Vampire Lords of Blacknall: Trinity by Shirl Anders Page A

trite involvements of society where young girls dressed up to go to balls, trying to find husbands. His pursuits were about serious business, not the silliness she moved through of gossip, aspirations, and parties.
    “Maiden, you want my blood, not me,” she expelled the words Trinity had thrown at her.
    He was right. Could she separate the two? Yesterday she’d been a carefree, silly girl, and today she’d woken to growing new understandings of life that more than surpassed the entire previous years of her life. Beyond her imagination. “But I’m still alive,” she said fiercely, and she wasn’t going to squander the gift of life she’d been given.
    Adam came to visit her again later that afternoon. His handsome face looked very grim when he entered the room. She’d wanted to retire to her own rooms, but she didn’t want anyone discovering she was healed … so quickly. Therefore, she sat in bed, because she was plagued by tiredness.
    “Adam, what is it?” she asked without any preamble that others who weren’t brothers and sisters might employ.
    “Lady Ariel returned your letter unopened.” He lifted the letter to her gaze as he moved to sit on the bed beside her.
    Beth frowned, looking up at him with worry. She didn’t reach for the letter he held toward her, as if she touched it would make its return real. “That isn’t good, is it?” she confided softly.
    She’d taken the task of writing a note to Ariel to call her to her side so they might sort through the events of last evening, and frankly, so she could do some inventive lying. She at least thought Ariel might wish to know about the health of her friend.
    “No.” Adam admitted to it not being a very good sign, and he set the letter on the bedside table. “What did you say in it?” he questioned, then he added, “Had she come this morning, I dare say your condition would have sent her packing in fear,” he paused. “But you look much recovered now.”
    Besides the gnawing desire to taste Trinity’s blood again, she was rather well, considering the ordeal she’d been through. She reached for and clasped Adam’s hand so their hands sat together on the bed beside them. “Thank you so much.” Tears gathered as she squeezed his hand and she willed them not to fall.
    “I’m just glad I was there,” he replied gruffly.
    “I feel much better physically.” She knew Adam would take up her meaning. She was undecided how much to share with him. However, her views on her brother hadn’t changed after last night. In fact, certain aspects had become stronger. She wanted Adam to be able to go to the university unhindered, and everything that had happened was not moving him in that direction.
    “I will not question you now, so close in your recovery, about what happened to you last night, Beth, but I expect us to speak about it as soon as you are able.”
    Beth played demure in front of him on the subject and she felt a stab of guilt. Nevertheless, if she explained everything that happened to her last night from her viewpoint, she’d only succeed in miring him deeper into her troubles.
    “I don’t remember most of it,” she responded quickly to him, watching him raise his eyebrows in disbelief. “Just that we couldn’t find Ariel, and I went out into the gardens to look for her.”
    “You don’t remember Lord Trinity Montrose, one of Duke Blacknall’s brothers?” Adam asked tightly.
    Beth quickly lowered her gaze. She despised lying to Adam. “I’ve heard of Duke Blacknall and his brothers, of course.”
    “But last night …”
    “I feel weak,” Beth interjected over his words, bringing a hand to her temple.
    “Deuce,” Adam swore, and she imagined he was chastising himself for pushing her. “Beth, lay down and get some rest,” he said, rising from the bed. “I will get Spindle to bring you some soup to try for dinner.”
    “Thank you, Adam.” She tried to appear weaker than she was as she scooted to lie down.
    Adam stood