g her had not been enough.

he had wanted, needed, to hold her in his arms.

his fingernails cut into his palms as he fought the urge to gather her into his arms, to kiss the soft curve of her cheek, to run his tongue along her neck...

a red mist rose up before his eyes. hunger cramped his stomach and ran like molten lava through his veins. he felt his fangs lengthen, felt the urge to feed rise up within him, a ravening beast straining to be released.

"no." the word whispered past his lips. he would not. could not.

fear drove him toward the door.

"my lord?"

he stopped, his hands clenched at his sides.

"my lord? is that you?"

"go to sleep, rhianna," he said. slowly, he glanced over his shoulder, unleashing the full force of his gaze upon her. "go to sleep, my sweet, and dream your young girl's dreams while you still can."

she gazed into the dark depths of his eyes and felt a familiar lassitude steal through her. her eyelids felt unbearably heavy. with a soft sigh, she closed her eyes.

just before sleep claimed her, she thought she heard the hauntingly lonely cry of a wolf.