"Okay, I've got your seat reserved. And how would you like to pay for that?"

As Rose rattled off her credit card number and expiration date, she felt a sense of rightness settle over her.

"You're all set. Thank you for choosing International Aire."

Rose hung up and felt a little better for having done something to try and figure out what was going on. How did her mother have a past with someone who looked Rose's age? All the questions, fears and worries rumbling around in her head were enough to send her over the deep end.

With a deep sigh she headed into the bathroom and turned on the shower full blast.

Stepping under the scalding spray, she let go of the mental projection of clothes around her. She was surprised at how natural it had felt to keep herself mentally clothed. Once she'd created the illusion, she maintained it without conscious thought.

As the warmth seeped into her skin, relaxing her, so did the emotional hold she'd held tightly around herself.

Fear and anger battled within her. She didn't know exactly what she'd become. Duncan was involved, but she had some weird connection to Ronan, too. God, she wished she had all the answers instead of nothing but questions.

As far as she remembered, Duncan had only bitten her twice. Didn't James say it took three bites within as many days to convert someone to a vampri? Had he bitten her another time without her knowledge? Even though she couldn't explain it, in her heart, she knew Duncan had converted her.

So why had he left her to suffer through the conversion alone? The shit! Was he afraid she'd rip him a new one while she was converting? she thought with a sob. The memory of the pain was still fresh in her mind. She was going to choke Duncan when she laid eyes on him, even if being a vampire was probably the only thing that saved her life when she'd battled Ronan.

Rose realized she could wallow in self-pity that her life had been inalterably changed, that she was no longer human, or she could embrace who and what she'd become. A powerful vampire had killed her father. She was going to need all the superhuman strength she could muster to defeat Ronan. She'd deal with the whole "blood drinking" issue later. She was still amazed at how good that nurse's blood had tasted going down. Shaking away the thought, Rose lathered her body with soap and her mind drifted to her father once more.

Unbidden sobs slowly started until they racked her body, making her shake all over. She'd never see her father again. Never give him a hug or hear his voice...never hear him ask for her mother again.

She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself as she leaned against the tile wall. At least he was with her mother now. Even though sorrow weighed heavy on her heart, she couldn't help the rage that tore through her at the thought of her father's murder.

Straightening, she moved back under the spray and let her rage overshadow the pain and sorrow tightening her chest. She'd have her closure when she signed the paperwork for her father's remains. Maybe getting that done today would be best. She had to remain strong. She couldn't focus on hunting down Ronan and killing the murdering bastard if she was a basket case.

Rose watched the water sluice over her, rinsing away the suds. As the bubbles slid down her body, circling her legs and across her feet, she let every worry and fear she brought into the shower wash down the drain with the suds. With a flick of her wrist, she turned off the water and once again, her emotions. Only fierce resolution remained.

She sensed Duncan's presence in the bedroom, felt his fierce impatience as she toweled her body and hair dry. Wrapping the towel around herself, she tucked the edge between her breasts, taking her time. Let him wait.

When she opened the door, she didn't expect to be slammed against the bathroom door, nor did she anticipate the anger she saw in Duncan's eyes.

Chapter Ten

"Why?" he snarled, caging her in with his hands on the door.

Rose had never seen Duncan so angry. He'd always had an icy calmness about him. Nor had she ever felt so furious with another. Her temper flared at his unwarranted behavior. She was the one who should be railing at him.

"Back off!" Without a second thought, she slammed her hand against his chest. The impact sent him flying across the room and bouncing off the far wall.

Duncan grunted but landed on the floor on his feet. He'd changed clothes into a black v-neck sweater and faded blue jeans. She noted from his clean smell and damp hair, that he'd showered, too. But he hadn't left that battle with Ronan unscathed. There were four red furrows on his left cheek.

"Looks like Ronan gave you a love pat," she taunted him in her anger.

Duncan let out a roar and before she could take one step he'd leapt across the room and had her backed against the door once more. Fisting the towel between her breasts, he raged, "Do you know how hard it was not to take your blood while I fucked you on the floor last night? How I fought the urge? I didn't sense a bit of fear from you when you spoke with that Sythen. You work fast, Rose. Why did you let him take your blood? Did he give you the baby you wanted?"

Duncan's head snapped to the side when her fist connected with his jaw. Only his hold on her towel kept him rooted where he stood. He slowly turned his furious gaze back to her as she bit out, "How dare you!"

Duncan jerked her forward, clamping his teeth on her throat. You're mine! he spoke in her mind at the same time his incisors pierced her skin.

Rose gasped at the erotic sensation and the brief pain his action caused. The emotions she felt emanating from Duncan were the most he'd ever shown. Underlying his anger was a fierce, connected possessiveness that shocked her down to her toes.

As soon as he bit her, Duncan stiffened against her. He spoke in her mind, confusion lacing his words. Why don't I taste another? I saw you shift to a jaguar. He smelled like a Sythen, yet I don't taste him on you.

"Why did you leave me to suffer through converting alone?" she asked, holding back the tears that threatened at the memory of her pain.

Duncan withdrew his fangs and laved her wound. Clasping her arms, he met her gaze with a puzzled one. "You think I did this to you? It takes three bites from a vampire within as many days for a human to be converted. I made sure I only bit you twice."

Rose tensed and pulled away, her gaze narrowing on him. "You mean you never had any intention of converting me?"

"No, I didn't." The resolute expression on his face punctuated his answer.

She turned her back to him, hurt more than she thought she'd ever be by that knowledge. "I want you to leave."

Duncan grasped her shoulders, turning her to face him. "I want to know what the hell is going on."

"You are the only vampire who's bitten me, Duncan. The only man I've allowed to touch me."

Duncan's hands fell away, then anger flared anew. "It's not possible."

When she just stared at him, not saying a word, he tried to pull her in his arms, but she sidestepped his touch. He dropped his hands to his sides. "I never would've left you to suffer converting, Rose. If I had converted you, I would've found a way to compel you to sleep through it," he whispered as if in physical pain. "I'm so sorry you went through what you did, but I was not the man responsible." He ran a hand through his hair, clearly agitated.

"Go figure. You'd have to think another vampire converted me before you showed some emotion," Rose responded, folding her arms over her chest in annoyance.

Duncan's expression hardened. "It goes both ways, a ghra." He raised his eyebrow, jealousy reflected in his gaze. "I heard some of what that Sythen said to you. How do you know him? He seemed to know you, know what you were capable of."

Beyond the comments he made, Rose heard Duncan's voice enter her head, I wish I could shift like that.

"He said his name is Ronan Keegan," she answered, then asked, "Why can't you?"

"Why can't I what?"

"Why can't you shift like Ronan?

Duncan's eyes widened. "Did you just read my thoughts?"

"Uh, no. You spoke in my mind."

"Like hell I did." Duncan narrowed his gaze. This is insane. I don't want anyone in my head.

"Too bad. You're broadcasting as clear as NBC."

"I don't feel you," he insisted, then frowned. "I want you the hell out of my head, Rose. Cut it out."

Rose shrugged. "I can't. It's not a conscious effort on my part. Maybe you should work on blocking like I do," she mocked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"This is insanity." Duncan ran both hands through his hair and began to pace.

He tried his best to kill me. Said he'd never let me have her. Why is Rose so damn important to these Sythens? He's more powerful than James, fighting through an hour of sunlight and clearly blocking the pain of his festering flesh. What could stop this madness? A full mating with Rose?

Duncan stopped pacing and looked up at her, his expression resolute. As he started to walk toward her, Rose backed up, her hands raised. "Don't even think about it, bud. I'm sure as hell not mating with you."

"You will mate with me. We're already connected mentally. This makes sense."

"Mating is not what you want, Duncan. You didn't even want to convert me. I won't be anybody's pity case."

Duncan crossed the distance between them in two long strides. Clasping the back of her neck, his expression as hard as granite, he said, "I will keep you safe." His gaze dropped to her lips then met hers once more. "If you challenge me, you'll lose. We will mate."

As if to punctuate his vow, he pulled her forward and bit the other side of her neck, sliding his fangs deep.

Rose froze and fought the sensual emotions raging within her. "Quit biting me," she managed to hiss out.

Duncan withdrew his fangs and slowly ran his tongue up her neck to close the wound. He lifted his head and met her gaze, saying in a dark, husky tone, his Irish accent heavy, "You can always bite me back, a thaisce. You asked me what you taste like...you taste like a fine honeyed wine, more potent and aged than any other I've ever tasted."

Her stomach fluttered at his words, the way he made her sound...almost intoxicating.

He pulled her chest against his and used his thumb to elevate her jaw as he lowered his head and slowly slid his fangs into her neck once more. Do you hear my blood pumping in my veins? Aren't you curious to know what I taste like?

Rose's lips hovered next to the vein in Duncan's neck and her fangs automatically lengthened at his mention of tasting his blood. She wanted to know. Desperately.

Her heart hammered in her chest. She cupped his rear and ran her tongue along his neck, tasting his skin. Duncan let go of his hold on her throat and laved her wound closed.

When she licked his neck once more, Duncan groaned and wrapped his hand around her waist, clasping her close.

"Taste me," he encouraged at the same time he slid his other hand up her inner thigh.

Rose's body ached for his touch and anticipation bubbled within her. She scraped her incisors along his neck, her breathing turning shallow while her sex throbbed and her breasts tingled underneath the soft towel.

Duncan's hand rose higher at the same time he rasped, "Open your legs."

Unable to resist his touch, Rose took a step, her stomach tensing as pent-up desire curled within her.

Just one taste, she thought.

When Duncan's fingers rubbed her clit, she moaned against his neck.

"Taste me," he insisted at the same time she heard his mental thoughts-Mate with me-in her mind.

Rose jerked back, anger rushing through her. "That's it, isn't it? If I take your blood, I'll be mated to you."

Duncan met her gaze, an unapologetic, determined look on his face. "I can't explain how you were converted by being bitten twice. You claim I converted you...regardless of the how of it, I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

"Including seducing me into unknowingly mating with you?" she railed, backing out of his hold.

Pointing her finger toward the door, she locked her jaw and hissed through her clenched teeth, "Out!"

"Rose," he began.

"I said 'out'."

Duncan stared at her for a long moment then started for the door. Opening it, he turned to her once more, a dark expression on his face. "You'll need blood soon."

The unspoken "and I'm going to damn well make sure it's mine" hung in the air between them.

Rose lifted her chin a notch. "I have a will made of steel."

He raised his eyebrow at her bravado. "We'll see just how much I can test that steel will of yours."

Duncan walked downstairs fuming. The woman drove him insane. He knew she held back from him. Refused to share with him how she was connected to Ronan, but there was some strange, twisted link between them. The thought made him tense in furious, unbridled jealousy.

He'd been able to read some of Ronan's thoughts while they battled. The vamp wanted to rip his heart out. If it weren't for some swift, evading moves on Duncan's part, the Sythen would have succeeded. One thing he heard loud and clear, Ronan wanted him out of the way, the threat Duncan represented eliminated.

The vamp's lust for Rose permeated Duncan senses, inciting a vicious, bloodthirsty side to him he never knew existed. He fought like a man possessed and quite literally he was, because there was no way he should've been able to fend off the jaguar's powerful jaws any other way.

And then there was Rose...the sight of her shifting back from a red jaguar to her human form made his heart lurch. She looked so beautiful and vulnerable...he knew the Sythen had converted her. Anger at Rose, anger at himself and sheer rage at the Sythen who dared take his woman warred within him.

His foot hit the bottom stair as the thought echoed in his mind.

His woman.

His mate.

When Rose's warm breath caressed his neck, he wanted to feel her fangs pierce his skin. He wanted to be the one to give her the blood she needed to survive.

Always.

The realization hit him hard. He craved Rose's touch and everything she had to offer him. He wanted her for a mate. His Sonuachar...his vampire Anima. He didn't give a shit about fitting in any longer. There was only one person he cared about and she was stubbornly refusing his advances. Ruthless determination rippled through him. No other would dare touch her while he breathed. He clenched his fists as he walked into the living room.

Mark stood by the window, staring outside, his hands shoved in his jeans pockets. Jax sat in a leather chair looking up at Ian who sat on the chair's arm, talking to her.

They all looked at him when he walked in the room.

"How's Rose doing?" Jax asked.

Duncan ran a hand through his hair, gritting out, "She's in my head."

"That's great news." She smiled. "She's using her powers to talk to you mentally."