A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

Page 155



He drew back, his eyes glittering, a drop of blood—her blood—on his lips.

Lifting a hand to her neck, she stared at him. There was color in his cheeksagain, his eyes were no longer sunken.

She had done that for him. It was her last conscious thought before she pitched headlong into oblivion.

"Tracy!Tracy , wake up! Good Lord, what has he done to you?"

The sound of Bryan's voice pulled her out of the darkness. She swam upward, upward, following the sound of his voice. She squinted, shading her eyes against the morning light.

Bryanblew out a sigh. "I thought you were a goner."

She stared at him a moment; then, realizing she was wearing nothing but her bra and panties, she drew the covers up to her chin. "What time is it?"

"Almost noon."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. How areyou feeling?"

"Okay." She glanced beside her. "Where's Dominic?" Bryanshrugged. "How should I know?"

"He was here last night. He was badly hurt…" She looked up atBryan , and then at the window. The curtains were open. "You don't think… ?"

"Think what?"

"That he died? In the movies, when vampires are exposed to the sun, they burn up and… and just disappear."

"Good riddance."

"How can you say that? He saved your life!"

"Yeah, and I'm grateful, but dammit , he's a monster. I hope he is dead. Hell, he's already dead. They all are."

Tracyglared at him, angered by his words.But worse than her anger was her concern for Dominic. Where was he? Had he managed to get to his lair below before it was too late?

Bryanshook his head in exasperation. "Stop worrying. He couldn't have burned up or your bed would be a pile of ashes. And so would you."

She considered that a moment, hoping he was right. "I'm going to get up now," she said.