A Whisper of Eternity

Standing in the doorway of his bedroom, Dominic bowed from the waist. "Good evening, Mr. Longstreet ."

Bryanswallowed past the lump of fear in his throat. He had been afraid before, he thought. There was that time when he'd been a kid and he got caught in a riptide. And the time he was in that car wreck. He'd been shit-scared when Petrina whisked him out of The Catacombs.And terrified when Kitana had bent him over her arm with all the strength of a pro linebacker and sank her fangs into his neck. But he had never, ever, been as afraid as he was now.

"One should notcome calling without an invitation," Dominic remarked quietly.

Bryantried to speak, but no words would come. And even if he'd been able to form the words, what could he say? He could feel the vampire moving through his mind, sifting his thoughts.

"Save for my best beloved one, no one who has unearthed my resting place has ever lived to tell of it."

Fear flowed throughBryan 's veins like ice water, horror so overpowering he was afraid he was going to disgrace himself by wetting his trousers. The vampire's eyes bored into his like burning bits of ice. Try as he might,Bryan could not drag his gaze away, could not stop looking into those hellishly red eyes. Sweat oozed from every pore, trickled down his neck, his back.

Please. The word formed in his mind, a desperate cry for mercy, but try as he might, he could not get the word past the lump in his throat. Couldn't do anything but stare into the vampire's depthless eyes and pray that death would come quickly.

"Did I not warn you to stay home after dark?" Dominic asked.

From somewhere deep inside,Bryan found the strength to nod.

Dominic took a step forward. "You would have been wise to heed my advice."

"I... I..."

Dominic took another step forward. "So young," he mused."So foolish." He smiled, revealing his fangs. "So very tasty."

"No!"Bryan tried to draw his gaze from the vampire's, tried to move, but his limbs refused to obey. He could only stand there, helpless, while the vampire circled him.

"Until tonight, you were only a nuisance," Dominic remarked. "Now, you are a threat."

"No. No, I'm not. Iwon't... won't tell... anyone. I swear."

Dominic laughed softly. "I have never known a mortal who could be trusted."

"Stop it!"

Bryan's eyes widened at the sound of Kitana's voice.

"Shame on you, Dominic.There is no need to frighten the boy. In another moment, he will wet himself."

"In another moment, he would have been a midnight snack."

Again, her voice moved through the room. "He is mine. Have you forgotten that?"

"I have forgotten nothing."

"Then release him and send him out to me."

It was then, with one vampire staring at him like he was nice, juicy steak and another waiting outside to slake her hellish thirst, thatBryan disgraced himself.

Dominic grimaced as the scent of urine filled the air. "Take him and welcome," he muttered, and with a wave of his hand, he released his hold on the boy. "Go," he said. "She is waiting for you."

Bryanshook his head. "No. If I'm..." He swallowed hard. "If someone's gonna kill me, then I'd rather it was you."

Dominic lifted one brow. "Indeed? And why is that?"

Bryan's cheeks turned a brighter shade of red. "I don't want to die at the hands of a woman."

Kitana'slaughter echoed off the walls. "Fear not, young man, I am not going to kill you."

"There are worse things than death!"Bryan shouted. "Go away and leave me alone, you ghoul!"

Dominic snorted softly. "Make up your mind, young man. Do you want to die, or not?" Dominic lowered his voice. "But before you decide, you might think on this. Kitana is a lover without equal."

"Lover?"Bryanexclaimed. "She's not looking for a lover. She's looking for a meal."

"You can be both," Dominic said. "Now, go."

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.

He stared at the spot where she had stood, wondering if he dared trust her. Still, she had spoken the truth. If she had wanted him dead, he would indeed be dust by now. He didn't doubt for a minute that she had the power to destroy him.

Dominic wandered through the backyard for a few moments, enjoying the weight of the night around him, breathing in the myriad scents that drifted through the air. There were many vampires who mourned the loss of the sun and grieved for the daylight they had forever lost. He had never been one of them. He had taken to the Dark Gift like a hound to the hunt and never once looked back. He reveled in his preternatural powers and if, in the beginning, he had been foolish and arrogant, he had soon outgrown it. He made no apologies for what he was. As a vampire, he had killed mortals to preserve his own life when necessary. He had done the same when he was human and he made no distinction between one lifestyle and the other. He wondered briefly if Kitana would bring the boy across, or merely amuse herself with him for a time and then let him go. Ordinarily, Dominic would have had no interest inBryan 's fate. Whether the boy lived or not was of little importance to him save for the fact thatTracy was fond of him.

Dominic drew in a lung full of air. It would be winter soon. He loved the cold months, when the nights were longer and the sun less bright.

The sound of Tracy's sigh was borne to him on the breeze. Hearing it, he put all other thoughts from his mind. She was waking, and he wanted to be at her side.

Tracyopened her eyes slowly, stretched and yawned. A glance at the clock showed that it was still early. She didn't remember falling asleep on the sofa, didn't seem to remember anything... and then it all came rushing back.

"Dominic? Dominic, are you here?"

He materialized out of the shadows to kneel in front of her. "Forgive me?"

"For what?"

He stroked the side of her neck with his finger-tips. "I might have killed you."

"But you didn't." She smiled at him. "You look much better. DidBryan call? I'm worried about him."

"He was here."

"He was? Why didn't you wake me?"

"He found his way into my resting place."

Her eyes widened."Oh, no. You didn't..."

"No."

"Where is he now? Dominic? Tell me."

"He is with Kitana ."

"You let her take him? How could you?"

"He is hers, by right of blood."

Throwing off the blanket, she surged to her feet and began to pace the floor "How could you let her have him? You know what she'll do to him!"

Dominic watched her for a moment. How like a warrior woman of old she was! Her eyes sparkled with anger. "Calm yourself, querida . She will not hurt him."

She rounded on him like a mother bear defending her cub. "You don't know that!"

Dominic rose to tower over her. "She is not cruel. She will play with him a while and when she loses interest, she will find another."

"What if she makes him a vampire? Can you guarantee me that she won't turn him?"

He shook his head. "No. Should she decide to bring him across, there is nothing I can do to prevent it, querida . I am sorry."

"I couldn't bear it if anything happened to him."

"I know." He blew out a sigh that came from the depths of his soul. "I am sorry, my best beloved one. It is my fault this has happened."

"No..."

"Had I stayed out of your life, his would not now be in danger."

"It's not your fault. You're not responsible for Kitana , or Petrina ."

He held out his arms and she went to him, resting her cheek against his chest.

His lips moved over the back of her neck. His tongue laved the sensitive place behind her ear. "Sweet," he murmured."So very, very sweet."

She lifted her face for his kiss.

His arms tightened around her, his dark eyes burning into her own. "Tracy, do you know what you do to me? Do you know how much I want you? How often I have dreamed of possessing you?"

She stared up at him, certain she would melt from the heat in his eyes.

"Marry me."

Her eyes widened. "You want us to get married?"

"Yes.Now.Tonight. Say yes."

"But... marriage."She thought of what it would mean to be married to him. She would never see him during the day. Never have a normal life. Never have children. And yet, how could she deny him again?

He had loved her, waited for her, for centuries.

Closing his eyes, he rested his forehead against hers. "I cannot go on without you. The future means nothing to me if you are not there to share it with me. I want to hold you in my arms when the sun goes down, and make love to you until it comes up again."

"We don't have to get married..."

Lifting his head, he opened his eyes and gazed down at her. "I am an honorable man." A wry grin touched his lips. "Or I was, when I was alive. I will not make you mine unless we are wed."

She smiled up at him, touched by his words.

"Say yes."

He looked down at her, a silent entreaty in his eyes. How could she deny him again?

"Yes, Dominic, I'll marry you."

He stared at her for several moments,then crushed her in his arms, his lips moving in her hair.

Tracyclosed her eyes, a sense of peace enveloping her.

After a moment, he drew away. "Do you want to change your clothes?"

"You really mean for us to get married tonight?But how? We need a marriage license." She paused. "Blood tests."

He waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal. "I will take care of all that."

Tracyglanced down at her jeans and T-shirt. "I always wanted to get married in a long white gown..."

Dominic took her hand. There was a rushing sound in her ears, a sense of disorientation, and when she opened her eyes again, she was in a bridal shop in the city.

"I wish you'd give me some warning before you do that," she said.

"Time is of the essence."

Tracylooked through the gowns, choosing three she liked. Carrying them into the dressing room, she tried them on. The first was sleeveless with a square neck and a straight skirt. It looked very modern and fit beautifully, but it didn't feel like a wedding dress. The second had short puffy sleeves, a high neck, and a poofy skirt. She looked at her reflection in the mirror... and shook her head.

The third dress was perfect. It had a round neck, long sleeves, a full skirt with a short train, and it fit as though it had been made for her. She picked out a shoulder-length veil to go with it.

When a saleslady came to check on her,Tracy said she would take the dress and the veil.

They made several other stops.

Dominic bought a tuxedo.

They both bought new shoes.

Tracybought new underwear.

Standing outside the last store, her arms full ofpackages, she looked up at Dominic and grinned. "Well, all we need now is someone to marry us."

With a nod, Dominic took her hand again; when she opened her eyes, they were standing in front of a wedding chapel inLas Vegas .

Hand in hand, they went inside.Tracy glanced around while Dominic spoke to the woman behind the desk. A few moments later, she was being escorted to a dressing room by a rather buxom woman with dyed blond hair.

"Need any help, honey?" the woman asked.

"No, thank you."

The womanlaughed, a deep, throaty laugh. "No doubt that man of yours will give you all the help you need."

"No doubt,"Tracy replied, and shut the door.

She changed out of her clothes and into her gown, unable to believe they were actually in Vegas, about to be married.

She studied herself in the mirror for a moment. Maybe it was the dress, maybe there was something magical about wedding gowns that made all brides beautiful, but that was how she felt.Beautiful.

She shoved her jeans, T-shirt, and old underwear into one of the other sacks, ran a hand over her hair, took a deep breath, and left the dressing room.

Dominic was waiting for her. He was a man born to wear a tuxedo. His white shirt and black coat were the perfect complement to his dark hair and gray eyes.James Bond, eat your heart out , she thought, biting back a grin.

The buxom blonde entered the room. "This way," she said.

Dominic slipped his arm aroundTracy 's waist and they followed the blonde into a large chapel. The pews were of dark oak - a white runner covered the middle aisle. There were bouquets of white silk roses on the altar; white candles burned in gold sconces on the walls.

The blonde smiled up at Dominic. "Good luck, honey," she purred, and sashayed out of the chapel.

A tall man with a shock of thick white hair passed the blonde on his way into the room, followed by two witnesses.

He glanced down at a paper in his hand. "Dominic St. John? Tracy Ann Warner?"

"Yes," Dominic said.

Nodding, the minister took his place at the altar. "Join hands, please."

Dominic tookTracy 's hand in his. His gaze never left her face as she said the words that made her his wife "until death do you part."

"And now, you may kiss the bride."

Dominic lifted her veil and then, gazing deep into her eyes, he whispered, "I will love and protect you so long as you draw breath."

And then he kissed her.