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Elena couldn’t have been out forwas the sah she wondered how she hadn’t lethal y cut her own throat on the knife

She knew that the tray with the dishes and cup had gone flying into the darkness in that first instant when she couldn’t help flinging out her arnized the scent, and she understood the reason for the knife And she was glad that she did, because she was about as proud of fainting as Sage would have been of doing it She wasn’t a fainter!

Now she wil ed herself to sag in Damon’s arms, except for where the knife was To show him that she was no threat

"Hel o, princess,"a voice like black velvet said into her ear

Elena felt an inner shiver - but not of fear No, it was e his grasp on her

"Damon"she said huskily, "I’m here to help you Please let rip ithdrawn fro into her flesh, although the sharp, stinging feeling at her throat was quite enough to res

There was a click, and suddenly the rooht

Slowly, Elena turned to look at Daard froeous that her heart see every which way over his forehead; his perfect, carven features; his arrogant, sensualline

"Where is it, Elena?"he asked briefly Not what Where He knew she wasn’t stupid, and, of course, he knew the hu the star bal from him deliberately

"Is that al you have to say toin his eyes, and he took one step toward her as if he couldn’t help hirim "Tel me, and then maybe I’l have o,"Elena said quietly "Everyone draws lots for it Then the person who gets the paper with the X takes it frooes to their rooms and stays there until the person with the star bal hides it I didn’t get the lot today, so I don’t knohere it is But you can try to - testas she said the last words, feeling soft and helpless and easily hurt

Damon reached over and slowly slipped a hand beneath her hair He could slaainst a wal , or throw her across the room He could simply squeeze her neck between knife and hand until her head fel off Elena knew that he was in theSaid nothing Just stood and looked into her eyes

Slowly, Daainst hers Elena’s eyes drifted shut But the next moment Damon winced and slid the hand back out of her hair

That hen Elena gave another thought as to whatto hi coffee seemed to have splashed her hand and arh The cup and saucer were laying in pieces on the floor The tray and the cookies had bounced off behind a chair The plate of steak tartar, however, had ht side up There was miscel aneous cutlery everywhere

Elena felt her head and shoulders droop in fear and pain

That was her i her She wasn’t usual y a crier, but she couldn’t help the tears that fil ed her eyes

Daht

It was her Elena He’d been so certain an adversary was spying on him, that one of hisa trapsomeone who had discovered that he was as weak as a child now

It hadn’t even occurred to hi her soft body with one ar the perfume of her hair as he held an ice-slick blade to her throat with the other

And then he’d snapped on a light and sahat he had already guessed Unbelievable! He hadn’t recognized her

He had been outside in the garden when he’d seen the door to the storage roo open and had known that there was an intruder But with his senses degraded as they were he hadn’t been able to tel as inside

No excuses could cover up the facts He had hurt and terrified Elena He had hurt her And instead of apologizing he had tried to force the truth out of her for his own selfish desires

And now, her throat

His eyes were drawn to the thin line of red droplets on Elena’s throat where the knife had cut her when she’d jerked in fear before col apsing right onto it Had she fainted? She could have died right then, in his ar the knife away

He kept tel ing himself that he wasn’t afraid of her That he was just holding the knife absentmindedly He wasn’t convinced

"I was outside You knoe hu he sounded indifferent, unrepentant "It’s like being wrapped in cotton al the time, Elena: We can’t see, can’t smel , can’t hear My reflexes are like a tortoise’s, and I’"

"Then why don’t you tryunexpectedly cal not to eye the dainty ruby necklace flowing down Elena’s slim white throat

"I already cut ods, the girl was priceless As if she’d had a little kitchen accident

"So we ht as wel see what human blood tastes like to you now,"Elena said

"No"

"You know that you’re going to I know you know But we don’t have much time My blood won’t flow forever Oh, Da at her too long, he knew Not just at the blood At the glorious golden beauty of her, as if the child of a sunbeam and ahi his eyes, Damon took hold of Elena’s arms He expected an autorabbed her from behind But there was nolike the leap of an eager flame in those wide malachite eyes Elena’s lips parted involuntarily

He kneas involuntarily He’d hadwoaze went first to his lips before lifting to his eyes

I can’t kiss her again I can’t It’s a human weakness, the way she affectsand so i to learn soht accidental y teach her now

As if she could hear him, Elena shut her eyes She let her head fal back and suddenly Daht She was surrendering al thought of herself, showing hi she stil trusted him, stil stil loved hi to do as he bent toward her He was starving It tore at hier It made him feel dazed and dizzy and out of control Half a thousand years had left hi that would relieve the starvation was the criht have come from the Infernal Court itself whispered that he could do what so a throat like a olf Warht ease the starvation of a human

What would he do, so close to Elena’s lips, so close to her bleeding throat?

Two tears slipped from under the dark lashes and slid a little way down her face before dropping into golden hair Da one before he could think

Stil a maiden Wel , that was to be expected; Stefan was too weak to stand yet But on top of the cynical thought cae, and just a feords: a spirit as pure as driven snow

He suddenly knew a different hunger, a different thirst The only place to ease this need was close by Desperately, urgently, he sought and found Elena’s lips And then he found hi al control What he needed ht tremble, but she didn’t push hiolden as the hair he was touching gently at the ends He was pleased himself when she shivered in pleasure, and he realized that he could sense her thoughts She was a strong projector, and his telepathy was the only Power left to hiht noanted to tune into Elena

The wench! She wasn’t thinking at al ! Elena had been offering her throat, truly surrendering herself, abandoning al thought but that she wanted to aid him, that his wishes were hers And now she was too deeply enmeshed in the kiss to even make plans - which was extraordinary for her

She’s in love with you, the tiny part of him that could stil think said

She’s never said so! She’s in love with Stefan! so visceral answered

She doesn’t have to say it She’s showing it Don’t pretend you haven’t seen it before!

But Stefan - !

Is she thinking about Stefan in the slightest right now? She opened her arer in you This is no one-day stand, no quick meal, not even a steady donor This is Elena herself

Then I’ve taken advantage of her If she’s in love, she can’t protect herself She’s stil a child I have to do sootten to the point that even the tiny voice of reason was fading Elena had lost her ability to stand He was either going to have to put her down soive her a chance to back out

Elena! Elena! Damn it, I know you can hear me Answer!

Damon? - faintly Oh, Damon, now do you understand - ?

Too well, my princess I Influenced you, so I should know

You? No, you’re lying!

Why should I lie? For so as ever I still hat I want But you ht want to think a minute, maiden I don’t need to drink your blood I’ht now I’er you brought o

"I think you’re lying,"she said,his eyes directly, her ht of her inside the boulder ful of secrets he dragged around with hiave her his best opaque ebony stare "Why should I lie?"he repeated "I just thought you deserved a chance to make your own choice Or have you already decided to abandon little brother while he’s out of commission?"

Elena’s hand flashed up, but then she dropped it "You used Influence on me,"she said bitterly "I’m not myself I would never abandon Stefan - especial y when he needs me"

There it was, the essential fire at her core, and the fiery golden truth Now he could sit and let bitterness gnaw at him, while this pure spirit fol owed her conscience