I'll throw up if I even touch a crumb.

"I'm fine, Unc, just a little jet-lagged," she answered with a smile.

Nigel buttered a piece of brown bread. "You'll feel better if you eat something, sweetie."

When are you planning to tell your uncle about us? Duncan asked.

Picking up the pot of tea, Rose poured herself a cup. "I think I'll just have some tea for now."

Obviously, he knows there's "something" going on, she replied to Duncan in a sarcastic tone.

I meant that you're a vampire. You can't keep it from him forever.

I'll tell him when I'm ready. She refused to look Duncan's way as she added cream and sugar to her tea.

"So where do you want to go this morning?" Nigel asked, oblivious to the mental battle going on between Rose and Duncan.

You'd better tell him soon, or I will. He has a right to know I'm his nephew-in-law.

"Oh, I thought maybe we'd take in the shops we passed on the way in. Nothing too strenuous on our first day here. I'm kind of beat," she told her uncle.

Would you stop with this mate nonsense, she hissed in Duncan's mind.

It is not nonsense. I'm taking this very seriously as should you. I'm your mate, Rose. Fucking deal with it.

She narrowed her gaze on Duncan. You are not my- Siobhan came out of the kitchen carrying a tray. "Here we are." She set down a plate complete with eggs, sausage, potatoes and a grilled tomato in front of Nigel. "Per your request, a traditional Irish breakfast. Eat up, love."

Glancing at Rose and Duncan, she asked with a smirk, "What shall I get you two?"

"Just strong coffee," Duncan said.

Rose's stomach pitched and careened at the smells wafting across the table. As she watched her uncle dig into his meal with gusto, she thought, God, I'm going to be sick.

"Rose, I need your help in the kitchen, please," she heard Siobhan's voice as if from far away.

Rose jerked her gaze to Siobhan's questioning one, then looked at Duncan. "Excuse me, Duncan."

Duncan got up from the booth and let her out. He eyed her all the way to the kitchen.

Once they'd entered the kitchen, Rose spoke in Siobhan's mind. If you have something to say to me, say it mentally. Duncan's listening, I'm sure, she said, rolling her eyes.

Siobhan grabbed her hands and pulled her to a stool. Once Rose sat down, she said, I had hoped ye would feed while ye were alone with Duncan. I hear yer belly rumbling, Rose. Why are ye torturing yourself?

Reluctantly, Rose explained the "mating" battle of wills between her and Duncan. When she finished, Siobhan chuckled in her head. Ye mean ye don't know? At Rose's confused look, she tsked. Well, of course ye wouldn't if yer mother never told ye about her powers.

Clasping Rose by the shoulders, she met her gaze. Ye're a psychic vampire, well, at least partially since Duncan converted ye and now ye're part Ruean.

What does that mean? Rose asked.

It means, love, that ye can feed via a psychic connection with another. It's why ye've been able to go as long as ye have without needing blood. The reason yer mother didn't have fangs was because she fed another way...psychically.

At Rose's look of disbelief, she continued, Think about it, from what ye told me, once yer father had the accident, yer mother turned listless, slowly fading to nothing until she died.

Rose closed her eyes at the sad memory then opened them nodding.

Me guess is yer mother refused to "feed" from yer father because he was in a coma and she knew he didn't have a way to regain his strength if she "fed" from him.

Rose tucked her chin into her chest, stifling a sob at the sad situation her mother had found herself in.

Siobhan cupped Rose's chin and raised her head until her warm gaze locked with Rose's. It went both ways. Yer father needed yer mother, too. When he awoke and she was gone, he'd lost something he'd always had...his psychic partner.

Siobhan's hand on her chin fell away as Rose shook her head, willing the tears away. My father didn't know. I'm sure of it.

Siobhan's gaze softened. It doesn't matter if he knew or not. His need for yer mother, on a much deeper level, always remained. From what ye've told me of yer father's condition when he awoke as well as his downhill progression near the end...he had to have suffered a lot without Anna.

Rose's chest constricted. She wanted to scream at the heart-wrenching truth Siobhan spoke. Instead, she bit her lip, holding back.

The kitchen door opened and Duncan entered, a worried look on his face.

"Rose?" he called out, until his gaze landed on her. "Are you okay, a ghra?"

Siobhan put her hand on Rose's head and smiled at Duncan. "She's fine. We're just talking about her mother."

Duncan's gaze locked with Rose's. Is this true? Are you really okay?

When Siobhan's hand lifted from her head, Rose nodded, then sniffled. "I'm just a little sad right now."

"She'll be out in a minute," Siobhan said in a calm voice.

Duncan waited for Rose to nod in agreement before he walked out of the kitchen, the door swinging closed behind him.

He's connected to ye already, Rose. He felt yer sadness and responded as only a mate would...seeking to protect ye. Siobhan grasped Rose's hands and squeezed. Don't you see...Duncan has been "feeding" ye. The stronger the connection, the deeper the emotion, the more he provides ye. As connected as ye are to Duncan, ye'll receive the most "food" from a sexual encounter with him...a time when yer emotions are the most involved.

Rose's spirits lifted at the news. She clamped her hand over her mouth to stifle her surprised laughter. No way! Ohmigod, he'd have a cow if he knew this.

Are ye sure he doesn't? Siobhan asked. After all, ye told me his mother is a priestess and that she told him about her past.

Rose was surprised by the fact Duncan's mother didn't tell him either. There's no way he knows. He's been trying too hard to get me to take his blood, using seduction as his weapon of choice. She shook her head, even more convinced.

She jumped off the stool and hugged Siobhan. Thank you for telling me. It makes sense now. Every time we've made love, I've felt fulfilled, satiated, and now I know why.

Siobhan set her away, a concerned look on her face. But ye're also part Ruean...a clan of traditional vampires like the Atruans. They need blood to survive. There may come a time when a psychic feeding won't be enough, Rose. There's a reason ye now have fangs. There are far worse things than being mated to a sexy man like Duncan.

He doesn't love me, Rose said in a sad tone, her heart heavy. It was the first time she'd admitted out loud and to herself why she held back from Duncan. He feels a responsibility for me. That's all. I have to have more.

Siobhan shook her head, pursing her lips. Ye're very stubborn. Just remember, Duncan has grown to need yer connection, too. Ye have a responsibility to him, to "feed" him psychically as well.

The realization Duncan might have come to depend on her shocked Rose. She had no idea. What a freakin' mess. She sighed, unsure what to do.

As if she read her thoughts, Siobhan smiled. "The answer will come to ye in time. Don't fight it so." Tilting her head, she asked in an upbeat tone, "So, ye're here in Ireland...the home of yer ancestors, what sights are ye going to see today?"

After visiting several sites in Galway, Rose chuckled that she, Duncan and Nigel spent the last bit of daylight touring the Eyre Square shops in Galway City-like the Americans they were.

Duncan had walked off on his own while Nigel accompanied her into a small store so she could pick out a pair of earrings for Mish.

"What do you think?" she asked, holding the silver earrings with Connemara marble and a Celtic knot design.

Nigel shrugged. "Looks good to me."

"Some help you are," she said, handing the earrings to the clerk to ring up.

"You think Siobhan likes me?" He shoved his hands in his corduroy pants pockets and cast a hopeful look her way.

Rose grinned. "Ready to get back, are you?"

He gave her a sheepish smile. "Is it that obvious?"

"Maybe you can offer to help her out tonight, behind the bar or something," she said with a wink as the clerk handed her the gift in a bag.

"That's a great idea." His brow furrowed as he followed Rose out of the shop. "Where's Duncan?"

"I'm here." Duncan pushed off the post he'd been leaning on and faced them.

He looked so sexy, standing there in his navy sweater and faded blue jeans. His amber gaze seemed to drill into her as if wanted to devour her. Rose fought the shiver of awareness that skidded down her spine.

Duncan's hand came around her back as he escorted her down the street. "Ready to go back? You look tired, Roisin."

Rose did feel tired. Even though she'd slept late that morning, all the travel time and sightseeing had finally taken its toll. She nodded and walked beside Duncan and Nigel the rest of the way to the pub.

When they arrived at the pub, Rose saw the tables as well as the bar were packed with patrons.

Siobhan waved to them from behind the bar as they walked in. "Have a good time?" she called out over the din.

Nigel handed Duncan his purchases. "Hey, Dunc, put these bags in my room for me. Don't wait up, kids, I plan to be out late."

Rose chuckled at the beeline he made straight for the bar as he called to Siobhan over the crowd. "This place is packed. Need a hand behind the bar tonight?"

As he followed her down the hall, Duncan asked, "Will Siobhan be able to help you meet with the Saoi your mother talked about in her letter?"

"Yes. She said it'll probably be tomorrow before I can meet with him."

Even though Siobhan's words about Duncan needing her still rattled around in her head, Rose couldn't reconcile the idea of Duncan depending on anyone but himself. He was so contained, so in control. She stopped in front of Duncan and Nigel's door and turned to him. "Good night, Duncan."

Duncan's gaze searched face in the dimly lit hall. He lowered his head and brushed his lips across hers before straightening once more.

"Oiche mhaith, a ghra."

"What does that mean?" she asked in a breathless voice, finding it hard to walk away from him.

"It means, 'Good night, my love'." He turned and unlocked his door, going inside.

Rose stared at his closed door, conflicting emotions raging within her. He'd said, "my love", yet he'd walked away. Just like that. No fighting. No arguing. Had he finally given up on them?

She turned away, tears stinging her eyes as she made her way to her room. Fumbling with the key, she finally managed to unlock her door.

Once inside, she shut her door and leaned against it, letting her package drop to the floor.

She resisted the urge to jump inside Duncan's head, to listen to his thoughts, but the desire to know overrode her steel will.

When she reached out with her mind seeking Duncan, she encountered a solid wall. She felt his presence but heard nothing but her own rampant breathing and thudding heartbeat. He'd finally figured out a way to block her.

Rose sighed and took off her clothes. Crawling into bed naked, she pulled the covers over herself. After listening to her stomach's growling noises for a while, she finally fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

Rose awoke to the sound of a bodhran drum and flute playing downstairs in the pub area. She lay in the dark listening to the traditional Irish music. The Celtic song made her smile as she glanced at the clock on the nightstand. Ten o'clock. She'd been out for a while. Without conscious thought, she intuitively used her mind to reach out for Duncan. When she didn't feel his presence, she jerked upright in her bed, concern racing through her.

Rose threw back the covers and quickly opened her suitcase for a new set of clothes. Stepping into a clean pair of underwear and jeans, she opted to forego her bra as she pulled on a button-down citrine cardigan then slid on her ankle boots.

After she ran a brush through her hair, she quickly brushed her teeth and tried to think where Duncan might have gone. It wasn't like he knew anyone in Ireland. Then again, he'd spoken Irish on every occasion he could to anyone who'd respond since they'd arrived in Ireland, so who knew where he was.

As she shouldered her way through the crowd of people gathered around the six musicians playing their instruments in an impromptu music session in the center of the pub area, Rose caught sight of Nigel working behind the bar with Siobhan. She started to wave to them but the two were so engrossed in each other, she didn't think they'd notice her anyway.

Chuckling, she left the pub and rubbed her arms as soon as she walked out into the night air. She smelled the briny ocean breeze blowing in from the Galway bay and assumed the close body of water added to the cool May air buffeting her body. Rose regretted not bringing her jacket but didn't want to brave the crowd to go back in and get it.

Instead, she lifted her nose and inhaled deeply once more, hoping to catch Duncan's scent. Faint traces of his masculine smell mixed with cologne wafted her way. She turned and started walking down the rows of stores, following her nose. The first prickling of jealousy splintered its way through her. Who was he wearing cologne for?

The thought of him feeding from another woman's neck made her chest ache. She stopped mid-stride as the whole concept struck her. God, I hadn't considered the details of Duncan having to feed. And damn it, considering I'm refusing to mate with him, it wouldn't be fair of me to ask him to only take men's blood.

With a frustrated sigh, she began to walk again. When she stopped in front of a place called "No Boundaries", the sound of contemporary American music drifting outside and the sight of twenty-something men and women brushing past her to open the door and walk inside made her pause. She walked a little farther but couldn't catch Duncan's scent.

Glancing back at the "No Boundaries" place, swift jealousy swept through her. What the hell was he doing there? she thought as she opened the door and walked inside.

When she entered the bar-dance area, her temper boiled. He was in a freakin' nightclub?

Music blared as locals and tourists gyrated to the latest American hit. Body sweat mixed with perfumes and cologne wafted her way. The intensity of the smell made her rub her nose. Ayeyeyeye, I've really got to get a handle on how to turn down this keen sense of smell thing. She couldn't help but shake her head at the irony that she was at a nightclub that catered to American music in Ireland. Wait 'til I tell Mish about this. I'll bet good money she'll want to come here.

She scanned the crowd on the dance floor but she didn't see Duncan. Annoyed, Rose let her gaze pan the entire place once again. She felt his presence. She knew he was here, damn it. When her gaze landed on Duncan sitting at the bar drinking a Guinness, she straightened her spine, turned away, and took the three steps down into the sunken dance floor.

Rose's spirits lifted when she saw Duncan immediately set down his drink and make his way to the dance floor with purposeful strides. Dressed casually in a black v-neck sweater and black cargo pants, the man never looked sexier in her eyes.

The song "Yeah!" by Usher was playing and Rose smiled as her body began to naturally move to the fast-paced music. When Duncan approached, she raised her arms and began to rock her hips to the upbeat song, all the while she kept her gaze locked with his intense golden one.

She moved deeper into the crowd and Duncan followed, his gaze never leaving hers. Rose swiveled her hips, rocking suggestively. She couldn't seduce Duncan with words right now, nor did she want their own stubbornness to intervene with what they each needed from the other, so she let her body speak for her.

Someone grabbed her hips from behind and began to dance with her. Rose paused, her heart jerking as she glanced back to the man in his mid-twenties.