A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

Page 163



She made a sleepy sound as she opened her eyes.

He smiled at her. "Sit up, querida . You must eat." "I'm not hungry." She frowned. "Why is it so dark in here?"

With a negligent wave of his hand, the lights came on. "You must eat," he repeated, and his voice brooked no argument this time.

Helping her sit up, he cut the steak into bite size pieces and offered her one. She grimaced. "Did you even cook that? It's practically raw inside."
"It will do you good."

"But I don't like it that rare."

His gaze met and held hers. "Tracy. You will eat it.All of it. And enjoy it. Here now, take a bite."

She opened her mouth and took a bite. She drank the orange juice. She drank the water. She ate all the steak.

"Sleep now, my best beloved one." "Stay with me?"

He brushed a lock of hair from her brow."So long as I draw breath." With a sigh, she clasped his hand in hers and closed her eyes.
And slept.

Dominic stretched out beside her, his hand still in hers. Now that he had fed well, the only thing he needed to regain his strength was rest and he could think of nothing better than sleeping beside his best beloved one until it was time for him to return to his own lodgings.

For a few moments, he knew nothing but utter peace. His wounds were almost healed.Tracy was beside him.

And then he felt it, a sharp jolt of awareness that told him someone had invaded his lair.

A thought took him to the door that led to the house below. He sniffed the air, swore a vile oath as the boy's scent filled his nostrils.

He swore again, cursing his own negligence in not securing the door to his lair behind him, and then he grinned as he imagined Longstreet's horror when he discovered that he was no longer alone.

Bryanmoved stealthily down the passageway, a flashlight illuminating the way ahead of him. Every