---- Could she not smell him? Brenda watched as he slid into the seat across from her, closing the door discreetly.


    "Tell your coachman to leave the carriage here and take a walk nearby.


    We''ll talk right here," he ordered with authority.


    Brendaplied, calling out to the driver to leave her alone and wait at a discreet corner until she summoned him back.


    The young man obeyed without questionhis job was to follow orders.


    Werent we supposed to meet in the tavern?" Brenda lowered the heavy hood of her cloak.


    "I thought this would be more discreet.


    Besides, its no longer convenient for me to return to that tavern.


    Several incidents have urred near there," he said mysteriously, studying her closely.


    "Incidents?" Brenda didnt quite grasp that he meant cold- blooded murders.


    Anyway, you mentioned a n.


    I want to be the Duchess and take control of Thesios realm.


    How can you help me, and what do you want in return?" she asked, getting straight to the point.


    Salvatore smirked slyly.


    He liked this womans decisiveness how she didnt need him to hide his true nature from her.


    "T will help you take over Thesiosnds and conceive the next heir, " he assured her.


    "I think we can be excellent partners, Zafiro." ---- He leaned forward, dragging his sharp ws over the satin of her dress, slipping them between theyers of fabric.


    Brenda gazed at his mesmerizing, almost inhuman beauty, the raw power radiating from himso different from those weak elementals.


    "] feel the same way," she replied, leaning toward him as well, their mouths just inches apart, her wolfish canines shing.


    "But you better offer me more than empty words and cheap seduction." She suddenly grabbed his hand, mercilessly sinking her ws into his wrist.


    Sex was great, but business came first.


    He was stronger than her, but she had to assert herself from the beginning, despite the fear deep inside.


    She wouldnt be his pet she would be his ally.


    The challenge in her wolfish eyes intrigued Salvatore even more.


    A deep, huskyugh rumbled from him, filling the carriage.


    "Very well, I''ll tell you what I know." He pulled away from Brenda, reclining back into his seat and crossing one leg over the other.


    "We''re going to execute a rather risky n.


    But first, let me tell you Ive looked into your life.


    Despite your grievances, you cannot distance yourself from the Duke of Everhart.


    He is essential to our n...


    or rather, the Duchess is." That idiot?" Brenda muttered through clenched teeth, shifting to listen closely to his grand n.


    ---- "Yes.


    I just met a friend who shared some very interesting things about her.


    And theyre not lies...


    Ipelled his mind.


    Everything he told meis true." Salvatore recalled how he hadter filled his belly with that fools alcoholced blood.


    He couldnt leave such a dangerous loose end alive.


    "So, heres what we''ll do..." With every word that left the vampires lips, Brendas eyes widened in astonishment.


    It was a crazy, dangerous, deranged n yet simply brilliant.


    Her wolfish heart raced at the possibilities.


    She had never dreamed of this.


    She had never fantasized aboutplete freedom.


    Ahint of fear crept into her mind.


    Whaty beyond this prison? Could they really escape the Elemental Realm?