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in pain. For countless seconds nothing happened as he
struggled with it, the muscles in his arm and chest writhing
beneath his skin. His teeth clenched and he released a growl of
his own, wrenching the stake from Seth s shoulder and
flinging it across the room. Poisoned blood sizzled as it
thudded to the carpet.
Seth arched his back off the floor and howled.
The earsplitting sound reverberated off the walls, shaking
the remaining windows in their frames. His wound purged
itself, gushing silver, then blood.
Rafe s hand clamped over his shoulder, and Seth s body
fell limp as he slipped into his human form.
I ve got you, he said, breathing hard as he kissed his
cheek.
The hand on his shoulder soothed the agony ripping
through his body, cooled the blistering heat. Seth looked up in
surprise, and was stunned by the sight of Rafe above him.
His eyes& were they glowing? It could have been his
heightened senses, but they seemed little more than two
sapphire orbs of light staring down at him.
You re going to be all right, said Rafe.
And his voice. There was something different. An echoing,
almost transcendent quality that made him feel safe and loved.
But, just when he would have asked, the glow faded and
Rafe slumped over him.
Alarmed, Seth turned his head, lapped his cheek. Rafe?
Yeah.
Y-Your hand?
Hurts like hell.
He called out. Dorian!
Dorian s voice was hushed. Yes, little puppy?
Lick. Heal Rafe.
He ll have to wash his hand first. I can t risk taking any
silver residue into my body.
I m not leaving him, murmured Rafe.
Seth lifted his hand and caressed his cheek. His strength
was returning quickly. Too quickly. Please.
Rafe lifted his head, his face wan. He grabbed Dorian s
wrist, pulling him down to the floor and pressing his palm to
Seth s wound. I don t care who you are, what clan you lead.
If he bleeds to death, I ll kill you.
He nodded, and Rafe eased himself from underneath Seth
before lurching to his feet. Using the wall for support, he
stumbled out of the room.
Seth tried to sit up, but Dorian pressed him flat.
I do believe the human was serious about killing me.
Dorian, I thought I saw his eyes
I know. Notwithstanding he pulled a silver stake out of
you and survived, he seems to have purged the poison from
your body. How interesting.
He frowned. Rafe is not human?
Oh, he is most certainly human. His gaze followed the
direction Rafe had gone. But he is also something more.
What is the more ?
Damned if I know. Dorian glanced down at him. But I
intend to find out. No telling him anything until I do,
understand?
He balked at the idea. Rafe doesn t like secrets.
It s not a secret. You don t know anything.
It didn t seem right, and he was about to say it when Rafe
returned, a first-aid kit tucked under his arm.
Is he going to pull through?
I believe so, answered Dorian. Ready to let me fix your
hand?
Rafe thrust his arm toward him. Seth gasped when he saw
that he d lost most of the skin from his palm.
Dorian took his wrist and glided his tongue over the injury.
The skin regenerated; the wound closed.
He looked at his hand, flexing it a few times. Nice trick.
Can you do the same for him?
Only his own Nightkin nature can close a wound inflicted
by silver.
Rafe knelt beside Seth and opened up the kit. Thank you,
for everything you ve done.
Thank you, for everything you ve taught me.
Carefully, Rafe cleaned his shoulder and wrapped it in
gauze. How does that feel?
He touched the bandages, then Rafe s chest. The heartbeat
felt good beneath his fingertips. I want to go to bed.
The tension in his body vanished as he burst into laughter.
Amen. I am wrung out. He glanced at Dorian. We re safe?
You are.
He slipped his hands underneath Seth and stood, cradling
him in his arms. Seth huddled close, enjoying his strength and
light. Both of us are probably going to sleep for the next few
days, said Rafe.
The vampire nodded. A well deserved rest.
If you want, you can come by after that. We can have that
game of pool you were talking about earlier.
Dorian tilted his head to the side, a surprised smile on his
lips. I d like that, my friend.
Seth remembered his manners. Thank you, Dorian of the
Searing Blood.
His grin widened. I m listed in the phonebook as Dorian
Burns, if you decide to visit D.C. again in the next decade or
so.
Rafe snorted and turned away without another word,
carrying Seth to his bed.
Their bed.
Their home.
Their life.
EPILOGUE
Seth tilted his head back, letting the light of the full moon
caress his face. His skin tingled, his blood sang. He was alive,
and he was loved.
The glass door behind him slid open, and Rafe s scent
filled the air as he walked onto the deck. What are you doing
out here?
He tugged at his shirt as he fought the urge to shift. I was
drawn.
Oh yeah, said Rafe, moving up behind him. Forgot the
full moon was tonight.
That anyone could forget such a thing& it made him smile.
Rafe slipped long arms around him. What are you
thinking?
The truth flowed out of him with such ease now. I want to
run. I want to dance. I want to howl.
He brushed a kiss against Seth s cheek. So go. Do the
wolf thing.
I m a wolf with no wolf form. I doubt the people of Brier
would be comfortable with me running naked through the
streets.
The woods?
A shiver went through him. Not ready, yet. It still smells
like Nightkin dust there.
Those strong arms tightened around his body. The moon,
it s like a call?
Yes.
All right. He straightened and took his hand. I ve got an
idea.
What?
Rafe gave him a tug, and Seth followed. You ll see.
Moments later, Seth was sitting in Rafe s car, watching the
night-kissed scenery roll by. Rafe?
Yeah?
Will you teach me to drive?
Sure.
Tonight?
He took a turn on a road leading out of town. Not
tonight.
Where are we going?
It s a surprise.
Trusting him, he relaxed as Rafe took them& wherever. It
didn t matter. He liked being close, and the air streaming
through the open window ruffled his hair. Gripping the door,
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