When Darkness Comes

He was silent, gliding death. A ruthless killer who stalked his prey without mercy.

A chill shot down her spine as she studied the alabaster features set in a pitiless mask and the eyes that glittered with a frozen silver fire.

This was the vampire he had warned her of.

The demon who lurked beneath the image of a man.

Another chill shot through her.

But not out of physical fear. Perhaps it was ridiculously naive, but she didn't believe he would harm her. Or at least not intentionally.

It was more the knowledge that she had come to think of Dante as… what?

Her boyfriend?

Her lover?

God, she didn't know.

And now was not the time to consider such idiotic thoughts, she told herself with a mental slap.

For God's sake, if Dante didn't get her untied and out of the cavern, she was about to become a midnight munchie for some evil spirit. Surely that was more important than her love life?

There was a furious screech and sounds of scuffling from the two men battling in the middle of the chamber and a prickling feel of electricity in the air, but Abby refused to take her gaze from the ever-approaching vampire.

As long as she kept Dante within sight, she knew she was safe.

A ridiculous certainty perhaps, but what was a terrified, soon-to-be-sacrificed woman to do?

Unable to even whimper with the gag stuck in her mouth, Abby watched Dante move closer. His silver gaze held her own, as if compelling her not to panic.

Yeah, right.

Only the ropes binding her to the post kept her from crumpling onto the ground so she could babble in terror.

Abby Barlow, savior of the world.

Careful to avoid the raging battle in the center of the chamber, Dante flowed through the shadows.

Her heart nearly halted when he disappeared behind her. Oh God. She couldn't see him. What if he disappeared? What if there were more evil baddies hiding…

The feel of cool, slender fingers on her wrist put a swift end to her crazed thoughts. Abby would have wept in relief if she hadn't realized they were still far from safe.

The ropes slithered to the floor, sending painful prickles through her arms as her blood was allowed to rush through her veins. She felt Dante's lips at her ear as he struggled to remove the gag from her mouth.

"Say nothing," he breathed, waiting for her nod before allowing the disgusting rag to fall away.

Abby sucked in several deep breaths as she stepped from the post and directly into Dante's welcoming arms. He gathered her close, as if sensing she would collapse without his support. Her weakened state, however, didn't keep him from forcing her wobbly legs to carry her toward the narrow opening across the chamber.

She bit her lip to halt her instinctive protest. She had been tied to the post for hours, and her entire body felt as if it had been ridden hard and put up wet. Still, she had no more desire than Dante to linger in this damp cell.

Not when that pasty-faced moron considered her a yummy treat for Prince Badass.

They had reached the narrow opening when a hair-raising scream rose behind them.

"No!" the younger man screeched. "I surrender! I—"

There was a horrid gurgling noise and then a whiff of what might have been scorched flesh.

Abby gagged even as Dante roughly tossed her over his shoulder and bolted down the dark corridor.

On this occasion she didn't even notice the nausea at the swaying motion. That was one good thing about absolute, mind-numbing fear. It tended to put everything else into perspective.

Moving through the darkness with a speed that defied the law of physics, Abby silently prayed to every god and deity she could think of. It seemed an appropriate moment to cover all the bases.

Really, when it came down to it, who knew?

Time had no meaning, but slowly she began to sense they were moving steadily upward. Then, without warning, she felt the unmistakable brush of fresh air upon her cheeks.

Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, she breathed heavenward.

They were out of the dismal cavern.

And best of all, there seemed to be no sign of any sort of pursuit.

Still, Dante's pace never slowed. Seemingly unaffected by her weight (a sop to her vanity at any other time), he charged through an overgrown cemetery and past an abandoned church. She thought she caught sight of a handful of shabby houses, but they passed in such a blur it was impossible to be certain.

It was not until they were well away from the cavern that Dante at last slowed and gently lowered her to her feet. Abby instantly swayed, and his arm lashed about her waist to keep her upright.

"Are you harmed?" he growled, his hand grasping her chin to tip her face upward for his inspection.

She shivered beneath the compelling glitter of the silver gaze and then forced herself to relax.

This was Dante.

The beautiful, incredible vampire who had just saved her life.

"Nothing that twenty years of therapy won't cure," she retorted in a voice that was not quite steady. "Who were those freaks? Demons?"

His nose flared with smoldering fury. "They were human enough. Mortal disciples."

Well, that wouldn't have been her first guess.

"Disciples?"

"Worshippers of the Prince," he clarified. "You would call them wizards."

Her lips twisted. So much for kindly old men with long white beards and a twinkle in their eye.

"Which would explain the magic, I suppose."

"Magic more powerful than a mere human should be capable of possessing." His brows drew together as if the thought troubled him. Which in turn troubled her. A lot. "It was the elder wizard who attacked the coven."

"Dear God." She shuddered in horror at the memory of what he had done to the witches. How could any human commit such atrocities? "He was going to feed me to that… shadow."

"Yes. With the Phoenix destroyed, the Prince would walk the world freely once again."

"A wizard. Just perfect." She gave a shake of her head. "I suppose he'll be in line with the demons and zombies chasing us?"

"Hopefully not immediately. The battle with the witches and young Amil will have left him weak. I don't think he will be eager to face me just yet."

Her gaze unconsciously darkened. "No, I wouldn't think he would be in any hurry."

It took a beat before he abruptly grasped her shoulders in a firm grip. His beautiful face was somber in the muted moonlight.

"I did warn you, Abby," he rasped. "I'm a vampire. A predator. Nothing can change that."

Instinctively she lifted her hand to place it against his cheek. His skin was chilled and smooth beneath her palm, sending a familiar excitement through her body.

"I know."

With a gentleness that made her heart leap, he smoothed her hair behind her ears.

"Did I frighten you?"

"Maybe a little," she admitted in low tones.

Something that might have been pain flared through his silver eyes.

"I would never harm you. No matter what happens."

Held close to his hard body, she didn't have a moment of doubt. 'That is not what I feared."

"What is it?"

"I just realized you were right. We're very different. God, I'm not sure we're even the same species."

His arms shifted to tighten about her waist. "Different, but bound together, lover. At least until the Phoenix can be handed to another." He held her gaze with ease. "Will you trust me, Abby?"

There was no hesitation. "With my very life."

Oddly her swift assurance made him stiffen. As if he had been caught off guard by her ready trust.

"I… oh God, Abby, if only you knew," he muttered, lowering his head to press his lips tenderly against her mouth.

Abby readily arched against him, her arms encircling his neck. Dear God, she needed him. His touch. His strength. His comfort.

Softly he soothed the horror of the past few hours, his lips stroking over her mouth, his hands gripping her hips.

Tilting back her head, she moaned as he turned his attention to the sensitive curve of her neck, nibbling at the pulse that raced with soaring excitement

"If only I knew what?" she questioned breathlessly.

His hands tightened upon her hips before he pulled back far enough to regard her with a smoky gaze.

"How long it's been since I've been treated as something other than a rabid animal."

Her heart wrenched as she brushed her fingers across his sensuous lips. She knew all too well the feeling of being despised and unwanted in her own home. Of being brutally kicked back into place when she dared to defy her father.

How Dante had managed to endure his captivity for centuries was beyond comprehension.

"I'm sorry," she husked. "No one deserves to be chained and held against their will." She framed his beautiful face in her hands. "I swear I will do whatever I can to release you."

His eyes flared as he claimed her lips in a kiss she felt to her very soul. Abby groaned, curling her toes in pleasure. Oh yeah, this vampire knew a thing or two about kissing. A woman could spend an eternity just being held in his arms.

Smoothing her hands through his satin hair, Abby sank into the sizzling heat. She was alive against all odds. She intended to appreciate every moment of what she had been given.