He simply watched her in that calm, infuriating manner she was becoming familiar with.

Alexandria finally sighed. "Don't worry. I don't blame the woman."

"Marie." He whispered it softly between his white teeth, a whisper of velvet over iron. His golden eyes were growing hot, molten gold that could so easily engulf her.

She swallowed hard. "Marie, then. I'll be nice to her."

He held out a hand. Alexandria stared at it a moment, then, carefully avoiding contact, slipped past him to the door. Aidan moved with her, a silent shadow, yet she was aware of his every rippling muscle, body heat, his very breath. He was so close to her, she felt their hearts were beating the same rhythm.

The tunnel they entered was narrow and wound its way upward toward the first floor. She was forced to stop no more than halfway to their destination, a wave of dizziness overcoming her. She gripped the stone wall and fought for breath. At once Aidan curved an arm around her waist.

Her fingers curled into his shirt. "I can't do this. I'm sorry, but I can't." There was an involuntary plea in her voice, her fear overcoming her sense of self-preservation against Aidan's power. He was enormously strong and as solid as a rock. He was all she had to cling to when her mind rebelled against the trauma it had been subjected to.

He held her like a child, his body giving comfort when, inside him, the beast raged for fulfillment.

"For now, think only of the boy. He is lonely for you and afraid. I have done my best to rea.s.sure him, but he has lost so much in his young life, and the memories he has of this place and of me and my family are merely implanted, no subst.i.tute for the reality of his love for you. The rest of the future can wait, can it not?" His voice was pure sorcerery, impossible to resist. It whispered sensuously in her mind, a.s.suring her that if she simply did as he suggested, all would be well with her world.

His chin brushed the top of her head, lingering for a moment while he drank in her scent, made certain their scents mingled. His golden gaze held possession and hunger; his arms were gentle and tender.

"Come with me now, Alexandria. Come into the warmth of my home of your own free will. Share some time with me and mine. Forget everything for now but this respite from your nightmare. You need the relief, and there is no harm in it."

"In the illusion of normalcy?"

"If you care to put it that way, I suppose it can be said." His fingers, on the nape of her neck, were working a kind of magic.

In her life there had been too much adversity, no warmth other than what Joshua had provided.

Aidan was so gentle, and even if that was the biggest illusion of all, Alexandria took comfort in his arms. On some level she was aware of clinging to him, of leaning on his strength, but she refused to dwell on it; for her sanity, she didn't dare. She needed to immerse herself in a small measure of normal life, if only for a short while.She took a deep breath. "I'm all right now. Really. And I'm going to pretend you're a nice man, not some snarling beast about to eat me if I don't do everything you say."

Against the satin skin of her neck his mouth curved into a smile, his breath warm against her pulse, his teeth sc.r.a.ping gently. The sensation was far more sensual than frightening. "I do not know where you get these ideas, cara. Perhaps from Thomas Ivan's games? You should cease playing them. They seem to influence you unduly."

"But he is so good at what he does. You have played his games, haven't you?" she asked, guessing as much and trying to goad him a bit. She remained very still, almost holding her breath, enjoying the feel of his mouth on her neck, yet terrified of this strange reaction in herself.

"I will admit reluctantly to wasting my time investigating his foolish propaganda... but you are not to tell anyone. I might lose my status as a true vampire-hunter." His arm slipped back around her waist, and his body urged hers upward along the narrow tunnel.

"Aidan! Are you a sn.o.b?" she teased, trying to ignore the unfamiliar feelings his hard muscles brushing against her body were creating. He was so close to her, his arms made her feel protected, a sensation she had never experienced before.

"Probably."

His voice whispered over her skin, making her insides tremble.

"You forgot your shoes," he pointed out. "This floor is cold. You should have put on the slippers I left for you." There was a trace of censure in his voice.

Alexandria glanced up at him over her shoulder, a quick flash of blue eyes. "Actually, that's another one of my habits that will no doubt annoy you-I have many, you know. I always like to go barefoot in the house."

Aidan was silent a moment. She couldn't even hear his footfalls. He seemed to glide rather than walk. "So, just how many annoying habits do you have?" he asked.

His voice created a funny melting sensation inside her.

"So many I can't count them. And they're bad, really bad."

There was a teasing note in her voice, a warmth that hadn't been there before. Aidan searched her mind and found that she was trying to do as he said, put aside all that had happened and live only in this moment. Her natural warmth and humor were beginning to surface in spite of all the odds against it. He found himself feeling pride in her. She was constantly amazing him. This woman, so unexpected in his life, was certainly worth the effort and patience it would take to win her completely. No one had ever teased him before. Marie and Stefan had been in his life a long time.

He saw their affection for him, but it was always tinged with respect for what and who he was.

"You do not know the meaning of the word bad. You have no vices. You don't even smoke, and you very seldom drink alcohol. And before you accuse me of reading your mind, let me explain that Joshua has spilled all your secrets. He wanted me to know of your virtues."

"Oh, did he?" There was a wall facing her, and Alexandria stopped abruptly. It seemed made of solid, immovable stones.

Aidan reached past her and casually placed his fingertips on one of the oddly-shaped stones. A panel swung outward, allowing them access to stairs leading up from the bas.e.m.e.nt to the kitchen.

Alexandria rolled her eyes. "How very melodramatic. Secret pa.s.sageways and everything. You should write a book, Aidan. Or perhaps a video game."He leaned close, his warm breath sending a shiver down her spine. "I have no imagination."

Her pulse beat right beneath his mouth. Aidan felt her heat beckoning him, the scent of her, the spice of her blood, so addicting, calling to him. For a moment his eyes glowed with hunger and need, molten gold shooting fiery sparks. His blood leapt in antic.i.p.ation, and in his mouth his fangs fought for liberty.

"Oh, really? I think one of your annoying habits is to lie whenever it suits you. It took great imagination just to design this place. And don't tell me you didn't do it yourself."

It was his prolonged silence that gave him away. Alexandria sensed the sudden danger she was in and froze, holding her breath. Her stillness, the scent of her fear, beat at him. His fingers circled her fragile wrist gently. "I am sorry, cara, it has been a long time for me. To experience emotions is slightly overwhelming. You will have to forgive me when I blunder."

His voice once again wrapped her in safe arms, offered a haven. Alexandria bit her lip hard enough to produce a drop of blood, hoping the pain would dispel that illusion of safety he had created. She tried to step away from him.

Aidan refused to relinquish control. His fingers never tightened, but, just the same, his grip was unbreakable. He bent his head to hers, his golden eyes holding her blue ones captive. "Do not place temptation in my way, Alexandria. I have little control around you."

He whispered the words, a velvet seduction, his voice alone stirring a small flame in her midsection.

His mouth brushed hers in the lightest of caresses, but he stole her breath as his tongue stole the tiny red droplet of blood from her lower lip.

When he lifted his head the same slow, sensual way he had lowered it, she could only stare up at him helplessly, mesmerized by the unexpected fire in her blood and the need in her body. It shocked her, the strength of her first real s.e.xual awareness. That it should be with this man, that she could feel such heat and hunger for a creature like Aidan Savage, made her tremble.

He could feel the tremor that ran through her slender body, see the sensual awareness in her blue eyes. Her tongue darted out nervously, touching her lower lip right where his tongue had touched.

He found his body tightening in demand, urging him to claim what was rightfully his, the demon lifting its head and roaring.

"Aidan?" Her hand went protectively to her throat. "If you're going to hurt me, get it over with.

Don't play some sort of game with me. I'm not a very strong person, and I don't think I can handle much more without going crazy."

"I have said I will not harm you, Alexandria, and I will not." He stepped away from her to give his body some small respite.

For the first time, his voice was husky, but the huskiness only deepened the beauty of it, increased its enthralling effect. Alexandria could barely breathe with the effort to keep from being ensnared by him. She found herself wanting to comfort him, to be the one to take that hungry look from his golden eyes. There seemed such a need in him, and she wanted to sate it. "I think I'm more afraid of you than I was of the vampire. At least I knew he was evil. I could feel it in him, and I knew whatever he wanted from me was more horrible than dying could ever be. Tell me what you're planning to do to me."

"If you do not recognize evil in me, Alexandria, then trust your instincts. Have you not always been able to recognize evil?"

"I saw what you did to Paul Yohenstria. Shouldn't I believe my own eyes?"

"What did I do that was so evil? I destroyed a vampire preying on the human race. My only mistake was in believing he had turned you vampiress. I believed you were about to feed on the child." He touched her face, his palm warm and comforting, the feel of him lingering even after he lowered his hand. "I deeply regret that I frightened you, but I cannot regret that I destroyed the vampire. That is what I do; that is the reason I continued my existence for so long alone and far from home. For the protection of both our races, human and Carpathian."

"You say you aren't a vampire, but I saw the things you can do. You are far more powerful than even he was. He was afraid of you."

"Do not most criminals fear justice when it finds them?"

"If you are not a vampire, then what are you?"

"I am Carpathian," he reiterated patiently. "I am of the earth. We have existed from the beginning of time. We are of the soil, the wind, the water, and the sky. Our powers are great, but we have limitations, too. You have not become vampire, a wanton destroyer. You have become like me, like my people. As I told you, only a handful of humans can become as we are. Most die or become deranged and must be destroyed. I tell you this not to alarm you but to help you to understand that I do not mean you harm."

Alexandria was silent, studying his face. Physically he was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. He exuded masculinity and power. Yet always that danger lurked beneath the surface, and it was that she was afraid of. Should she believe him? Could she?

The hard line of his mouth softened, his amber eyes warming to molten gold. "Do not worry about it this moment, cara. Get to know me better before you attempt to make such a judgment." His hand brushed the length of her hair, a touch of his fingertips, no more, yet she felt it in the pit of her stomach, in the nape of her neck, on every inch of her skin. "A truce, Alexandria, for this night with your brother, while you heal and grow stronger."

She nodded mutely, afraid to trust her voice. She was both repelled by and drawn to Aidan. She felt safe, and yet she knew she was in danger. But for the moment she would try to put aside her fears, her suspicions, and simply enjoy her time with Joshua.

Aidan smiled. It was the first real smile she had seen on his face. It warmed his eyes and stole her breath. There was something very s.e.xy about it that made Alexandria even more afraid. She had never had to fight her own feelings before.

"The door is in front of you," he said.

She turned her head slightly so that she could keep an eye on him even as she observed the bas.e.m.e.nt door. "Any tricks up your sleeve? A secret pa.s.sword?"

"Turning the k.n.o.b will do it."

"How very mundane." Alexandria reached for the doork.n.o.b at the same time he did. His arm curved around her, bringing their bodies close so that she smelled his clean, masculine scent and felt the heat of him right through their clothes. Hastily she dropped her hand. As he opened the door, she could have sworn she heard soft, taunting laughter in her ear. When she turned to glare at him, his face was all innocence.

Alexandria refrained from kicking his shins and with great dignity walked into the brightly lit kitchen, proud of her self-control.

Aidan leaned close as he trailed behind her. "I can read your mind, cara." His voice was teasing, velvety, sliding over her skin like the touch of his fingers, fanning flames she hadn't known existed.

"Don't brag about it, Mr. Savage. What a great name for you, by the way. Savage. It suits you."

"If you do not call me Aidan, I am going to have some explaining to do to Joshua. That boy is very smart, you know."

She laughed softly. "And you said you had no imagination. I can't wait to hear what you come up with."

Chapter Six

The kitchen was huge, larger than the entire suite of rooms Alexandria had rented for Joshua and herself at the boarding-house. It was beautiful, all windows opening out onto a huge garden. Plants hung everywhere, healthy and green, and the tiled floor was spotless. She turned around in a full circle, trying to take in everything at once. "This is so beautiful."

"We have a microwave in case you take a notion to cook something, and the garbage disposal works quite well."

"Very funny. I'll have you know I can cook."

"So Joshua a.s.sured me-I believe it was when he was devouring Marie's cookies."

"So she bakes, too. I don't know if I'll be able to stand such a paragon of virtue." Alexandria made a face. "I suppose she's the one responsible for cleaning this showplace? What can't she do?"

"She does not have your smile, cam" he replied softly.

For one brief moment, time seemed to stand still while she fell into the mesmerizing gold of his eyes, liquid heat pouring over her, into her.

"Alexandria!" Joshua was banging the door open and hurling himself at her, releasing her from Aidan's spell as he did so. "Alex!"

She caught him to her, hugging him so tightly, she nearly smothered him. Then she was looking him over for any signs of wounds or bruises. She paid close attention to his neck, making certain Aidan had not taken his blood. "You look great, Joshua." She hesitated, then said, "Thank you for calling Aidan the other night when I was so sick. It was very smart of you."

He grinned at her, his blue eyes lighting up. "I knew he'd come and he'd know what to do." His mouth suddenly turned down at the corners. "I think that other man made you sick. Poisoned you."

Alexandria tried not to look alarmed. "What other man?"

"Thomas Ivan. When you were having dinner with him, I think he made you eat poison," Joshua said firmly.

Alexandria turned to glare at Aidan's innocent face. "Thomas Ivan wouldn't poison anyone."

"In any case," Aidan said in his gentle, compelling voice, "he'd be more likely to put the poison in something she drank, not something she ate. Much more efficient and likelier to hide any bitterness."

"You would likely know," Alexandria growled at him. "But stop encouraging Joshua to dislike Thomas Ivan. Evidently I'm soon going to be working for him."

"Henry said Thomas Ivan was known as a rake-whatever than means, other than a garden tool- and that he was probably trying to get something besides your drawings from you," Joshua informed her candidly. A vision of Henry's lifeless body rose up in Alexandria's memory, and her grief was stark and gripping. Instantly she felt Aidan in her mind, soothing her, his soft, ancient chant providing a calming influence, an anchor allowing her to smile down at Joshua. "Henry sometimes said things that maybe weren't quite the truth," she managed. "He was a little colorful."

"I do not know about that," Aidan volunteered. "Henry seemed a pretty wise old man. I believe Thomas Ivan is interested in more than your drawings. He was adamant and aggressive when he demanded to see you. Hardly the demeanor of someone searching only for an employee."Joshua was nodding his agreement solemnly, looking at Aidan as if he was the smartest man in the world.

Alexandria did kick Aidan's shin; she couldn't stop herself. "Stop being such a pain! I'll never be able to counteract your influence if you keep this up. Joshua, Aidan is only teasing. He doesn't really dislike Mr. Ivan, do you, Aidan?" she prompted, admonishing him with her eyes.

There was a small, telling silence as Aidan thought about it. "I would like to help you out, cara, but the truth is, I am of the same opinion as Henry and Joshua. I think Thomas Ivan is up to no good."

Joshua puffed out his chest. "See, Alex, women just don't know when a man is gonna try something."

"Where in the world did you hear that?" Alexandria glared accusingly at Aidan.

"Henry," Joshua said immediately. "He said most men are really no good and are usually after only one thing and that Thomas Ivan was known to be the worst of them all."

"Henry had a lot to say, didn't he?" Alexandria gave a little sigh.

Aidan nudged her, raising his eyebrows expectantly.

She tilted her chin, deliberately ignoring him. "We both loved Henry, Joshua, but he did have some strange opinions about things."

Aidan nudged her again.

"What?" Sounding rather haughty, she put on her most innocent expression.

"Perfect example of how devious women can be, Joshua. Your sister practically accused me of filling your head with all kinds of ideas, and now she wants to pretend she did not make a presumption."

Aidan bent down and lifted Joshua, spiriting him from the room.

"Hey!" Alexandria trailed after them into a formal, elegantly appointed dining room, her mouth opening in speechless astonishment.