"Which brings me back to my question. How did you find out about it?"

"I�"

"Dorian," a voice from the doorway called. "Ms. D�amico."

Dorian sighed. "Good afternoon, Gabriel. Is there something we can assist you with?"

"Found this at the bottom of the hill. Thought you might want it back." He crossed the room and handed Charley her cell phone, scuffed up but still functional.

"Thank you," she said, not sure if she was more grateful for the recovery of her phone or the break from Dorian�s scrutiny.

"Anything else?" Dorian asked his brother.

"Malcolm and I are heading back out now�I just wanted to return the phone."

Dorian nodded. "Keep me�"

"Informed," Gabriel said, already turning his back. "Of course, your highness."

He was almost to the doorway when Charley spoke up again. "Gabriel, wait."

He stilled, one hand on the doorframe, but didn�t turn around.

"I wanted to thank you," she said.

"You�ve already done so."

"Not for the phone. For last night. You and Dorian� You saved my life. I know you took a big risk. So� thank you. Again."

He let out a sigh, then turned his head, glancing at her over his shoulder. It was the first time she�d seen even a flicker of warmth in his eyes. "You didn�t deserve what they did to you."

And then he was gone, leaving a chill in his wake.

Charley pulled the blanket tighter over her shoulders.

"No one ever accused my brother of being a gracious host," Dorian said. "Be grateful you�ve only got a sister, love. Brothers are more trouble than they�re worth."

Charley smiled, but beneath the irritation, Dorian�s tone held a note of softness. Sadness too, but it was clear to her that whatever their shared resentments, the brothers cared deeply for one another.

She thought of what Dorian had said earlier, about how his brothers and his vampire house were one in the same. He hadn�t wanted to talk about how he�d become a vampire, but Charley suspected whatever had happened that fateful day was at the root of their fractured relationships.

Tragedy cast long shadows. She could only imagine what that meant for immortals.

"Sasha�s the best," she said, trying to inject some lightness into the conversation, hoping to avoid any more questions about her so-called career.

"Sasha, the erotic vegetable photographer?" Dorian finally smiled, his eyes regaining some of their sparkle. "Older or younger?"

"Younger. She�s nineteen. We didn�t grow up together, though�different dads. I�ve only known her about five years. My mother kept us apart until she just� didn�t want her anymore." JrNovels.com