His food was surprisingly good. Maybe he and I could swap recipes.

Caradoc was left in charge of commuting back and forth between my house and Pallo's businesses. Pallo owned and operated Necro's Magik World and Supernatural Theme Park and a host of other money making attractions. It was only about a half an hour away but Pallo wouldn't dream of leaving me. I didn't think he wanted to admit it but he enjoyed being in the country. He'd spent the last two hundred and fifty years of his life as a vampire and he had an image to maintain. I could see it in his face, which was normally full of that dark-brooding kind of emotion. As of late, he'd been a wise cracking, almost normal guy.

He'd spent the greater part of the night before explaining how I might have some odd side effects from his bite. He was already concerned because my body temperature was lower than normal to start with from me being sick. I a.s.sured him that I understood why he did what he had to do and wouldn't hold anything that might crop up against him.The only real side effect I'd noticed was that my days and nights had gotten all jumbled around. I think that was due to the fact that nighttime was when the vampires were up so I naturally didn't want to be lying in bed alone all day. Other than that I seemed normal, well, as normal as I could get.

I put on some clothes that James had left out for me. He'd made a fine choice in clothing for me. I pulled the blue jeans on and white t-shirt.

The pants were a little hard to get b.u.t.toned. I looked down at my abs and wondered what was happening. Faeries bodies don't change after a certain age. Yes, we age, but it's at a pace so slow that it takes close to a thousand years for us to appear to be in our forties. I made a mental note to call my father soon. He might be able to shed some light on my problem.

Pallo appeared in my doorway with a white rose. I looked around my room.

It had morphed into the land-of-all-things-pretty-and-scented some time over the course of the week and a half I'd spent down and out. Pallo kept me in a steady stream of fresh flowers, James baked every sweet thing he could think of, and Caradoc had given up and brought me a stack of magazines. I think he must have grabbed one of every one on the shelf because the stack was almost two feet high and included car and men's fitness magazines. He'd tried and that's what counted.

"Are you all set?" Pallo asked.

I let out a small laugh when I saw that he was wearing a long sleeved tapered waist blue jean shirt. There were no b.u.t.tons on it until mid-chest. This left most of his ma.s.sive upper body exposed. I wasn't complaining one bit. I loved looking at his pale chest. He had on a dark pair of fitted jeans and a pair of black boots. He looked amazing but it wasn't his normal dark and brooding look.

"So, the fresh air helping you break down and go country?" I asked with a smile.

Pallo looked himself over and gave me a wicked little grin. "I have it on good authority that you like a man like this. I have to admit it is rather comfortable."

He was right, I did, and I knew what, or should I say who, he was basing his decision off of, Caleb. I tried my best not to think of Caleb but Iwas failing miserably. Ugly words had been exchanged between us, things that we could never take back and so many of them were true.

Caleb was right when he said that Ken wasn't a threat. I couldn't picture myself spending the rest of my life married to Ken. I looked over at Pallo. He was adding water to one of the vases full of flowers he'd had delivered. I thought about having him around me every day. He'd risen to the challenge of taking care of me and not once pulled any moody vampire s.h.i.t on me. The only problem with him was that I'd be destined to spend eternity in the darkness with him, and as for a family, I wasn't sure, but I didn't think he was able to offer me that. I'd never heard of a vampire having a child before and someday I wanted to be a mother. Not any time soon, but someday. I thought of asking him, but I didn't.

"I have wondered that myself," Pallo said quietly.

I turned and looked at him. I wasn't sure what he was talking about.

"Wondered what?"

"Everything you were just thinking of--a life with you in the dark and whether or not I am able to produce a child again with you now that I am a creature of the night. It does not matter now anyway."

I didn't know what to say to him. I should have been angry with him for reading my thoughts again but I didn't think he did it on purpose. We seemed connected in some strange way.

He came to me, put his arm under mine and steadied me. His sweet smell enveloped me. I loved that about him. He always smelled fresh and sweet, almost like a woman, but was one hundred percent male.

My arm fit nicely into his and I had to pull on him to get my body up and standing. I thought about what he had said, about fathering a child with me again now that he was a vampire. My chest constricted. I knew from being told and having more and more flashbacks of my past life that I'd been pregnant with his child when I died. I wondered how our lives would have been different if I'd just run away with him when he had asked me.

Instead, I ran from him, trying to protect him from Giovanni. He disappeared after that and I ended up in Caleb's bed. Pallo, I later learned, had ended up at the mercy of Giovanni. A part of him had to hate me for my poor decision. I hated myself and in truth it wasn't even me that made it--it was the old me.Pallo turned to me and pulled me into his exposed chest. "Gwyneth, all things happen for a reason. I have never, nor will I ever, blame you for what I am. Giovanni and his people took your life and the life of our child away. He gave me eternal life. I am able to be here with you now because of that. I would have died long ago, and nothing in your faerie world of magic could have prevented that. So, do not ever feel guilty about events that transpired hundreds of years ago and that you have only broken memories of. You are not the same person you once were, you are stronger now."

I let him hold me. I tried to keep myself together but I couldn't. I let the emotions that had been threatening to eat me alive out. Pallo pulled my hair back and tipped my face up to him. I wanted to erase all the negativity from my past and start over again. I wanted more than anything to leave and never look back, to run as far away from my troubles as I could. How did that make me a stronger person? How could he claim I'd changed when I all wanted to do was to run?

I thought about heading into my office, getting the manila envelope out of the safe and a.s.suming another ident.i.ty, one with less baggage. Maybe I'd be able to fit in with normal people, the kind of people that didn't have magic or a thirst for blood. I looked into Pallo's dark brown eyes and knew I couldn't leave him behind. I wanted to take him with me. It was silly. He'd never leave his money and his power behind. He'd spent centuries carving his niche out in the society of the undead. I hated myself for thinking of running away and I was angry with him for thinking I'd changed. I was a coward.

He pulled my chin up harder and straightened my face to look directly at his. "The very fact you wanted to take me with you proves you are different, and if you feel you have no other choice, then you have but to ask me and I shall leave with you, fata mia."

"Could you please try to stop doing that?"

"What?"

"Could you at least wait until I've verbalized my thoughts clearly?"

"Gwyneth, even as an immortal I do not have that kind of time," he said.

I laughed through my tears.I leaned up to give him a hug and found his lips touching mine. My head grew light and I closed my eyes. I waited for more but he pulled away from me. He backed up and left me standing alone.

"Pallo?"

"I am sorry. I did not intend to take advantage of you. I am sorry. I will send James up to take you out for some fresh air." Pallo turned and headed for the door.

"Stop right there, mister!" He obeyed, but didn't turn around. "You're the one preaching about how much stronger I am now. How can I be strong and vulnerable all at the same time?"

"I wish I knew the answer to that."

"Don't go, please."

"You and Caleb have much to discuss. I sensed ... something in you when I brought you back. It is important that the two of you work out your differences."

I didn't bother expressing my displeasure with him or asking him what he was talking about. I had the feeling his antenna was in full mind-reading mode. I couldn't believe he'd be the one to pull away again. I didn't want to lose him, yet I felt powerless to keep him near me. He'd spent the last two months distancing himself from me, for reasons all his own, and just when I finally thought that he'd come around he pulled away again. Caleb had walked out and given up on me. Now Pallo was, too. I knew if he walked out that door it'd be over between us before it ever had a chance to get started again. It was for the best. He deserved better than me, an indecisive female who looked like someone he once loved.

Let him go, Gwen. Let him go back to his life. He was happy before you.

Let him go.

Pallo glanced over his shoulder at me walked out of the door. He had made his choice. I would be a big girl and learn to live with it. A sharp pain shot through my stomach. Doubling over, I grabbed for the bed. I hit the night stand instead and sent a vase full of yellow daisies crashing tothe floor. The pain was so great that I couldn't scream out. I could only clutch myself tightly and claw at the floor to try to alleviate the pain.

Whatever this was--it was tearing me apart.

I gasped, as the pain eased for a moment. The thought of calling out for help occurred to me, but I didn't do it. Dying seemed like a better option than forcing Pallo to help me yet again. Pain seized hold of me again and I bit down hard on my lower lip.

G.o.d, make it end ... just make it end.

I'm not sure if I was praying for relief or death. Somehow, I think it was the latter of the two. Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around me and I looked up to see Pallo holding me. He put gently into the bed.

His touch made the pain ease up. I pulled him to me, leaving him no choice but to climb into the bed with me. Turning my back to him, I let him spoon me while he ran his hands over my stomach. He jerked his hand back and leaned over to look at my stomach. I looked down too, it had gotten bigger. The faint sound of the chanting monks began again and pulled Pallo tighter to me.

"They're coming, Pallo. I can feel it."

"Rest now and do not forget what I told you about the dreams ... do not let me take you to the altar, no matter what."

"I'm not planning on going to sleep."

Pallo's cool energy rose up around me. "Yes, you are." It slammed into me as sleep swallowed me whole.

Chapter 24.

Reaching out, I touched the cave wall. I waited to see the robed men again. They didn't show. I looked in at the circle altar room and waited for Pallo to show up. He wasn't there either. I turned and walked down one of the halls. It narrowed and I had to turn sideways to make it through.

"Gwyneth!" I heard Pallo's voice behind me. I turned to face him.

"Pallo? What's happening? Why do we keep having these dreams? Why the h.e.l.l did you force me to sleep?"

"Something else took hold of my power. I did not mean to do that to you.

Please..." He spun around fast. From my vantage point all I could see was his body, but he must have seen someone coming. His eyes widened as he looked back at me.

"Run. Do not look back ... do not let me touch you. Run!"

What? Why did he want me to run and where was I supposed to run to? Just then a breeze tickled my neck. I turned and glanced behind me. There was an opening in the cave. I could see the night sky out it. I looked back at Pallo and heard the chanting men approaching.

"Go, Gwyneth!"

"No, I'm not leaving you here with them. I know that you were walking out of my life for good, but I'm not willing to walk out on you. I won't let anything happen to you!"

His eyes flashed black. "Go!" His voice was deeper than normal and had a hint of a snarl in it. It didn't matter how he spoke to me I wouldn't leave him here with those men.

"Go ahead and eat me. I'm not going anywhere." I folded my arms in protest.

His hand shot out at me, narrowly missing me. "Go now! They want me to take you. Gwyneth, they are calling my demon to the surface, they are controlling it ... not me ... if they will it to kill you, then it will."I watched flecks of red spin into his eyes. He jerked his head back and cried out.

That did it for me. I turned and ran. I hit the opening and the cold night air smacked me in the face. The ground was freezing beneath my bare feet. At least I wasn't naked this time, thank G.o.d. This time I was wearing an off-white gown that hung almost to the ground.

"Wake up, Gwen. Wake up!" I pushed my way through the dense forest bru sh and ran. Something swished and landed behind me. I knew it was Pallo. I ran faster and stepped down hard on something. Pain radiated up my foot and into my leg. I fell to my knees, and closed my eyes to focus, trying my best to block out how much my foot hurt. I felt it then. The power looming around me.

I turned my head slowly and saw Pallo standing there in black loose pants and no shirt. The night breeze blew his wavy brown hair around. He looked like a Greek G.o.d, all except for his black eyes and fangs. He'd wanted me to kill him if he came to me like this again, but I knew I couldn't. I wondered if he attacked me now, even though this was a dream, would I die? I thought about my bleeding breast and knew the answer to that was yes.

Pallo took a step towards me. I scrambled backwards to get away from him.

My foot caught in my long gown and I ended up getting twisted in it. I fell flat onto the ground. Pallo knelt down in front of me, slowly.

I pulled at the gown trying to get it untwisted. My hands brushed across my stomach. It was bigger now. My lower abdomen was now rounded out a t least four inches from its normal flat position. I managed to get the gown down just as Pallo's fingers touched my legs. I hadn't noticed how long his fingernails got when he did his vampire thing before, but I did now.

"Pallo?"

He snarled at me. Nope, Pallo wasn't home right now. I tried to pull my power up but nothing came. Whoever was responsible for these dreams hadseen to it that I was bound, unable to use my magic.

Pallo leaned over me. His fingers moved slowly up my leg and inner thigh.

He pushed his face down between my legs, burying his face deep into me. I tensed up, expecting him to sink his teeth in one of my most vulnerable spots. He kept his head there but made no move to hurt me.

My hand skimmed across something hard and jagged. It was a rock. That must have been what I'd stepped on. I cupped it in my hand and waited for him to get closer. He moved his fingers up more, over my mound. He stopped on my abdomen. I cramped up and cried out. I brought the rock against the side of his head, hard. I had to control myself--I too, possessed strength stronger than a human did and I didn't want to kill Pallo. I just wanted to knock him out for a minute.

I brought the rock up fast and came into direct contact with the side of his head.

"Wake up!" I screamed.

Chapter 25.

I woke screaming. I was outside. For a moment I thought that I was still dreaming but when I looked down at myself I didn't see the off-white gown. I was back in my clothes again, although, they were a great deal tighter. I reached down and unb.u.t.toned my jeans. My belly popped out of them. I just stared at it. It was huge.

Something moved towards me, rustling branches as it went. My night vision was better than it used to be but not nearly good enough to see what washeaded my way. My senses were keener, most likely one of the permanent side effects Pallo had talked about.

Scrambling to my feet, I looked around. I tried hard to get a sense of where I was. I could smell wood burning. I hoped that was the direction of my house but the sound was coming from that way. I made a split second decision and ran in the opposite direction.

I bit my lip hard to keep from crying out as a branch sliced my upper arm open. I grabbed the cut with my other hand and kept moving forward. My stomach got tighter as the cramps came and went. I fought against the urge to stop and throw-up. Stopping while something was chasing me would be very bad so I pushed deeper into the woods.

Living on over two hundred acres of woods seemed like a good idea when I moved out here. No nosy neighbors, no noise, and no one to help me if I needed it. I ran until I caught sight of a small brown structure.

I knew where I was now. I was about a mile away from the house. The structure was an old maple sugar shack. It had been built almost a hundred years before to help with the harvest of the maple from the trees. I'd been fascinated with it as a child. Then my adoptive parents died and left me the land it came with it.

I ran up to it and pushed an old piece of wood up to open the door. It stuck for a minute and I pushed harder. It gave and I ran in. The floor was dirt and the shack had nothing but an old table and fireplace in it.

I looked around. There were no windows. I was thankful for that--to a point. No windows meant no moonlight and that equaled pitch black. I moved to the center of the shack and stood very still.

Something stepped on a twig outside the door. I drew in a deep breath and waited. I tried to call upon my magic, but it wasn't cooperating with me.

It was fickle like that. I managed to only get a tiny bit of it to rise up.

Hey, I'd take it.

The door burst open and I lashed out. "Gwyneth?" I heard Pallo's voice.I ran towards him, expecting to find him lying on the ground unconscious.

He wasn't. He was standing to the side of the door staring behind him.

His eyes widened as he watched a large branch from a tree snap off and fly to the ground. Good thing he was a fast mover. I turned and looked at him. I wanted to see his face. I had to know if he was still in his demon form.

"Look at me!" I screamed.

He reached his hands out to me and I took a step back. "No, it is fine ... see." He came closer and I saw that indeed he was telling the truth.

Pallo opened his arms to me and I fell into them. He held me tight for a long time before he finally spoke. "I thought I made it clear that you were to kill me if I came at you in demon form in the dreams again."

I pulled back from him. The moonlight caught the side of his face and I saw the dried blood on his temple. I reached out to touch it and he winced.