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Tracyshook her head "No, it can&039;t be" Yet even as she denied it, she knew in her heart that it was true It explained why she had always felt so protective ofBryan , why she felt so at ease with hi to her feet, she ran a hand through her hair "Listen, I&039;ve got to go"

"Tracy, wait" Rising, he grabbed her arm "I didn&039;t hed "I&039;htmare"

"Welcome to the club"

"I&039;o I need ti in the water "And you&039;re supposed to be working" She forced a set this" He dropped the stake into the sack and tossed it to her

She caught it one-handed "Thanks And don&039;t worry, everything will be all right"

At home, she took the stake out of the sack and hefted it in her hand, trying to iine what it would be like to use it With a shudder, she dropped it on her dresser There was no way she would ever be able to use such a thing, but itit there

Going into the bathroom, she took a quick shower, pulled on a pair of sweats and a tank top, then went downstairs and fixed herself an avocado, Swiss cheese, and to to think about Dominic or Bryan or vampires, she turned on the TV and lost herself in an old Robert Mitchum movie

Two hours later, she put a load of clothes in the washer, then went upstairs to paint, determined that, for the rest of the day, she would pretend that there was nothing unusual about her life There was no va withBryanThere were no va else from her mind, she focused on the work at hand and when she called it a day several hours later, she knew Mr Petersen would be pleased It was far and away the best seascape she had ever done

She glanced out the , felt a flutter in her sto down

Do reality with hi her mind blank, she cleaned her brushes, wiped her hands, took off her s and the va dinner when the phone rang She caught it on the second ring

"Hello?"

"Tracy? It&039;s BryCan I come over?"

She started to say sure,then hesitated Dominic would be there soon

"Tracy? I don&039;t want to be alone"

"Sure,Bryan Hurry"

"Thanks, Trace," he said, and hung up

Replacing the receiver, she went back into the kitchen, only then wondering ifBryan had had dinner Assu he hadn&039;t, she put another couple of pork chops in the pan

He was at her front door before the chops had finished cooking

"That was quick," she said, closing the door behind him

"Yeah"He followed her into the kitchen "I feel like such a coward, afraid to be hoood reason to be afraid Have you had dinner?"

He shook his head "Food&039;s the last thing on ot to eat Sit down - it&039;s almost ready"

Bryandropped into a chair and stared at his hands "She&039;s colanced at him over her shoulder "How do you know?"

"She told me so"

With hands that trembled,Tracy filled a plate forBryan and set it on the table "What do you want to drink?"

He looked up at her, his eyes haunted "You don&039;t want to know"

"Bryan, you&039;re scaring me"

"How do you thinkI feel?" He looked at her throat,then jerked his gaze away

After filling her own plate,Tracy sat down at the table across froet hold of yourself You&039;ve got to fight her Block her from your mind You can do it if you try"

"Yeah"

"Don&039;t think about it now" She gestured at his plate with her fork "Eat I&039;an to cut one of the chops

"So, is she as good a cook as she claims?"

Bryan&039;s face paled as Dominic appeared in the kitchen doorway

"You should know,"Tracy said "You ate soht, and its consequences, all too well Without waiting to be asked, he sat down at the table

If possible,Bryan &039;s coarded hiathering his courage in the way he sat up straighter and squared his shoulders

"Isuppose you&039;ve already eaten,"Bryan remarked

A faint smile twitched the corners of Dominic&039;s lips "Indeed"

"Stop it, both of you,"Tracy said "Bryan, eat your dinner Dominic, leave him alone"

Bryanlooked sheepish; Dominic lifted one brow

"Dominic, he needs help He he&039;s"

"What she&039;s trying to say is that I&039;ve been craving blood,"Bryan said curtly

"What else?"

"I can hear her thoughts She&039;s coe for you just before I got here"

Dolanced atTracy and quickly looked away "She said if you destroy Petrina , she will destroy whoever is closest to you"

"I guess that means me,"Tracy said, her voice little more than a squeak

Dominic nodded, his attention still focused onBryan"Did she say anything else?"

"Only that she will see you at The Catacoht, if you are not afraid to one "You&039;re not going?"

"I must"

"Why?"

"This is my territory"

"So?"

"It is h to keep it Those who have challenged me in the past have been defeated If I want to keep the respect of the va us, I cannot shoeakness now"

Bryanpushed his own plate away "Thathis fist down on the table, he stood and began to pace the floor " Da to his feet in a single lithe movement, Dominic laid his hand onBryan &039;s shoulder "Look at me"

Bryanstared into Dominic&039;s eyes, whatever objections he&039;d been about to voice dying on his lips

"You will go into the living room and lie down on the sofa," Dominic said, his voice low and hypnotic "You will close your eyes and go to sleep, and you will not awake until to Your h walls that will allow nothing inside"

"Sleep,"Bryan repeated

"Yes Go now"

Yawning,Bryan walked into the living room

Tracystared at Dominic "You&039;re just full of tricks, aren&039;t you?"

He shrugged "He needs the rest" Moving up beside her, Dominic lifted her to her feet "And I wanted to be alone with you for a little while"

All thought ofBryan fled herin Do his intent, he lowered his head and claimed her lips with his She leaned into hi down as his ue teased her lips His hands skimmed over her back, cupped her buttocks to draw her body closer to his until they stood heat to heat, ether

Somehow, they were in her roo with need, yearning for soive her

"Do softly, he dreay from her and sat up

She put her hand on his ar?"

He shook his head, but did not look at her