Be Mine Tonight by Kathryn Smith Page B

was time for this young man to realize what he was up against.
    “If you believe these legends, Mr. Grey, then you must know that whatever it is you seek may very well be guarded by one of these vampires.”
    “One of these vampires is exactly what I’m hoping to find, Mr. Chapel.”
    “You have no more sense than a squirrel. No, less.” He could not keep the anger from his voice. “If you do find one of these vampires of yours in that cellar, he will not be happy to see you, do you understand?”
    Marcus nodded. “I know. Isn’t that why the church sent you and Father Molyneux?”
    Chapel’s eyes closed in resignation. “How much do you know?”
    The buggy stopped and Marcus turned in his seat to face him, his boyish features highlighted and shadowed by the lantern on the front of the carriage.
    “I know that the church suspects there is something in that cellar as well. Which one do you think it is? Bishop, Saint?”
    “You do not know enough, then. Were what you are suggesting possible, it would not be them.” Then he realized his fatal error.
    Marcus Grey knew the names the church hadgiven them, and now he knew that Chapel knew them too. He looked up.
    From the fear in Grey’s eyes, it was obvious that he realized he might have revealed too much. It also revealed that he knew too much. Dropping all pretenses, Chapel let the demon side of him rise to the surface. If Marcus Grey was so randy to see a vampire, then he would give him one. His eyes warmed and his fangs extended. He could see himself reflected in Grey’s wide eyes and he saw how both terrible and beautiful he was.
    “How long have you known?”
    Grey’s mouth opened. To his credit, the young man was nowhere near as terrified as most would be. “Yesterday. I saw your name in my papers.”
    “Who else knows?”
    “No one. I swear.”
    Chapel believed him. Grey smelled of fear and awe, but not deceit.
    “Dreux killed himself because he could not live with what he had become.” The young man may as well know the truth. “Temple and I undertook the protection of the Blood Grail.”
    “Temple.” Grey breathed the name like it was sacred.
    A faint stirring tingled in the air, setting Chapel on guard. His old friend was nearby. “I very much fear that he is what is in that cellar, Mr. Grey. I do not have to tell you what he will do to you if you enter his domain.”
    “I just want to know about him—about all of you.”
    Chapel could throttle him. Perhaps he should kill him now and be done with it. “And what of Prudence? Were you just stringing her along?”
    “Of course not! My research indicates that Temple is the keeper of the Holy Grail as well.”
    Now, that was news! Was it possible? He had always been told that the Grail was missing, but the church had a tendency to bend the truth to their will. Perhaps Temple was in charge of it as well—which made his remaining hidden all the more imperative.
    “I will kill you rather than allow you the Blood Grail.” There was nothing but brutal honesty in Chapel’s tone. “You and Prudence can take the credit for finding the Holy Grail if it is there, but then it returns with me and Molyneux. Whichever cup is there, I cannot allow it to fall in to the wrong hands.”
    Grey nodded. “Fine.”
    Chapel wasn’t finished. “You will allow me to enter the cellar before you or your men. If Temple is there, I will warn him and he will leave with the Blood Grail and anything else that needs to be protected. He will decide what will be left for you to find.”
    “And in return?”
    He seized Grey, hauling him close. “I will let you live. Temple may not be so kind.”
    Grey was afraid, but not nearly scared enough. “Will you tell me about him? About all of you?”
    “No.”
    “You want to know why the Grail is so important to Prudence, don’t you?”
    Chapel’s lip curled. Marcus blinked, his gaze fastened on ’s mouth—and no doubt the fangs that were revealed. “You would barter with