A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

Page 166



Bryanstared at him, his expression one of resignation. "Wait. What did you do toTracy ? Is she… ?" "She is well."

"But I saw you…"

"She is not your concern."

Bryanglanced at the doorway, and at the vampire standing in front of him, as still as… death. Taking a deep breath,Bryan summoned what courage he could, squared his shoulders, and walked past Dominic and up the passageway to meet his destiny.

With a shake of his head, Dominic glanced around the room. He would either have to find a new place to spend the day, or wipe the memory of this place from the boy's mind. The latter would be the easiest, but probably not the safest. What the boy knew, Kitana now knew, and while she could not cross his threshold without being invited, that would not stop her from sending others to destroy him when he was at his weakest should she take the notion into her head. When he had toldBryan that, save forTracy , there was no one alive who knew where he rested, he had spoken the truth.

But he would worry about that later. For now, he needed to look in onTracy .

He willed himself outside, surprised to find that Kitana and Bryan were still there. The boy's eyes were slightly unfocused, evidence that he was under Kitana's spell.

Dominic lifted one brow. "Did you want to see me?"

"Yes." Her gaze moved over him, as tangible as a touch, and then she made a soft sound that could have been compassion. "I am sorry for what happened with Petrina and the others."

"You know what this means. On whose side will you stand?" A faint smile flirted with the corners of her mouth. "What do you think?"
He shook his head. "If I knew, I would not ask."

"Ah, Dominic, if I intended to destroy you, you would be dust by now. As always, I stand with you." She raked her fingernails lightly over his cheek. "There is none other like you,mi amor . Of all those I have brought across through the years, there has been no one like you." She glanced up at the house. "If you had not been so determined to pursue that pretty little mortal through the ages, we might have spent the last few centuries together, you and I."

He nodded. "I would have liked that," he replied, "if it were not for her."

"Keep a close watch on her. Petrina is determined to destroy you. She knows of your affection for your little pet. The mortal woman is the chink in your armor now. Take your own advice, and be careful after dark."

She kissed him then, a quick brush of her cool lips across his own and then, with a wave of her hand, she vanished from his sight, taking the boy with her.