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her lifemate back from the edge of predatory madness.
Below him, he smelled the stench of death. He dropped low, and circled the riverbank twice before
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gliding to earth. He shape-shifted as he landed. At once his body protested again, this time the pain
nearly driving him to his knees. He had never been able to abide weakness in himself. Swearing
eloquently to himself in the ancient language, he walked to the bodies of two young gold-panners. They
lay broken and discarded in the usual messy vampire manner, their faces rigid with terror. These two had
seen the undead exposed in all his horror. They were young, not more than twenty-three or twenty-four.
Julian shook his head, irritated with himself for not having sensed the ancient's presence earlier.
Ordinarily, no vampire could approach within miles of him without his knowledge. His emotions were so
new and intense, colors so vivid, desires so compelling, he felt almost blinded. He certainly had been
occupied with his lifemate and his own needs instead of what was happening around him.
Desari? He touched her mind gently, needing to know she was not in any danger.
Everything here is taken care of, Julian. Shall I come to you? Her voice was a soothing breath of
fresh air in his head.
No! His warning was sharp.Do not , cara.Go to the others and the bus, and I will meet you there .
He was grateful for the beauty of her voice and longed to be away from the sight of evil and death, back
in her presence, where he would find comfort.
She withdrew without argument, sensing his weariness, knowing he was hiding the true extent of his
injuries from her. She fed, certain he would need blood, but took care to use only women. The last thing
she needed was for her lifemate to go berserk on her.
Julian, still a shadow in her mind, found himself smiling at her thoughts. He might be too weary to go
berserk at this precise moment, but he was grateful she was considerate of his feelings. He incinerated the
human bodies and blew their ashes over a large area, leaving their camp scorched and blackened, as if it
had taken a bolt of lightning in a ferocious storm. The authorities would never find the bodies, and would
perhaps presume the campers had drowned, the currents carrying them off. Julian felt for the families, but
he could leave no evidence of the vampire's handiwork or tainted blood to be analyzed by some human
coroner. Protecting his race was top priority. He had no other choice. He took one last look around to
assure himself he had done all he could to hide any evidence of the undead. Satisfied, he began to walk
toward their own campsite.
Chapter Ten
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Desari kicked the wheel of the bus. "The darn thing refuses to start. I knew it. I knew it would happen at
the worst possible time." She kicked the tire again in frustration.
Julian stood in the shadows of the trees, swaying slightly, his eyes glued to Desari's slender figure. She
was all grace, like flowing water, her ebony hair cascading around her like waves of silk. She was
beautiful even in her fit of temper.
She swung around, her enormous eyes instantly locating him beneath the trees. At once her expression
changed to one of deep concern. He was gray and drawn, blood coating his shirt. He looked so tired,
she was alarmed. She instantly leapt across the space separating them, one slim arm curving around his
waist in an attempt to support him. "Lean on me, Julian," she crooned softly. He had walked the distance,
not flown or used his astonishing speed in any way. It was evidence of his ebbing strength.
He circled her shoulders, putting a small amount of his weight on her. She looked so anxious, he wanted
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to kiss her in reassurance, but the poison inside him was growing and spreading, and he wouldn't take the
chance of infecting her. "You must call Darius to us, Desari," he ordered softly. He had given this much
thought on his return to her. He had wanted to call Gregori to him, the healer he knew and trusted, but
there was no time to lose. He would need to avail himself of Darius's strength and expertise.
She helped him up the step and into the bus. Julian went down the aisle on shaky legs and nearly fell
onto the couch. "You need blood, Julian, and then, once in the ground, you will recover quickly." She
sounded anxious in spite of her determination not to.
Julian shook his head. "Call Darius to us." His voice was a thread of sound, his lashes sweeping down as
if he were fighting to stay awake and cognizant.
Darius. Can you hear me? Desari was alarmed now. Julian was not the kind of man to ask for help.
You have need? Darius was far away, but he could sense her fear.
Come to us now. Please hurry, Darius. I am afraid.
Julian laced his fingers through hers. "You have called him to us?"
She tightened her grip on him, afraid he was slipping away from her. "Yes. Feed now, Julian, and go to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]