can.”
She pressed her lips together and opened the door to the basement. “Whatever you’re plannin’, I hope it works.”
“Me, too.”
Once he was settled below in his private chamber, he laid Juliana on his bed, stretching out beside her. Her breathing was fast, shallow, and her heart fluttered erratically. He kissed her forehead.
Juliana? Are you ready?
His voice was a whisper through the foggy veil between life and death. Exhaustion had her in its clutches, tightening the vise around her chest. Her body ached, cold, no longer a partner with her spirit but an enemy. It would be easy to give in, not to struggle for the next breath.
Juliana. I need you to fight. Just a little more, angel.
Angel. It brought back a warm memory. It felt like ages had passed since she’d lain naked in his arms, no pain, no fear. Only Colin.
I can’t find you.
She caught his scent, his hair tickling her skin as his lips caressed her neck. Suddenly, a sharp pain focused her, yanking her back from the fog to the present. The jolt of discomfort gave way to a pleasure she’d never known. Her entire body warmed, hungry for his touch.
And then Colin was with her. She saw him in her mind. He stood tall on the top of a pyramid in the jungle. Green like her home, but hot, so hot. There were others with him. His brothers. Three of them.
My home with the Mayan people. My people.
It’s beautiful.
I’ll take you there someday.
But I’m dying.
Another wave of ecstasy swelled, followed by his deep, throaty voice, growling with desire. Death will never steal you from me, angel.
Something wet dripped onto her lips, her tongue. A moment later, fire surged through her veins. Thirsty. He offered his wrist, blood dripping from a fresh cut. She pulled him closer, each swallow alleviating the exhaustion, the weakness.
Drink deeply, and be strong.
Parched, she took him into her body, his blood banishing the fluid from her lungs, returning her strength. She looked up at him as he withdrew his wrist. His wound healed before her eyes. She reached up to her throat to grasp her pendant and gasped.
Looking for this? The Celtic triangle dangled from his fingers.
Colin helped her fasten it in place. She glanced around his room. In spite of the dim lighting, she had no trouble seeing every detail.
Do you see well in the dark?
He nodded with a smile. It appears Benedict was right about one thing. There is magic in your veins. I have never heard of another human experiencing the heightened Night Walker senses until after their first rising. He brushed a kiss to her cheek, near her ear. If you reach out with your mind you should…
His words faded as she concentrated on the others in his house. The farm was awakening just before sunrise. Bartley’s always late for breakfast. Claire. And then a male voice she recognized. Come and get it, sheep. Hustle before Claire’s chewing my ass about breakfast being cold.
Tears brimmed in her eyes as laughter escaped her throat, a noise she didn’t censure. I hear them. Bartley and Claire. I can’t see their lips, but I hear their thoughts.
Colin smiled down at her. Enjoy it now. Soon it will be so loud I will need to teach you to shield your mind.
After all the years of silence, I love the noise. She pulled him down to her lips, kissing him tenderly. I love you.
I didn’t know what love meant until I met you. He stared into her eyes, his finger sliding along her jawline. I have existed for thousands of years, but you have finally taught me how to live. You gave me my wings when I thought I’d never fly again.
You gave me my voice. She ran her fingers down his scarred left arm. He didn’t flinch. She smiled, her eyelids growing heavy. All of a sudden, I’m exhausted.
Colin nodded. The sun is rising. When it sets, you have much to learn.
I’m a quick study.
He grinned. I have no doubt.
Juliana’s heart awoke as the sun set. She pulled in a breath that morphed into a moan as
She pressed her lips together and opened the door to the basement. “Whatever you’re plannin’, I hope it works.”
“Me, too.”
Once he was settled below in his private chamber, he laid Juliana on his bed, stretching out beside her. Her breathing was fast, shallow, and her heart fluttered erratically. He kissed her forehead.
Juliana? Are you ready?
His voice was a whisper through the foggy veil between life and death. Exhaustion had her in its clutches, tightening the vise around her chest. Her body ached, cold, no longer a partner with her spirit but an enemy. It would be easy to give in, not to struggle for the next breath.
Juliana. I need you to fight. Just a little more, angel.
Angel. It brought back a warm memory. It felt like ages had passed since she’d lain naked in his arms, no pain, no fear. Only Colin.
I can’t find you.
She caught his scent, his hair tickling her skin as his lips caressed her neck. Suddenly, a sharp pain focused her, yanking her back from the fog to the present. The jolt of discomfort gave way to a pleasure she’d never known. Her entire body warmed, hungry for his touch.
And then Colin was with her. She saw him in her mind. He stood tall on the top of a pyramid in the jungle. Green like her home, but hot, so hot. There were others with him. His brothers. Three of them.
My home with the Mayan people. My people.
It’s beautiful.
I’ll take you there someday.
But I’m dying.
Another wave of ecstasy swelled, followed by his deep, throaty voice, growling with desire. Death will never steal you from me, angel.
Something wet dripped onto her lips, her tongue. A moment later, fire surged through her veins. Thirsty. He offered his wrist, blood dripping from a fresh cut. She pulled him closer, each swallow alleviating the exhaustion, the weakness.
Drink deeply, and be strong.
Parched, she took him into her body, his blood banishing the fluid from her lungs, returning her strength. She looked up at him as he withdrew his wrist. His wound healed before her eyes. She reached up to her throat to grasp her pendant and gasped.
Looking for this? The Celtic triangle dangled from his fingers.
Colin helped her fasten it in place. She glanced around his room. In spite of the dim lighting, she had no trouble seeing every detail.
Do you see well in the dark?
He nodded with a smile. It appears Benedict was right about one thing. There is magic in your veins. I have never heard of another human experiencing the heightened Night Walker senses until after their first rising. He brushed a kiss to her cheek, near her ear. If you reach out with your mind you should…
His words faded as she concentrated on the others in his house. The farm was awakening just before sunrise. Bartley’s always late for breakfast. Claire. And then a male voice she recognized. Come and get it, sheep. Hustle before Claire’s chewing my ass about breakfast being cold.
Tears brimmed in her eyes as laughter escaped her throat, a noise she didn’t censure. I hear them. Bartley and Claire. I can’t see their lips, but I hear their thoughts.
Colin smiled down at her. Enjoy it now. Soon it will be so loud I will need to teach you to shield your mind.
After all the years of silence, I love the noise. She pulled him down to her lips, kissing him tenderly. I love you.
I didn’t know what love meant until I met you. He stared into her eyes, his finger sliding along her jawline. I have existed for thousands of years, but you have finally taught me how to live. You gave me my wings when I thought I’d never fly again.
You gave me my voice. She ran her fingers down his scarred left arm. He didn’t flinch. She smiled, her eyelids growing heavy. All of a sudden, I’m exhausted.
Colin nodded. The sun is rising. When it sets, you have much to learn.
I’m a quick study.
He grinned. I have no doubt.
Juliana’s heart awoke as the sun set. She pulled in a breath that morphed into a moan as
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