A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

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"I will see her," Dominic said, and there was no room for doubt in his tone. "Yeah.Well." The boy cleared his throat again,then rushed down the stairs.

Dominic watched him toss the box of candy into the back seat, then climb into an old Chevy convertible and drive away far faster than was safe. But he had no thought for the boy's welfare. His every thought was forTracy .

Where was she?
Chapter 11

Tracyrose after a restless night. If she dreamed, she didn't remember doing so. Dressing quickly, she checked out of the motel, then stopped at a nearby cafe for breakfast.

She felt more relaxed this morning. Fears were always less scary in the light of day; there was comfort in the presence of other people. And, if Dominic was really a vampire, he wouldn't come out during the day. She blew out a sigh. There was noif . She'd seen too much to deny the truth any longer.

She ate a leisurely breakfast—hot cakes smothered in butter and syrup, bacon and scrambled eggs. She didn't often indulge in such things but this morning, it seemed right.

After leaving the cafe, she stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few snacks and sodas for the road, filled up the gas tank,then turned onto the freeway, heading north. She turned the radio on to her favorite country station and settled back for a day of driving. Perhaps she'd go toCanada , she thought. Maybe she would meet one of those sexy Mounties and settle down and raise a family in the great northwest.

Dominicrose the instant the sun slid behind the horizon. Dressing quickly, he materialized in the house above.

Standing in the center of the living room floor, he let his senses sweep through the house. She wasn't home. He sniffed the air. She had not come home last night.

Where was she? He cursed softly. Had he not respected her wishes all these centuries, had he taken her blood as he so longed to do, there would now be a bond between them, a connection that would lead him to her with no more than a thought.

Going upstairs, he went into her bedroom. Her closet door was open. Most of her clothing was gone.

Jaw clenched, he went to her studio. If he needed further proof that she was gone, he found it here. Though several canvases remained, including the painting she had done of him, her painting supplies were missing.

She had run away. Run away from him. Anger burned through him as he flew down the stairs and out of the house.