stifled a laugh. “Are there that many undead left in Prague? We’ve been a bit busy.”

“Ten each, and the last one back buys a round.” Michalas settled back in his chair and sipped from his beverage of choice-wine. They chatted amiably for a time, and after a while he said, “Ah, here’s another one.”

Victoria felt the telltale chill on the back of her neck and saw the undead come through the door. “Yours or mine?” she asked.

“I’ll take him.”

“No, wait,” she said. “I’ll do it.” She stood, feeling the gentling effect of the wine, and made her way casually toward the vampire.

He stood near the counter of the bar, sipping something from a cup. Even though she was innocently looking away, Victoria felt the moment she caught his attention. She could imagine the picture she made-clearly a woman who was dressed in men’s clothing, for she’d left her hair unbound and removed her jacket in the warm evening.

The vampire stood tall, nearly as tall as Max, she realized as she came closer. His shoulders were broad, and despite the scar that cut along the edge of his jaw, he was a handsome man. And, she was fairly certain, a Guardian vampire. But she wouldn’t know for certain until his eyes began to glow.

“Well, well,” he said in a liquid voice that somehow penetrated above the dull roar of the eatery. “What is a lovely lady doing in such an ugly place?”

Victoria resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Instead, she gave him large, innocent ones and replied, “I was supposed to meet my brother here, but he hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Your brother?” The interest in his voice ebbed.

“He was supposed to meet me yesterday evening,” she said. “But he’s late.”

The vampire laughed, showing normal teeth. “I should say that is the case. How much longer do you intend to wait for him?”

“I don’t think he’s going to come after all,” she said ingenuously. “I’m thinking it’s time that I went home.”

“By yourself? The streets are dangerous at night,” he said, leaning a bit closer.

What woman didn’t know that? “I’m not afraid.” That was the truth.

“Perhaps you might like an escort?” he asked.

“I think not,” she said, giving him a coy smile. “I don’t usually walk with strange men.” She rested some coins on the counter to give the impression that she had approached so as to settle her account. “Good night, sir.”

She was nearly out the door when she felt the chill at the back of her neck intensify. A knowing smile tickled her lips, and she slowed her pace so that he could catch up to her.

But just as she stepped onto the crooked street, she saw Sebastian and Brim approaching. Both were moving quickly, obviously to see who could win the wager.