I stood and walked out of the room. I met James in the hallway and told him to check on Pallo in a few minutes. He didn't ask why I was crying and I was happy for that. I pushed my door open and went straight to my bathroom. Turning the water on, I let it fill the tub. I walked back out and checked Giovanni's suitcase again. Nothing had changed. He was gone and I knew it. He never said good-bye or even bothered to give me a reason. He'd just up and left. He'd been so full of promises about not going anywhere and always being there for me that I'd actually began to believe him.

Always the fool, Gwen!

I started to take my shirt off and stopped when I saw something out my window. Peering out, I thought I saw someone standing outside my window, but I was on the second story so it made me question the logic in that. I drew the curtain shut. As I pulled my navy sweater up and over my head, the hairs on my body rose again. I heard the sound of breaking gla.s.s and something grabbed a hold of the back of my hair before I registered what was going on.

My feet left the floor and the broken windowpane cut my arms. The soles of my shoes slapped down on the porch roof and I tried to get to my feet. My attacker jumped off the side and my head smacked down against the roof before he dragged my body over the edge, too. My shoulders cracked as my body slammed into the ground. I reached up and grabbed the half-hairy arm that was dragging me by my hair.

I dug my nails in and tried to get him to let me go. He wouldn't. I kept holding on if only to prevent him from ripping my hair right out of my head. I tried to dig my feet into the ground and to claw at him, but he only pulled me faster towards the woods. I heard someone screaming and realized it was me. The man dragging me stopped quickly and bent over me.

My eyes widened as I saw Fritz's punk-rock styled black hair above me. His fist came at my face hard and fast. I heard Caleb calling my name as the darkness swallowed me whole.

"Bella, Bella mia...."

I followed the sound of Giovanni's voice. I knew I was dreaming of the box hedge maze at his home, but I didn't know why. It was twice as tall as it was in real life and the bushes were a burning red color. That was a dead giveaway to it being a dream. I heard Giovanni call my name again and I ran around the corner expecting to find him. All I found was a dead end.

"Bella mia..."

I spun around. "Giovanni, I can't find you. Where are you?"

"Bella, I love you."

The sound of his voice held so much sorrow. I knew this was his way of telling me he would not be coming back to me.

I turned and ran faster down each pa.s.sageway, trying desperately to find him. "Giovanni ... please, please don't do this."

His cool energy wrapped around me. I could tell it hurt him to say good-bye to me, but I also could sense he had no choice. I closed my eyes and let him envelop his essence around me.

"Amore mia, vita mia, amore eternal," he whispered softly to me.

Something tugged on my waist and my wrist. I tried to fight the pain and stay in my dream with Giovanni near me, but I couldn't. Something grabbed my chin and I felt myself waking.

My body hurt and my eyes were heavy. I tried to open them, but only one was working. My left eye only opened a little and that hurt like h.e.l.l. Someone squeezed my chin and I looked down at the pale thin arm in front of me. My head was yanked upwards and I found myself face to face with Malita.

Oh, goodie. The b.i.t.c.h welcome wagon.

Her long blonde hair was pulled tightly back from her face. I'd never noticed how sharp her features were before. G.o.d, she was born to be a b.i.t.c.h. She glared at me and then smiled.

"You don't deserve Pallo or Giovanni!" She let go of my chin and my face fell forward. My forehead smacked something hard and I realized I was tied to a tree. I jerked and the ropes binding me pulled tighter, cutting off circulation.

"The Para-regs will be here soon. My people will clear out, leaving the path open wide for them to get to you." She tipped her head back and laughed. "Oh, the fun they'll have with you. I do so hope they make a grand example out of the daughter of the Dark King." With that, she pivoted and left me tied to the tree.

I wanted to draw upon my powers but was weak and disoriented. I sensed someone coming and fear slammed through me. Drawing in a deep breath, I waited for what would mostly likely be my doom.

"Gwen?" Caleb asked, sounding out of breath. "Christ, what the h.e.l.l ...."

"Come, let us free her." The sound of Pallo's voice made me smile. It meant he was healed, at least enough to be alive-or whatever it was an already dead guy called it.

They worked quickly, untying me from the tree. Caleb put his hands over my wrists and sent healing energy through them. "She did a f.u.c.king number on you. What happened?"

"I don't know," I said, shaking my head. "I woke up tied to the tree. She only just left. We could catch her."

Pallo exhaled loudly. "For now we pull back and a.s.sess the damage they have done to our side."

"Or we could hunt the b.i.t.c.h down and kill her incredibly slowly," I offered, feeling better thanks to Caleb.

Pallo smiled. "All in good time, Gwyneth. Come."

They hurried me back through the dense wooded area and we finally broke through to my yard. The farmhouse never looked so good. They bypa.s.sed it and headed for the guesthouse that Mikhail was staying in.

I gasped. "Is Mikhail hurt?"

"No," Caleb said, helping to steady me. "Everyone is pulling back to there. It's the best spot to set up a defensive position. Besides, it's also where I store my extra weapons."

I blinked. "You're joking right?"

He grinned. "Nope."

We rushed forward and were greeted by a very naked Nicholas. There was a nasty gaping wound in his torso. The sight of it didn't make me sick. No. It sent a worry like I'd never known through me.

Pushing away from Caleb, I ran towards the staircase. "Nick!"

He staggered. "I'm... fine. Just need to sit down a minute."

Mikhail appeared, took one look at Nicholas and paled. "Nicholas!"

Nicholas waved a hand dismissively. "I'm fine. Really."

"So fine you cannot shift and heal this?" Mikhail prompted.

I closed the distance between Nicholas, not caring that he was b.u.t.t naked. In fact, it barely registered in my mind. My only concern was the fact he was injured. I reached out to see how bad his wound was and he lost his balance on the staircase, tumbling onto me. I tried to lift him but wasn't strong enough.

"Nick, off..."

Nicholas didn't move. His magik surged, moving up through him. His breathing grew faster and the weight of his body pressed down harder on me. His magik slammed into mine and mine recognized his. I'd never had that happen before. I tried to pull mine away, but I couldn't control it. I could hear Caleb yelling and I felt someone's hands trying to pull me free of Nicholas. I knew that if they separated us now, one of us might not survive. I grabbed tightly to Nicholas's arm and he put his head down on me.

I closed my eyes tightly, my head feeling like it was splitting. Quickly, another vision came on. I'd worked hard at controlling them lately and thought for sure I had it mastered.

Guess not.

In my mind, I saw Giovanni and Mikhail sitting on the hill near Giovanni's home. It was dark, but I could plainly see a child running through the herb gardens. The little boy's hair was dark as the night and his eyes were a deep, dark blue. His little face was so perfectly round. The only hint of the coming features of adult hood was the tiny dimpled chin he had. I watched Giovanni put his hands out and the child came running to him yelling, "Papa".

Nicholas tried to pull his memories back from me. He knew I was sharing them, but our magik wouldn't allow it. I dove into another moment from his childhood when he was around five. He was standing on the other side of a door with it cracked open, watching Giovanni have a heated discussion with someone. Giovanni's body lifted into the air and blood flew out from his chest and arms. I screamed at the same time the younger version of Nicholas did. I saw large arms wrap around him quickly. Mikhail picked him up and turned with him to run. Nicholas kept his eyes on the cracked open door and it burst open the same time Mikhail was heading out with him. Pallo stood in the doorway. His hands were dripping with Giovanni's blood and his eyes were black and wild. Little Nicholas did not feel fear, he felt hatred.

"Gwyneth!" Pallo shouted, yanking me from the visions of Nicholas' youth.

I glanced up to find Pallo holding onto to my shoulders. He saw me open my eyes and turned quickly to glare at Nicholas who was now leaning back from me on the steps. Reaching out, Pallo grabbed Nicholas by his throat. He lifted his limp body high into the air and threw him across the railing. I jumped to my feet and screamed as I watched Nicholas' body flying across the yard. He crashed down and slid a few feet. He didn't move.

Mikhail sprang over the side of the railing and was to him before I could shout again. I hit Pallo's back hard. He spun around and grabbed my wrist. "Gwyneth, he attacked you. Caleb said he was using his magik on you."

"He didn't attack me! I don't think he meant to do it."

I tried to take another step down and had to grab a hold of the railing. Pallo put his arm around my waist and I pushed him away. "Don't touch me!"

"Gwyneth?"

I could still see the image of him that Nicholas had carried around since he was a child. That was why there were hard feelings between them. Nicholas had watched Pallo attack Giovanni, his father.

His father?

I staggered down the rest of the stairs and ran across the gra.s.s to Nicholas. Mikhail had Nicholas' head propped up and was saying something to him. I dropped down next to him and touched his forehead.

"Are you all right?"

He gave me a half-nod, half-no answer.

Yeah, I felt about the same.

I locked gazes with Mikhail. "Is he Giovanni's son?"

His eyes widened and he glanced back at Pallo quickly. I knew that both Caleb and Pallo heard me because they let out the same gasp. I touched Mikhail's leg. "Is he Giovanni's son?"

Nicholas sat up and put his weight on his elbows. His dark blue eyes found mine. I searched for traces of Giovanni in Nicholas. He did have dark black hair like Giovanni, but his was curly and not the sleek straight Giovanni had. Giovanni's eyes were as dark as his hair and Nicholas' were crisp and blue-navy blue. A blue I saw when I looked at my father and when I looked in the mirror.

My stomach tightened. I fell forward and grabbed Nicholas to me.

Pallo came running at me to yank me off. I put my hand out and shot what little power I had left in me out at him. It didn't stop him, it only made him grunt. He came flying past me and lifted Nicholas back up off his feet again. Pallo spun Nicholas around and I tried to push myself in between them.

Mikhail ran in to help break Pallo off him. Mikhail had the upper body strength to accomplish what I couldn't. He got Pallo to let go. Nicholas fell back onto the ground. Pallo swept Mikhail into the air with one flick of his wrist.

I felt Pallo's cold energy rise up and I saw Nicholas' cheek rip open. I threw myself down and over Nicholas and sensed Pallo pulling his power back into himself.

"Gwyneth, go. This does not concern you. If he is the son of Giovanni, then that would explain much."

I stared at Pallo and then to Mikhail. "I think it does concern me, don't you?" Mikhail's eyes widened. He glanced at Pallo and then at me. He didn't have to answer me. I already knew I was right.

"Pallo, you can't hurt him. I don't care what the problem is between you and Giovanni, you can't hurt Nicholas."

Pallo sighed. "Gwyneth, there are certain things you cannot understand about creatures like us. One is that old feuds do not die easily."

Nicholas moved himself out from underneath me and I watched in horror as he glared at Pallo. He didn't know. Giovanni had never told him. "Nicholas, no, look at me. Is Giovanni your father? I need the truth. Please. Is Giovanni...?"

"Yes, but I was an orphaned child. He took me in and cared for me like his own." He nodded and stepped past me. He'd given me all the information I was going to get from him.

"Nicholas, no!" I grabbed his arm. He thrust it out and sent me flying backwards. My shoulder smacked the ground first, then my head. Caleb yelled and ran to me. He dropped down beside me and touched my temple. His finger came away b.l.o.o.d.y.

"Gwen, you're bleeding!"

My head spun slightly as I tried to lift it. Caleb held me down and put his hand to my forehead. He washed a wave of his hot magik over me and I knew that he was healing my head. I was thankful but getting hit on the head was the least of my concerns. Pallo and Nicholas were locked together in battle again, snarling at one another and I knew they wouldn't stop until one of them was dead. They shared the same stubborn streak-it was obviously genetic.

I tried to sit up. Caleb grabbed my arm. "Gwen, take it easy."

I pushed up and past him. He had to move up behind me to keep me from falling on my face. Pallo took Nicholas' half-clawed hand to his face. Pallo countered with a blow that sent Nicholas's head snapping backwards.

"Stop it!"

Nicholas turned and stared at me. Pallo hit him again and sent him flying backwards. I moved towards him and something s.n.a.t.c.hed me up from behind. I turned and saw Pallo's face. His eyes were swirling to black. His lip turned upwards and I watched his fangs emerge.

"Why do you protect him? Is it out of love for Giovanni? He is a monster and so is his son!" He leaned in and licked my cheek. I could sense his thirst for blood, almost as if it was my own. "Tell me, why have you not given up on Giovanni? He abandoned you. He is not to be trusted and now he has proven as much." Pallo pushed me away from him. I saw the black in his eyes as he stared past me at Nicholas. He wanted to kill him and I wouldn't let that happen.

"Pallo, if you want to hurt Nicholas then you will have to go through me."

He looked down at me. "Gwyneth, Giovanni cannot be that good a lover to give up your life for his child."

I let his first comment go. Yeah, Giovanni was a good enough lover to give up just about anything for him, but that wasn't the point. "Pallo, it's not his child I'm willing to give everything up for... it's yours."

His eyes narrowed to tiny slits. "What?"

Reaching up, I cupped his cheek lightly. "I think Nicholas is our son. I think he's the child I was pregnant with when, umm, when I died."

Pallo jerked away from me. I turned and glanced at Nicholas. He appeared as shocked as Pallo. "That can't be," Nicholas said, his mouth agape. "You aren't that old.

You're almost two-hundred years younger than I am."

That wasn't saying much and it was obvious the guy didn't know my history very well. Caleb moved up and touched my arm. "Gwen, his magik wasn't attacking you then, it was finding a piece of itself in you. G.o.d, I should've recognized the signs. His eyes are yours and your father's."

"This cannot be," Pallo said.

"Pallo, you said they found my body, but did they find the baby's body?"

Caleb moved up and wrapped his arms around me. "No, I only found you. Not the baby, but your body was so bad that I ... I just..."

I turned in his arms and hugged him to me. I had no idea he'd been the one to find me. "I didn't know."

He hugged me tightly to him. "Gwen, I found you in the same field that ... that you and I first made love in."

I thought about Giovanni telling me how he'd watched Caleb and I make love for the first time in a field of flowers. Oh, G.o.d ... he had put me there for Caleb to find. I tried to push away the doubts that were creeping into my head about trusting Giovanni.

I stared at Pallo. "Pallo, look at Nicholas. He's your height, your build, he's got your curly hair and for crying out loud look at that chin! If that doesn't do it for you, look at Nicholas' temper!"

Caleb let me go to Pallo. Pallo kept backing up, looking confused. He dropped to his knees and put his hand out to me. I took it and bent down before him. "This cannot be ... no, Gwyneth."

Mikhail appeared and stopped when he was within a few feet of us. He looked like he had something to offer, but was scared. I smiled, doing my best to appear rea.s.suring. "Not that my opinion will matter much with Giovanni, since he ran out on me, but go ahead, Mikhail, spit it out and I'll see what I can do for you."

He glanced nervously at me and then at Pallo. "I don't think Giovanni ran out, but I'm not the one to ask about that." Pallo's arm stiffened under the weight of my touch. Mikhail took another step forward and dropped his head down. "I helped Giovanni raise Nicholas. He called me to him after you died and said he had made you a promise to care for the child. I told him he was insane, vampires couldn't raise babies. They couldn't even go out in the daylight."