Carpathian 02 - Dark Desire

scent, even called you by name. He demanded to know where you are. Please be careful, Jacques. I'm afraid I left you completely helpless. I think he'll search for you.
    Did he touch you? Take your blood? The demand was imperious; she felt his black rage beating in her head.
    She touched her hand to the oozing wound on her neck. You would have known, she replied soothingly.
    Some of his helpless fury dissipated. Where are you?
    I am safe for now, but he'll hunt me this evening, I'm certain of it. I don't want to lead him back to you.
    You will return this night to me. Straight to me. He cannot be allowed to touch you, cannot exchange blood.
    I'll be fine. It is you who must be careful, Jacques. She tried to reassure him. I'm afraid for you, afraid I will lead him to you, or while I'm gone he will find you.
    You do not understand the danger you are in. You must get to me.
    Shea might not fully comprehend, but she could feel his conviction, his fear for her, and she shivered, remembering the strength in the stranger's grasp, his hiss of deadly promise. Don't worry, I'll come right away. Go to sleep now, Jacques. This is draining for you.
    Shea. There was a moment of silence, of longing. Come back to me. If you believe nothing else I have told you, believe I need you.
    I promise. Shea put her forehead down on the steering wheel. She was so tired, and her eyes were Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    swelling. The tinted windows in the cab helped to prevent blisters on her skin but wouldn't for much longer. Her body was slow and clumsy, only hope the vampire was already in his lair and unable to see where she went.
    She drove into the mountains. At first, to save time, she took the road, driving as fast as she dared on the winding dirt track. When the sunlight became unbearable, she made her own road, following a deer trail, always climbing, seeking deep forest. The heavy canopy of trees gave some relief from the unrelenting sunlight piercing her skull. When her body was simply too heavy, she pulled into a particularly heavily wooded area and dragged herself into the camper. She had just enough energy to lock the door and place the pistol beside her hand before her body became lead. She lay as if paralyzed, her heart beating fast, terrified by her own weakness.
    She needed Jacques, needed to touch that core of unbelievable power in him. She needed to touch his iron will. Shea pictured him in her mind, found it slowed her heartbeat. If she could just hold him, feel his arms around her. And then somehow, incredibly, she could feel his arms, all corded strength, closing protectively around her, hear his heartbeat, strong and steady, matching the rhythm of hers. Shea brushed his face with her fingertips, her eyes closed, her mind on every detail of his sensual features. They slept apart yet together, the uncomfortable sleep of mortals, always aware of the danger surrounding them, always aware of the leaden paralysis of their bodies. Shea, for the first time, experienced the power of holding a mind merge, of never being alone, the strength that came from two beings connected.
    The long day passed slowly, the sun moving across the sky, shining brightly, hotly, then retreating just as slowly toward the mountains, sinking gracefully and colorfully into the sea.
    The cave, only a few miles from Shea's cabin, was far beneath the earth. The narrow passage leading to the maze of underground chambers and steamy pools was twisted and nearly impassable in spots. In the smallest cave, beneath the rich soil, a single heart began to beat. Dirt spewed like a geyser, and Byron burst from deep within the ground. There was that brief moment of disorientation, and then his body shimmered, dissolved, became a mist streaming through the passageway and out into the darkening sky.
    Immediately the mist formed a large bird, and strong wings lifted the streamlined creature into the sky. It circled the vast forest area, high above the canopy of foliage, then took off as if shot from a bow.
    Jacques, alone in the cabin, felt the disturbance even within the confines of the four walls. He felt the power vibrating in the air and knew something dangerous was searching for him. He kept his mind perfectly patterned as a human, aware if the other probed, he would believe the being in the cabin was human. He felt the dark, winged shadow pass over him, the swift intrusion of another in his mind, and then the being was