- VII -

A large fire in the hearth was warming the prince's sitting room. He lowered himself onto a sofa and gestured for Amelia to take a seat as well.

"Well, now that I am well again, it won't be necessary for you to become my successor," Viktor said. When she let out a soft exhale, he chuckled. "You seem relieved."

She lowered her gaze, studying the Persian carpet under slippered feet. "I must confess, Milord, that I was not entirely pleased when you told me of your decision to make me your heir."

"You were thinking about leaving the castle, weren't you?" It wasn't a question.

Amelia's eyes widened in disbelief. How could he have known her thoughts about departing the keep and returning home? She hadn't spoken of her intentions to anyone, save perhaps her maidservant. For a moment, she was stunned by the revelation, at a loss for words, and in truth, unable to suppress a bit of fury over the faithless servant's gossip. What she had said had been intended in confidence. Still, there was no use in deflection or an outright lie now.

"Yes, Milord." she said. "It wasn't what I imagined of my future. I had hoped to sell my lands and retire to a smaller estate."

Viktor leaned forward, raising her chin with his fingertips so that they could look eye to eye. His touch was cool, chill against her skin."We cannot always choose our future, sometimes fate shows us a different path," Viktor said. "You could be more than a countess."

Amelia furrowed her brow at his words. "What are you referring to?" she asked.

"You could be more than a mortal woman."

Her heart sank at that. Was he suggesting... that she become the same creature Viktor now claimed to be?

"As you might have noticed, Marcus and I do not get along very well with each other," he explained. "My part of the bargain consists of aiding him against his werewolf brother William and his pack of rabid dogs."The last words were spoken in a harder tone, contempt oozing from every syllable. Then he went on, softening his words once more.

"Therefore I am forced to deal with Marcus. And though I am perfectly able to put him in his place, we could use someone..." Viktor paused, seeming to search for the right words. "...level-headed, someone to stay calm and mediate, to make sure that there will not be too much bad blood between the two of us."

In truth, the prince already suspected Amelia would be unable to play a neutral part. After that disastrous first encounter with Marcus, surely she would take his view of things and be his ally in eternity.

She stared at him, bewildered, her hands clasping the fabric of her skirts.

"I offer you a chance to share in this life with me, to become a godlike being with strength, speed, and senses beyond any mortal's ability," he said. "I offer you an opportunity to be a leader of a new race of vampires, of your own army."

She swallowed. Her throat suddenly felt sore. She hadn't wanted to take on the responsibility of being a mortal ruler, why should she want to become one for all eternity? Viktor noticed her hesitation at his offer and smiled briefly. He took her hand in his own, his thumb brushing over her knuckles.

"You would be my equal, greater than any mortal man and no longer bound to the laws that make you inferior to a husband or father. Never again subservient. Eternally young, beautiful."

His words struck her like lightning, her heart rate increasing with every sentence he spoke. How did he know her so well? How did he know it was her deepest desire to be no man's inferior? Was he just guessing? Or could he read her very feelings? Her hand began to tremble. He clutched it more tightly, eagerly waiting for her answer. She had no desire for power as a mortal woman, out of fear of being overthrown or derided for letting feminine emotion guide her decisions. But if she were like Viktor, would she have that will or desire then?

She swallowed again, a cold chill running down her spine, despite the blazing fire in the room. Was this a choice she needed to consider, or not? Only when her vision blurred, did she become aware that she had been holding her breath. Amelia inhaled with a faint hiss, thinking it over before coming to the only answer she could. "Thank you, Milord. I will gratefully accept your offer," she said, keeping her voice steady and her posture proud like a queen's.

A broad smile appeared on the prince's face. He leaned across the space between them and laid a gentle kiss upon her hand. "My dear Amelia, you may call me Viktor."