The intensity in his voice, the sheer need sent her right over the edge. Rose keened in bliss at the all-encompassing sensations and myriad emotions flooding through her. Wave after wave of ecstasy started in her channel and roared through her body.

For a brief second, she let down her mental barrier and was surprised at the breath of renewed strength that slammed into her. The sensation was unlike anything she'd ever experienced, strange and rejuvenating, but scary enough to cause her to lock her mind once more.

Duncan let go of her neck and laved at her wound. Withdrawing his fingers from her body, he rolled over and pulled her in his arms, kissing her forehead.

Rose's hand had fallen away from his erection during her climax. She placed her hand back on the ridge of hard flesh and stared at him. "You didn't come." Gripping his cock, she leaned over and placed a kiss on the soft skin.

His erection jumped in her hand but Duncan pulled her back in his arms saying in a gruff tone, "Another time. I've taken your blood. You need to rest now."

"But I want to know what you taste like-"

Duncan kissed her mouth, cutting off her words. When she began to respond, tangling her tongue with his, he pulled away and pushed her head down on his shoulder.

"Rest."

The truth was, she did feel tired, but she didn't like being ordered around either or feeling as if he'd withdrawn from her. He was doing it again. She'd be damned if she'd let him hold it all back.

"Sing me a song and I'll rest," she said against his chest.

Duncan's body tensed at her request. Rose trailed her fingers back down his stomach toward his erection.

He grasped her hand and planted a kiss on her palm before he began to sing the Irish lullaby "Sleep, My Darling" to her.

Rose closed her eyes and listened to the familiar Irish words fill the room. Duncan's deep voice radiated from his chest. His perfect pitch and intonation reached out and grabbed her in the gut, causing goose bumps to form on her arms. She laced her fingers with his and snuggled close. Sliding her leg between his, she closed her eyes and let his beautiful voice lull her.

Something about Duncan felt so right, she couldn't put it to words. When he trailed off, she said in a sleepy voice, "Promise you'll sing to me again. I love your voice."

He kissed the top of her head. "Go to sleep, Roisin."

Duncan's body ached as he held himself still, waiting for Rose to fall asleep. Damn, the woman knocked the snot out of him. His entire body roared for release, especially when she said she'd wanted to taste him. For the brief second her mental barrier was down, he'd read her curiosity over what his blood would taste like. The knowledge had shocked the shit out of him, ramming straight to his groin.

Blowing out a sexually frustrated breath, he tried to understand why he was so freaking tired. Of course, holding off from climaxing while he took her blood did take superhuman strength he didn't really have. He wanted nothing more than to fall asleep with Rose, but he knew if he woke up with her in his arms, he'd take her blood again.

And by doing so, he'd seal her fate.

He knew it took three bites in as many days and while there was a day between that they hadn't seen each other, he knew he wouldn't be able to keep his distance if he hung around another day or two. He didn't want to chance the risk. There was no fucking way he'd convert her to a hybrid vampire. Stroking her soft hair, he closed his eyes.

One thing he knew for certain, he wanted her, cherished this woman like no other. He'd just have to make sure he only saw her every few days so he wouldn't turn her. Hell, for his own sanity, he'd have to keep his distance. The more he took her blood, the more addicting she became. He knew the next time he was in Rose's presence he wouldn't ask permission to take her blood.

The next time, after spending at least three days away, even if he'd fed well before he came to Rose, he'd be so revved up to have her, he'd take what he wanted without question, probably more than once. Rose's blood wasn't sustenance in his mind, but a deeper, more primal and satisfying fix every time he tasted her.

And yet, she'd knocked him for a wallop, too. This last time with her was so intense, so different. He thought only of pleasing her, making her want what he could offer her. And she took it all. He'd never felt so zonked after a sexual encounter in his life. If he felt this out of it now, he could only imagine what he'd feel like if she sank her fangs into him in a...full vampire mating.

No! His gut clenched as the subconscious thought entered his mind, grabbing hold of his chest and squeezing. Hard.

Duncan slid out from underneath Rose's soft, warm body and walked out of the room. Quickly dressing, he refused to acknowledge the possibility. He never planned to mate. Ever. Mating required more than he could ever give.

Once he was dressed, he glanced back to her bedroom, his stomach knotting. He'd never ached so much for another, never felt so torn.

One thing he knew for certain, he'd be counting every one of those seventy-two hours. When the danger of converting her was over, he'd be back-insatiable for more. Turning on his heel, he left her house and mentally locked the door behind him.

Swift pain stabbed him in the gut, like someone shoved a knife deep and maliciously twisted to make the blade tear sinew and flesh...to drag out the torture. Duncan clenched his abdominal muscles and grunted, turning away. Groans of pain sliced the air, but they weren't his. At least he didn't think they were. Duncan crouched in the pitch dark, wondering why he couldn't see anything.

Another sharp pain slammed his spine this time, knocking him to his knees in its intensity. He roared in anger. His fangs exploded in his gums and his nails extended into claws as he pivoted on the balls of his feet and lashed out at his unknown assailant.

"Show yourself, you fucking bastard!"

A bolt of bright light flashed before his eyes, blinding him. Excruciating pain splintered through his skull. Duncan fell to the ground holding his head and groaning at the unbelievable pressure pounding inside his mind.

"Duncan!" Rose's heartrending scream shot through the darkness, jerking him out of his nightmare.

Duncan awoke panting. His lower stomach muscles tensed and flexed in response to the nightmare's remnants still inside his mind. He sat up and tore the sheets off his sweat-soaked body as he threw his legs over the side of his bed. Glancing at his hands he was surprised to see them shaking. Duncan ground his teeth and ran his hands through his hair to steady them. What a helluva nightmare!

When his phone rang, Duncan grabbed it off his nightstand with relief. Anything to wash away the dream's surrealistic grip.

"Hello?"

"Whoa! You didn't know it was me?" Ian said, sounding surprised.

Duncan snorted. It was true, even without caller ID, he usually knew when his twin was calling him. "I just woke from the worst nightmare."

"Yeah, I sensed something wasn't right with you. Glad to know it was just a vivid dream. Man, you must be projecting like hell, Dunc."

Duncan rubbed his forehead, unable to shake the weakness that seemed to overtake him.

"You have any news about Mom?"

"That's why I was calling. I went back to the Summit House. All the leaders had left except Lucian. Mom was still in the library talking to Eamon. I asked Lucian if he knew anything but he was as in the dark as we are. Then Mom and Eamon walked into the boardroom and asked to meet with Lucian alone. Alone!"

"Bet you were pissed."

"I expected Lucian to back me up, but he asked me to wait in the library."

Duncan sensed his brother's frustration. "This just gets stranger and stranger, eh bro?"

"When Lucian, Mom and Eamon came back into the library, Lucian told me that he'd decided to let Eamon eliminate James."

"What the fuck! Lucian has to know Eamon's too close."

Ian sighed. "The thing of it is, I think Mom was the one who convinced Luc, swayed his decision."

"Tell me Mom talked to you, told you what the hell was going on." Duncan's shoulders tensed at the turn of events.

"That's the hell of it. She didn't. When I insisted she tell me how she was involved in this, she strode past me saying, 'I've got to talk to your father first'".

"That was hours ago, right?" Duncan ran his hand through his hair, irritated. "Why hasn't she told you yet?"

"Dad was out of town, purchasing another one of his 'antiques'." Ian blew out a breath. Duncan could just picture his brother rubbing his jaw in his frustration. "If Mom doesn't call me in the next half hour, I'm going over there."

The lack of news didn't help Duncan's sense of unease. "I would go with you, but I have something I need to take care of."

"Does it have anything to do with a certain redhead?" Ian asked. "How'd it go last night?"

Duncan ignored his brother's smug tone. "Something's not right, Ian."

"I told you there was something about her."

"No, that's not what I mean. I feel that something's not right."

"Then why the fuck are you still talking to me? Get the hell over to her place and find out."

Duncan closed his eyes and fought the constriction in his chest. "I can't. If I go there, I know I'll take her blood again. I'll convert her."

"And that's a bad thing? You obviously have a connection with this woman."

Sometimes having a twin who seemed to know you better than yourself really bit the big one. Duncan clenched his jaw and remained quiet.

"Why do you think you feel her? Have you heard her thoughts? I'm talking about hearing her without consciously listening in her mind? Rose is the one person I've seen you show a deep interest in, the one person even I have a connection with through you... This woman is your Anima, Dunc."

Hearing his brother voice the words that'd been rumbling around in his subconscious hit Duncan hard. His chest felt as if it were going to explode. "I won't convert her, Ian. I refuse to mate," he said through gritted teeth.

"Get the fuck over it! If you can't trust yourself to be alone with her, take Mark with you, but if you feel in your gut something just isn't right, get over there."

"It was just a dream," Duncan insisted, trying to convince himself.

"Are you willing to take that chance?" Ian countered. "Call Mark. I'm going to get some answers from Mom. Keep your cell with you."

Duncan hung up the phone, then glanced at the clock. Four in the morning. His stomach churned in hunger, stronger than it had in a very long time. Why was he so hungry? He'd just fed a few hours ago. A wave of queasiness hit his stomach, the kind of ache that came with sheer emptiness. Inexplicable concern for Rose roared through him.

His mind made up, he picked up the phone and dialed Mark's cell.

"Twice in one week! Will wonders never cease?"

"Can the sarcasm, Devlin. This is important."

"What's up?"

"The benefits of being my vampri," Duncan replied in a derisive tone. "I need your help."

"Do I need to call in the trackers again?"

"No. I just need you to do me a favor. To check on someone for me. You're closer to her house than I am. I'll meet you there."

Duncan heard Mark's car starting. "Sure thing. What's the name and address?"

He gave Mark the address. "Her name is Rose Sinclair."

"Ice Queen Sinclair?" Mark hooted. "How do you know her? Did she freeze your balls off?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Rose was the furthest he'd ever seen from an Ice Queen.

"Whoa, calm down. That's just the name the boys down at the precinct call her. They've all tried to get her to go out with them, but she turned them down cold."

Duncan couldn't help the smile that spread across his face at the knowledge Rose acted anything but the "Ice Queen" with him.

"So you know Rose?"

"Yep, she comes in from time to time when she's working on a case."

Relieved that Rose wouldn't freak out if Mark got to her house before he did, Duncan said, "I need you to go by her house and check on her. I'll meet you there."

"Will do. By the way, how do you know Rose?"

"She's the woman James kidnapped."

"The one who drove off on your motorcycle?" Mark laughed out loud.

"I'll see you there." He ignored Mark's jibe and hung up the phone.

He shifted from his raven form to his human form outside her home. Without money or a passport, he'd used his powers to compel his way through the airport's international gates. He'd had a grueling flight from Ireland. Using his shifting ability, he was able to dodge the sunlight, but the effort left him so exhausted by the time he arrived in the States during the day, he'd stayed hidden in an airport closet until hunger forced him to seek food. After he'd gorged himself on the blood from three women and two men passing the closet he'd taken up residence in, he'd left the airport at three in the morning.

Revenge rose up in him as he immediately followed her scent across town. Yet, the need to protect battled within him, tamping down his own desires as the Goddess had promised.

How many times had he cursed this pitiful excuse of a life The Morrigan had condemned him to? Hatred pumped in his veins, swift, dark...unforgiving.

His cold eyes swept the perimeter of her home, looking for enemies. Anger welled that she wasn't there. That he'd have to track her down.

While walking among the human race, he'd projected black clothing on himself...a fitting color for his mood. He smirked at how real his black trench coat swirling around his boots would look to anyone who saw him. As he approached her front door, he hoped that in the long years since he'd last seen her, she'd learned more defensive moves. She'd need them. The Morrigan might've given him an edict he couldn't disobey-to protect his priestess at all costs-but the Goddess didn't remove his desire to have her powers...or what she thought were his desires.

Instead the truth festered within him, twisting the man he once was into the beast he'd become today. He couldn't wait to toy with her, to take her to the brink. Then he'd exact his revenge. He didn't fear death. He'd gotten what The Morrigan thought he'd wanted. Immortality. But as the Goddess would soon discover, even she wasn't infallible.

He narrowed his eyes and relished kicking the front door open. The wood splintered and the panel gave way. Scanning the room, his shrewd gaze took in the surroundings. Her scent clung to his nostrils like the sweetest nectar, but his entire frame stiffened when he smelled another vamp's scent permeating the house.

"No!" he growled, rushing forward to the area in her home the scent radiated from the strongest.

When he walked into her bedroom, his gaze landed on the bed with its torn sheets. Noting the drops of blood on a pillowcase, he picked up one of the pillows and licked the red liquid that had soaked the soft white cotton.

Confirmation snapped him to attention. This wasn't Anna, but her descendant. He tasted no other vamp's blood, but he'd definitely scented another vamp. Did this mean what he thought it meant? She wasn't yet mated to this vampire? Was this male vamp the threat he'd been called forth to protect her from? This mysterious vampire smelled like him, but different. He hadn't known there were others in the United States. The knowledge surprised him.

Would this vampire's powers rival his? Excitement made his stomach tighten. He looked forward to finding out. Cataloging the other vamp's scent in his mind, he dropped the pillow and glanced outside.

He had less than an hour before sunrise. With a derisive twist of his lips, he wondered what would become of him if Anna's descendent mated, rendering his protection unnecessary. Would this strange land's earth swallow him where he stood? Would he be doomed to reside his days stuck in this foreign land's earth and away from his homeland's soil?

His gaze landed on the surface of the dresser against the far wall. Noting the deep, claw-mark gouges in the wood, he approached. He frowned and laid his hands over the marred wood, drawing his fingers through the long burrows. It was as if someone had clung hard to the surface, then pulled back or fell. The marks were too close together to be a male's. These were smaller...definitely female. Putting his fingers to his nose, he inhaled and rage filled him.