A Whisper of Eternity - By Amanda Ashley Page 0,71

closed his eyes and drank in her nearness, the warmth of her, the sweet smell of her hair and skin, the sheer pleasure of holding her in his arms.

"It is not your fault," he said, stroking her hair. "Do not worry about the boy. I will not let her bring him across."

"Thank you for helping us. I wasn't sure you would."

"I will always answer your call," he replied quietly."If I am able."

She drew back a little so she could see his face. "What do you mean, if you're able?"

"The boy proposed to you tonight."

"How do you know that?"

"He told me." Dominic took a deep breath. "Do you care for him?"

"Yes."

"Do you love him?"

"I turned him down."

"That is not what I asked. Do you love him?"

"No."

"Perhaps you should."

Tracystared at him. "Do you want me to marry him?"

"I want to know you have someone to look after you when..."

"When what?"

"Nothing."Rising, he went to stand at the window again. It would be dawn soon.

"Dominic, what are talking about?"

"I am going away, and I do not want you to be alone."

"Where are you going?"

"It does not matter."

"It matters to me."

"Does it?" He turned away from the window to face her. "You told me you wanted me out of your life. I am only doing what you asked."

"What did you mean when you said there would be no next time? Dominic? Answer me."

"Only that I would not pursue you any longer, in this life or any other."

"That's all you meant?"

"What did you think I meant?"

"I thought maybe you were thinking of doing something like... you know."

"I am not thinking of destroying myself." It was not a lie, he thought, not exactly. He was no longer thinking of it. The decision had been made. Of course, Kitana might end his existence for him.

Moving toward the bed, he sat besideTracy once more. "Sleep now, my best beloved one." He smoothed the hair from her brow, ran his knuckles over her cheek,leaned forward to kiss her gently. "I will stay by your side until dawn. There is nothing for you to fear."

Soothed by the sound of his voice, she slid under the covers and closed her eyes. "I wish things were different," she murmured drowsily. "I do love you, you know."

"And I love you more than my life, my best beloved one," he replied, but she was already asleep.
Chapter 22
Tracywoke early after a restless night. Staring out the window, she tried to convince herself it had all been a bad dream. The sun was shining brightly. Birds were singing outside her bedroom window. On such a morning, it was almost impossible to believe there were vampires sleeping the day away, waiting only for the night to emerge from their lairs to prey upon the innocent.

Dominic. Was he resting in the house below? She went over their conversation of the night before. What had he been holding back? Try as she might, she couldn't shake off the feeling that he meant to destroy himself because of her, because she wasn't brave enough to accept him for what he was, because she wasn't strong enough to share her life with him.

Sitting up, she dialedBryan 's number. It was a little early to be making phone calls, but she needed to hear his voice, needed to know he was all right.

He answered on the third ring. "Hello."

"Hi, Bry .It'sTracy . Did I wake you?"

"No. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Are you?"

"I don't know." He was silent for a long moment. "I feel sort of... strange."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know how to explain it. I don't have any appetite, and the sun hurts my eyes."

Tracyfelt suddenly sick to her stomach. Was he turning? She refused to consider such a thing. Dominic had saidBryan would be all right. Had he only said that to calm her the night before?

"Trace?"

"I'm here."

"He's one of them,"Bryan said."A vampire."

"Who?"

"Dominic."

"Oh. Yes, I know."

"You know? You know, and you went out with him? Are you crazy?"

"Bryan..."

"Vampires in Sea Cliff."He laughed, though there was no humor in it. "Who would believe it?"

"What did Dominic tell you?"

"He told me he was going to try and destroy that creature and that I shouldn't go out after dark until she was dead.Dead. Hah. She's already dead."

Tracy's fingers tightened on the telephone. Dominic was going to destroy Petrina . Could he? He was older and stronger. Surely it would be easy for him to destroy a younger vampire. But what if the impossible happened? What if she destroyed him instead? Feeling suddenly restless,