Twilight's Eternal Embrace by Karen Michelle Nutt

worse than I thought. You bonded with her. "
    " Do not be ridiculous. " He turned away. He should have bit his tongue and not revealed his affections.
    " No? Why are you down here with the horses? Do you wait for the sun to sink below the horizon so you may go to her? "
    " I only wished for some peace and quiet, but I see that is impossible with you here. " He glanced at Camden. The burly male raked a hand through his hair.
    " We are doomed, Bram. Our race is doomed. Our women no longer bare our children and we grow weak with each passing season. Each battle, we lose one or two of our clan. We dwindle in numbers, while the Lathe Sith still have children. The other blood drinkers must be suffering the same fate. Why else would the Draugr clan come for the Lathe Sith? The daywalkers can mate with us. If one should survive the blooding, they might carry a child within their womb to full term. "
    " But they do not survive, " he reminded Camden.
    His friend lifted his arm and ran a finger down a long gash that had healed. In time, the scar would no longer exist. " Blood heals us. "
    It was true. When they were injured, the strong offered their blood to heal the wounded. It didn ' t take much and recovery was within hours. " This is no secret. "
    " Aye, but what if the Lathe Sith could be healed with our blood, too ?" Camden's eyes shone bright as he relayed his theory. " What if after the blooding, we shared our essence with them? "
    " They are not blood drinkers. "
    Camden wouldn ' t let this go. His gaze held his with purpose. " If we so choose, we could close the Lathe Sith ' s wounds with our saliva. Why could we not make them strong with our blood? "
    Bram stood there in stunned silence, the blood pounding in his temples, as he tried to make sense of Camden's speculations.
    Camden obviously took his silence as a rejection. He ran a hand over his face and choked back his emotions. " Ignore me, Bram. I speak of nonsense. It must be a side effect of the change. "
    " For sure , you will be yourself soon ," Bram agreed, b ut Camden ' s words haunted him. What if it were true? What if the Lathe Sith could drink their blood for strength?

Chapter Fifteen
    Adryanna didn ' t venture far from the edge of the forest as she waited for Bram to arrive. Her mount grazed nearby. The warmth from the fading sun kissed the sky with yellow, red , and purple for its final good night caress. Her lips curved when she finally heard the sound of hoof beats.
    Bram looked magnificent upon his stallion , like a dark angel with his midnight strands haloing his features. His blue-eyed gaze met hers and she would swear the color deepened to violet as the red of passion shaded them.
    He brought his mount to a halt, pulling back on the mane and giving a sharp whistle. He stepped down with ease and strode toward her. She couldn ' t wait and met him half way.
    Before she knew it, she was in his arms, in an embrace she welcomed with her own.
    " I knew you would come, " she told him.
    " You know me so well, do you? " The low rumble from his chest made her quirk a brow at him in question . " What if I had not heard your request? " His mouth twitched at one end before widening to a full grin.
    " Then I would be standing here alone, enjoying the sunset. " She took his hand and led him closer to the ledge, but not so close that the wind would whip around them like spirits bent on teasing.
    " Beautiful. " His voice lowered to a mere whisper.
    She turned to h im and realized he wasn ' t looking toward the horizon, but at her. " How do you know I speak the truth when you have not glimpsed its brilliance?"
    " I see all I need to see. " His hand cupped her cheek and she leaned into his palm.
    " Is that so? "
    " Aye. " He leaned toward her and pressed his lips to hers. He was a warrior, but his touch was like a tender caress. Her body reacted to his kiss as if his hands had moved over her with wanton pleasure. She sighed and moved closer. He pulled her to him so their