"she is the most powerful and wise of all vampires."

a shadow drifted over her face as she absorbed the significance of his confirmation of what must seem to her a figment of her worst nightmares.

"how... how do you know that?" her gaze frantically searched his features, perhaps desperate to reassure herself that he had not changed into a monster before her eyes. "sebastian?"

"you are certain that you desire the truth?"

she bit her lip until she drew blood, but with that stubborn courage that he so admired, she kept her gaze steadily locked with his own.

"i must know."

sebastian heaved a sigh, his hands clenching at his side. bloody hell. he wished that lucien, or even gideon, were here. they were both far more experienced in handling the peculiar emotions of mortal maidens. no doubt they had easily managed the women they had been commanded to protect with perfect ease. he, on the other hand, was far more comfortable hiding behind one of his books. he was bound to make a botch of this.

pushing back the heavy strands of his hair, he heaved an unwitting sigh.

"it was nefri who sent me to london. she wanted me to protect the amulet, as well as you, from mr. ra-mone."

she was shaking her head in denial even before he finished speaking. her expression was nearly undoing sebastian.

it was more than fear, or even dread. there was a poignant ache of disappointment that he did not believe he could endure.

"amelia." he instinctively stepped forward, only to halt when she hurriedly backed from him.

"why would she send you?" she demanded, still unwittingly clutching the medallion as if she could gain courage from it.

"because i was chosen by the great council of vampires to come."

"no." without warning, she sank to her knees, her head bowed so that her hair tumbled forward to hide her face. "no."

moving swiftly, sebastian was kneeling at her side, his arm gently cradling her shoulders.

"please look at me, amelia."

he heard her choke back a sob of distress. "a vampire. dear god."

sebastian was out of his depth and utterly uncertain as to how to comfort the poor maiden.

silently he cursed nefri for thrusting amelia into such danger, and himself for not having the skills that were clearly needed.

"amelia, you must not fear me," he murmured, pressing his lips to the soft satin of her hair. "i would never harm you."

she shivered, but much to his relief she slowly lifted her head to meet his anxious gaze.

"i do not fear you, sebastian," she said softly. "as ridiculous as it might be, i somehow know you would not hurt me."

he released a shuddering breath, his hand moving of its own accord to cup her pale cheek.

she had not fled, nor fallen into hysterics. she had not even condemned him as a villain. instead she had willingly listened to the whispers of her heart, rather than giving in to panic.

her astonishing valor never failed to amaze him.

"it is not at all ridiculous," he assured her. "it is the bonding."

not surprisingly, her brows drew together in bewilderment. "the what?"

"the bonding." his thumb shifted to absently stroke the corner of her mouth. inanely he recalled just how sweet those lips had tasted. how they had tempted him to drown in their promised pleasure. "it gives one the power to sense and feel what is within the soul of another."

she merely gazed at him for a long moment. "oh."

"what is it, my dear?"

"this is all so bewildering," she whispered at last, closing her eyes as if wanting to shut out the vast upheavals that had tortured her so this evening. "heavens above, i did not even believe that vampires existed just a few hours ago. now i learn i am being hunted by one and protected by another."

pulling back, sebastian regarded her pale features. even in the shadows, he could not miss the lines of brittle strain. his heart clenched. brave or not, amelia was near to total collapse.

unfortunately, the stubborn woman would never admit to such a weakness. it would be up to him to in-sist that she have a care for herself.

"you are tired, my dear. i will take you to your chambers and then escort william to his own.

we will speak of this further on the morrow."

"yes," she agreed wearily, allowing sebastian to tenderly pull her to her feet. only when he reached down to firmly scoop her into his arms did she seem to come out of her fog of bewilderment. "sebastian?"

he smiled deep into her eyes as he smoothly moved out of the library and toward the stairs.

"for once allow someone else to care for you, my dear," he commanded softly. "you do not have to be strong tonight."

to her utter astonishment, amelia discovered herself tumbling deep into sleep the moment her head was laid upon the pillow.

whether it had been the stress of the night, or the soul-deep knowledge that she was safe within sebastian's home, was impossible to say. all she did know for certain was that when she awoke to discover the late morning sunlight shafting through the chamber, she felt considerably stronger.

rising into a seated position, she gazed about the room sebastian had carried her to only a few hours before. it was nicely situated with a bay window overlooking the front street. the furnishings were typically english with yellow satin wall panels adding a lovely brightness. but as with most of the house, there was a decided air of neglect.

with the careful eye of a woman already in control of her own household, she took disapproving note of the dust clinging to the tall armoire and the dullness of the mahogany chairs and tables. it was only when she was debating the effort of polisling the delicate crystal chandelier overhead that she at last realized the absurdity of her thoughts.

what did she care if the entire house could use good scrubbing? or that there was a dampness in the air? such things were meaningless nuisances that she was using to hide her true troubled thoughts.

perhaps not surprising, she acknowledged wryly.

who would not prefer to dwell upon spider webs and dust rather than face the brutal truth that her en-tire world had been thrust upside down?

unwittingly she clutched the blankets up to her chin. vampires. was it even possible? until yesterday she would have thought anyone mad to claim that such monsters existed, let alone walked the streets or london. but, on the other hand, how could she deny what she had witnessed?

she had seen mr. ramone with blood shimmering on his lips. she had seen him shift into nothing more than shadows before her very eyes.

and there was that. .. tingling awareness within herself that she could no longer deny.

her fingers lightly touched the medallion about her neck. whatever the powers of the amulet, she feared that they were affecting her. perhaps even altering her. she could see the world more clearly, her senses heightened to an aching sensitivity. it was in the heavy warmth of the air, the faint scratch of the linen sheets against her skin, and the scent of dust and old wax.

more astonishing, if she were to close her eyes she knew she would be capable of knowing the precise location of sebastian, and, to a lesser extent, her brother. she even feared she might be able to sense the distant presence of mr. ramone.

as if to prove her point, a sudden rash of goose bumps tightened her skin. turning her head, she watched as the door to her chamber was opened and sebastian stepped in.

beneath the cover, her body trembled. not from fear. as she had admitted last night, she could not bring herself to believe this man would harm her. no matter what he was. but that did not stop the stark realization that he was not the person she had presumed him to be.

he was mysterious, dangerous, and intent upon ful-lulling his duties. duties that she must force herself to acknowledge were far more important than her or her happiness.

the silver gaze was guarded as he studied her sleep-flushed face. then, with slow steps, he crossed to settle upon the edge of the mattress.

amelia was immediately conscious of his male heat. vampire or not, he was still compellingly beautiful, his burnished hair framing the pale, finely chiseled features and his muscular body attired in a golden coat and ivory breeches.

and he still managed to send a thrill of sensuous awareness searing through her blood.

warily she forced herself to meet the piercing gaze, futilely hoping that he couldn't read the wicked direction of her thoughts.

"good morning, sebastian," she managed to croak.

"amelia." he continued to search her countenance, as if seeking reassurance that she was not about to plummet into hysterics. "how are you this morning?"

she suppressed an absurd desire to laugh. how was she?

confused, terrified, and wishing that she could convince herself that this was all some horrible nightmare.

she clutched the covers closer to her chin. "i am well. have you seen william?"

"yes. he is eating his breakfast in the kitchen."

"oh." it took a moment before her brows abruptly drew together and the terrible memory struck at her heart. "but your housekeeper..."

the elegant features hardened with a dangerous anger before he began to ease the tension from his body. it was not gone. amelia could still feel the frustrated heat smoldering, but it was more under control.