A Whisper of Eternity - By Amanda Ashley Page 0,73

wrong, my best beloved one. I only wanted to see you one last time."

"Don't talk like that!"

"Is that not what you wish, to be free of me?"

"Yes. No. I don't know." Was it really what she wanted, never to see him again? What would her life have been like if she had let him bring her across centuries ago? How did one know if one would be happy living as a vampire? If she accepted the Dark Gift, would she come to regret it?

He smiled wistfully as he reached for her hand. "You have given me much joy throughout the centuries," he said quietly. "Promise me that you will be happy in this life."

"How can I promise such a thing?"

"Leave this place. Marry your young man. Have children. Grow old together."

Tracystared at him. "You want me to marryBryan ?"

"He loves you."

"I thought you loved me."

"With all my heart.Never doubt it for a minute."

She shook her head. "I know what you're planning." She blinked back the tears that burned her eyes. "You're going to destroy Petrina and Kitana , and then yourself, aren't you? Aren't you?Because of me."

"Tracy..."

"Aren't you? Don't lie to me, Dominic. Tell me the truth."

"I have waited for you for centuries," he said heavily."Waited to make you mine. I grow weary of waiting."

"No!" She threw herself into his arms. "I can't imagine my life without you in it. Please, Dominic, don't leave me."

"Tracy!" He gathered her into his arms and held her tight, cursing as the lethargy of his kind began to steal over him. "I must rest, my best beloved one. I will come to you tonight."

She nodded, then, cupping his face in her hands, she kissed him. "I love you, Dominic."

He kissed her,then set her on her feet. Rising, he drew her into his arms again. "Until tonight," he murmured. "Go now."

She smiled at him,then hurried toward the passageway. Pausing at the door, she turned in time to see him disappear into his bedroom. With a shiver of revulsion at the thought of him climbing into the casket, she ran up the passageway and out into the light of a new day.

Outside, she wandered around the yard for a while. Relishing the feel of the sun on her face, she grabbed a blanket from the house and went down to the beach. Hardly aware of what she was doing, she found herself at Tower Ten. Shading her eyes with her hand, she looked up to see ifBryan was there. She didn't see anyone at first, and then she saw him come out of the glassed-in booth. The first thing she noticed was that he was wearing a pair of dark - very dark - sunglasses.

"Hey, Bry !"

Moving to the edge of the tower, he looked down at her and waved. "Be right down."

With a nod, she spread her blanket on the sand and sat down. He joined her a few minutes later. Handing her a soda, he dropped down on the blanket across from her.

Tracyheld the can up. "Thanks. How are you feeling?"

"I don't know. Strange." He dropped a small sack on the blanket beside him and rolled his shoulders, flexed his hands. "I feel like I'm in somebody else's skin. And..." He leaned toward her and lowered his voice, "I have this awful craving for blood."

Tracy's eyes widened in horror."You're not serious?"

"' Fraidso.I think I'm becoming a... you know."

"No! Dominic told methat's not possible. He said it happened all at once, not a little at a time."

"Then why do I feel like this?"

"He said it's because she gave you so much of her blood. He said you're feeling what she feels."

Bryangroaned low in his throat, his expression tortured. "I can't believe this is happening."

Tracylaid her hand on his forearm. 'Just do whatever he told you. I'm sure everything will be all right."

"Do you really think so?"

"Sure," she said with forced cheerfulness. "What's in the sack?"

"Oh, I almost forgot. I made you something."

"Really?What?"

An odd expression crossed his face as he picked up the drawstring bag and handed it to her.

More than a little curious,Tracy opened the bag and reached inside. "What on earth?" she muttered as she withdrew her hand. "What is this?"

A flush rose inBryan 's cheeks. "It's a wooden stake - what do you think it is?"

It was perhaps three inches thick and about a foot long, with a wicked-looking point on one end.

She looked up at him, a question in her eyes.

Bryangrinned sheepishly. "I went to the library and did some reading this