A Whisper of Eternity - By Amanda Ashley Page 0,87

her. Petrina is determined to destroy you. She knows of your affection for your little pet. The mortal woman is the chink in your armor now. Take your own advice, and be careful after dark."

She kissed him then, a quick brush of her cool lips across his own and then, with a wave of her hand, she vanished from his sight, taking the boy with her.

He stared at the spot where she had stood, wondering if he dared trust her. Still, she had spoken the truth. If she had wanted him dead, he would indeed be dust by now. He didn't doubt for a minute that she had the power to destroy him.

Dominic wandered through the backyard for a few moments, enjoying the weight of the night around him, breathing in the myriad scents that drifted through the air. There were many vampires who mourned the loss of the sun and grieved for the daylight they had forever lost. He had never been one of them. He had taken to the Dark Gift like a hound to the hunt and never once looked back. He reveled in his preternatural powers and if, in the beginning, he had been foolish and arrogant, he had soon outgrown it. He made no apologies for what he was. As a vampire, he had killed mortals to preserve his own life when necessary. He had done the same when he was human and he made no distinction between one lifestyle and the other. He wondered briefly if Kitana would bring the boy across, or merely amuse herself with him for a time and then let him go. Ordinarily, Dominic would have had no interest inBryan 's fate. Whether the boy lived or not was of little importance to him save for the fact thatTracy was fond of him.

Dominic drew in a lung full of air. It would be winter soon. He loved the cold months, when the nights were longer and the sun less bright.

The sound of Tracy's sigh was borne to him on the breeze. Hearing it, he put all other thoughts from his mind. She was waking, and he wanted to be at her side.

Tracyopened her eyes slowly, stretched and yawned. A glance at the clock showed that it was still early. She didn't remember falling asleep on the sofa, didn't seem to remember anything... and then it all came rushing back.

"Dominic? Dominic, are you here?"

He materialized out of the shadows to kneel in front of her. "Forgive me?"

"For what?"

He stroked the side of her neck with his finger-tips. "I might have killed you."

"But you didn't." She smiled at him. "You look much better. DidBryan call? I'm worried about him."

"He was here."

"He was? Why didn't you wake me?"

"He found his way into my resting place."

Her eyes widened."Oh, no. You didn't..."

"No."

"Where is he now? Dominic? Tell me."

"He is with Kitana ."

"You let her take him? How could you?"

"He is hers, by right of blood."

Throwing off the blanket, she surged to her feet and began to pace the floor "How could you let her have him? You know what she'll do to him!"

Dominic watched her for a moment. How like a warrior woman of old she was! Her eyes sparkled with anger. "Calm yourself, querida . She will not hurt him."

She rounded on him like a mother bear defending her cub. "You don't know that!"

Dominic rose to tower over her. "She is not cruel. She will play with him a while and when she loses interest, she will find another."

"What if she makes him a vampire? Can you guarantee me that she won't turn him?"

He shook his head. "No. Should she decide to bring him across, there is nothing I can do to prevent it, querida . I am sorry."

"I couldn't bear it if anything happened to him."

"I know." He blew out a sigh that came from the depths of his soul. "I am sorry, my best beloved one. It is my fault this has happened."

"No..."

"Had I stayed out of your life, his would not now be in danger."

"It's not your fault. You're not responsible for Kitana , or Petrina ."

He held out his arms and she went to him, resting her cheek against his chest.

His lips moved over the back of her neck. His tongue laved the sensitive place behind her ear. "Sweet," he murmured."So very, very sweet."

She lifted her face for his kiss.

His arms tightened around her, his dark eyes burning into her own. "Tracy, do you know what you do to me?