Book excerpt: AN UNEASY ALLIANCE Estelle LaMarche has never pursued power for its own sake. But now that she’s been made seneschal, responsible for vampire queen Wavena’s entire military, she’ll do her duty. That means devoting herself to planning the war against the Dawning. Protecting her kind. And resisting, at any cost, her distracting desire for Stephan Daker, the masquerada lieutenant with whom she shared one unforgettable night . . . AN UNQUENCHABLE PASSION Even wounded and grieving after a devastating battle, Stephan hasn’t been able to get brilliant, beautiful Estelle off his mind. Yet how can he know which feelings are truly his, when Estelle’s powers of compulsion are so strong? Unwilling to trust his desire for her, Stephen tries to keep his distance as they work together. But when Estelle’s brother is kidnapped by their enemies, he’ll join her in a conflict that will decide the fate of humanity itself . . .