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"You are going to do what?" Dooing to live as a varunted softly "Shall I find you a coffin?"

"No!" She grimaced "Do you really sleep in one?"

"It is only a box, after all"

She stared at him "I don&039;t think I could sleep in one"

"It is not required"

"Well, that&039;s a relief But you have one I saw it"

"It is quite comfortable, I assure you If you wish, you can try it out"

"No, thank you!"

He laughed softly, amused by her decision to "live as a vaaze moved over her She wore a black tank top, black jeans, and black boots"A new fashion stateht black was the color of choice for vampires"

"Wedo seem to wear it quite a lot, do we not?"

"I&039;ve hardly seen you in anything elseExcept that night inMaineOh, and that night alked on the beach"

"I guess I should expandher by the hand "Let us go shopping"

She thought he was kidding, but the next thing she knew, they were in the city and he was pulling into the ht-hearted,Tracy let him lead her into the first mens -wear store they came to

To her surprise, she discovered that Doaudy Hawaiian shirts for her approval, grinned when she shook her head

He held up golf shirts, baggy ca fro him by the hand, she led him into an exclusive men&039;s shop

She picked out several shirts for hio, a deep wine red, a rich chocolate brown, charcoal gray, black And one white shirt with long sleeves that reminded her of the kind of shirt pirates once wore

He looked at her, one brow arched "I thought you were going to brightenThese colors suit you"

With a nod of agreement, Dominic paid for the shirts and they left the store

Hand in hand, they walked through the mall

Tracy&039;s mouth watered as they passed by the food courtMrs Field&039;s CookiesHaagen-Dazs Ice Cream McDonald&039;s French fries Starbucks CoffeeA popcorn standCorn dogsA candy storeFrozen le his lips

Tracypunched him in the arm "Don&039;t say a word!"

"You can always start your new life to What had she been thinking? She should have had one last pig-out party before giving up the good things of life

She shook her head "No I said I was going to start tonight, and I will"

Dominic nodded There were so s unheard of back in the days when he had been a s, coffee that came in myriad flavorsSo many new tastes in food and drink He had savored some of thee in solid food had been thoroughly eliht before It had been foolish of hier hus He was a va theto live as a vaet acquainted with the the bar,Tracy noticed that many of the vaain

Petrinasashayed up to Doh the door

"Dom," shepurred, her voice low and sultry "Did you come for that dance?"

Tracysht will be with me"

Petrinalooked up at Dominic, a pout on her pale lips "Do this mortal here? We could have so much more fun without her"

"You heard the lady, Pet," Do with leam in her eyes "What does that mean, exactly?"

"It means she is my woman," Dominic said, his voice suddenly harsh "Not my slave"

"She doesn&039;t share her blood with you?"

"No" It wasn&039;t quite the truth He had tasted her blood, but he saw no need to share that knowledge

A taut silence fell over the room as all conversation ceased A mo her here then?" Petrina demanded "The Catacombs is only for our kind, or those who serve us She is an outsider She does not belong"

A low h the other vaaze moved over the faces of the vampires in the room "This is my territory," he said, his voice filled with quiet power "Tracyis iven her my protection, and offered her the Dark Gift Whether she accepts it or not, she will remain under my protection Anyone who harms or defiles her will answer to me"

"This may be your territory," Petrina re us, but according to the ancient laws of our kind, if she is not vaaaze er

"Do you wish to challengeoff the walls"Any of you?If so, step forward and I will oblige"

The vaathered around her like an ominous cloud

"So be it," Doe," Petrina said "You have only to drink from her We will know then that she is truly your wo of your protection, and ours"

Tracystared up at Do

The other va

Dominic turned towardTracy"It must be of your own free will"

It was hard to think with all those pairs of hungry eyes staring at her If she refused, would Petrina challenge Dominic to a battle? She was sure Dominic would win, and while she wasn&039;t fond of Petrina , she didn&039;t want to be responsible for any hurt done to either Petrina or Dominic More importantly, she wanted to be accepted by the vampires for Dominic&039;s sake Would it shaht hiht to the death?

"Tracy?"

"Do whatever you have to do" Turning her head to one side, she closed her eyes, and waited

Doaze rested on the face of each of the vampires that now stood in a circle around them "The blood is the life I take this woe my life to protect her fro forward, he sweptTracy &039;s hair away froht in her throat as she felt his fangs at her throat There was no pain, just a quick heat followed by a wave of languorous pleasure

As from far away, she heard a sudden intake of breath fro vampires as the scent of her blood filled the air

She opened her eyes when Doue laved the wounds

"And now, to complete the ritual, she must drink from you"

Tracystared at Petrina , unable to believe her earsDrink fro