Menage "And so, you saved their lives, of course, you clever girl!"

Serena couldn't help but smile at the enthusiasm in Althea's declaration. Trust Althea to make her whole disastrous night at the brothel sound like a triumphant adventure.

"Of course," Serena replied, trying for modesty. With the blankets and sheets drawn up to her waist, she hugged her knees closer in a vain attempt to soothe her still-trembling body.

Althea rested her hands on her round belly, a lush curve beneath her ivory silk peignoir. "I've been up all night. I'll summon tea-and biscuits, I think. Sugar biscuits. A little something to take the edge off before I have my breakfast, then go to sleep."

Serena did laugh and felt much better for it. Had she ever once thought her best friend-her only friend-would be a countess? Althea de Wynter, the Countess of Brookshire. Of course, enceinte Althea, with her auburn curls; twinkling, fey green eyes; scandalous sense of humor; and penchant for vampire hunting, made a very unusual countess.

After she sent a maid to fetch tea, Althea continued, conspiratorially, "I'm sure those two daring vampire slayers couldn't believe a mere woman could do all that you did! You found an absolute treasure-and by using dusty books that they think are insignificant!" Poised on the edge of the water-blue silk chaise, Althea gave her soft, lovely, infectious laugh.

Serena knew Althea was deliberately not speaking of Lukos yet, trying to make her forget about fear, about threat. She fought the urge to forgo stoicism and crumble into tears. She'd been captured by vampires, she'd discovered a demonic "master" was pursuing her, she couldn't find Vlad Dracul's journal, and she'd lost all the other books to pompous, lying Lord Ashcroft. And, on top of that, she was most likely a vampire.

Dimly, she realized Althea was still speaking. "We women can do remarkable things with books," Althea declared. "We women do the most remarkable things in every way."

She stroked her tummy and Serena's heart gave a sharp pang.

Althea sat down next to her on the bed. "But in all seriousness, Serena, what of this Lukos demon?"

"I don't know anything about him-other than what I told you. He is sailing to England, and he knows who I am." Serena held back the reason Lukos knew who she was-that he knew she was a vampire. Nor had she told Althea about Roman's intent to claim her.

"And he had a pack of six vampires as disciples!" Althea gave a shiver.

Serena nodded. It was not unusual-vampires were driven to create other vampires; increasing their numbers gave them protection. Lukos was building his own private army.

Althea frowned and tapped her chin. "When I woke at dusk, I read through that book that you brought back, after Yannick and Bastien went out to hunt." Althea sighed. "I'm not allowed to join them anymore, due to my condition. Really, I shall have the fort.i.tude to give birth to this child in a few months-I'm certain that being a vampire hunter will not be as exhausting as that."

Serena could hardly imagine thinking of handsome, aristocratic Lord Brookshire as Yannick and his devastatingly gorgeous twin as simply Bastien. Both men were completely devoted to Althea-and Bastien was shockingly seductive with his brother's wife, though Serena had never seen Brookshire show jealousy.

Serena reached out and touched the ancient book sitting on her bedside table. The binding was old and cracking, the st.i.tching worn, the linen sheet tearing at the edges. There were smears of dirt on the pages. It was written in one of the runic alphabets, and these she was studying but did not completely understand. "I tried to read it, but I'd taken the laudanum then, and I couldn't stay awake."

"They are written in Orkhon runes," Althea clarified. "I saw examples that had been discovered in the Orkhon river valley of Mongolia." Althea stood, shaking out the skirt of her peignoir. "I believe the book tells a tale of a creature known as Lukos-a creature who could become wolf or man and who served Lucifer, taking lives at his command."

The maid knocked, then brought in the tea tray including a plate heaped with cakes and biscuits. Althea licked her lips and Serena smiled.

"So Lucifer wishes me and has sent Lukos to fetch me?" Serena reached for the teacup after Althea poured. She looked down at her wrist-she still felt the horrifying bite of the shackles.

"I don't know, but this is very serious."

"A demon knows my name and tried to capture me? Of course I know this is serious!"

"I'm surprised you aren't hysterical."

"Being a governess taught me to be neither emotional nor hysterical. Really, a good governess can't have any human weaknesses at all." Serena tossed the comment off with ironic humor, but it had been all too true.

Vanilla and lavender surrounded her as she felt the warmth of Althea's arms.

"You've been very brave, Serena. But you must trust us to help you."

She'd never had hug from a friend-she'd never even had a friend. Althea did not know she was a vampire-what huntress would allow a vampire into her home? But she was so confused. Why would Lord Ashcroft put enceinte Lady Brookshire at risk by having her bring a vampire into her home?

"I had your clothes from last night burned," Althea said. "They smelled of a smoke-a smoke that reminded me of solange. Though it couldn't be. Why would vampires burn solange?"

Because they know I am a vampire. But she couldn't say that to Althea.

"What were you searching for in the library, Serena?"

She took a deep breath and straightened. "Lord Ashcroft knows about my past, about my parents, but he won't tell me. I thought the library would give me a way to coerce him to tell me. There was supposed to be a special book there-a journal written by Vlad Dracul."

"And you wanted to trade that for the truth about your parents?"

She nodded. "But now I have nothing."

Althea drew back. She toyed with the smooth silk at the lapels of her wrapper. "The past needn't matter so much. You can't change it-you can only move forward."

Serena bit back a bitter laugh. What did she have to look forward to? And she couldn't forget the past. Everything haunted her. The venom behind Mrs. Bridgewater's smiles. The hopeless and pitiful way she'd thought William Bridgewater had loved her when he came to her bed. But how could she explain this to Althea? How could she talk of that horrible night when she'd told William she lost the baby and he'd whooped with joyful relief?

"I need to know," she said, softly. "Do you know you are the only friend I've ever had, Althea? I've never belonged anywhere. I need to find out who I am."

"I never had friends either." Althea hugged her again. "I followed my father on his expeditions. I understand what you are feeling, but you can't risk your life to find out what happened. It's not worth that."

"It is to me."

Althea slid off the bed, her hand on her lower back. "You should speak with Sommersby. His father kept journals-he had done very extensive studies on vampires. I know that he knew about you. I believe he was the one who encouraged Lord Ashcroft to extend help to you."

"You mean that the previous Lord Sommersby has records about my past?"

"I don't know that for certain, Serena. I have never seen his books." Althea stood by the door, a frown on her pretty freckled face.

Serena stood up. She had to see those books. Could the present Lord Sommersby know what she was? But why hadn't he killed her? Perhaps he had the books but hadn't read them yet. She must get to them before he did.

Desperate to dress, to race to his house, she slipped out of bed.

"Serena-please wait!"

She turned, startled by the sharpness in Althea's tone.

"Sommersby might not have anything. I had heard that he was not able to find all his father's records when he returned to England. And there are six estates-the papers could be hidden anywhere. Please, don't..."

"Don't what?" He might not have read them-thank heavens. Serena fumbled with her nightgown b.u.t.tons.

"Don't pin all your hopes on this. The past doesn't matter. It doesn't make you who you are."

She undid the ties at the throat of the gown. "It does, Althea. I know that it does."

"Serena, what are you going to do?"

"Go to Lord Sommersby's house." The earl would be out hunting vampires. And if she didn't find the books before he did, she would pay with her life.

Why had she done that?

In her boudoir, Althea stroked her rounded belly-she couldn't resist giving a little poke. She giggled when the baby kicked back. And shivered. The sight of a little bulge crossing her stomach, a little b.u.mp completely independent of her, still seemed both miraculous and a little frightening- and she was a vampire!

Althea studied her reflection in the cheval mirror. Heavy, full b.r.e.a.s.t.s. A rounded tummy with taut skin-how could she grow any larger? But she still had so many months to go, and at the end, she would be enormous.

"It's almost dawn, sweetheart."

The deep, loving, seductive voice sent a tingle of love and pleasure through her. Althea smiled into the mirror at Bastien's reflection. Naked, gorgeous, and scratching his ballocks without a touch of self-consciousness. This was what married life resulted in, she thought, and saw her lips curve in a tender, wry smile.

Bastien leaned against the doorframe, his long, lean legs crossed at his ankles. His blond hair, as golden as candlelight, hung loose, the waves brushing his broad, bare shoulders. "Time to sleep. Sleep is good for the babe, and for you."

He looked so deliciously s.e.xy any thoughts of sleep vanished. Althea's gaze lingered on the reflection of his green-blue eyes, his inexplicably dark lashes, the play of his tongue along his full lower lip. Even the veins on his naked forearms made her hot and aroused, and she loved how he groaned when she traced those with her tongue.

Bastien grinned, pushed away from the doorframe, and swaggered toward her. "I recognize that smile, my love."

Not a minute went by that she didn't have l.u.s.ty thoughts for Bastien, or Yannick, or both. But when a lady had two husbands-two vampire husbands with powerful s.e.xual drives-she barely had time for activities that didn't involve the bedroom.

Bastien cupped her nude bottom, and he kissed the top of her head with heat in his eyes. "You are so beautiful, Althea. So lush. So abundant."

"So big?" Althea couldn't help a rueful quirk of her lips as she cradled her heavy, hard tummy with both hands. "You are finding very ingenious ways to avoid the truth, Bastien. I can't share a coffin anymore."

He bent to her neck. "Not to worry, sweetheart, I've commissioned a larger one."

"Where is Yannick?"

"Not home. We're alone, darling wife." And then the rogue licked her cheek with a long, languorous sweep of his tongue. Althea pushed him away with a palm on his handsome forehead.

"Yannick has been very annoyed that you ensure you are always here when he is not." She spoke teasingly, for it was all in good humor. Though sometimes she did have to tread a fine line between her two alpha males.

She saw the vulnerability beneath Bastien's rakish wink. "I am merely ensuring I keep my dear wife satisfied." He reached up and tapped the undersides of her full, round b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He groaned as he watched them bounce, her nipples hardening. He tweaked them, and she cried out.

"I don't like staying here, Althea," he murmured. "We should sail soon-you don't have to do anything the Society demands."

"It's for Serena." Even as shots of pleasure raced from her nipples to her cunny, Althea tried to concentrate. "That's what I was speaking about." He tugged on her oh-so-sensitive nipples. She had to tip her head back and shut her eyes. "Oh, Bastien, I did something impulsive. Something I know I should not have done."

"Confide, Althea. I suspect you're fretting over nothing."

A guilty blush touched her cheeks, hot and sudden. "I told Serena that the late Earl of Sommersby kept journals-I hinted that she might find answers about her past there." Althea turned in his arms. "Serena is so alone. She told me how happy she is that she has me, that it was so much nicer than being completely alone. I feel so horrid, keeping the truth from her."

Bastien gave a kiss to her shoulder, then dropped to his knees in front of her. Althea saw support and caring in his gorgeous blue-green eyes.

"Then tell her the truth," he said.

Althea shook her head. "It isn't so simple."

"Is it loyalty to the Society-?"

"No! It's because I'm afraid for her. Lord Ashcroft has told me that Serena is the first child ever born of a vampire and a mortal, a feat they believed impossible. Her mother was incredibly powerful, and Serena will inherit that power. And I'm worried what will happen when she knows-"

Bastien kissed her-just below the curve of her belly, above her red pubic curls. "Althea, love, don't worry. It's not good for you or the baby."

"I know you don't approve of my relationship with the Royal Society."

"I understand it, love, but I still believe it's d.a.m.ned unholy for a vampire to be involved with those who want to destroy us." The wretch tickled her now-protruding navel.

Her giggle bubbled up, relaxing her tense shoulders. "I know. But we are the only ones who can stop truly evil demons."

Though she knew how frightened the Society must be of her coming child.

Bastien bent, brushed a soft kiss to her bare nether curls. "We have to sail, love. Before your pregnancy has advanced much further. You can't sail when you are too close to your confinement."

"I know," she said again.

"The truth is, my angel, I believe you don't trust the Royal Society. You should tell Serena the truth. If anyone can help her cope with that discovery, my sweet, it's you. Now, let's play for a while-before dawn, before Yannick returns."

Bastien stroked her thighs as his tongue slicked down through her curls to her c.l.i.t, and she arched her head back on a cry of pleasure.

"You are always trying to steal lovemaking on your brother, aren't you?"

"Of course, dear love. Because I love you so much." His large fingers toyed with her wet and sticky nether lips. "And I know that being enceinte has made you very aroused. I have some very naughty games in mind."

She reached down and stroked his silky hair, but the rogue fooled her-he whipped her c.l.i.t with such vehemence that her legs became jelly and only his hands on her hips kept her from falling. "Bastien!"

Bound to the chair, Bastien watched Althea approach.

She dropped her robe and turned her back to him, displaying her voluptuous derriere-plump, rounded cheeks caressed by warm candlelight. His naked c.o.c.k jolted up a notch higher.

She swayed her hips back and forth, the gesture tempting and hypnotic.

Bastien prayed she planned to sit astride him and not just torture him. G.o.d, he loved her-he could not believe how he had deserved a woman like Althea-loving, clever, and so wantonly inventive she left him astonished.

He also could not believe he shared her with his brother, and how she had opened his eyes to the beauty of a love shared between three.

Ropes bit into his wrists and ankles. He loved this game. He loved putting her in charge- because he was still in control. A few naughtily whispered suggestions and he could coerce Althea to do what he wished and send them both into explosive ecstasy. "Well, your ladyship," he teased, "what do you plan to do to me now that you have me tied up?"

"I think I shall sit quite daintily, Mr. de Wynter, and have my tea."

G.o.d, yes.

Her bottom lowered until the tip of his c.o.c.k brushed a plush cheek. She reached down and held him steady, swallowing him in the valley of her bottom.

Bastien's p.r.i.c.k pushed against the tight, hot entrance. He tried to lift his hips but was too tightly restrained.

Althea rubbed him against her, wetting herself with him. Gripping him tight, she sat down on him, taking him slightly inside. The tight pressure enthralled.

She pumped up and down slowly, taking him in inch by delightful inch. She let go of him and sank right down to his hips. He felt his c.o.c.k invade her and push her fire-hot walls apart.

Althea lifted on him, then dropped back down, her body clamping around him. Being inside her bottom was the most illicit pleasure.