Keepers of the Flame (Trilogy Bundle) - By Melissa F. Hart Page 0,14

Just as the silver bullet was used on our ancestors, we had evolved past that and the one substance the Born vampires were vulnerable to was platinum.

“Thank you for stating the obvious, Luanne.”

Even though his words were steeped in sarcasm, it was the first time he'd used my name and it had a funny effect on me. I felt my tummy flip at the way my name had sounded on his tongue and I momentarily forgot that we were in grave danger. I suddenly felt the need to comfort him and offer healing. Almost unconsciously, I raised my hand and cupped the injured cheek.

“I wish I could make it better,” I said softly.

He looked into my eyes and for one brief moment, I saw into his soul. He closed his eyes then and sighed.

“We can't afford to remain here,” he said, opening his eyes.

“I know.” I was about to lift my hand when the most amazing thing happened.

The heat around my chest area began to travel down my arm. I gazed in amazement as flame-colored light moved from my shoulders to my elbow and down my wrists, onto my palm, which was still on Dylan's cheek. His eyes widened in surprise as he watched then his body relaxed and he closed his eyes again on a sigh.

The flame engulfed his body, from his head to his feet. And as suddenly as it came, it was gone. The entire thing had probably lasted less than a minute or so, but it had felt like we'd been suspended in time.

I brought down my hand then and gasped.

“What?” He immediately became alert.

“The gash is gone,” I said in wonder.

He raised his hand to his cheek wonderingly. “I don't feel any pain.”

“I don't know what just happened.” I shook my head and looked down at my palm.

He looked at me and what I saw in his gaze made me tremble slightly. He slowly leaned toward me and I knew, I just knew, that he was going to kiss me. I held my breath and waited as he drew nearer, but at the last minute, he took my hand and placed a quick kiss on it.

“Thanks,” he said simply. “But we need to get out of here, now!” With that he squeezed my palm.

I swallowed the aching disappointment even as I felt like I was being sucked into a very small hole and my entire being was made of liquid. I closed my eyes but just as I closed them, the feeling went. I opened my eyes in confusion and realized we were in Katrina's living room.

“What the hell was that?” I yelled, freaking out.

“Watch your language, girl!”

I turned to see Katrina standing in one side of the room and every inch of her was tense.

“I'm sorry, I didn't see you.”

She frowned as though that was beside the point and turned to Dylan instead. “I've got our stuff packed. We can be out of here in five. But first I want to know how the hell that happened.”

I'd never heard Katrina that snappish before. I help my breath and waited for Dylan to speak.

“We were ambushed,” he said quietly.

“I know you were ambushed. But how did they escape your surveillance? Whoever is behind this is beyond extraordinary.”

“It's Lord Morrison.”

I watched as right before my eyes, Katrina deflated. “I see,” she said quietly as she sank onto the nearest chair. “That changes things considerably.”

I looked from Katrina to Dylan. He shifted his gaze to avoid mine and I became angry.

“Can someone please tell me what's going on? Who's this Lord Morrison anyway?”

“Don't worry about it, Luanne. We need to get you to safety now.”

I gazed at Dylan in faint hurt and annoyance. Was he serious?

“This is my life! I'm the one they want and unless someone tells me what on earth is going on, I'm going to summon them and hand myself over to them!”

I was just bluffing of course; there was no way I could summon anyone. But I watched as horror registered on my grandmother's face. I looked in confusion to Dylan's but his face was passive, without expression.

“Grandma?”

I could hear the fear and confusion in my voice and apparently, my grandmother also heard it because she sighed and got up.

“Luanne is right,” she said, surprising me. “She needs to know how all this affects her and if it is Lord Morrison that's behind this, there's no use going anywhere. We'll face him on our own turf.”

Dylan nodded. “I'll call for backup.”

Katrina nodded and