Taken by a Vampire (Vampire Queen) - By Joey W. Hill Page 0,200

deep sleeps, the coolness of the body. His system is preparing . . .

No. No. She’d just found him, just found them both. But with Evan within touching distance, she couldn’t put her own feelings first, no matter how strong they were. Niall had been his for so much longer.

It took me only an instant to know he was mine. Perhaps it’s the same for all of us, Alanna. Time may deepen it, enrich it, teach us so many lessons, but that first moment, that spark—that’s what sets the fire burning forever.

She laid her hand over his, resting on Niall’s chest. The vampire nodded, acknowledging the touch, but didn’t take his eyes off his sleeping servant.

“Is he dreaming?”

“Yes. A dog . . . a collie. It belonged to him as a boy. You . . .” A faint smile touched his mouth. “He’s holding you in his sleep.”

She was lying on Niall’s outstretched arm, and now she reached behind her, drawing his hand to her hip. The arm muscles constricted, bringing her closer. Without prompting, she laid her head down on Niall’s broad shoulder. “You can sleep, Master,” she whispered. “I’ll listen to his heartbeat.”

The anguish that crossed Evan’s face was so strong and immediate she didn’t have to think. Reaching out, she cupped his jaw, caressed him. When he lifted those tormented gray eyes to her, she let her fingers slide to his nape, tangling in the silken strands there. With gentle pressure, she helped him do what he wanted to do. She adjusted so Evan laid his head directly on Niall’s chest, over his heart. The moment he rested it there, she could see the involuntary sleep that would pull him under starting to do so, but she eased his frustration with it, stroking his hair away from his brow, saying soft, unintelligible things. She held both of them, hoping to give them the strength they needed. Niall, to live as long as possible, and Evan, to let him go when the time came.

As for her, she’d found her strength. It was in the love she wasn’t afraid of acknowledging anymore, for them both. She would take care of them however she could, as long as she could.

When Niall’s other arm came up, sliding over Evan’s back, hand coming to rest on his side so he was holding her Master as well as her, she pressed her face harder against his firm flesh and let her silent tears give heat to its coolness.

22

THEY’D had lasagna and salad for dinner tonight, but the dishes were manageable. She wouldn’t be able to tease Mel about leaving her too much responsibility. Not that she would anyway. As she washed, Alanna watched the sanctuary members playing volleyball by the lake, a family canoeing out against the night sky, a full moon shining on the water. Mel, Frank, Miah and Nerida were by the communal bonfire. The purpose of the nightly ritual was to share stories, everyone encouraged to contribute a positive anecdote, whether it was the birth of a baby, a school accomplishment, the witnessing of a lovely sunset. Or the moment a woman decided to take control of her life and stop allowing another to harm her or her children. Though she couldn’t hear the stories over the splash of the water and clank of the dishes, she enjoyed seeing the looks on the participants’ faces, their reactions.

When arms slipped around her waist, she smiled, pleased by Niall’s mouth on her throat. He’d gotten up around late afternoon. True to her word, she hadn’t slept, but she pretended she’d been napping, invited to come back by Evan because her sparring match with Mel had tired her out. She wasn’t sure he’d believed her, but he’d gotten dressed, said he was overdue to help Frank with that plumbing job. He’d left her with a warm kiss that made her try to pull him back into the bed. He evaded her with a chuckle, then bent to Evan, brushing his lips over the oblivious male, still deep in sleep. “You worry too much, vampire,” he murmured. Then he’d straightened, given Alanna a fond look and left her.

Now he was back, freshly showered, suggesting the plumbing job had been messy. “Do you need help drying, muirnín? The sooner you’re done, the sooner I can take you out and have my way with ye under the stars. Finish what you tried tae start, you shameless hussy.”

She poked him with her elbow. “Yes, you can help.