Abandoned to the Night (The Brotherhood Series, Book 3) by Adele Clee

me from discovering all we could be to one another.”
    “Very well.” She sighed. She could not fight her feelings for him anymore. “When we return to the castle we will discuss alternative plans for the children. You must write to Elliot and tell him about Christoph, make sure your affairs are in order. I shall speak to Herr Bruhn. And may I suggest you keep your sword close, preferably next to my bed.”

 
     
    Chapter 9
     
     
     
    “Look at them,” Alexander whispered through gritted teeth. They stood at the tavern bar observing their wives sitting at the crude wooden table. “Anyone would think they were taking tea with the vicar not drinking in a tavern frequented by a cold-hearted devil with fangs.”
    Elliot ordered a bottle of Franconian wine which he had sampled once before and then turned his attention to Grace and Evelyn, who were busy chatting and laughing as though they had not a single care in the world.
    “I think they’re just relieved to be out of the carriage,” Elliot said, doubting their babbling had anything to do with suppressing nerves.
    The muscles in his shoulders were still painful to touch. But three weeks confined to such a small compact space — other than a few hours spent each night at various inns en route — had not affected his wife’s cheerful countenance.
    Alexander snorted. “As we all are. I don’t think I’ll be able to straighten my legs properly for a month. Every time I try, the joints in my knees crack.”
    Elliot chuckled but stepped closer and whispered, “We will need to find a way of getting more blood while we’re here. We must make it a priority once we’ve found Leo. An extra dose or two will soon lubricate your stiff bones.”
    Alexander glanced around the room, not bothering to hide his disdainful sneer. “I don’t know why, but I feel like throttling every person in here for not alerting strangers to the monster walking amongst them. Perhaps an extra dose would also help me to maintain my calm composure.”
    Elliot laughed. “Calm composure? Despite your best efforts, you always appear angry and highly irritated. Unless you’re talking to Evelyn, and then you look like an altar boy who has just witnessed an epiphany.”
    Alexander gave a sinful smirk. “Well, she is utterly divine. She’s a saint sent to soothe all my gripes and woes. I’d be lost without her.”
    A frisson of fear shot through Elliot’s body when he glanced at Grace’s angelic face. She met his gaze and smiled, but he imagined sharp fangs overhanging her bottom lip, the whites of her eyes littered with ugly red veins. “What the hell were we thinking? We should have left our wives in London,” he said as his chest grew tight and he found it hard to swallow.
    “I hope you’re not blaming me.”
    “Of course not,” Elliot scoffed. “We were both weak and pathetic when it came to making demands. It seems both ladies do not respond well to orders.”
    Alexander gave a weak chuckle, but Elliot could sense his anxiety. “Grace only had to straighten your cravat and flutter her lashes, and you were pinning like a puppy.”
    “I seem to recall as soon as Evelyn touched your cheek you fell to your knees and surrendered,” Elliot countered.
    Alexander raised an arrogant brow. “So, I’m in love with my wife. Indeed, I shall be glad of a little privacy this evening.”
    “I wouldn’t imagine you’ll get to spend much time in your room tonight.” Elliot winced as he anticipated Alexander’s growl of protest. “We need to search for Leo. There’ll be plenty of time to rest come the morning.”
    “That bloody idiot,” Alexander snarled. “He has a lot to answer for. Had it not been for his overinflated ego, I would be nestled up in bed with nothing to do but think of new ways to entertain Evelyn.”
    “Have you tried to tune into his thoughts?” Elliot asked. He was still struggling to come to terms with the fact Leo had raced off to Bavaria with the intention of