The other night when he took the gift to her and...? He had touched her while she slept. He had caressed her. But he hadn't hurt her.

He hadn't dug his claws into her skin.

Hadn't bit her.

But seeing the wounds and bandages on her body, he thought about how it would feel to have her under him, to put his teeth and claws in her, to taste her and bite her with his big mouth and with his little mouth. He wondered what it would be like to shove up into her...

A hulking white shape lurched out of the bushes across the pool, roaring. It carried someone's severed head.

The head swung by its hair. The face looked beaten and chewed. Much was missing.

"Holy shit!" Tuck yelled.

As the creature bounded around the far end of the pool, Dana dropped her T-shirt, ducked and grabbed the wine bottle by its neck. She raised the bottle like a dub. Wine burbled out, spilling down her arm and splashing the concrete.

Darke sprang out of the spa. Hunched over slightly, she glanced this way and that as if seeking a weapon.

The beast rushed around the pool's corner and came straight at Dana.

"Get out of the way!" Tuck yelled.

Dana leaped aside.

The beast dodged and rushed in.

She swung the wine bottle. It exploded against the side of the beast's head.

Growling, the monster swung the severed head at her.

It slammed her in the face.

As she started to fall, she heard the roar of Tuck's .44 Magnum.

She crashed against the concrete and flung herself over, hoping to roll clear.

She was face down when the beast caught her. It thrust a warm, slimy arm under her shoulder and down her chest. As the arm clamped her between her breasts, the beast's other hand clutched her between the legs.

It hoisted her off the concrete. Hugging her sideways, her back tight against its chest, it swung around.

Tuck in the spa with her Magnum and Darke running toward Dana whirled by in a blur.

Then the spinning stopped.

The world jerked and bounced as the beast ran along the edge of the pool.

"SHOOT IT!" she cried out.

But she didn't hear another gunshot.

Tuck must've missed that first time. Now, she was probably afraid to try again-afraid of hitting Dana.

Oh, my God, don't let it take me away!

Chapter Sixty-four.

DREAM KISS.

In his dream, Karen was kissing him.

A deep, wet kiss, her tongue thrusting into his mouth.

Owen squirmed under the weight of her body. His hands roamed feverishly up and down the smooth bare skin of her back.

Coming up out of the depths of sleep, he realized it was more than a dream.

She was here with him.

Here in the darkness of his hospital room.

Here in his bed.

On top of him.

The mouth eased away, leaving his lips wet.

"Karen." he whispered.

"Owie."

Chapter Sixty-five.

DANA.

He'll kill me when he gets done.

Kill me, eat me.

Maybe not.

Maybe be likes me too much.

Maybe he'll keep me alive.

If I can stay alive, maybe I can escape.

Or they'll rescue me.

Tuck and Darke.

No, no, be lost them.

Long time ago.

Way too fast for 'em.

OH!.

Did they give up, go home?

Call the cops?

Call Eve, guys.

Call Eve.

OH!.