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struggling with the demon. It was with me endlessly, calling, whispering that all was lost to me. I
thought I would rise undead if I did not choose the dawn. There was so much death around us,
so much violence. I often wonder if my struggle pushed him over the edge."
Francesca flung her arms around his neck. "Do not do that to yourself, Gabriel. We have
enough burdens to bear in our lives without taking on those that belong to others. You must
honor Lucian's last request and defeat him. Remember your true brother, the one who shared
your life for those two thousand years. He fought to protect you that you might find me, and
you have. Your real brother would want your life, not your death."
He brushed at the silken ebony strands tumbling around her face. "You have given me food
for thought, Francesca. In the meantime, I must hunt this night for the lesser vampires that
have invaded the city. They are a foul stench in the air, impossible to ignore."
"I will send out the quilts and stained-glass pieces I have been working on. I do have a
business to run," Francesca said, trying to think of mundane things so that she wouldn't live in
terror of what Lucian might do to Gabriel.
"There is no need for worry," he said softly, his voice magic and so pure Francesca felt
instantly better. He was like a clear breeze blowing through her body, removing the terrible
fear.
Francesca knew he was using his voice, his magical voice to aid her, but she didn't mind. She
pressed her hands to her stomach and thought of their baby for further comfort. Gabriel, like
all of their race, would believe she carried a male child. Yet she knew she carried one of the
precious females. She had a daughter. Fragile. So very vulnerable. Francesca took a deep
breath and let it out slowly. Was their baby one of the rare females because she had succeeded
for a short while in changing her body chemistry enough to walk in the sun? As a healer it was
all important to find that answer. Female children were so unusual within their race, and very
few managed to survive the nine months' gestation. The one in a century that did, still had to
face that difficult first year of life. Francesca did not want to have to face that fight without
Gabriel. She did not want to lose her child and not have him beside her, rock steady, to lean on.
Gabriel's eyes met hers with sudden understanding. He caught her to him, nearly crushing her
slender body in his arms. Yet at the same time, he held her so tenderly he made her want to
cry. "It is impossible. Our family produced only one daughter in eight hundred years. Before
that, it was nearly a thousand years and she did not survive. We cannot be so blessed as to
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have a girl."
Francesca leaned into him, savoring the heat of his skin, his masculine frame, so different from
her own. "I examined her earlier while you went out to feed. The child is female and she clings
to life stubbornly. I do not want to face this test alone, Gabriel. Find a way to live for us. You
are right about Skyler. Without my aid, without her belief in me, she would slip back into her
mind. We would surely lose another of our males to the undead. More than that, we would be
without a brilliant, rare treasure. I cannot do it without you, Gabriel. Live for us."
He buried his face in the silken curtain of her hair. "I can do no other than as you command,
my love. It is my duty to see to your happiness. I will find a way."
He meant it. She could hear the resolve in his voice. The weariness was gone, as was the
acceptance of his own destruction. Lucian had held him for two thousand years. Francesca
would not give him up so easily to his dark twin. She would fight with every cell in her body,
every weapon she possessed to keep him with her. Lucian would not win. It didn't matter that
he was Gabriel's twin and had been a great man once; he was now the biggest threat to her
family. She would find a way to combat him. There was a way. Somehow. There was a way.
They clung to each other for a few minutes longer, each aware of the other's thoughts, each
determined to find a way to defeat the ultimate vampire. "You must go," Francesca finally
whispered reluctantly. "I have so much to do this rising, and I must attend to Skyler. I have
neglected so many of my responsibilities."
Gabriel's smile was slow and sexy, heart-stopping. "I am very pleased that I was able to
provide such a distraction for you."
For no reason at all, Francesca found herself blushing. At once she ducked her head so her
hair fell around her face, protecting her. He laughed softly. "My beautiful woman, I cannot
believe you are blushing after all that we have done together."
"At least you didn't mention my age," she said.
"I am not that unbalanced, although I will admit I do not have much practice with women." He
bowed, that curiously courtly bow that always made her breath stop.
Francesca glared at him. "Go away, Gabriel, you have that look in your eyes and I have much
to do."
His hand moved possessively over the long curtain of her black hair. "Nothing is more
important than satisfying the needs of your lifemate." His face was innocent and very serious.
Francesca blinked once, then gave him a good hard shove. "Go tell it to the last century,
ancient one. I am a modern woman with many commitments."
"You are a woman much sought after by these human males and I am beginning to find it
tedious."
Her eyebrow shot up. "Tedious?" she echoed. "Do I hear a veiled threat in there
somewhere?"
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He bent his head to kiss her. "It was not all that veiled." His grin was boyish and seductive at
the same time. "I cannot very well admit I am bothered by those who seek your attention when
I am your lifemate. As an ancient I am above such trivial things."
Francesca found herself laughing. "You're above something all right, but I'm not entirely
certain what it is."
"Watch yourself tonight, Francesca," Gabriel cautioned as he glided through the room toward
the door. "You must always remember you are a target now, and so is Skyler."
"I'll send word to Aidan's family, asking them not to delay. That way if Skyler is home, she
can be protected while we sleep." Her dark gaze was suddenly anxious. "Gabriel, don't let
Lucian undermine your confidence in yourself. I really need you and so does our child. Our
children."
He paused at the door, looking back at her, his world, the only real joy he had known. "I love
this home of yours," he answered softly.
She watched him leave. "Ours," she corrected, knowing he could still hear her even though
the door was closed. Gabriel's hearing was phenomenal and he often shared her mind.
It was their house, their life. Gabriel had to separate himself from his twin if he were to survive
the battle that was to come. Francesca was carefully folding quilts into large boxes when it
suddenly occurred to her that Lucian might lead him out of the city and far away from her. Her
hand went protectively to her throat.
"Stop worrying over what has not happened."There was a wealth of love in Gabriel's voice. It felt
like a caress.
She glanced at herself in the mirror. "Quit mooning about and get to work. You have much to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]