It was now Radu and I who represented the castle at the weddings during the following weeks, when Vlad was busy preparing Junior for the coronation and his future responsibilities as a ruler.

Several things changed, just as I expected, after what Katerina had told us. More Knights appeared in the corridors, more of my wolves were allowed within the walls of the castle and inside our chambers, and I was never allowed to go out only with Lucas-- a handful of Guards was at my heels constantly.

When I complained about it Vlad only said that he did not trust Rareş, who kept sending his vampires under one excuse or another to check on us frequently, and he trusted Andrei to leave us in peace even less. But I knew that he simply chose to ignore my being a vampire completely, and considered me as fragile and in need of protection as I had been before the transition.

I wasn't exceedingly happy about it but it wasn't all bad-- having realised that I would never be as strong and resilient as he and the others, Vlad really started to look forward to the moment when the portal reopened, and he would come with me to the place he considered safer for me than his world.

"And how do you know it's safer?" I teased him one night, when he joined me in bed after another long and tiring day.

Fire was burning on the hearth, despite it being only the beginning of September. The nights became chilly and damp, and the constant wind heralding the approaching autumn by stripping the trees growing in the forest of their dry, colourful leaves, was unpleasantly cool, and strong enough to find its way inside through the crevices in the walls of the castle.

"Lucas told me everything," Vlad said.

I had to smile when I saw his smiling face gilded by the warm glow of the dancing flames as I inquired, "Everything?"

"Maybe not everything, but more than enough to make me feel curious... There are so many things I want to know about your other world. He promised that he will teach me how to drive a car." Vlad announced, his voice laced with excitement making my smile freeze.

"Cars are dangerous..." I said, thinking that I needed to have a word with Lucas first thing in the morning.

"He told me about electricity too, I've been puzzled by those lights they use in the castle, on the other side, for a while. But I still don't quite understand how it works... " he trailed off, finally removing his shirt which I had unbuttoned while he spoke, and reached for the laces still holding mine in place.

"You... you just have to touch a switch, that's how it works... " I whispered, shrugging the unlaced shirt off my shoulders and pressing my lips to his to avoid further questions which I could not answer adequately.

The coronation was planned for the last week of September. It was Clara's birthday then, and that gave us a good excuse to hold a banquet and a dance for a few close friends and acquaintances, should any of Rareş' men notice the preparations. No more than twenty guests were invited, and we would simply hand our crowns to the young couple at the end of the dinner. It would definitely not be a pompous, traditional ceremony, but as the plan was approved by all those who mattered to Vlad-- the highest representatives of his loyal human subjects as well as his vampire friends and some family members-- it would suffice to confirm Junior as their new prince.

When the day finally dawned I felt more nervous than Clara, now nearly six months pregnant. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something unpleasant would happen, that this day would not go as smoothly as Vlad, Radu and Junior thought. We sighed in unison as I accompanied her into the kitchen and she left little Ioan there, in care of two maids supervised by her grandmother and Katerina.

I relaxed a little only when I was seated next to Vlad at one of the two long tables in the Great Hall, his hand holding mine as I smiled at each of the present-- Lucas, Radu, Father Boian, the young priest from Bran who became my friend, Clara's father and several more men from the village...

"You mustn't worry my love," Vlad whispered as the food was brought in and our guests started talking more loudly, and cheerfully around us.

I nodded and picked at my food half-heartedly, but I only started to breathe more freely once the two crowns were brought to us by Lucas, by now considered the Captain of the Guard, and I placed mine on Clara's head, while Vlad did the same for Junior, before we lead them to our thrones. The perfect silence that had reigned in the Great Hall as all this passed, now morphed into an excited whisper, and a few cheers from Clara's father's friends, patting the old man on the shoulders while he wept silently at seeing his daughter becoming a princess. Finally, while Junior and Clara bowed and curtsied to all those present, the music started to play.

This is it. We did it. I mused happily as I said goodbye to Father Boian and the other men from the village who decided to return home before dark, leaving us with no more than ten guests-- an easy to explain number should Rareş decide to pass by right now...

However, it wasn't Rareş or his men who appeared in the doorway unannounced and unexpected while we all danced, but Jusztyna.

I noticed her first and stood petrified as I watched her striding towards us over Vlad's shoulder, the confused dancers parting like the Red Sea in front of her.

"It's all your fault, you witch," she called, pointing at me even as Vlad, noticing the sudden commotion, pushed me behind his back and faced her.

Junior was at her side then, grabbing her arms to stop her and I felt Lucas' hand on my shoulder, letting me know that I had nothing to fear.

"What are you doing here, what do you want from us?" Vlad asked, forcing himself to sound calm, but his voice, shaking ever so slightly, betrayed all his suppressed anger.

"It is her fault... You want to take him away from this place, from us, but he belongs here. You have no right... Whatever happens tonight, know that you are responsible..." she told me.

Several of Rareş' men acting as Jusztyna's guard entered the Great Hall then. They stood by the door, making it impossible for anyone to enter or leave. Their number was greater than that of Vlad's men present in the room at the moment, but a few confused Knights were already behind them in the corridor, expecting Vlad's orders.

"Where's Rareş and your brother?" I asked, hoping that she wouldn't notice the tremble in my voice. Her words made me feel uneasy. You knew that something would happen...

"Busy." Jusztyna said simply, then, shaking Junior's hands off her arms, retreated towards the door. Vlad and his men followed her and her guard out of the room.

"Explain. What does it mean?" Vlad's voice reached me from a distance as I, making the best of the moment when everyone was too busy to watch me, ran towards the door opening to the kitchen, now deserted, Thank goodness! and from there, to the closest door leading outside.

"Samara, wait!" Lucas' order made me jump even as I reached the drawbridge only followed by the surprised glances of the Guards and Knights standing in the courtyard, still waiting for Vlad's orders.

"I must go to the village. I'm sure that Rareş is there. Boian... and Clara's father... and the others..." I mumbled, convinced that they were in danger. Because of you... my subconscious reminded me.

Lucas ran his hand through his dark curls nervously, as he looked towards the Entry Hall from where the sound of arguing voices and drawn swords spilled into the courtyard and echoed around us.

"There is no time to call them. I must go now or it will be too late." I said, heading towards the bridge.

Lucas groaned unhappily but I saw him giving orders to the Guards, sending a couple of them back towards the castle while the rest followed us outside. I only paused long enough to summon the wolf pack before I started running towards the mill, followed by Lucas and the Guards.

To my relief we found Clara's father at home, surprised by our sudden appearance.

"Leave a few men with him and follow me... The church!" I called to Lucas over my shoulder, leaving the others to explain to the old man what was happening.

I could smell and hear the flames devouring the small church even before I saw them. My eyes filled with tears as I realised that this really was my fault and I did not see the dark figures standing in a small, tight circle around one man, until I bumped into one at full speed and he seized me by my shoulders.

"Why, Lady Samara, what an honour..." Andrei said, making me wince in pain as he tightened his grip.

"Keep your hands off her!" Lucas called from behind me before I could push away the avalanche of awful memories Andrei's words brought into the forefront of my mind and find my voice buried deep underneath.

Andrei laughed, pulling me closer to him instead, and only let go of me when a similar order came from Rareş. The moment he released me, I moved to Father Boian who stood silent but fearless in the circle of vampires. I let the wolves approach and surround us all, a reminder to Rareş that we were not outnumbered.

"You have no right to threaten him." I said, trying to shield the young priest from them.

"But of course we do. Marriages between humans and vampires are forbidden. This man broke the law and we came to arrest him. The church..." Rareş said, waving his hand towards the burning building nonchalantly, "it was an accident."

"Liar! You... awful, disgu..." I called but Vlad's voice calling my name interrupted me suddenly. Then he was at my side, his arm wrapped around my waist keeping me from approaching Rareş and his men.

I took a deep, calming breath and listened as Vlad spoke to them, "You will not arrest the priest. He was only following my orders."

"In that case, you understand that you'll have to follow us, Your Majesty..." Rareş replied, his typical, unctuous smile spreading on his lips.

Oh no. Not again... My legs threatened to give way but Vlad pulled me closer to him, keeping me upright. "No. It's all my responsibility. It's me you should arrest." I announced, my voice surprisingly clear and steady.

I looked at Rareş, then let my eyes stroll to Andrei, fear coursing through my veins at the thought of finding myself in his hands again... But he was gone, he must have fled upon hearing Vlad's approach.

Vlad groaned at my side when he heard my words even as Rareş laughed, "Your courage is admirable, my lady. We have all the rights to arrest you... but you know what? Let's leave it here this time. Take this as a warning. And you, Your Majesty, make sure to teach your... errant wife our laws. Have a good night..."

With that he and his vampires faded into the darkness surrounding the burning church, leaving our Guards and the villagers to extinguish the fire.

I melted into Vlad's arms, trembling, and he held me so close that I could hardly breathe for a long while.

"You brave, crazy girl. You mustn't do something like this ever again..." He muttered, his voice barely audible above the flames hissing angrily as they devoured the old church, while the people, following the orders of Father Boian, kept bringing pails of water from the nearby stream.