Alec stared at the spot where, seconds before, Corazon had stood. He narrowed his eyes. He put out a hand to touch nothing but empty air.

She wasn't there. Just like that, she was gone.

Someone must have summoned her.

"Good riddance," he said defiantly, not wishing to admit to the hurt that spiked through him as sharp as a dagger. It was annoyance, not pain, he told himself. She was simply someone put there to torment him, and he'd be damned if he gave her the power to hurt him.

She had left him, just left him, without so much as a backward glance, or one last jab at his appearance. She hadn't even called him a murdering bloodsucker before she left, dammit, and he was beginning to be fond of the way she caressed the words in her mind.

"Very well," he said aloud to no one, gritting his teeth and looking around for a new spot in which he could almost die. "So be it. She's gone. I'm here. That's all there is to it."

But it wasn't all there was to it. Cora was out in the mortal world with no one to protect her, no one to keep her safe from anyone who might want to use her.

"I don't care," he told the nearest rock, stomping off to find a new resting spot. "She's not my problem anymore. I don't mind at all never seeing her again, never smelling her, never watching those hips that know how to make me hard with just a little twitch, never letting her suck my tongue almost out of my head, never making her hum with ecstasy. I don't need her or her blood. I'm quite happy being miserable here on my own."

He kicked a rock, defying it to dispute his words, knowing he was a fool, but in too much pain to care.

She had left him.

He spotted a rock that he felt would suit as a spot where he could perch and be even more miserable than he already was by admitting that her defection had, in fact, hurt him as deeply as anything could, but just as he was approaching it, the world shifted, gathered itself up, and punched him in the gut.

"Alec!"

He was groggily aware of a voice that seemed to sing in his veins, a scent that wrapped itself around him, gentle hands that turned him over and touched his face.

"Sorry," another female voice said. "I told you it was harder to summon beings of a dark nature. I don't think I could have done it if you hadn't been here to provide a connection to him."

"Are you all right? Alec?"

He opened his eyes to find Cora's exotic, mysterious eyes filled with concern as they peered at him. "You didn't leave me?"

"No," she said, a smile curling those delicious lips.

He couldn't stop himself. He slid his fingers into her hair and pulled her down to him, his heart singing with the pleasure of tasting her again, of plunging into her sweetness, of feeling her respond to him with a little shiver of excitement.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A Dark One. How very interesting."

A man's voice interrupted his pleasant contemplation of just how quickly he could get Cora into bed so he could make her hum like she'd never hummed before.

"You did not tell me you were a Beloved, woman," the man continued.

There was something about his voice that had Alec leaping to his feet, a startled - and breathless, he was smugly pleased to note - Cora shoved behind him.

Two men stood watching him - one he recognized as being the lich who had ties to his friends Kristoff and Pia, but the other . . . "Who are you?"

"I am de Marco. You are known to me," the man answered, his eyes narrowed as he raked Alec over with a look that had him instantly annoyed. "I make it my business to know Dark Ones who cross my path, and you are friends with that irritating reaper, are you not?"

Do you know him? Cora asked.

No. But he seems to know me.

I don't think that's a good thing, Alec.

I suspect you're right.

"Yes, this is going to work out well," de Marco said with a fat smile. "Ulfur, take the Dark One to our guest rooms. You, Beloved, you will now give me the Occio."

Alec? Cora asked, pressing against his back.

Yes, we run. Right now.

She didn't want to debate the subject; she just turned on her heels and ran for the door. Alec anticipated the shouted order that the man de Marco gave, and, with a look of apology, slammed his fist into Ulfur's face as the latter attempted to stop them. He grabbed the hand of the other woman who stood there, hauling her after him with the assumption that she was not a part of what was going on.

"Who are you?" he asked as he shoved her through the door, slamming it shut on de Marco's face.

"Noelle. I'm a Guardian. Is Cora really your Beloved ? I'm a Beloved, too, although the Dark One who I was supposed to save found someone else, and - "

Cora stood down the end of a hallway in an open door, sunlight spilling in around her as she yelled at him to come that way. He didn't hesitate, just shoved the chatty Guardian toward her, spinning around when de Marco burst into the hallway behind them, a gun in his hand.

"Run!" he shouted to the women, hefting a small half-moon table to hurl at de Marco.

"He's got a gun, Alec!" Cora yelled back, and he knew even without looking that she was coming back to save him.

Dammit, woman, I am the man! I will do the saving! You will run when I tell you to run!

You can stuff that macho crap where the sun don't shine. Besides, he's got a gun! He'll shoot you!

He can't hurt me. You, however, are still mortal.

Cora flung herself on him just as de Marco opened fire, sending them both to the floor. He twisted as they fell, rolling over on top of her to protect her, pulling her head down so it was tucked against the wall of his chest.

You fool! he growled into her mind. You'll get yourself killed that way.

Use me!

What?

Use me! Tool me! Like you did with the demon.

"There's always a price to pay when you use Bael's power," he warned, but did as she suggested, holding her tight. He felt her shudder; then power began to flow from her to him, which he channeled and threw in a mass toward the man just as the first couple of bullets hit his back.

Cora jerked, and he knew one of the bullets had gone through him to her. He ripped savagely at the power, slamming it into de Marco, sending the man flying backward into the wall, where he collapsed in a heap on the floor.

"How badly are you hurt?" he asked as he rolled off Cora, his gaze pouncing on the bloom of red along her upper leg.

"I don't think badly. Holy moly, we did that?" She stared at the crumpled heap that was Alphonse de Marco, horror skittering around her mind. "Is he . . ."

"Dead? I doubt it. He is not mortal. Let me see your leg." He tore at the bullet hole in her jeans, ripping it wide open to examine the wound.

"Thank you, that was my favorite pair of jeans!" She slapped at his hands as he found an exit hole on the underside of her thigh, the bullet buried in the floor beneath her.

"I'll buy you another. Dammit, it's bleeding heavily." With no other choice, he bent over her leg, hearing her gasp as he swirled his tongue around the upper wound, fighting the need to suck the blood from the wound.

You're feeding? Right now? Is this what they call bloodlust?

No, this is what they call stanching the flow of blood. Reluctantly, he gave one last lick to the wound before pulling her leg up and repeating it on the exit wound.

You can do that?

I'm a Dark One, love. If we weren't able to clot blood , our donors could bleed to death.

Oh. Well, thank you . I'm sorry I accused you of wanting to eat.

I do want to eat, but now is not the time or place. Put your arms around me.

I beg your pardon!

"I don't want you walking on that leg until you've seen a doctor. Put your arms around me. You there, Guardian, see if de Marco is harmed."

He got to his feet again, Cora in his arms, striding toward the open door at the end of the hall.

"Your back! You got shot, too! Put me down, Alec. I can walk."

My back is fine. The wounds are already healing over. Remember the attack by the demon? I heal very fast.

"Yeah, but bullets!"

"I'm fine."

Ulfur emerged from the room behind them, watching silently as Noelle squatted next to de Marco.

"He's out, but not hurt badly," she said, hurrying after them.

Alec stopped at the door, looking back at Ulfur. "Can you come with us?"

Ulfur shook his head, gesturing toward the fallen man.

"Has he bound you not to speak?"

Ulfur nodded, his expression one with which Alec had more than a passing familiarity - utter despair.

"I'll tell Kris and Pia where you are. They'll help."

Ulfur smiled, but it was a sad smile. Cora waved and he lifted his hand in response, watching with black eyes as they left the building.

"Have you a car?" he asked, hissing in pain as the sunlight caught him full in the face. He glanced around quickly, but the sun was full on the house, giving no shade.

"Oh man, you're turning red," Cora said, glancing toward the sky. "The thing about the sun is true?"

"Somewhat."

"I'll get my car," Noelle said, running down a long flagstone walkway toward steps leading down to a parking area. Scrubby desert plants and a few small cacti lined the path, the air around them hot, and filled with the dusty scent of warm, dry earth. A small gecko dashed out from the shade of a rock in front of him as he started down the path toward the driveway.

"Put me down, and go around the side of the house," Cora ordered. He gritted his teeth against the pain in his hands and face, ignoring her demand.

"Alec, stop! You're getting blisters!"

"I'll survive. I don't need you opening up those wounds again."

"Oh, for the love of the saints . . ." She squirmed in his arms for a moment, pulling off her shirt and wrapping it around his head.

Now I can't see.

"I'll tell you where to go. Forward five steps, then stop."

"I really don't need - "

"Stop being such a baby. Five steps."

They made it to the car, although Alec's hands were burning something fierce by the time he placed Cora in the backseat. He was going to sit up front next to Noelle in order to give Cora room to stretch out her leg, but she just grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him in after her.

"Go!" she ordered Noelle, and the Guardian, at least, didn't argue. Gravel kicked out behind them as the tires spun, finally getting a grip.

"Put your leg up on me," Alec ordered, trying to arrange Cora's leg, but she shook her head and pulled him toward her, plastering herself against the window.

"Get in the middle," she said in her delightfully bossy tone.

"I'm not - "

Get in the middle, you idiot. The sun won't reach you there.

I'm not going to let you hurt yourself -

"I'll sit on you, OK? Just sit there."

Have I mentioned that I don't like bossy women?

Have I mentioned that I don't like vampires?

Frequently.

Yeah , well, get over yourself. She waited until he moved to the middle of the seat before she scooted over and carefully sat across his legs. "There. Comfy?"

He closed his eyes for a second, the sting of his face and hands fading as her scent permeated his awareness, the feeling of her in his arms, warm and soft, one of her exquisite hips pressed against his penis, making it instantly come to life. He had an almost overwhelming urge to bite her, not just to feed, but simply because he wanted to mark her, to let every man know she was his, and his alone.

Cora turned to look at him, her eyes wide and somewhat hazy with passion. I'm not yours, Alec. Although the biting thing really sounds . . . no. Never mind. I didn't just think that.

He was surprised that she had overheard his thoughts, since she hadn't been able to previously.

Who's projecting now? she asked with a smug little smile into his mind.

He pinched her behind, caressing the sweet curves of her ass as he asked, "Where exactly are we, Noelle?"

"Arizona. Outside of Flagstaff, actually. How did you knock out Mr. de Marco? I didn't see you do anything."

Cora sagged against him, her fingers absently toying with the hair at his nape. He wondered how long he'd be able to stand that without having to make love to her.

Her fingers stilled for a moment as she glanced at him from the corners of her eyes before a wicked little smile curled her lips.

"Where are we going? I only have this rental car for another day, so if you're hoping to drive somewhere at a distance, I'm afraid - "

"Into the nearest town, then the airport," Alec said, warring with his need to claim Cora again - her mouth, her body, her soul - and common sense.

"Will do," Noelle said, turning onto a main highway.

"Airport?" Cora asked. "Where are we going?"

"Where do you live?" he countered.

"Outside of San Francisco."

"Then we'll have a doctor see you first, and fly into San Francisco, so we can pick up your passport and anything you want to bring with you."

"Bring with me where?" she asked, and by the way she held herself, he knew she was in increasing pain. He wished he could take it from her, and nuzzled her neck, hoping to distract her.

"Florence."

"Florence . . . Italy?" Cora asked, her voice a squeak as he nibbled on her earlobe. Jesus wept! Do that sucky thing behind my ear again.

He sucked. She moaned in his head.

Why Italy?

That's where my friend and his Beloved live.

The friend you betrayed?

Yes. Kristoff and Pia are tied up with de Marco and Ulfur. They'll help us.

Why on earth would they do that when you betrayed one and seduced the other?

He smiled at the jealousy she fought whenever she thought of Pia.

We didn't have sex, mi corazon. Well, she touched me, I touched her, and that was it. I suppose you could call that sort of a minor form of sex. Regardless, you have nothing to be jealous of.

I am not . . . oh, move on. Why would they help us?

Because I'm not going to give them any other choice, he said, and gently pushed her out of his mind. He had some planning to do.

Two hours later Cora limped out to Noelle's car, glaring at him when he offered to carry her.

"The tetanus shot hurt more than the bullet. Stop hovering over me, Alec, I'm fine. It's just a smidgen pinchy now. Did you do something to me to make me heal faster than normal? Because that doctor said that it looked like the wound was several days old, and almost healed over."

He kept to the shadows of the medical building before sliding next to her into the backseat of the car. "I haven't done anything to you, no. It could be the Tool making you . . . more."

"More what?" Cora looked startled at the idea.

"More than mortal, I think," Noelle said, starting the car, pausing to glance back at him. "We Beloveds, even when not Joined, are kind of . . . oh, I like to think of us as 'woman plus.' We have extra bonus abilities, like healing faster, and being more resilient, things like that."

"We Beloveds?" Cora almost choked on the word.

She thinks you're my Beloved. Do not argue with her - it's easier if she believes it to be true.

Is it? She clearly wanted to say more, but withdrew from him mentally.

"Yes. Didn't Alec tell you? I'm a Beloved, too, although the Dark One I was supposed to save ended up liking my roommate more than me."

Cora cast him a curious look. "Beloveds can do that? "

"No," he answered.

"Sometimes they can, yes," Noelle contradicted him. "Sebastian - he was the Dark One - said it had something to do with fate, that sometimes it got messed up, and assigned the wrong Beloved to a Dark One. Airport?"

"Please," Alec answered.

"You got it. I should return home, anyway."

"So this vampire you were supposed to hook up with ran off with your roomie? The dog!" Cora said, shooting him irritated glances just as if he were at fault. "I hope you let them know how you feel."

"Oh, I did. At first I was hurt, but I realized that they really were meant for one another. Besides, Belle - she was my roomie - promised to help find me a Dark One who doesn't have a Beloved."

Noelle's gaze in the mirror flickered to him.

Cora put her hand on his leg and glared at the mirror. You say one word, and I'll pop you on your incredibly gorgeous nose.

He put his hand over hers and stroked the backs of her fingers. I'm surprised you care enough to feel possessive, querida.

I'm not being possessive. I'm just protecting you because you let de Marco shoot you in the back in order to save me. Noelle wouldn't be right for you at all. You can thank me later for getting her off your back. "And I take it she hasn't found one yet?"

"No, although I've met just about every unredeemed Dark One in Europe." Noelle sighed.

"You'd think one of them would be happy to have you swoop in and save him," Cora said, drumming her fingers on his leg.

"You'd think so, but I guess not. I wouldn't mind, except Belle is constantly after me to try to meet more Dark Ones, and to be honest, I'm perfectly happy the way I am. And besides, men are like stray cats, you know? When one needs you, they find you."

Cora laughed. Alec refrained from making any comment, focusing his attention on more important matters. He had to figure out how he was going to convince Kristoff to go against the Moravian Council. Kris wasn't going to like it, but Alec had too much at stake to tolerate any refusal of help.

He had to protect Cora, and it was beginning to look like there was only one way to do that.