A Whisper of Eternity

Tracyknew the moment he entered the room. One minute she was alone, staring out at the lights that lit up the city, and the next, she was aware of a subtle shift in the atmosphere and Dominic was standing behind her, his arms around her waist, his lips nuzzling her neck.

She leaned against his chest, overcome by a sense of completeness now that he was there.

It had been in her mind to ask him to take her home but now she wanted nothing more than to be in his arms. Just for a little while, she told herself. The night was young. They had plenty of time.

His tongue laved the sensitive skin behind her ear. "Did you miss me, my best beloved one?"

"Of course."She turned in his embrace and smiled up at him. "I even bought you a present."

"Indeed?"

She nodded."Two, actually." Standing on tiptoe, she kissed him,then slipped out of his arms.

Going into the closet, she withdrew a shopping bag and handed it to him.

Dominic looked at her, then delved into the bag and withdrew a midnight blue robe with black silk piping.

"Do you like it?" she asked.

He ran his hand over the velvet,then reached out to cup her cheek. "Thank you, querida ," he said, then frowned. "It must have cost a great deal."

"Almost as much as this room," she said, grinning, "butit was worth it."

His gaze caressed her face and then he drew her into his arms once more. "I love you, my wife, more than you will ever know."

"Oh, Dominic," she murmured. "I love you, too."

"You mentioned two presents," he reminded her.

A faint blush pinked her cheeks. "So I did. I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?"

"Just into the bathroom for a minute."

Going to the closet, she picked up a bag, then went into the bathroom and closed the door.

Dominic stared after her, then, after removing his shirt, he put on the robe. It was a luxurious garment, he thought, fit for a king.

He looked at the bathroom door, wondering what she was doing in there, felt his breath catch in his throat when the door opened and she stepped out clad in a diaphanous white nightgown that was so light, so sheer, it looked as though it had been fashioned of dreams and moonbeams. Her glorious honey-gold hair fell down her back and over her shoulders in soft waves.

She blushed under his frankly admiring gaze.

"You bought that for me?" he asked with a faint grin.

"Do you like it?"

"Very much.And it is just my size."

Soft laughter filled the room as she walked toward him. He could see the faint outline of her figure beneath the whisper-soft silk. The scent of her perfume trailed behind her but it was the scent of the woman that intoxicated him. Desire swelled within him. She was his. He could scarcely believe it. After countless years, she was in his arms, warm and willing. The wonder of it, the reality of it, was almost more than he could bear.

With a low cry, he swept her into his arms. Trembling with need, he carried her to bed and laid her on the mattress. Stretching out beside her, he drew her into his arms. With an air of reverence, like a supplicant at the altar, he worshipped her with his hands and his lips, whispering that he loved her, had always loved her.

And she caressed him in return, telling him with every touch, every kiss, that she was his, would always be his.

Her nearness, the intensity of their lovemaking, intensified his power. It swelled within him, cocooning them in a world of preternatural sensations.

Tracymoaned softly as her senses grew and expanded. His feelings, his pleasure, were tangled up with her own until she couldn't tell one from the other. She felt his hunger, as well, and when his fangs grazed her neck, she turned her head to the side, a wordless sound of acquiescence rising in her throat.

Her eyelids fluttered down as his body merged with hers and then she was lost - wonderfully, deliciously lost in Dominic's embrace.

Dominic heldTracy close, her back tucked against his chest, his arms tight around her, their legs entwined. He had waited centuries for this woman, he thought, and would willingly endure them all again for this moment.

She was his woman now, his wife, at last.

Her scent filled his nostrils. The sweetness of her essence lingered on his tongue.

Only one thing remained, he thought, and wondered if, in this life, she would accept the gift he had offered her countless times before.

He loosened his hold when she stirred in his arms. "Is something wrong?"

"No, but..." She rolled over and smiled at him. "I didn't have dinner and I'm hungry. And I'm worried aboutBryan ."

"I do not understand why you worry so over that boy."

"I can't help it. He was my son in a past life, I'm sure of it."

"Ah, Jacob."

"Yes. Would you mind terribly if we went home?"

"Whatever you wish, querida ."

"I hate to leave, but..."

He placed one finger over her lips. "It is all right, my best beloved one." He kissed her tenderly. "We can go home whenever you like."

Tracyordered room service and while they waited for it to arrive, they made love again,then showered together.

She laughed as she washed Dominic's back. "It never occurred to me that vampires bathed."

He glanced over his shoulder, one brow arched in wry amusement. "Indeed?"

She shrugged. "I guess I just never thought of vampires doing normal things, you know?"

"Just skulking around in the shadows, preying on innocent women?"

"Well, somethinglike that. Of course, I never really believed in vampires, either, until I met you. Now I'm wondering if there are really ghosts and werewolves." She frowned at him, irritated by the amusement in his eyes. "Are there?"

"Not that I know of."

"Well, that's a relief."

They were drying each other off when there was a knock at the door.

"I will get it," Dominic said. Wrapping a towel around his middle, he went to answer the door.

He dressed while she ate, prowled the room restlessly while she dressed and got her things together.

She took a last look around the room to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything.

"Ready?" he asked.

She nodded. "Thank you for a wonderful honeymoon."

"Thank you," he said quietly, "for marrying me."

They were the sweetest words she had ever heard.

Dominic held out his hand. "Ready?" he asked again, and she put her hand in his.

A moment later, they were back in Nightingale House.

Tracyput her bags down on the floor inside the door,then moved through the downstairs rooms, turning on the lights.

When she returned to the living room, Dominic was standing where she had left him.

"I need to findBryan ," she said.

He nodded.

"I guess we should start at his place, but I don't know where he lives."

" Kitanawill know where he is."

"How do we find her?"

Dominic stared into the distance a moment. "She is at The Catacombs. The boy is with her."

"Is he all right?"

Dominic stilled for a moment, then crossed the distance between them and took her in his arms. "She has brought him across."

"No!" She pounded her fists against his chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. "No, no!"

"I am sorry, querida . I did not think she would act so swiftly."

"You knew she'd do it? You knew, and didn't tell me?" She pounded her fists against his chest again. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you stop her?"

"I could do nothing to stop her."

Tracycollapsed against him, sobbing, "Poor Bryan."

Dominic held her while she cried, one hand lightly stroking her hair, until her tears subsided.

Moving out of his arms, she went into the kitchen, wet a dish towel, and wiped her face.Bryan, a vampire.

Dominic's voice sounded behind her. "Perhaps it was his idea."

"No. He loved being a lifeguard. He loved the sun, the outdoors." She turned to face him. "And he hated vampires. Why would he become one?"

" Kitanacan be very persuasive. Do you still wish to go?"

"I don't know. Maybe he wouldn't want me to see him... that way."

Dominic smiled faintly. "It is nothing shameful, querida , only a different way of being."

"Isn't there some way to undo it?"

"No."

Tracysighed. "Let's go." She had to seeBryan , had to talk to him, ask him if he was all right. "I hope he's all right."

The Catacombs was in full swing when they arrived.Tracy saw Marcus and his human companion sitting at a table in the back. Landau andMagdalena were standing at the bar. There were others she recognized but had no names for.

And then she sawBryan .

He was standing at the end of the bar beside the most beautiful womanTracy had ever seen.

As though feeling her gaze, the vampire turned to look at her andTracy knew immediately that this was Kitana , the vampire who had madeBryan .The vampire who had made Petrina .

The vampire who had made Dominic.

Bryanturned then, his gaze meeting hers across the room.

She was suddenly sorry she had come here. What could she say to him?

Bryansmiled at her and then, apparently seeing the horror in her eyes, the smile died away. He spoke to Kitana ,then started towardTracy .

She took a step backward, only to be brought up short when she ran into Dominic. He put his hands on her shoulders to steady her.

"He is stillBryan ," Dominic said quietly.

She forced a smile asBryan drew closer."Hi, Bry ."

"Hi,Tracy ."

An awkward silence fell between them.

Tracy's gaze moved overBryan . He looked the same, and yet he didn't. She tried to put her finger on what was different. The changes were subtle. His hair seemed fuller, darker. His skin was flawless. And even though he was a new vampire, his power danced over her skin.

She looked up into his eyes. "Did you want this,Bryan ? Was it your choice?" She glanced at Kitana . "Or hers?"

"It was hers, but now that it's done..." He shrugged. "It's not so bad."

"Did you... have you... ?"

He nodded.

" Bry, I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault. And it's not bad, really."

"Not bad? How can you say that? You hated vampires! You called them..." She paused, acutely aware that she was surrounded by vampires.

"I know,"Bryan said, smiling sheepishly. "ButTracy , you can't believe the power! It's amazing, the things I can do. I'll bet I could swim from here to Catalina and back again. And colors... you've never seen such colors. Kitana said she'll take me toEurope once..." He paused and glanced over his shoulder.

"Once what?"Tracyasked.

"Nothing."

"I think he means once things are settled between me and Petrina ," Dominic remarked. "Isn't that right?"

Bryanshifted from one foot to the other, but said nothing.

Tracylooked over at Kitana again, only to find the vampire regarding her through cold, calculating eyes. She was glad to feel Dominic's arm slide possessively around her waist as the other vampire glided across the room toward them.

"Dominic," Kitana said, inclining her head in his direction.

" Kitana.I see you have brought your new playmate with you."

She slid her arm throughBryan 's and smiled up at him. "Yes. He pleases me very well."

"For how long, I wonder."

"For as long as I desire," she retorted, then turned her attention toTracy . "I wonder how soon you will tire of this one, now that she no longer resists you. It was always the chase that thrilled you."

"She is my wife now," Dominic said.

"Your wife!" Kitanaexclaimed, her eyes narrowing. "You married a mortal? Why?"

"My business is no longer your business," Dominic replied, his voice cool."Except where Petrina is concerned. Where is she hiding?"

"Surely you don't think I will tell you."

"She cannot hide from me forever."

"Is this bit of ground worth fighting over?"

"It is to me, but she has more to answer for than that."

Kitananodded. "She was wrong to attack you in such a cowardly fashion."

"She paid for it. Zarabeth and Turk are no more."

" Petrinawill never forgive you for that."

Dominic snorted. "If not for Petrina , they would still be among us. She has no one to blame but herself."

"She does not see it that way."

He shrugged. "She does not worry me. But you do."

"You have nothing to fear from me."

"And when I destroy Petrina ?"

"I would rather you didn't."

"And when I do, will I have to fight you as well?"

Kitanashrugged. "Who can predict the future?"

"If you still have any power over her, tell her to leave this place. The next time we meet, I will destroy her."