Alexander-Fyn-Sanguinarian

will not pounce on you and bite your neck. Not everyone’s blood tastes good. I have been without for some days because Dominica has been agitated. She goes through bad periods, and when she does, so do I.”
    For one wild moment Evangeline almost offered him her blood, then sanity caught up with her and she shut her lips tightly. “Perhaps a Sanguinarian 195
    nice strong cup of tea would help,” Evangeline suggested. “With lots of sugar.”
    Raven began to laugh just as the door opened, admitting Munk with a tray of wine and a dish with salted crackers and marinated mushrooms in a dark sauce. She stopped short when she saw the two sitting very close on the floor.
    “Is everything as it should be, my lord?” she queried, her brow furrowed.
    “That might be going a bit far, Munk.” He eyed the tray. “It’s just that Miss Rutledge thought a strong cup of tea might help to reduce blood cravings.”
    Munk stared, unmoving. Then seeing the humour, she too laughed. Hardly able to believe that the two strangest and most serious people she had ever met in her life were both laughing, and over something so outlandish as the need to drink blood, Evangeline looked from one to the other in amazement. “I really don’t see the humour in this.”
    “You would if you were a vampire.” Raven laughed. “Our need for blood is as intense as the need to breathe. Numbing the tongue helps a very little, but tea, strong or not, would do nothing.”
    Munk gathered her composure. “Would you like a cup of tea, Miss?”
    “Yes, thank you.” Evangeline began to get to her feet. “A cup of tea would be very nice. For one thing it is absolutely freezing in here.” She watched Raven take the plate of crackers and the dish of mushrooms and begin to eat them ravenously. He ate half the plate before offering her some.
    “Sorry,” he apologized, “but the urge to consume salt can be overwhelming.”
    “Because of your craving for blood?”
    “Yes,” he said, his mouth full.
    “I think I’ll go to my chamber now and get warmed up. I’ll have my tea by the fire, Munk.”

    196
    Fyn Alexander
    “Yes, Miss.”
    “How is Mrs. Brackett?”
    “She is resting quietly, Miss. Do not concern yourself.”
    “I cannot help but worry, but I do thank you for all you are doing for her.”
    Munk bowed her head and left them alone.
    “I’ll walk you to your chamber.” Raven carried the tray with him, drinking wine as they went. “Evangeline, it was nice to talk to you. It was good to tell you who I am. I am sick of hiding, we all are, all my race. You have no idea what it is like to have to pretend that you are not who you are. This is why Court is so important.”
    “I’m glad you told me, my lord. I am disconcerted, I admit that, but knowing is better than not knowing. My imaginings have been far more terrifying than the truth.”
    “Isn’t that always the way, my dear,” he said as they approached her chamber.
    “Yes, I suppose it is.” She paused and touched the silver ankh which lay against his chest. “This means something in particular to you, doesn’t it? I’ve noticed that Munk wears a much smaller one and also some of the servants.”
    “Do you know what it is called?” he asked.
    “I do. It is an ankh. It is an ancient Egyptian symbol of transformation and life.”
    Raven’s smile animated his face. “Yes, you are quite correct. How clever of you. For my kind it represents the life giving, transformative qualities of blood. The oval on the top is the symbol of the female, the cross underneath is the male. Isis and Osiris—the blending of the two.
    The blood of another mingling with my blood gives me life.”
    Tenderly he stroked her cheek.
    “I’ll see you at dinner, my lord,” she said.
    “You may be bored by the conversation,” he said quickly. “It will be about business.”
    “Would you rather I did not join you?” she asked.

    Sanguinarian 197
    “No, no,” he replied quickly. “Of course you must join us. I merely thought you might not find the company stimulating.” He balanced the tray on one arm while opening the door for her. “I’ll see you at dinner, my dear.”

    198
    Fyn Alexander

Chapter Fourteen
    Raven sat beside the huge stone hearth in the Great Hall talking with John Shipman. As always he drank red wine, but Shipman had insisted on beer. “My contact told me Lord Ravenscroft was the only man to see with regard to this. He said you had numerous contacts of your own both