Free The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride by Rhiannon Frater

hotel.
    Enre looked amused as he fed the horse
a bit of apple from his gloved hand. “No name is suitable for this
one. It is wild magic.”
    The horse chomped down on the apple and
chewed as it regarded Magda with great interest.
    “It must have a name,” Magda insisted,
wilting beneath its gaze.
    “If it has a name, it does not tell us
what it is,” I confessed. “Though I would be honored if it would
let me one day know.”
    The horse neighed its delight and
bumped my shoulder with its nose.
    This elicited a girlish laugh from
Magda despite her misgivings. “I think it’s mocking
you.”
    “I am sure it is,” I conceded, running
my gloved hand affectionately down its mane.
    Magda relaxed her wary stance and
approached slowly. I grabbed hold of the saddle and slung myself
up, settling onto the back of the great beast. Enre handed me the
reins as Magda waited. Reaching down, I took hold of her hand and
lifted her easily onto the back of the beast. She clutched my waist
as she arranged herself behind me. Like the countess, she rode with
her legs slung to one side.
    Bothersome women should learn to ride
as a man in this world fraught with danger. I vow that I shall
teach both of them before the warm months are done.
    “Enre, we should return before
nightfall. If we do not, send word to Astir and take the countess
to Vienna without hesitation. Understood?” Though I was certain of
a successful outcome, I would never wish to endanger the
countess.
    Enre inclined his head.
Satisfied with his obedience, I dug in my heels, flicked the reins,
and the horse raced down the busy streets of Bistriţa. Magda
gasped, clutching my sid es tightly as the
beast easily maneuvered around carts, pedestrians, small herds of
goats, and wandering chickens as it galloped through the narrow
streets. The sights and sounds of the living filled my senses and
my heart soared with pleasure. I could almost allow myself to
believe I was in Turkey, though the sun will never scorch me here
as it did in the homeland of my youth. The windows of the white
washed buildings were flung open and the fragrance of cooking food
and boiling laundry mixed with the stench of the streets. I found
it exhilarating and I laughed.
    Magda ducked her head down between my
shoulder blades. I felt her heart thudding with fear, but I could
also hear her laughter when children shouted as we passed by where
they played. Though we are minions of supernatural creatures, we
are both human and to be free of the darkness filled us both with
joy. I could hear it in her laugh, and I touched her hand lightly
in camaraderie.
    Once out of the town, the horse
increased its speed until we were just a flicker of color to the
eyes of mortals. The cool wind tore at our faces and Magda’s scarf
trailed behind her like wings. She recovered from her fear and
pressed her chin against my shoulder so she could see our
terrifying, yet thrilling journey along the narrow lanes of the
countryside. As the horse pounded up the road into the mountains,
she pointed to the high summits, amazed at their beauty.
    At last we reached the road that would
lead us to the castle perched so precariously along the top of the
mountains. In my previous journeys with the countess, I could not
always see the home of Count Dracula. Depending on her mood, it was
either completely hidden in darkness, or like a mirage, shimmering
in and out of my sight. Today I could see it in all its ruined
glory. It still retained its imposing stature despite the crumbling
facade. It was only one of Vlad’s castles he had inhabited during
his mortal years, but it was the one his Mistress had banished him
to when he had fallen from her favor.
    “Is that it?” Magda gasped.
    “Yes.”
    The side of the road fell away to
reveal the glorious greenery of the valley below with the Arges
River sparkling in the sunlight. The castle loomed majestically
before us as we neared the vast structure. Drawing up on the reins,
my horse companion