Heart of Dracula by Kathryn Ann Kingsley

He flinched, and when he spoke again, his voice was low. I get it.” She turned to look at him, and the anguish in his silver eyes made her want to cry. It took her a moment to breathe regularly again.

There was a memory, itching at her, crawling over her like spiders. She took another step back from the table and wiped a hand over her face. The sight of it sent a shiver down her spine. Jolting in surprise, she jumped back an inch as they shot together into the center as if drawn by magnetism. She watched in fascination as all four pieces seemed to rattle on the surface, vibrating with some unseen power. “I was still trying to maintain control over you, even now.” When I was ready for it.” With a beleaguered shake of his head, he turned to the kitchen tabletop and, opening the box, placed the fourth quadrant down on the surface. “I wanted to ensure that when-” His shoulders slumped. “Why didn’t you tell me you had a piece?” Without looking at her, as if he couldn’t bring himself to do it, he went to his bookshelf and retrieved a small wooden box from one of the surfaces. On three of the quadrants of the talisman she had carved into the surface sat the matching fragment she had found. When they reached his library, she saw the top of her kitchen table had been placed over his glass coffee table. She did so, her teeth gritted, feeling oddly frantic. Wordlessly, he stood, downed the rest of his coffee, then left the room, gesturing over his shoulder for her to follow. That seemed enough to propel him to movement. He stammered uselessly for a few moments. I get to decide how this ends! I’m not going to let you just sit there and-and-” She swallowed the rock in her throat. She squared her shoulders and glared at him. He reeled with the blow before sitting back in his chair, a look of pure and utter confusion on his face. But before she could stop herself, she had pulled back her hand and open-palmed decked him across the face. “No-” She stood abruptly from the table, nearly knocking over her chair.

She turned him to her, and before he could protest, she kissed him. I have played your demon more times than I can count. “And how am I supposed to be? Would you have me ranting and raving, cackling and spouting my dastardly and evil plans? I have done that for you so many times, Marguerite. Home Insurance Coverage: A Detailed Guide

Heart of Dracula by Kathryn Ann Kingsley