"Lied? You have become overly bold, Drake. Take care I am not forced to teach you a rather unpleasant lesson in humility."

In spite of himself, Drake felt himself pressing closer to the moldy wall.

"Did you attempt to destroy Sebastian?"

"You must be confused. I do not answer to you."

"I believe I have earned the right to some explanation. You requested that I leave the Veil to retrieve the Medallion. You also specifically warned me that it would be my duty to ensure that Sebastian did not pose a problem. Have you altered your plans?"

The low laugh sent a chill down Drake's spine. "Do you mean, have I chosen to retrieve the Medallion without your incompetent assistance?"

Drake silently added the insult to the list of others, reassuring himself that his sweet revenge would come the moment he held the Medallion.

As long as he gained command of the artifact. At the moment that was all that was important.

"Yes."

"It is a temptation, I must admit," the vampire drawled. "I chose what I thought to be three ruthless hunters and was rewarded with cowardly fools."

"I am no coward," Drake snapped.

"Ah, then you have retrieved the amulet?"

"Not as yet, but I will have it in my hands within a few days."

The vampire gave a disgusted grunt. "The same promise made by both Amadeus and Tristan before they were destroyed."

Drake shrugged off the words. He did not desire to be compared with such fools.

"I will not fail."

"That remains to be seen."

He hardened his features in grim determination, "You have not answered my question. Do you seek to retrieve the Medallion for yourself?"

The fog shifted, but even as Drake stiffened in fear, it deliberately settled in the center of the room.

"If that was my desire, then the Medallion would be mine."

Drake cautiously released the breath he had unconsciously sucked in. "Then why did you attack Sebastian?"

"You try your luck, Drake. My actions are not your concern."

"I have put myself at considerable risk for you."

"With the promise of great power as a reward," the fog hissed in return.

Drake tilted his chin, although he was careful to keep himself firmly against the wall.

"Only if you do not decide to withhold the rewards."

That horrid, rasping laugh once again echoed through the cottage, sending the few remaining rats scurrying into the night.

"Do not fear, Drake. You shall be suitably rewarded for your efforts. My only interest in Sebastian was to lure Nefri from her lair. A scheme that worked to perfection, I might add."

Drake frowned. He did not like to recall that Nefri might be near. He could not possibly hope to match the ancient vampire's powers. Perhaps not even with the Medallion in hand.

"Nefri?" he muttered.

"Yes. Surely you have not forgotten that she continues to lurk near the maidens who hold the Medallion?"

He shifted uneasily. "Of course I have not forgotten. You promised she would not interfere."

"And she will not, as long as you do not ruin all with your childish fits of hysteria."

Hysteria? The vampire went too far. Drake narrowed his gaze. "Perhaps if you would warn me of your intentions ..."

In the blink of an eye the fog was once again striking out, clenching about Drake's throat until it threatened to crush it.

"Enough." The voice was frozen steel. "I will decide what you will or will not be told. Do not make the mistake of questioning me again."

Drake struggled to remain conscious, well aware that he had pressed the vampire too far.

Damn. He did not doubt the elder would dispose of him without a flicker of remorse.

"No, I understand. I will not question you again," he choked out in desperation.

The crushing grip remained. "And Drake, my patience wears thin. Retrieve the Medallion or you will wish that you could be simply destroyed."

"I... I will have it."

"Cats, cats, cats."

William was nearly bouncing up and down as the thin, rather dour-faced housekeeper shifted the large box from the counter and placed it upon the floor.

"Yes. Now sit down before you stomp 'em to bits," the woman muttered, although there was no missing the pleased glint in the pale blue eyes.

Standing on the far side of the kitchen, Amelia smiled. After a morning devoted to listening to William's disgruntled sighs and watching him wander through the house with restless frustration, she had realized she must do something to distract him.

The poor boy simply could not understand her insistence that he not visit the children in the stews, nor why he could not even stroll through the market. It was little wonder that he chafed at her restrictions.

At last, in desperation, she had made the bold decision to bring him to Sebastian's home to visit the kittens. She knew that was one certain way to distract him for at least an hour. And perhaps it would make him somewhat more content for the rest of the day.

And, of course, a tiny voice whispered in the back of her mind, she was not being entirely selfless. If she were being perfectly honest with herself this was precisely where she desired to be.

A renegade heat flared beneath her cheeks as she recalled her encounter with Sebastian in the garden.

It had been wicked. And dangerous. Far more dangerous than she ever could have suspected.

But it had also been the most glorious few moments in her life. And whether it made her a horrible person or not, she could not deny that she could not wait for an-other opportunity to taste passion once again.

She was perhaps shameless, and bold beyond reproach, but that did not keep her from imagining the feel of his hard arms and seeking lips. Oh yes, she was very anxious to flirt with the wicked peril once again.

Almost as if her siren's call had lured Sebastian through the large town house, Amelia felt the tingles that warned her of his approach. With little shame, she deliberately shifted until she was near the door. She had known he would come. That he would sense her presence as easily as she sensed his.

Quite prepared when he at last approached through the shadows, Amelia nevertheless found her breath being caught in her throat as her gaze skimmed over the silver gray coat and burgundy waistcoat. He wore high, glossy boots, and his thick hair was tied at the nape of his neck, as if he had been out riding. Then, compulsively, she was seeking the pale beauty of his countenance, searching for some reaction to her decidedly brash behavior.

What she discovered made her breath even more elusive. Halting directly at her side, he offered a slow, tantalizing smile.

"Amelia."

"Sebastian." A ridiculous bout of nerves had her unnecessarily smoothing the soft folds of her blue gown. "I hope you do not mind our intrusion. William was bored and demanding to be out of the house. I thought the kittens might prove to be an adequate distraction."

"I do not mind," he murmured, his silver gaze never straying from her face. "Would you care to join me in the library?"

"Well . . ." She reluctantly turned to regard her brother as he played with the kittens.

"My housekeeper will keep a careful watch on William," he softly assured her.

She hesitated another moment, knowing how her brother could fret if she were absent, but then noting his obvious distraction and the way the housekeeper hovered protectively at his side.

She slowly turned to offer Sebastian a smile.

"Very well."

Reaching out, Sebastian firmly placed her ban upon his arm and led her from the room. In silence they wound their way through the narrow halls in the servants' quarters and up the stairs that would take them to the front of the house.

Although vibrantly aware of the man at her side, Amelia could not help but note the decided lack of ornaments upon the paneled walls and occasional tables. And she would have to be blind not to see the heavy covers that continued to hide the chairs set in the alcoves.

A smile twitched at her lips. She wondered if Sebastian even took a moment to notice his surroundings.

"Why do you smile?" he demanded.

Tilting her face upward, Amelia met the amused gaze. "I was thinking that only a bachelor could bear to live among dust sheets and barren rooms."

"I will admit it does not trouble me as long as my library is in order."

She gave a teasing click of her tongue. "Surely a man needs more in his life than books?"

The silver eyes abruptly darkened. "I have not believed so for many years."

Something in that deep, accented voice made her heart make a sudden leap. "And now?"

His smile widened. "And now a pair of dimples has made me question my simple existence."

Amelia breathed deeply of his warm, spicy scent, not at all surprised when her head swirled.

This gentleman could make any poor, susceptible maiden a bit dizzy.

"Being distracted by dimples does not seem at all scholarly."

"No?" His gaze swept over her. "Well, there are all sorts of studies. Not all of them including dusty books."

She chuckled softly, her fingers tightening upon his arm. "There may be hope for you yet, Mr.