Dark Melody

"Rina, wake up." Lisa was leaning over the bed and shaking Corinne repeatedly. Her large blue eyes held worry as she looked rather helplessly at Cullen "I can't wake her up. I can't believe I went to sleep last night and slept most of the day away. I just left her to take care of everything when she's so fragile."

"Don't worry," Cullen soothed as he took Corinne's pulse. "Dayan came back last night and he probably worked at healing her. She just needs to sleep. Feel Lisa; her pulse is strong."

"I want her to wake up." Lisa was close to tears. Corinne, buried in layers of fog, recognized Lisa's voice and knew from long experience that Lisa was very upset. Out of habit Corinne answered the call struggling to the surface when she really wanted to sleep. Corinne's heart began to pound in alarm What in the world was wrong with her? Her body felt like lead, and she didn't want to wake up. Her mind turned that piece of information over and over in an attempt to make some sense of it. Corinne concentrated on her hand, her fingers, each separate muscle. It was strange that she felt so disconnected from her own body.

Lisa gasped and reached down, clutching Corinne's hand. "She moved her fingers, Cullen. I think she's waking up. Rina, come on, girl, wake up," she encouraged.

Corinne heard the voice much more clearly as another layer of fog seemed to lift between her and the world. She struggled to raise her lashes. She would open her eyes. She forced herself to concentrate harder, bringing every ounce of her strong will to bear. It was odd, but she was certain something was preventing her, commanding

her to remain asleep. That made her all the more determined to wake up.

"That's it, Corinne, come on, you can do it. Are you feeling ill?" Lisa bent over her, shaking her shoulders gently. "Please wake up, you're scaring me."

Corinne made a supreme effort, her lashes fluttering for several moments before she managed to raise them. She found herself staring up at Lisa's anxious face. Corinne made herself smile when all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and snuggle beneath the covers. "I was up all night, pumpkin. I'm just really sleepy."

"You never sleep like this. I couldn't wake you up. You didn't take any sleeping pills or anything like that, did you?"

"Of course not. I'm pregnant. I would never do that." Corinne's words were drowsy and difficult to understand. Several times her lashes drifted down, and she turned on her side, curling deeper into the pillows. "I'm just tired, Lisa."

"Rina!" Lisa commanded sharply. "Don't you dare go back to sleep, or I swear I'm taking you to a hospital." There was real alarm in Lisa's voice.

Corinne sighed softly. "I'm awake, I promise. I'm awake."

"Did you see Dayan last night?" With great determination Lisa perched on the edge of the bed, retaining possession of Corinne's hand. She wasn't certain she wanted Dayan anywhere around Corinne. Corinne looked fragile, pale, more vulnerable than Lisa had ever seen her, even after John had died. Lisa wanted to take Corinne and run home. She was suddenly very afraid of Dayan. He seemed to have some kind of mystical power over Corinne; how else could her behavior be explained? Corinne never was impressed by men, by fame or money or good looks. Corinne was always the rock, the logical voice of reason. Dayan was too good-looking and talented to be trusted, too wealthy, a foreigner, too charming with women.

She had to admit that Dayan didn't have a reputation with women. Even the tabloids had been unable to exploit his sexual prowess in any way. His public appearances were not scheduled or publicized, and most reporters who had attempted to get interviews and pictures had written articles on how frustrating it was to find facts on him. Corinne had read every article she could get her hands on, because she had been such a serious fan, and she had shared that information with Lisa. Now Lisa wanted to go back and change the fact that she had taken Corinne to the bar.

Lisa frowned. But there was Cullen. She really thought Cullen was an exceptional man, not at all dangerous or mysterious, not the type to steal a woman's heart and leave her cold.

"What's wrong, honey?" Corinne whispered. Her voice was slumberous, drowsy, very sexy.

Lisa had never noticed that about Corinne before. She didn't think of Corinne as being sexy. She looked down at Corinne's face, really looked at her. Corinne had her eyes closed and she looked serene, her long lashes two thick, dark crescents on her face. Her abundance of silky hair spilled around her like a halo. She looked innocent in her repose, yet Lisa thought her so beautiful, it was almost as if she were seeing Corinne for the first time. Seeing Corinne the way Dayan had seen her.

"I want to go home. You scared me, Rina, when I couldn't wake you up. I want to go with you to the doctor and hear his prognosis about the pregnancy," Lisa said as firmly as she could.

"I'm too tired," Corinne said softly. "Let me sleep for another couple of hours, and then we'll decide what to do." She pulled the covers up to her chin.

Lisa glanced up at Cullen. "She never sleeps during the day. Corinne must be sick, really, Cullen. Maybe we should take her to a hospital."

Corinne roused herself enough to lift her long lashes and peer at Lisa. "I'm not sick  -  in fact, I'm breathing easier than normal. I stayed up all night, that's all. What time is it?"

"It's nearly six-thirty."

Corinne groaned. "Why are you waking me up, then? No one but a lunatic gets up that early. I think I went to bed at six."

"It's six-thirty in the evening," Lisa emphasized. "You've been in bed all day." She didn't admit she had slept most of the day snuggled right beside Cullen in the other bedroom. Lisa just wanted to go home and shut her front door, closing out the entire world.

Corinne's eyelashes fluttered in surprise. She forced herself to sit up, blinking as she looked around the unfamiliar room. "I can't believe it's so late." Shoving a hand through her thick, dark hair, she glanced over at Cullen. "Lisa worries endlessly about me, but really, I'm perfectly fine. I don't know why I slept so long." She was still exhausted, her arms and legs, heavy. All she wanted to do was go back to sleep.

Cullen smiled at her. "Lisa was frightened when she couldn't wake you up. Would you like something to eat or drink? I could make you tea or coffee," he offered.

"He makes great tea," Lisa confirmed. "Rina loves tea, don't you?"

"That would be wonderful," Corinne agreed. Lisa was looking at Cullen with her heart in her eyes, something Corinne had never seen before. It wouldn't hurt to drink a cup of his tea to please her. "Where's Dayan?" She tried to sound casual, but it must not have come off that way, because Lisa glared at her, and Corinne couldn't help blushing.

"Just what went on last night?" Lisa hissed when Cullen stepped out of the room. "Don't you think you're in enough trouble without getting mixed up with a rock star?"

"He doesn't exactly play rock," Corinne answered mischievously.

Lisa frowned in reprimand. "Don't joke about this, Corinne. It isn't funny. You know very well you've always had an aversion to being in the public eye. What do you think is going to happen if you start running around with that man? The tabloids love people like him. Forget about him."

Corinne reached out and gently took Lisa's hand. "This isn't about Dayan at all, is it? I'm not going to die, Lisa. I won't. I'm a fighter, you know that. This baby is going to be a part of us  -  both of us, our family. You aren't going to lose me."

Instant tears were swimming in Lisa's blue eyes. Her fingers closed convulsively around Corinne's as if her grip could somehow keep death at bay. "You always overestimate your strength, Rina, you do. Even John said so. I want the baby too, but not at your expense. I don't want to be all alone. I couldn't stand that. I've already lost John." She laid her head in Corinne's lap for comfort. For the first time, she could feel the baby there, lying between them. She moved her head and placed her hand over the small mound. "It's moving," Lisa said with a kind of wonder.

"She's kicking," Corinne confirmed, stroking Lisa's hair. "A little girl, Lisa. It'll be okay, you'll see. I know I can do this. I want the baby so much."

"I'm sorry, Rina, I didn't mean to sound so awful about the baby. I really do want it too. I want to be excited. She'll be the only thing I have left of John, but I love you. I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you. I'm sure Dayan's a really nice person. Cullen says he is. And he doesn't have the reputation of being a womanizer. I didn't mean to imply that. I don't know why I was saying all those crazy things." Lisa wailed the words, ashamed of herself.

"I know, Lisa," Corinne crooned soothingly, "you're afraid of losing me. But I'm really not going anywhere. You just have to believe we'll be all right. It's natural, after what happened to John, to be afraid of losing family, but it won't happen. I'm very strong. I feel better than I have in years."

Lisa sat up slowly, taking a deep breath and giving Corinne a tentative smile. "So was there really someone in our house last night? Cullen didn't say one way or the other." She glanced toward the door and lowered her voice. "I thought it a little strange he didn't want to call the police or go back to help his friend, didn't you?"

Corinne leaned against the headboard of the bed. She was beginning to wake up, the heavy, fuzzy feeling was fading away. "Dayan talked to me about it last night, Lisa. He thinks we're both in danger from the same people who murdered John."

Lisa was silent for a moment. "You know more about John's death than you let on, don't you?" She looked down at her hands. "You never told me, because I never ask questions. I'm like an ostrich."

"You're not an ostrich," Corinne denied gently, refraining from smiling. "You're a beautiful young woman who suffered far too much trauma as a child. John and I both got in the habit of trying to protect you."

"We're the same age," Lisa pointed out, "but you're the one who always took care of the details of our lives. You've had to battle the same trauma as I have, and you have a heart condition. John may have been my brother, but he was your husband. We both loved him. We both lost him. Why am I such a chicken about life? Why am I so afraid to hear anything that might upset me? That's why you didn't tell me what you knew about John, and it's why you didn't tell me about the baby. You were afraid I'd fall apart." She looked down at her hands. "I would have fallen apart."

"Lisa"  -  Corinne said her name softly  -  "you're being way too hard on yourself. You always worried about me and took on all the jobs you thought were too strenuous for me. We work as a team together, we always have. I didn't tell you my suspicion about John's murder because that's exactly what it is, just suspicion. John and I are"  -  she searched for the right word  -  "different."

Lisa ducked her head, shaking it, ashamed. "And I never wanted to hear about it. Not once. It was because..." She trailed off.

"It was scary," Corinne finished for her.

Lisa shook her head adamantly. "It made me feel left out. It created a bond between you and John that I wasn't a part of. We were always together. I wanted John to love you because I was afraid someone would come along and steal you away from us. I was the one who talked you into marrying John, remember? You told him no so many times, but I cried and fussed and acted so childish. I was afraid we wouldn't be together anymore. I was lost there for a while, feeling like I couldn't breathe. I feel that way now. Everything is so scattered. John is dead. I know your heart's been acting up lately; I've seen you fighting for air, and taking more medicine. Now you're going to have a baby, and for the first time ever you're really interested in someone." The last was almost an accusation.

Corinne could feel Lisa's pain. Their world was changing around them very fast, and it was frightening to think of all the dangers they were facing. She couldn't blame Lisa for being scared or for wanting things to be the way they were before. "I loved John very much, Lisa  -  don't think for one moment I didn't. Maybe it wasn't romantic and passionate, but I loved him deeply and I'll never regret what we had. I don't want you to think I was forced into marrying John. I'm excited about the baby, but I'm nervous too. And meeting Dayan is very unexpected. I don't know how I feel about him. I don't know why I respond to him the way I do." She took a deep breath and admitted, "It is frightening, Lisa. I'm afraid too."

Lisa swallowed hard and summoned up her courage. "Tell me what you think happened  -  why someone wanted to kill John."

"John went to the university to talk to a professor about his talent." Corinne looked straight into Lisa's eyes. "You know what I'm talking about  -  his ability to know certain things before they happened." She took Lisa's hand in hers. "It was how we managed to save you. John knew you were in danger, and I was able to open the trunk of the car." She closed her eyes, remembering finding her mother's battered body lying next to Lisa. Her heart gave a lurch, and she forced her mind away from the haunting memories. "The university sent him to the Morrison Center, which does psychic research. John felt strongly that we should be using our talents to help others."

"Because of me; because you saved my life," Lisa said softly.

"He thought maybe he could save others," Corinne confirmed gently. "A few weeks later, he told me he thought someone was following him. He became secretive. You saw the changes in him. He left that morning to meet someone. He was nervous, edgy, and he wouldn't say why. I don't know if he had started working with them and discovered they were doing something illegal. You know John  -  he would have wanted to go to the authorities. Dayan suspects that the people who murdered John are part of some organization who fanatically believe in the existence of vampires."

Lisa's lips parted in an O shape, and her blue eyes went wide with shock. "You can't believe that nonsense. That man is crazy. Vampires! Good God, Corinne, he must be mentally ill!"

"Dayan's right," Cullen said as he entered the room carrying two cups of steaming liquid. "I belonged to the organization at one time. They investigate anyone who appears the least bit different. Most of those on the bottom rung are kids who love anything gothic and like to pretend they believe in vampires. They think it's all fun and games, but the information they supply often determines who is under investigation. Those at the top are very serious about killing anyone they think is a vampire. They do it in a ritualistic way. A stake through the heart, garlic in the mouth, beheading  -  the whole bit. These people are fanatical, and they're killers."

Lisa was staring at him in horror. "You joined something so stupid? Why would you do that?"

"I believe vampires exist," Cullen admitted. "I saw one." He kept his gaze fixed on Lisa, waiting for shock, for condemnation. Waiting to lose his chance with her.

Corinne and Lisa exchanged one long look. They were suddenly very aware they were alone in a house with someone they didn't know very well. And the man was probably very ill. Last night, when Dayan was talking to her, Corinne thought he'd made perfect sense, but now it all seemed totally insane.

Cullen handed each of them a cup of tea. "Don't look at me that way. I know what you're thinking, but I'm not crazy. There was a time I thought I was losing my mind. Several years ago, I was engaged and my fianc§ڥ and I had gone out to dinner. At that time there was a serial killer loose in the city. He targeted women, and their bodies were always drained of blood. My fianc§ڥ was murdered that night, and I witnessed it. I saw him bite her neck and drain the blood out of her. I saw it with my own eyes. He would have killed me too, but something interrupted him." He tapped his finger against the palm of his hand. "

I saw him kill her. No one would believe me. I wasn't drinking. I don't use drugs, but the cops wanted to lock me up in a mental institution instead of listening to me. Those in the organization listened to me. Unfortunately, my anger and terror bought me a membership into the inner sanctum of the group." He tried not to sound bitter, but even after all this time he still felt the pain of that time. He looked directly at Lisa. "I swear to you, I'm not crazy. I saw a monster. I saw it."

There was a look on his face, totally vulnerable, very sad. Lisa wanted to cry. There was an actual pain in her chest. It was all she could do not to run to him and comfort him. She didn't know what he had witnessed that horrible night, but he certainly believed he'd seen a vampire. "I know you're not crazy, Cullen," she said softly.

Cullen stared at her a moment longer, then began to blink rapidly, fighting some strong emotion. When he looked away, Lisa caught the sheen of tears in his eyes, and a large lump in her throat threatened to choke her.

She was happy she hadn't blurted out a condemnation. Whatever he had seen that night had changed his life for all time. Lisa knew about murder and trauma.

She glanced apprehensively at Corinne and caught her watching her thoughtfully. For no reason at all, Lisa found herself blushing. "What?"

"Don't 'what' me." Corinne took a cautious sip of tea. "Mmm, perfect, Cullen, thank you. I think you've revived me. I swear I was so sleepy I didn't think I could ever get up." Her hand crept up to cover a spot on her neck, just over her pulse, where she felt a sudden warmth, as if Dayan's mouth had moved over her skin.

"Are you sure we shouldn't take you to the doctor just to be on the safe side?" Lisa asked anxiously.

"Believe it or not," Cullen said, "I sometimes wake up that way in the middle of the afternoon. I actually have to go back to sleep. I think when you hang out with musicians, you start staying up most of the night and then you start sleeping all day like a bat. I've seen Dayan stay up all night just playing his guitar. When he plays, I can't seem to walk away and just quit listening. I tell myself to go to bed, but then I don't do it. I've seen a packed house stay that way all night, even when no one is drinking anymore. They just don't go home until he stops playing."

"Last night," Corinne said, "not one person went near Dayan when he stepped off the stage and we were dancing. The crowd just opened up and let him through. No one asked for his autograph, no one tried to talk to him, none of the girls even went up to flirt with him. When we went outside, not one single person attempted to stop him. Explain that to me."

"I noticed that too," Lisa said. "I was certain they would crush him, but no one went near him."

Cullen shrugged. "He's like that. I can't explain it, but I've seen it often enough. They come in wanting to meet him, they talk about it at the bar and on the dance floor. I've heard them, the women. They flirt outrageously while he's on the stage, but when he puts down his guitar, when he's finished playing, he always does the same thing. He looks at the audience just once and then he steps off the stage. No one ever approaches him. I honestly think he has some kind of look that terrifies everyone. He can scare the hell out of me when he looks a certain way. I've also wondered if maybe he's a psychic and simply warns everyone to leave him alone." He looked at Lisa. "Did you want to meet him?" He seemed to be holding his breath, waiting for her answer. "Was that why you went to the bar last night?"

Lisa shook her head. "I wanted to surprise Corinne. She loves music, and she's always talking about the Dark Troubadours. A friend called to tell me Dayan was playing."

Cullen arched an eyebrow. "A friend?"

Lisa smiled. "Bruce, an associate I work with. I did joke about meeting Dayan, but once I was in the bar all I could think about was..." She trailed off, the color rising steadily in her cheeks.

Corinne nudged her teasingly. Lisa scowled fiercely over her teacup, signaling Corinne to silence. Corinne smirked at her. Cullen looked at them both, and a slow grin spread across his face.

Corinne opened her mouth to tease Lisa some more, but words faded from her mind. Everything faded but the knowledge of Dayan's presence. She could feel the burning weight of his stare. She turned her head slowly, knowing he was standing in the doorway. A moment before, the doorway had been empty, and in the next instant it was filled with his powerful frame. He was simply standing there in total silence, his hungry gaze fixed on her face.

At once her heart accelerated, slamming alarmingly hard. She swept one hand through her tousled hair. He looked immaculate. Elegant.

Dangerous.

So sexy he robbed her of breath. She found herself staring helplessly at him. Just drinking him in. His black eyes never left her. Intense. Hungry. He was everything she remembered from the previous night. All of her resolve went flying out the window. How could anyone look like he did and not be a mythical Greek god?

A slow smile curved his sculpted mouth, enhancing his sensual black magic.

I am reading your mind.

His voice brushed at the walls of her mind, velvet soft and very intimate. Sheer temptation.

For one moment Corinne could only blink up at him helplessly, a shiver running through her body. The illusion of being alone with him, his strong arms wrapped around her, was so strong, she forgot for a moment that Cullen and Lisa were beside her. "Just stop." Her voice wasn't her own, but instead a blatant invitation.

Lisa stared at her, open-mouthed in disbelief, and Cullen gallantly cleared his throat, drawing Corinne's attention. Dayan's white teeth flashed at her.

Got yourself in trouble.

He was laughing at her, warmth leaping into his fathomless eyes.

"Showoff." Corinne said it very softly, teasingly.

Lisa shared a puzzled look with Cullen and shrugged her shoulders. Dayan hadn't said a single word, but Corinne and Dayan were definitely communicating in a very intimate way. Lisa tried not to feel left out, tried not to be hurt by the look in Corinne's eyes when she stared at Dayan. Tried not to be totally shocked. Corinne had never looked at anyone the way she was looking at the musician.

Dayan glided into the room. A ripple of muscle. Casual. Silent. Lethal. There was something frightening about him that none of them could define. He emanated danger. He was wild. Untamed. Yet he was elegant, courtly even. Corinne smiled up at him, a dimple appearing in the corner of her mouth. She watched him cross the room effortlessly, his body so perfectly coordinated it was sheer poetry.

Dayan reached down and took possession of her hand, bringing her knuckles to the warmth of his mouth. "Did you sleep?" His teeth nibbled, teased.

He knew she had slept deeply, Corinne realized instinctively. She studied his sculpted features. "You should know." It was half a guess, but she was becoming slightly alarmed. Could he somehow force her compliance? Her reaction to him? She had a strong talent. If she could do unusual things, why couldn't Dayan?

Amusement crept into the depths of his black eyes.

Of course I can do those things. But I do not need or want to force your reaction to me. What good would that do? You are my true lifemate, the light to my darkness. It would be an abomination to force your compliance.

Her eyes flashed at him, a hint that she was not amused.

Stop talking to me in my mind and talk aloud. It's very disconcerting.

She tried thinking the words, picturing them in her mind and throwing them at him along the same mental path he was using.

This method of communication is as natural to me as breathing, but I will speak aloud if you insist.

Dayan looked more amused than ever. "Good evening, Lisa. I trust you slept well. Corinne looks rested." His voice was soft and unbelievably gentle.

Lisa tried not to stare at him. He was claiming Corinne. He was letting all of them know his intentions. His possession was in the way he held Corinne's hand, the way he looked at her, even his protective body posture. Very male. Territorial. The word crept into her mind uninvited. There was something about him she didn't quite trust. He was too untamed.

She let out her breath and glanced at Cullen for protection.

Cullen smiled encouragingly at her even as he spoke to his friend. "This is early for you, Dayan. We just got up a little while ago."

Corinne moved her wrist, a subtle motion designed to get her hand back. Dayan simply leaned into her, his powerful frame looming over her. "You are not drinking your tea, honey, Cullen's tea is very good."

Cullen's eyebrow shot up. "Quite a compliment."

Lisa scooted closer to Cullen, sliding off the bed to give Dayan a place to sit. "Rina told me you found two men in our house last night. Are we really in danger?"

"I am afraid so, Lisa," Dayan answered quietly. "Do not worry. Cullen and I are quite capable of protecting you and Corinne." He looked around the small room. "But I prefer to move you to a place easier to defend."

"What do you mean, defend?" Lisa asked suspiciously. She looked at Corinne. "My sister is pregnant. She can't be traveling all over the country," she said, hoping to shock him.

"I am well aware of Corinne's pregnancy," Dayan replied gently. "Do not worry, Lisa. On my word of honor, I will always place Corinne's health and happiness above my own. I would never allow anything to harm her." His black eyes rested on Cullen. "I have family. The band is scattered at the moment, but I've called them and they are on their way to meet us. I contacted Darius last night, and he is sending for one of our greatest healers. I believe we should move toward them." His gaze was steady on Cullen's, but there was no "push" for approval of his plan. He was being courteous for the moment.

Cullen caught Lisa's hand. "Darius and the others would make it impossible for any harm to come to you or Corinne. I agree with Dayan. I think we should leave."

Lisa withdrew her hand. "I work. Tomorrow I have a major photo shoot with one of the top photographers in the country. I signed a contract with a cosmetic company to do ads. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but I take my business very seriously. These people are counting on me. I can't very well run out on them. And Corinne needs to be close to her own doctors, who understand her case." She looked at Corinne. "I want to go to the police, Rina. We can't let someone else run our lives or scare us into leaving everything we've ever worked for. We didn't see anyone at our house. I'm not even sure someone was there. Are you?"

It was the first time Corinne had ever seen Lisa take a stand on anything. She obviously felt very strongly about what she'd said. Corinne believed someone had been in their home waiting to harm them. She believed those same people had killed John. She glanced at Dayan. His expression hadn't changed, but there was something about him that gave her pause. There was an impression of menace. Of ruthlessness. A merciless slash to his mouth, something in his eyes perhaps, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. She shivered unexpectedly. It was that menace more than anything else that made her throw her support behind Lisa.

"In all honesty, Lisa, I think someone was in the house, and I'm certain we're in danger. But if you want to handle the situation by going to the police, then that's what we'll do." Corinne watched Dayan carefully as she gave her reply.

His black eyes swept her face, then rested there thoughtfully. Corinne lifted her chin in defiance. He was nothing to her. What could he do?

Amusement crept into the depths of his eyes as he read her thoughts.

I am everything to you, honey. You will know that in time, and there is much I can do if it is needed.

His words brushed at her mind, a sensual velvet caress, wrapped in warm humor. His strong teeth scraped gently, almost tenderly over her knuckles.

"That's exactly what I think we should do," Lisa said, glaring triumphantly at Dayan. If he thought for one minute she was going to let him walk in and take over Corinne's life because he was a good-looking musician, he was in for a surprise.

Dayan shrugged his broad shoulders, a lazy ripple of muscle. He had deliberately safeguarded Lisa from the mesmerizing effect he had on humans; now he thought he might have done too good a job of it. Prompted by her protective instincts and her fear of losing Corinne, Lisa was reacting with outright hostility toward him. Corinne loved Lisa and considered her family. Dayan couldn't have Lisa so antagonistic toward him.

"Lisa." He said her name very gently, very softly, commanding her attention. There was something hypnotic about his voice, something impossible to ignore.

"Dayan." Cullen made it a protest.

Lisa couldn't look away from those demanding black eyes. They were empty, fathomless; she found herself falling forward into them. Why was she afraid of him? Dayan had her best interests at heart. He would protect Corinne with his very life, protect Lisa. He was trustworthy, completely so. Why had she ever doubted him? Everything he said was the truth. They were in terrible danger and they needed to leave with him.

Suddenly furious, Corinne attempted to reach around Dayan to grab Lisa's shoulder. She had a feeling that his brooding black eyes were working black magic. He was a wicked sorcerer bent on having his way. Dayan restrained her easily, a casual move of his body that was almost no movement at all. He wrapped his arms around her slender shoulders and pulled her back against his chest. "And just what do you think you are going to do, honey, leap out of bed and run away? Your running days are over." His lips were against the nape of her neck, his warm breath stirring tendrils of hair and causing a minor earthquake somewhere deep inside her.

Corinne forced herself to lean forward and away from him. She knew he had used his psychic gifts to influence Lisa. It angered her that he would do so. She knew Cullen realized it too, yet he was simply standing there, watching her reaction. "Let go, Dayan. I want to get up." She resisted the desire to dump her tea on him. "I think we should call the police, Lisa Absolutely. In any case, I don't want to stay here." And she wouldn't. Who was Dayan anyway? Nothing to her.

Everything to you, he repeated, his voice calm, tranquil even, as it brushed in her mind. His arms unlocked, releasing her, and at once she felt bereft. That annoyed her more than ever. Dayan casually helped her to her feet, his obsidian eyes laughing as she shoved his hands away from her.

"I'm not sure," Lisa said thoughtfully. "What do you think, Cullen? You know these people. Do you think we're really in danger? Can the police help us?" She looked up at him, her heart in her eyes.

Corinne nearly groaned aloud. She took a breath, determined to save Lisa from whatever black-magic spell Dayan had placed her under. The palm of his hand slipped gently over her mouth, and he pulled her back into the hard frame of his body. "Let them figure it out together. I want to talk with you." He breathed the words against the nape of her neck even as he walked her out of the room, his body hot and hard, so needy against hers.

The moment they were outside in the cool evening air, Corinne wrenched herself away from him, then turned to glare at him. "You had no right to do that to her. And don't even try to play innocent."

He didn't look at all remorseful as his possessive gaze drifted over every inch of her. "You are even more beautiful than I remember from last night. When I woke, I thought I might have dreamed you up. My night fantasy."

His voice was mesmerizing, so beautiful Corinne found herself wanting to hear him speak more. She wished he had his guitar in his hands so she could listen to him sing. No one had ever called her a night fantasy before. She was certain she wasn't beautiful, but he made her feel beautiful. For a moment she could only stand there, blinking up at him, caught in his spell.

Corinne bit her lower lip hard to wake herself up. "You must have been a poet in another life. Or a gigolo. Stay on track here, Dayan. I'm not letting you off the hook."

"I did not want your friend to be falsely attracted to me," he said quietly, without any embarrassment, yet modestly, almost humbly. "Sometimes women think they want me just because I am performing on stage. I will admit to you, I influence them to turn away from me. Perhaps I did so a little too strongly in her case."

Corinne was astonished that he'd told her the truth. When he looked at her with those black eyes, his hair tumbling onto his forehead, all she could think about was kissing him. "Did you make her want to be with Cullen?" she asked suspiciously.

"I would not do such a thing." A mischievous grin softened the edges of his mouth. "I did send Cullen to your table. The moment you walked in, I knew you were the one who held the other half of my heart." She tilted her chin at him. "Are you influencing me?"

"I hope so. I want you. I need you in my life. I am not using mind control on you, but I am attempting to be very charming. Is it working?"

He could melt a woman's heart at sixty paces. "No." She said it very firmly, but inside she was doing a slow burn. "I don't want you influencing Lisa in any way. It makes me very uncomfortable."

"I know you love her, Corinne," he said softly. "Anyone who is family to you is my family. I would not do anything to harm her or belittle her worth. I will protect her as if she were my own sister."

Corinne took a deep breath and forced herself to look away from him. Staring into the gathering darkness, she tapped out a nervous rhythm with her bare foot. "You can't feel this way about me so fast, Dayan. The truth is, I'm not going to live very long. I'm not saying that to make you feel sorry for me; it's a fact. I've faced it, but Lisa hasn't. You need to be practical, Dayan. It's hard enough with Lisa pretending all the time  -  I feel like I have to protect her from the truth. I don't want you to be that way too." For no reason at all she felt tears burning behind her eyes. Not for herself  -  she had gone beyond dreaming  -  but for him, for that utter loneliness she occasionally glimpsed in the depths of his eyes.

Dayan caught her chin firmly in his fingers, forcing her to face his glittering black eyes burning with such intensity. "You will not die, honey. I will not allow such a thing. Make up your mind to live in this world, because you will share your life with me. I will allow nothing less."

"You don't understand, Dayan," she replied gently. "The doctors  -  "

"Are human," he interrupted. "And they are very much mistaken. I agree we will take precautions until such time as one of our healers can examine you, but you will not die. Is that perfectly clear? You do understand me in this, and you will obey."

She found herself laughing at his sheer arrogance despite the gravity of their conversation. "Dayan, you can't just command someone to live. I have a bad heart; I've had it for years. I'm carrying a child. My heart isn't going to last forever."

His black gaze bore straight into hers until she felt as if he were taking possession of her, forcing compliance in some way. "You will obey me in this." There was absolute authority in his voice.

The smile faded from Corinne's soft mouth so that her intriguing dimple simply melted away. "I promise to do my best, Dayan," she capitulated solemnly.

He bent his dark head to hers, his mouth brushing the top of her silky head. "It is always better to see things my way," he said with great satisfaction.