Carpathian 12 - Dark Melody

Lisa," Dayan answered quietly. "Do not worry. Cullen and I are quite capable of protecting you and Corinne." He looked around the small room. "But I prefer to move you to a place easier to defend."
    "What do you mean, defend?" Lisa asked suspiciously. She looked at Corinne. "My sister is pregnant.
    She can't be traveling all over the country," she said, hoping to shock him.
    "I am well aware of Corinne's pregnancy," Dayan replied gently. "Do not worry, Lisa. On my word of honor, I will always place Corinne's health and happiness above my own. I would never allow anything to harm her." His black eyes rested on Cullen. "I have family. The band is scattered at the moment, but I've called them and they are on their way to meet us. I contacted Darius last night, and he is sending for one of our greatest healers. I believe we should move toward them." His gaze was steady on Cullen's, but there was no "push" for approval of his plan. He was being courteous for the moment.
    Cullen caught Lisa's hand. "Darius and the others would make it impossible for any harm to come to you or Corinne. I agree with Dayan. I think we should leave."

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    Lisa withdrew her hand. "I work. Tomorrow I have a major photo shoot with one of the top photographers in the country. I signed a contract with a cosmetic company to do ads. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but I take my business very seriously. These people are counting on me. I can't very well run out on them. And Corinne needs to be close to her own doctors, who understand her case." She looked at Corinne. "I want to go to the police, Rina. We can't let someone else run our lives or scare us into leaving everything we've ever worked for. We didn't see anyone at our house. I'm not even sure someone was there. Are you?"
    It was the first time Corinne had ever seen Lisa take a stand on anything. She obviously felt very strongly about what she'd said. Corinne believed someone had been in their home waiting to harm them. She believed those same people had killed John. She glanced at Dayan. His expression hadn't changed, but there was something about him that gave her pause. There was an impression of menace. Of ruthlessness.
    A merciless slash to his mouth, something in his eyes perhaps, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. She shivered unexpectedly. It was that menace more than anything else that made her throw her support behind Lisa.
    "In all honesty, Lisa, I think someone was in the house, and I'm certain we're in danger. But if you want to handle the situation by going to the police, then that's what we'll do." Corinne watched Dayan carefully as she gave her reply.
    His black eyes swept her face, then rested there thoughtfully. Corinne lifted her chin in defiance. He was nothing to her. What could he do?
    Amusement crept into the depths of his eyes as he read her thoughts. 'I am everything to you, honey.
    Youwill know that in time, and there is much I can do if it is needed.' His words brushed at her mind, a sensual velvet caress, wrapped in warm humor. His strong teeth scraped gently, almost tenderly over her knuckles.
    "That's exactly what I think we should do," Lisa said, glaring triumphantly at Dayan. If he thought for one minute she was going to let him walk in and take over Corinne's life because he was a good-looking musician, he was in for a surprise.
    Dayan shrugged his broad shoulders, a lazy ripple of muscle. He had deliberately safeguarded Lisa from the mesmerizing effect he had on humans; now he thought he might have done too good a job of it.
    Prompted by her protective instincts and her fear of losing Corinne, Lisa was reacting with outright hostility toward him. Corinne loved Lisa and considered her family. Dayan couldn't have Lisa so antagonistic toward him.
    "Lisa." He said her name very gently, very softly, commanding her attention. There was something hypnotic about his voice, something impossible to ignore.
    "Dayan." Cullen made it a protest.
    Lisa couldn't look away from those demanding black eyes. They were empty, fathomless; she found herself falling forward into them. Why was she afraid of him? Dayan had her best interests at heart. He would protect Corinne with his very life, protect Lisa. He was trustworthy, completely so. Why had she ever doubted him? Everything he said was the truth. They were in terrible danger and they needed to leave with him.
    Suddenly furious,