As Shadows Fade (The Gardella Vampire Chronicles 5)

“Hmm,” said Max, in a decidedly un-Max-like tone, “should I be offended that you do recall his name after all?”

But then the glint of humor ebbed, and his face grew serious. “I preferred not to think about what did and didn’t occur between the two of you.”

“Nothing,” Victoria said, noticing the way the white sheets appeared so crisp against his dark skin, “like what happened last night.”

“Nothing?”

“Well, perhaps… some of the mechanics were similar,” she replied, with a tug of guilt. It had been much more than mechanics with Sebastian. But they hadn’t left her feeling as sated, as content… as fulfilled… as she did now.

Max slid from beneath the covers, and Victoria turned to watch his tall, graceful body. The silver vis bulla still hung from his areola. She remembered in a burst of clarity the way the smooth, warm metal had clinked against her teeth last night and the extra surge of power she felt from it.

Mmm.

But as Max scanned the room, Victoria smothered a smile. Having been married, she was well used to men’s early-morning needs and gestured Max toward the chamber pot in the dressing room beyond.

While he was gone and she took advantage of the privacy for her own needs, Victoria wondered not for the first time what had changed his mind. Not that she’d spent a lot of energy mulling over it during the activities of the night… and morning. But it worried her.

Max had been pushing her at Sebastian for months. He’d been ready to leave last night, and Victoria had no illusion that he’d have returned.

But she’d said something that had changed his mind, for Victoria knew that the sheer pink night rail hadn’t done the job on its own, and she suspected that what had tipped the scales was the confession that she’d not been with Sebastian in months.

I’ve no interest in Vioget’s leavings.

Or is it that you don’t want to know your child’s patrimony?

That had to be it. He’d made comments before about her long line of lovers, and he’d thought she meant to dally with them both. She hoped last night’s confession had set him straight.

When Max came back into her chamber, he stood in the doorway for a moment lacing his simple trousers. Victoria swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. She forgot her intent to confront him about his decision to stay. Those sleek muscles, the broad, square shoulders, the dark hair dusting swarthy skin…

“Did you learn anything from Vioget yesterday?” he asked without preamble.

Victoria looked sharply at him, but she saw nothing but normal interest in his expression. Ah. Back to the matter at hand. “He says we need the Rings of Jubai,” she replied, feeling his gaze follow her as she pulled on a thin robe. “He also told me that Lilith has protections on the pool at Muntii Fagaras so that no one can breach the water.”

“And the rings? To trade with Lilith so we can get the orb?”

Victoria shook her head. “Lilith had them made-five copper rings that she gave to her most powerful Guardian vampires. According to Sebastian, when all five are worn on one hand, they allow the hand to reach safely into the pool.”

Max’s face had become more serious and intent as she spoke. He nodded once. “Vioget’s information is usually accurate. At least his years with Beauregard have brought us some advantage.”

“We have two of the Rings of Jubai,” Victoria said, more to herself than to Max. “One Sebastian retrieved from Lilith’s underground lair last month.”

“I recall,” Max replied drily. Indeed he should, for Victoria and Sebastian had intended to trade the ring for Max’s freedom if there was no other way for him to escape from Lilith. “And the other is in the Consilium.”

“Sebastian tells me a third is somewhere in Prague.”

“Prague? I haven’t been there in years,” Max said. “Does Vioget know where?”

“He claims he can locate it. He’s already agreed to go with me.” She looked at him. “And you… if you wish.”

Max straightened and looked out the window. His dark hair hung, rumpled and thick, framing his face, brushing the sides of his neck, making Victoria want to touch it.

But she wasn’t yet confident enough to do so. Max could just as easily pull back as allow it.

“I must find a vampire,” he said, still looking out the window. His jaw seemed tight, and the beam of sunlight scored his high cheekbones.

Victoria’s eyes narrowed, but before she could respond, a knock on the door startled her. She turned. “Yes?”

Orange hair poked bashfully around the corner, followed by Verbena’s pert nose and sandy eyelashes. “Would ye be wantin’ somethin’ to break the fast? Eh… I thought y’might be hungry. It’s nearin’ to noon.”

Victoria checked her smile as Verbena glanced balefully at Max, who, in his disheveled, shirtless state with the set look on his face, did look rather intimidating.

“Yes, indeed,” she replied to her maid, choosing to answer for both of them.

But she hadn’t forgotten Max’s statement… one that sounded almost as if it had been wrung from him.

As soon as Verbena quit the room-after having rested a tray laden with food on the dressing table-Victoria simply raised a brow at Max. And waited.

“For the Trial,” he said. “All of the vampires have quit London, but I need one if I’m to undertake the Trial again.”

Suddenly assaulted by a variety of emotions, Victoria fell to examining the victuals brought by her maid. Fear… a sudden thrust of fear, accompanied by a thrill of excitement… and the soft nudge of some other gentler emotion. Tenderness?

“Max,” she began.

But he held up his hand, turning at last from the window to face her. “I’d already decided, before… last night.” Was it her imagination, or did his voice falter a bit at the end? Grow a bit husky with memory? Or was it merely wishful thinking? “But if we’re to go to Prague, and find the rings…” He stopped. His mouth tightened and she saw, even felt, the ripple of tension settle over his body. “I presume Lilith has the other two.”

Victoria nodded. According to Sebastian, Lilith had managed to retain only two of her rings. When she saw the expression on Max’s face, her stomach turned into a ball of lead.

They would have to find some way to retrieve the last two Rings of Jubai from the vampire queen-either by her cooperation, for the protection of her race as well as theirs, or by violence.