A Whisper of Eternity - By Amanda Ashley Page 0,102
from each side, bearing him down to the ground.
Dominic was feeling weak and light-headed from the amount of blood he had lost earlier, but his rage, combined with his soul-deep concern forTracy , fueled his flagging strength. With a roar, he surged to his feet. The two vampires flew after him, but he was too quick for them. Pivoting on his heel, he broke the mirror overTracy 's dresser. Grabbing two long shards of glass, he whirled around, slashing first Laslo and then Franco across the throat, slicing their jugular veins. Blood fountained from the killing wounds. Both vampires fell back, their hands clutching at their throats, screams issuing from their lips as the mirror's silver backing scorched their preternatural flesh.
Dominic saw a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye and Petrina materialized in front of him. He ducked just in time to avoid the brunt of her attack. Nevertheless, her nails, as sharp as a raptor's claws, raked his cheek as she hurtled past him. He felt a sudden wetness on his skin and knew she had drawn blood.
She caught herself and whirled around, her fangs bared.
Dominic facedher, his feet spread wide, waiting.
She sprang at him again, her face contorted with hatred.
Dominic waited until the last second, then, darting backward, he grabbed the stake from the dresser and drove it into her breast.
She shrieked as the wood pierced her heart. Eyes wide, she stared at the blood spreading over the front of her dress,then slowly sank to the floor where she twitched once, then lay still.
Panting heavily, Dominic spared hardly a glance for the bodies on the floor as he hurried toTracy 's side. She was still alive, but close to death.
Two tiny drops of blood stood out in stark relief against her throat.
"Tracy! Querida , can you hear me?"
She didn'trespond, only lay there unmoving, her breathing growing more shallow by the moment.
A low groan rose in his throat. He couldn't let her go, couldn't lose her now,couldn't endure the thought of waiting, searching, perhaps for centuries, to find her again.
"Tracy." He stroked her cheek,then shook her shoulder gently. "Tracy, querida ,wake up."
Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open. She stared at him blankly a moment, and then a faint smile touched her lips. "Dominic... "
" Querida, do not leave me again."
"I don't want to..."
"Then take what I have to offer."
Her eyes widened. "No."
"Forgive me, my best beloved one, I cannot lose you again."
She stared up at him, too weak to resist as he bent over her. She felt the slight prick of his fangs, followed by the familiar sense of euphoria. Petrina's bite had not been so pleasant. She closed hereyes, let herself drift away on a sensual sea of pleasure.
She was drowning, sinking into oblivion, when she heard Dominic's voice calling her name.
"Tracy.Tracy ! Come back to me."
It took every scrap of energy that remained to her to open her eyes.
"You mustdrink, my best beloved one."
"Drink..." She was thirsty, so thirsty. She opened her mouth, felt it fill with warm, salty liquid. She drank until he took it from her and then she closed her eyes and tumbled into the comforting abyss of slumber.
Dominic knelt beside her, watching the color return to her face. Her breathing grew stronger, steadier.
What had he done?
Throughout centuries of time she had refused the Dark Gift. Would she hate him for what he had done? How would he survive her hatred? But survive he must. He had brought her across - he could not leave her now.
Nor could he leave her here.
Gathering her into his arms, he willed them across the country to his house on the coast ofMaine . He placed her on the sofa, then went upstairs to the master bedroom and opened the door that led into a hidden room behind the fireplace.
Knowing it would frighten her to wake in a casket, he took the mattress and bedding from the bed and carried it into his lair. He turned on the light so she would not awake in darkness, and then he went downstairs forTracy .
He put her to bed, fully clothed, removed her shoes, covered her with the blankets, and then went through the house, securing it against intruders.
He stayed by her side, watching her throughout the night, and when he sensed the dawn's approach, he took off his shirt and boots and then, stretching out on the mattress beside the woman he loved, he gathered her into his arms.