Prologue

For years, the noble families Tepes and Anson remained locked in warfare. While the true cause of their conflict came down to something as trite as portion sizes, both sides chose to perpetuate their glorious struggle in the name of honor. And so it was that Ilona Anson and Vlad Tepes first met. She his prisoner and he her captor.

One magical moonlit night, destiny intervened and brought them together. An attraction not to be defeated by their warring families bloomed. She being irresistible, unattainable, and coy. He being oddly liberating, winsome, and brave. They escaped together under cover of darkness, fearful for their lives.


Against the rocky northern shores of Ireland, splintered pieces of cedar drifted with the tide. It was a miracle that Vlad and Ilona survived at all. But they had. Once their ship careened into several treacherous dark moss-covered rocks the hull was breached. Shaking hands grasped frantically what remained of the stolen vessel to stay afloat.

Seconds turned to minutes and momentarily feet were reunited with solid ground. Panting, breathless, the two young lovers lay exhausted on the sandy shore far away from Mother England.

A year came and went. The salty spray of ocean waves hung lifeless in the air. The humble cottage they shared nestled itself atop an idle cliff. Its rightness felt by the couple within their warm abode. To pass the time, the young man hunted and the young woman gathered. Happiness pushed their relationship to new heights. Come springtime, they wed.

Theirs was a simple ceremony. They stood face to face, hand in hand. The air around them swirled in quiet contentment. Anticipation filtered down to earth in wide rays of golden sun. Nature herself was in attendance.

Ilona was the first to speak, small gusts of wind lifting her raven locks. "In this life we can neither choose the path love has chosen nor where it leads. Instead all we can do is find the person with whom we will reap all the joy and satisfaction that comes from such a journey. You are this special person to me Vlad, and in this moment I gladly give you all my love, forever."

Vlad smiled, a tiny grin tugging his lips. "Ilona my love, I look at you and words are useless to compare with your beauty. I long to tell you each and every day through even the smallest gesture how much I want to spend the rest of my days with you. I promise you Ilona, my heart is yours. For eternity."

Fate took its course and a child grew within Ilona's womb. They were overjoyed. Nothing could have been more wonderful. Vlad held her close, arms wrapped protectively around her growing body. Thick soft furs of multitude shades covered the bed. Together they gazed past the flickering fireplace through their tiny oval window into the night.

The following morning, Ilona's childbearing pains roused her from quiet slumber. She managed to make it outside this time and hurled into the brush. Deciding more fresh air was in order, she continued down the winding path to collect fresh flowers for the table. As she bent to pick some on the way, a gloved hand covered her mouth and she pushed a scream, nothingness overtaking her.

Waking up alone, not seeing his wife anywhere in their cottage, panic diffused to calmness as he recalled her pregnancy sickness. In a habitual rush, Vlad threw a pair of trousers on and went to chop more firewood for the coming winter season. The sound of a twig being crushed was all that alerted him to the ambush. Swinging wildly, he managed to wound four of his attackers before a loud crack echoed through the forest and he knew no more.