A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

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Two tiny drops of blood stood out in stark relief against her throat. "Tracy! Querida , can you hear me?"

She didn'trespond, only lay there unmoving, her breathing growing more shallow by the moment.

A low groan rose in his throat. He couldn't let her go, couldn't lose her now,couldn't endure the thought of waiting, searching, perhaps for centuries, to find her again.

"Tracy." He stroked her cheek,then shook her shoulder gently. "Tracy, querida ,wake up."

Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open. She stared at him blankly a moment, and then a faint smile touched her lips. "Dominic... "

" Querida, do not leave me again."
"I don't want to…"

"Then take what I have to offer."
Her eyes widened. "No."

"Forgive me, my best beloved one, I cannot lose you again."

She stared up at him, too weak to resist as he bent over her. She felt the slight prick of his fangs, followed by the familiar sense of euphoria. Petrina's bite had not been so pleasant. She closed hereyes, let herself drift away on a sensual sea of pleasure.

She was drowning, sinking into oblivion, when she heard Dominic's voice calling her name.
"Tracy.Tracy ! Come back to me."

It took every scrap of energy that remained to her to open her eyes. "You mustdrink, my best beloved one."

"Drink…" She was thirsty, so thirsty. She opened her mouth, felt it fill with warm, salty liquid. She drank until he took it from her and then she closed her eyes and tumbled into the comforting abyss of slumber.

Dominic knelt beside her, watching the color return to her face. Her breathing grew stronger, steadier.
What had he done?

Throughout centuries of time she had refused the Dark Gift. Would she hate him for what he had done? How would he survive her hatred? But survive he must. He had brought her across—he could not leave her now.

Nor could he leave her here.

Gathering her into his arms, he willed them across the country to his house on the coast ofMaine . He