A Whisper of Eternity - By Amanda Ashley Page 0,69

drew back, leavingTracy standing alone in the center of the floor.

Going to her side, Dominic slipped his arm around her waist and drew her up against him. "Are you all right?"

She nodded. "Bryan..."

Dominic glanced around the room. "Where is the boy?"

It was Marcus who answered. " Petrinatook him."

Dominic's gaze settled on Zarabeth . "Is he dead?"

"I don't know."

"Would she take him home?"

"I don't know."

Dominic looked atTracy , then back at the vampires. "To harm what is mine is to harm me." His voice was mild, butTracy heard the steel beneath. To defy my law is to defy me, and the penalty is death."

Zarabethshook her head. "No!"

" Petrinahas openly defied me."

"Vampire does not kill vampire."

"Be still else I destroy you, as well."

A low murmur of consternation ran through the room.

Dominic silenced them with a look. "This is my chosen territory and my law prevails.When I allowed you to share this place with me, you agreed, one and all, to abide by my law. We have peace here because we do not feed on the villagers. We give them no reason to suspect our presence. The boy Petrina has taken has family. He has a job. He will be missed."

Dominic looked down atTracy , his expression softening. "Come, I will take you home."

"What aboutBryan ?"

"I will find him," he said, and with that, he swept her into his arms.

A moment later, they were in her bedroom at Nightingale House.

Slowly, he lowered her to her feet.

"The lights," she said. "Put on the lights."

He waved his hand and the lamps beside her bed sprang to life, chasing the darkness from the room.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Fine," she said, and dissolved into tears.

"Tracy!" He pulled her into his arms, raining kisses on her brow, the crown of her head. "Do notweep, my best beloved one."

"FindBryan ," she said. "Please."

"I do not want to leave you alone."

"I'll... I'll be... all right. Please... hurry!"

"As you wish," he said, and vanished from her sight.

Tracycrawled into bed, fully dressed, and drew the covers up to her chin. Never in all her life had she been so frightened. Trembling uncontrollably, she closed her eyes. Into her mind came images of the vampires as they had closed in around her, their eyes glowing with a lust for blood.Her blood. If Dominic had not arrived when he did...

She opened her eyes and the images vanished. She was never going to be able to go to sleep, doubted she would ever feel comfortable alone in the dark again.

And what aboutBryan ?Would Dominic find him in time, or was it already too late? How would she ever live with herself if anything happened toBryan ? Oh, Lord, he could be dead, or worse. What if Petrina had turned him into a vampire?

He had done nothing to deserve such a horrible fate. Nothing butbe her friend.

With a low groan, she doubledover, her arms wrapped around her middle, and rocked back and forth.

"I'm sorry,Bryan ," she sobbed."So sorry."

Reality returned slowly. He was aware of being cold.And thirsty. Opening his eyes,Bryan was grateful to see that he was no longer in the dark. A single candle burned on the table beside the bed. There was a bowl of fruit, a hunk of cheese,a pitcher of orange juice.

Sitting up, he ate ravenously, drained the pitcher of juice and wished for more.

Rising, he began to pace the floor. Where was she?

He tried the door again even though he was certain it would be locked. To his surprise, it swung open. He stood there a moment, wondering if it was some kind of trick.

Heart pounding, he took a step forward, his whole body tensed for an attack that did not come.

As far as he could tell, he was in an abandoned warehouse. A faint gleam of moonlight offered the only illumination and he moved toward it. He had gone about a dozen steps when he saw a door.

He was hurrying toward it when Dominic St. John suddenly materialized in front of him.

With a startled cry,Bryan skidded to a stop.

For a long moment, he stared at Dominic, who stared at him in return.

"You,"Bryan gasped. "You're one of them."

Dominic lifted one brow. "Indeed." His nostrils flared. "And you are not.Yet."

"What do you mean, yet?"

"You are her creature now. It is only a matter of time until she brings you across."

"What are you talking about?"

"She has taken your blood, has she not?"

Bryannodded, his expression filled with revulsion.

"And she has given you hers in return."

Bryanshook his head. "No, I didn't... I wouldn't... it