Read Online Blood Lust by T. Lynne Tolles - Free Book Online Page A

and fix you up. Okay? Everything is fine.”
    “Where’s Devon? I want to see Devon.”
    His eyes glanced to Bernard and then to Dr. Rowe. “Well, dear, he’s not here, I’m sorry. I’m sure he will be right along.”
    “Don’t play coy, you know as well as I do he’s not coming,” she said as the tears poured out of her.
    She spent the next two days in the hospital having a large array of tests. She was sure she hadn’t an ounce of blood left. How many tests could one doctor require? And what the heck was he looking for? It was just a couple of scratches!
    Dominic was sweet and never left her side. Bernard drove from the house to the hospital about twenty times a day fulfilling his duties to the boys and Master Dominic like a pro. He provided books and meals for the master and even had a nice portable bed brought in for him.
    Darby appreciated his company and nurturing, but she kept telling him to go home and be comfortable. She felt stupid being in the hospital for scratches.
    The final day of their stay at the hospital, Dr. Rowe came in with a salve that he first put on her face and then on the open scratches on her ribs. It stung at first, tingled, and then got very hot.
    “I think this is going to do the trick. It’s already taking the swelling down; take a look, Dominic.”
    “Then it’s what I thought?”
    “Yes. A slight variation, but definitely in the same category,” Dr. Rowe answered.
    “What was what you thought?” Darby asked.
    “Nothing for you to worry about, dear,” Dominic answered.
    “But I want to know what you are talking about,” Darby said.
    “I know, dear, and you will, but not right now. Let’s get you home and healed, then we’ll talk.” Dominic turned to Dr. Rowe again. “So we can go home, then?”
    “Yes, I have all the paperwork here,” he said and handed a file folder to Dominic.
    “Thank you, Dr. Rowe. You’ll be checking in on her and Anton soon?”
    “Yes, in a day or two.”
    “Great, we’ll see you then.”
    Bernard helped Darby out of bed and into the bathroom where a new set of clothes for her lay on a small table. After Bernard left the room, she looked in the mirror. It is pretty miraculous, this salve . The swelling that had persisted for days had gone down in just a few minutes. Now there were only four faintly red lines on her face. She felt like a vampire with their instant healing, the way this stuff was working. She finished dressing and entered the room where Bernard and Dominic were gathering up the last of their items.
    “Ready to head back to the house?” Dominic said.
    “Yes, I guess.” She wondered why she was going back to the Larsens’ house at all, when Devon hadn’t even bothered to visit her or check on her.
    Bernard and Dominic knew what she was thinking even without telepathy. Dominic put his arm around her shoulders and they all walked down to the car. The ride was practically silent except for some chitchat between Dominic and Bernard about the dinner menu.
    When they pulled up to the house, they were greeted by Sammy and his ball, but no one else. Dominic seemed angry at this, and tried to hide it, unsuccessfully, from Darby. They entered the silent, beautiful house.
    Bernard asked, “Shall I set you up in the library with a book in the big leather chair, Miss Darby?”
    “No, Bernard, but thank you. I think I will just go to my room.”
    “Are you sure, dear?” Dominic asked. “We could go to town and have lunch if you like, maybe do a little shopping. I still have some Christmas shopping to do, if you’d like to join me.”
    “Oh, God! Christmas! I almost forgot. I love Christmas! I’ll bet downtown Westport looks beautiful all decorated for Christmas. But, no, Mr. Larsen, I have some things to think about and I’m a bit tired. Maybe tomorrow?”
    “Sure. Maybe you could help me pick out a huge tree for the foyer. Usually it’s just me and Bernard that do all that. I’m sure it will be fun to have a woman’s