Chapter 143

Stefan, Genevieve and Dara made it back to the vampire lair well before dawn. The late hour had allowed them to race across the roadway of the East Haddam Bridge, rather than climbing hidden along the outer girders. The rest of the way was all within the dark woods along the river’s shoreline.

“Say nothing about tonight to anyone,” Stefan instructed his two companions as soon as they entered the caverns. “This is a matter for Ricard, and perhaps the Council.

Genevieve and Dara nodded their agreement and disappeared deeper into the caverns. Stefan knew they kept no secrets from each other, but he was confident they would feel no need to talk to anyone else. He headed directly to Ricard’s chambers.

He found the vampire chieftain in his smaller rear chamber, stretched out upon an ornate four poster bed. Each of the bedposts was etched with incredibly detailed carvings of gargoyles and demons. The bed’s mattress had not survived t