A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

Page 193



"We don't have to fight," she said. "You could leave."

"I will not."

"Nor willI ."

Dominic glanced atTracy . "Go home, querida , and lock the doors."
She shook her head. "I'm not leaving you."

Dominic nodded. She would be as safe here as anywhere else so long as he survived. Blocking everything from his mind, he gathered his power around him.
There was no warning, no signal.

Energy flamed through the air as Petrina launched herself at him, her hands like claws, her fangs bared.

The other vampires formed a loose circle around them, their eyes glittering, their nostrils flaring as Petrina drew first blood.

A slow smile spread over Dominic's face as the hand he lifted to his cheek came away bloody. It was a foolish thing to do, letting her draw first blood, but some latent sense of honor rebelled at the thought of fighting a woman, even a woman who was determined to see him dead.

With a cry, she sprang at him again but he was ready for her now. She was an old vampire. She carried the blood of ancients in her veins, but she was no match for him. He was older, stronger, and carried the same blood in his veins.

She shrieked in outrage as he pinned her against the wall, his fangs at her throat. "You are beaten. Admit it and leave this place."

She shook her head, and smiled at him.
Tracyscreamed, "Dominic, look out!"

He turned, but it was already too late. The vampires closed in on him, their nails and fangs savaging his flesh.

With a roar, he struck out at his attackers. Save for Petrina , they were all young vampires, overconfident of their powers, and yet they were strong and determined. He wondered what Petrina had promised them in return for their treachery. One on one, he could have destroyed them without effort. But the five of them circled him like angry gnats, darting in and out, giving almost as much damage as they received. He was vaguely aware that Petrina had slipped away.

And then he heardTracy cry out.

Over the heads of the vampires trying to wrestle him to the ground, he saw Franco and Laslo grabTracy . They forced her back into the booth until she was lost from his sight beneath the two of them.