"It's done. Juliana is gone and I can't bring her back, so I have to get on with it." He started walking away. He didn't bother to put his umbrella up.

His long legs ate up the ground. Ilida had to run to catch up to him. "You sound as if death is old hat to you," she said, breathless from her jog. "I hate funerals and hate losing loved ones. I wish death had never been invented."

"I walk with death every day."

His grisly words sent a chill up her spine. He had to be a cop or something in law enforcement. "You don't have to cope alone."

"When you've lived as long as I have you see death for what it is-a selfish taker of vibrant lives."

"Look, I'm holding you up here. If you want to talk..." Ilida produced her card and held it out to him. "This is my number. Call me."

He didn't bother to look at her card. He kept his beautiful eyes trained on her.

"Call you for cheap psychology?"

"Actually I'm a recreational therapist." She held it out, and he took the card from her more out of politeness than anything else, she decided. "Take care," she said, opening her umbrella as she began walking away. Her knees wobbled with every step, as if walking away was an impossible thing for her to manage. With his eyes on her back, it was d.a.m.n near impossible.

"It's dark and pouring."

She stopped and spoke over her shoulder, looking straight ahead of her, avoiding headstones. "I'll be fine."

"Your tiny umbrella is useless in this torrent."

"You don't have to concern yourself with me."

"How giving of you. Terra taught you well."

She didn't like where this was going. She only wanted to comfort him, lend her support. She really had to put a lid on her impulsive need to help people. "I'm just concerned about you. I'm going." She marched away from him holding back her tears. She wasn't going to let him trample on her feelings.

"Stop!"

"So you can insult me more? Grief doesn't give you an excuse."

His eyes softened from cold amethyst to a warm violet. Maybe there was hope for him after all.

"I'll walk you out of the cemetery."

That was the only apology she would get from him. He doesn't do apologies well - too proud. He could use some humanizing. That was funny. He is human. What else would he be? Right?

"Aren't your friends waiting for you?"

"We could keep this up all night, too. They know I'm walking you out." He opened his large umbrella, offered his elbow. The color of his umbrella made his skin glow black. Shyly, she curled her arm around the inside of his arm. Her whole body hummed with the rightness of being so close to him.

They walked in silence for a while, turning with the snaky lane. Then, suddenly he spoke. "I have no proof that you're telling me the truth."

"You can read my thoughts and see for yourself."

"Thoughts can be manufactured."

There he went again. One minute they were having a civilized conversation than the next he blamed her. She blamed herself enough without his help. "This was a mistake. I'm sorry."

"She was stubborn; a perpetual, troubled teen. She loves...loved trouble."

Was he letting her in now? Or was it the ramblings of a grieving father? Both? "How old was Juliana?"

"How old did she feel to you?"

"She felt young; in her twenties, but she had an old soul, I sensed."

"That's about right."

They kept walking, and then her right foot skidded over a slick piece of broken headstone. Before she made contact with the ground, his strong arm curled around her waist and lifted her up. His touch sent a jolt through her wool coat to her skin. He held onto her until she steadied herself. Shakily she said, "Thank you."

He seemed effected by it as well. The muscle near his ear pulsed.

Five minutes later, they were at the mouth of the cemetery under the Gothic Gatehouse. Cars sped past and the noise of Brooklyn intruded, sending her back to reality. "I saw two people dressed in black walk into the club."

"I know who killed my daughter, and you need to stay out of it," he reprimanded. "That is if you know who...just stay out of it."

"Are you a cop?"

"No," he answered slowly.

"FBI?"

"No."

"CIA?"

Ilida hunched her shoulders with her hands out grasping for a good guess. "The mob?"

The corners of his mouth lifted in a patient half- smile. "How are you getting home?"

Meaning it's none of your business, Ilida. Take a hint. "I'll hail a cab." She held up her hand as she walked to the curb. Two cabs pa.s.sed her by. She felt his eyes on her back watching her, waiting. She was not going to impose, even though she wanted to be near him.

"I'll drive you home."

"What? No! That's not necessary." Involuntarily she touched both of his arms, as if simple touch would convey how she felt. "You just said goodbye to your daughter for the last time. I'll get home on my own."

For her own sake she moved away from him began her walk across another area of tombstones. Rain shortly showered her as her shaking hands opened the umbrella. It wasn't the smoothest of exits. She decided she didn't care to be smooth and graceful. With each step, she felt his eyes on her.

"Where do you live?"

She stopped walking, took a deep, tremulous breath, then spun around. "I don't even know your name."

"Daedalus. Address please."

At that moment, she felt an invisible tether weave them together.

He ate up the distance between them, held his umbrella over her.

Handsome as sin and he didn't take no for an answer. Well, that was lame. The word handsome hardly described him. He was earthy and rugged yet his features portrayed an Old World elegance. His eyes, she decided, were the softest, most disarming feature of his face. "Four-forty-six Seventh Avenue," she said as she drew her breath out. "And Union Street."

"Let's go."

She gaped at his retreating form. He walked straight and imperiously. "Parking is nonexistent around there, you know," she called out to him.

"Sometimes you get lucky."

She skipped after him and grabbed his elbow. He stopped in his tracks. "Why are you doing this?"

His violet eyes, focused and powerful, held her captive with his gaze. "Why do you have to ask why?"

The tall striking couple walked over to Daedalus. She stood back giving him privacy. The three spoke, and she could see a resemblance between Daedalus and the green-eyed man. Good looks ran in the family. The green-eyed man was exceptional.

Daedalus wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"This is Ilida. I'm going to take her home, now."

"h.e.l.lo." She shook hands with the tall African-American woman. "Good to meet you."

"Same here."

She didn't sense hostility from her, but her companion or husband was a different story. The green-eyed man said nothing, only warily peered into her eyes, as if he was looking for something he couldn't find and angry that he came up short. Rude!

Alec watched Daedalus and the woman walk down the winding path. It was a side he'd never seen of Daedalus before. Who knew the Vampire Kingdom's preeminent killing machine had a tender side? Radu and Ma.n.u.s, those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, didn't succeed in killing that part of him.

He and Tania had probed the woman's thoughts earlier. She was definitely concerned about Daedalus. Overly concerned and aching for him. He knew his brother, the s.e.xual acrobat and skirt-chasing G.o.d, could inspire a woman to love him.

As much as Daedalus tried to hide it, he was in tremendous grief. If they'd gotten there ten minutes earlier, maybe Juliana would be alive now. The woman could be what he needed after losing Juliana, but at what price? Terra has proven herself bold and resourceful. She could have studied Daedalus, found his type of female, and dropped her in his lap. That woman he was with did not fit Daedalus's criteria. Any worthy nemesis would do that. Was she a friend or foe in a very pretty disguise?

"I know that look on your face."

Tania's voice never failed to make him tingle, even on a horrid night like tonight. He cupped her chin as much for rea.s.surance as for the need to touch his wife. "What look, Tania?"

"You were squinting. Your jaw is set and your thoughts are running a mile a minute. Do me a favor, babe. Stop looking for trouble where there is none."

Tania knew him like the proverbial back of her hand.

"Something about her bothers me. What if she's a plant by Terra?"

"Maybe you aren't used to seeing him that way."

"You're right. You know his reputation."

"He is a bit of a hound dog, but I've glimpsed his better qualities."

"Then you're one of the privileged few. I've mostly seen the hound dog, calculated killer, but I know his tender heart is there hiding."

"She might bring it out of him. I didn't sense anything from her but concern."

Tania had a good heart, maybe too good. She liked to focus on the good in humans and vampires and throw caution to the wind. "You missed a not-so-small detail. She's a powerful telepath. She sensed we were probing her."

"Humans have their surprises." She crossed her arms and looked up at him with those chocolate eyes. She didn't want him to do anything to alienate Daedalus. "You want to check her out."

"I'm going to."

Tania shook her head from side to side and made that sucking sound he found irresistible. "Daedalus might not appreciate that. Don't forget he's just like you."

"We're miles apart, Tania."

"That's like the pot calling the kettle black. The two of you need to keep your loved ones safe through control. Isn't that what he tried to do with Juliana?"

"Juliana was a rebel like her father, obviously."

"He'll see it as way for you to control him." She placed her hands on chest and rubbed soothingly. "He won't see that he does the same thing."

Daedalus had a wild streak. He was brash, lively and terribly honest and dangerous. Alec liked to take it easy and absorb, look and listen. Daedalus did that too, but he feared his younger brother snapped to judgment too soon. He needs protecting. "He might thank me later."

"He might not thank you later. Face it. He's independent and you need to pull back, Alec."

"Can't do that. I have to know. How did she know about Juliana's funeral?"

"He isn't sloppy. Maybe he wanted her to come."

"Humans at a vampire's funeral? You can't give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Think about it."

"Leave my twin brother alone." Gauge came from around the tree Alec and Tania stood under. "He's getting his freak on."

"I didn't hear you behind me, Gauge."

Daedalus and Gauge came as a package deal. Alec couldn't accept one without the other. He understood that. They were paternal twins, but the oft-times belligerent Gauge got on his nerves, like now.

Gauge's skin sported rapidly healing burn scars. In a week, his skin will look healthy and free of scars. His long hair had to be cut. It matted onto his burned skin.

"Blame my sneaky vampire werewolf genes."

"Do you know anything about her, Gauge?"

"I know Daedalus's heart skips a beat when she's near. I know he's hurting and full of hate and she makes him laugh."

"You got all of that from just looking at her?" Tania asked.