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amused by that. Alexandra has nothing but good words for you and asks almost daily if you
will visit."
"Well, Cyn laughed nervously. That would be awkward, don't you think? I mean she and
Raphael..."
Duncan stared at her. I believe you have mistaken the nature of their relationship, Ms.
Leighton. Alexandra is Raphael's sister. They were separated for centuries; he thought her
dead along with their parents. He still feels guilty, I think, that he lost her for all that time, and
Alexandra is not above ... Well. Let us say Alexandra can be rather demanding."
"His sister. Cyn felt like someone had kicked her in the stomach. She fought to keep the
pain from showing and knew from Duncan's expression that she wasn't succeeding. So she
turned away, busying herself with taking the envelope which was filled with cash and shov-
ing it into her backpack. She switched off the light before facing him again. No doubt he could
see her just as well in the dark, but it made her feel less exposed.
"Thank you for bringing this, Duncan. It was kind."
"It is no more than you earned. He opened the door, looked back as if to say something,
then sighed and said instead, Take care of yourself, Cynthia. He stepped outside and closed
the door behind him.
Cyn sank down into her chair and let the tears come. It had been easier to believe there
was no hope, that Raphael's feelings for Alexandra and the deadly permanence of that bond
cut off any possibility for them. But now, to find out...?
You're a fool, Leighton. If life had taught her anything at all, it was that love could not be
trusted. Her father, her mother, her grandmother, even the strangers who took care of her,
every one of them had let her down until finally she'd acknowledged that it wasn't going to
happen, that she was well and truly alone. But the damn vampire had gotten through to her,
had made her feel wanted, needed, cherished even. And she'd responded like the fool she
was, letting herself care, letting herself believe that he cared in return.
She stood, shaking herself a bit, straightening her shoulders. What did it matter, really? So
Raphael was gone. She'd been alone before and would be again. So she had been a mo-
ment's diversion for the powerful vampire lord. So what? The sex had been great, the money
generous, and her reputation would certainly benefit, which meant more jobs in the future. So.
Great all around.
She picked up her backpack and headed for the parking lot where the rented Lexus was
waiting for her. So she'd been a fool. Lesson learned. She'd get over it. A year from now,
she'd probably be laughing at the whole thing. But tonight ... tonight it hurt too much.
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Chapter Fifty
Duncan swung the BMW in next to a long, black limo that sat idling in the private hangar.
Raphael walked across to meet him, waiting as his lieutenant turned off the engine and got
out of the car.
"She is well? he asked.
Duncan nodded, little more than a bow of his head. She appeared healthy and well-
rested, perhaps a bit too thin, but... He shrugged. It was a stressful few days."
"Did she "
"She asked about Alexandra, inquired for her health. I told her Alexandra has asked about
her, as well. He gazed steadily at Raphael, who met his stare.
"What, Duncan? Say whatever it is. I don't want to spend the next several hours in the air
with you brooding at my back."
Duncan flushed, whether with anger or embarrassment, Raphael couldn't say. Possibly
both. He waited.
"Whether you claim her or not, my lord, Duncan said finally. She is yours."
Raphael stilled, his black eyes going flat with brutally contained emotion. Left unsaid, nev-
er to be said in his presence, was the other half of Duncan's pronouncement, the corollary
that was as immutable as the truth of what Duncan had dared say. For if Cyn was his, and he
was filled with rage at the very thought of her belonging to another, then he was just as surely
hers.
Behind him, the pitch of the plane's engines changed as the pilot prepared to taxi and he
heard Alexandra calling his name. Raphael sighed as Duncan came up next to him, and to-
gether they walked toward the stairs.
"Is it snowing yet in Colorado, Duncan?"
"Not yet, my lord, but soon."
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