Free Shadow of the Vampire by Meagan Hatfield Page A

dragon lasts that long." She sucked in a breath, hoping to drag some courage into her lungs along with air. "If not, when I become Queen, you and your lover will have to answer to me."

CHAPTER SIX
              EVENTUALLY, THE SOLDIERS hauling Declan came to a brace of doors and burst inside without knocking. When they stopped, Declan forced his heavy head up. Bloodred velvet draped the back wall of a lush chamber. Gothic tapestries hung along another. However, he could not keep his eyes off the bed in the corner--off the intricate wooden bed frame at its foot.
              The one from the dream.
              Vivid images of Lotharus and Alexia flashed behind his eyes. Unbidden, a low growl vibrated in his chest.
              Declan felt Lotharus's cold presence before he saw him emerge from the corner. Although the room did not seem overly masculine, Declan deduced right away that this must be Lotharus's room. Realized with the little grain of consciousness left to him that Lotharus would want to hold the memory of his murder within his private walls, keep it close, like some sick kind of security blanket.
              When the vampire finally stepped fully into the room, Declan's lip curled into a snarl. Memories of the last time he'd seen that sneering face, of what he'd done to Alexia, clawed to the surface. The hate he'd channeled toward her shifted to Lotharus for reasons he couldn't explain and wouldn't explore.
              With a primal instinct, Declan yanked his limbs away from the unsuspecting guards and lunged for Lotharus. However, the collar quickly pilfered the strength his fury had given him. Hands descended on his chest and legs, pushing him back until he slammed against a stone wall. At the impact, chains rattled beside him. Declan swallowed an uneasy lump in his throat as the soldiers strung him up, securing that unbearable collar around his neck to a hook on the wall, his wrists and ankles to connecting chains.
              He noticed Lotharus had not flinched a muscle during the entire ordeal. He merely stood, watching.
              And Declan did not take his eyes off him.
              Satisfied with the bindings, the guards slipped back and stood along the walls. Lotharus stepped forward, his black eyes leveled on Declan, no emotion in their shadowed depths. Only blackness, nothingness.
              "Now," Lotharus said, tugging up the sleeves of his black overcoat. "Are you ready to tell me where the crystal is?"
              Declan smirked. "Three things I can't stand...Horde, Thai food and answering the same question over and over...."
              Lotharus tucked his arm back, landing his fist on Declan's nose. Before he had time to recover, another hit blew against his temple. A third slammed against his eyebrow. One for each hate, he figured.
              Throbbing pain began a low drumbeat in his skull. Declan gritted his teeth to keep from making a sound, determined not to give the bastard one ounce of satisfaction. He lifted his head to see Lotharus staring down at him. Slowly, he started undoing the buttons of his coat. Shrugging out of the garment, he laid it carefully over the side of the bed before stepping forward.
              "You know," he said, rolling up the cuffs of his black shirt, a sardonic smile twisting his lips. "I don't think I properly thanked you last night."
              Declan forced his lips into a smile. "For what? Showing your girlfriend how to kiss?"
              An elbow slammed into his gut before the last word had fallen from his lips. Declan sucked in a breath, groaning when he repeated the action again.
              "You may think you're funny now, but it will be I who is laughing last, Derkein. I assure you."
              "Aw, come on," he said with a pained grunt as he stood upright again. "I thought that was a good