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his huge head.
Ann could see Cade s left arm and leg just weren t going to be of any use. She
watched him laugh as he pushed the big dog out of the way and finally maneuvered
himself into a half-sitting position.
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Darkstar Guardian
These have to come out, they re weakening me. The wounds won t heal until
they re gone, he said as he pointed to the arrows. We ve got room enough now to
remove them.
What do you want me to& Cade, I can t, she told him when he raised his
eyebrows and made a pulling motion with his right hand.
I don t have the strength, Ann. After drinking some whole blood, yes. But not just
now.
If Baron is outside, that means Maggie and the servants are probably looking for
us. I left a message on her cell phone so she s sure to be here soon. She s stronger than
I, Ann reasoned.
Assuming someone didn t just let Baron loose to find some lurking bad guys, that
could still be a while. Even with your message, if you don t know exactly where we are,
Maggie will have to search.
All right, let s get this over with, Ann said.
Trust me. With the silver out of my body, I ll heal more quickly. Pulling the things
out won t hurt me the way they would a human. It s leaving them in that s causing the
pain, he told her, then clenched his teeth as Ann straddled his thighs and grabbed that
part of the arrow in his leg that was visible. Just pull it straight out. I promise, I won t
make a sound.
Okay& here goes nothing, she mumbled, then did as he d requested.
Cade yelled long and loud as the arrow slid slowly out of his body. He felt his fangs
extend and the change come over him, more as a protective, automatic reaction than
anything. He was stronger in his vampire persona.
Ann fell backward with the arrow between her hands. It was dripping blood, so she
quickly tossed it aside and scrambled back to where Cade lay. I-I thought you said you
wouldn t make a sound.
I lied, he gasped out. Now& get the& other one.
I hope this doesn t happen with any degree of frequency or you re going to have to
get me some heavy sedatives, she complained, then knelt down with both her knees on
either side of his torso. Get ready to yell really loud. I hope Maggie hears it and comes
running.
Before Cade could respond, she d grabbed the exposed end of the second arrow
and stood straight up as she pulled.
He struck the ground with both fists as the arrow slid out, like the first one. Trying
not to cry out again did no good. He finally let his lungs have their way, dropped his
head back and screamed out again.
Baron began to howl loudly.
Ann stood over Cade s body as he closed his eyes and attempted to let the pain
pass. She turned as the sound of voices filled the twilight.
Cade! Where the hell are you? Maggie yelled.
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Candace Sams
Over here, Ann called back on his behalf. Like Baron, she refused to leave him.
She simply sat down by his side, cradling his head in her lap.
Cade vaguely remembered being helped to a car and being driven to the manor.
Servants helped carry him upstairs, and Maggie ran to the kitchen to get some blood
from the fridge.
Once he was in his room, some of his strength began to return. The poisonous silver
would eventually disperse and the pain would be gone for good. He didn t dare tell
Ann how many times this process had been repeated in the last two thousand years, but
kept his thoughts to himself as she helped him undress and get into bed.
After thanking them profusely, Cade dismissed his employees to let them go about
their work of the night. Ann sat on the side of the bed and he remembered her grousing
about not wanting to go through another episode like this. When she gazed at him now,
all doubts about their relationship suddenly fled.
He took her hand in his. Ann, you mean to stay, don t you?
Why would I leave and miss all the action?
He heard the good-natured teasing in her voice, but there was trepidation there as
well. Now that fear wasn t centered on what he was, but what she d become if she
stayed. The rules haven t changed, Ann. You ll still have to become one of us if you
stay.
She chewed on her lower lip, pushed her hair back with one hand and shrugged. I
know. Just don t tell me when you ll do it. Okay? I don t want to have it scheduled so I
sit somewhere having to worry over it. I want it done, quick and clean.
Almost disbelieving what he was hearing, Cade pulled her toward him until she
was on the bed beside him. I don t want you fearing this. It s just a different life, Ann.
If I take you while we re making love, you ll experience a massive orgasm and won t
even know any pain.
Th-that sounds good, she brokenly replied and tried to smile.
Are you sure? Are you very sure this is what you want? It also means being bound
with me as a soul mate forever.
She rolled her eyes. Okay, now you re trying to explain the down side. There
always is one, you know.
Sensing her playfulness, he couldn t help grinning. Ann, I
Here s some fresh blood, Cade. I want you to drink all of it and stay put for the
next night or two, Maggie commanded as she entered the room bearing a wine bottle
filled with what he knew was whole blood.
Thanks, Mags. I promise I ll drink every drop. Could you send up some food? I m
famished and I m sure Ann is too.
Ann nodded and tried not to give anything away with her thoughts. Unfortunately,
Maggie stared at her while handing the wine bottle to Cade and she couldn t help
feeling stupidly coy all of a sudden.
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Darkstar Guardian
Maggie ran to the side of the bed where Ann sat and engulfed her with a huge hug.
Ann! You re staying, she blurted.
Ann hugged her back. Can I keep anything from you?
After you re one of us, you can. I ll show you everything. We ll have long talks in
my room at night just like sisters and we can natter on about things that just
Maggie, Cade interrupted, you can discuss this with Ann later. And you can tell
me I told you so all you want. Right now, we, uh, we need a little private time
together.
Oh, of course, my darlings. Of course, Maggie gushed. She hugged Ann again,
then Cade. I ll be down the hall when you want me.
Ann watched Maggie scamper out of the room, grinning like a kid with her first bag
of sweets. When the door was quietly closed, Ann had a feeling the servants would be
ordered to stay away until their meal was ready to serve.
Cade stared at Ann for a long moment before beginning again. She wanted us
together all along. You know that.
Yes. I didn t realize I wanted it too& until I saw you lying there under that rock.
What made your mind up? he asked as he leaned toward her.
Drink your blood and I ll tell you.
Cade popped the top on the bottle, upended it and took a long sip. With the blood
now flowing into him, he immediately felt his painful wounds closing.
Ann ran one hand down his chest as she saw the hole in his left shoulder begin to
close. She lifted the bedcover to gaze at his thigh and was satisfied he d heal.
I m listening, Cade reminded.
She shrugged. The last thing I ever wanted to be was like anyone else. I want to
see and do so much, Cade.
And you see this as your chance to do all the things previously out of reach?
Yes, but there s more.
He sipped more of his blood and stroked one of her soft cheeks with his free hand.
Do tell.
Maggie told me you were a very good man. I really believe you are. I must have
thought this a thousand times while I was looking for you earlier today, but I ll say it
now.
Say what? he encouraged.
You can t help what you were born into, she explained. I couldn t help judging
you for that at first, but I see now that you and Maggie& all your kind are just trying to
live as best you can. It was wrong of me to judge you. She bowed her head. There are
always men like Praetorian. Vampires aren t alone in that respect. And I never thought [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
