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"He is not safe here, Lisa," Barack told her carefully. "You must realize that. The men who wanted to kill
you and your sister want Cullen even more. The security guard placed at his door is very inexperienced.
If Cullen remains here, the society will attempt to kill him. The security guard and Cullen and perhaps you
will all die. Cullen has no other family. Our band is his family. We would like you to come with us to a
place we know is safe. We must take Cullen there to safeguard him. We cannot be with him at all times,
and he will need someone to help him while he heals."
Lisa's fingers curled into a fist. She didn't know what to do, whom to trust. Dayan had said much the
same thing about Corinne, and he had been right. "This all started when we went into that bar," she
accused recklessly.
Syndil looked directly at her. Her voice was gentle but very firm. "You know that is not true. Your
brother was murdered by these same men. Just because you do not want something to be true, reality
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does not change. You must live in the real world, Lisa, not one of illusion. You are in danger, just as
Cullen is. I will not force you to accompany us, but we are going to protect Cullen. I am asking you to
trust us of your own free will."
'I will take her blood and insist on obedience.'Barack was annoyed with the woman. She was
ridiculously stubborn.
'She is the one Cullen has chosen. Out of respect for him and for Dayan's lifemate, we cannot do
such a thing.'
Barack snorted his opinion of that. "It was your refusal to accept reality that initiated this crisis. We
could have lost both Cullen and Corinne. Did you want him shot? If so, you managed to accomplish it."
'Barack!'Syndil hissed a reprimand.'What are you doing?'
'I think we should take Cullen to safety and wipe his mind clean of this childish woman. She looks
good, but what is that without substance?'
Cullen's hand moved, his fingers creeping toward Lisa's. "As I recall, Barack," he whispered, "not so
long ago you wanted to shoot me yourself. I seem to inspire that reaction in people. What happened to
me?"
Syndil leaned close to him, her hand gentle as she stroked back the hair from Cullen's forehead. Lisa
was weeping quietly again. "You were shot protecting Corinne and Lisa. As always, you played the
hero," Syndil answered him.
"Still trying to show me up in front of beautiful women," Barack said, grinning affectionately down at
Cullen.
Cullen's gaze sought Lisa's, but she avoided his eyes by hanging her head even as she clung to his hand.
"You never seem to appreciate a woman until I point out her good qualities, Barack."
"Do not seek to get me in trouble with this reminder of my former behavior, Cullen," Barack said,
keeping his tone light despite his worry. Cullen was almost gray. Barack looked anxiously at Syndil.
His lifemate smiled reassuringly at Barack. "It is true, Cullen," Syndil said. "I have a long memory, and
you are the one who made me feel I could live again. You must rest and do as we say."
"I want Lisa taken care of." Cullen was looking at Lisa with love in his eyes.
Barack cleared his throat but subsided quickly when Syndil glared at him.
"Lisa, don't cry," Cullen said softly. "You're breaking my heart."
"He's right, though it was my fault. I went to the photo shoot because I didn't want to believe there
was a problem. And now you're hurt and so is Corinne."
"Corinne?" Cullen turned his head to look at Barack. "Where is Corinne?"
"She is with Dayan," Barack said soothingly, bending down to look into Cullen's pain-filled eyes. "You
are to rest and heal, Cullen. Dayan will care for Corinne, and we will see to it that Lisa is safe. You have
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my word on that."
"Lisa is under your protection," Cullen insisted.
Barack sighed softly. "Of course, Cullen, she is under our protection. I give you my word. Now go back
to sleep and stop ordering me around in front of Syndil. She likes it too much."
Cullen closed his eyes obediently in response to the hypnotic suggestion in Barack's voice, immediately
Syndil leaned close to Lisa, looking directly into her eyes.'You must have the security guard escort you
to the cafeteria while the nurse keeps an eye on the room. It is urgent that you get something to
drink immediately.' Syndil was feeling weak from the exhausting work of repairing the terrible injuries to
Cullen. She needed sustenance, and Cullen needed Barack's ancient blood to complete the healing
process. They could not give it to him and then allow the hospital to take a blood sample. Cullen needed
to be moved where they could watch over his health properly and protect him.
Lisa leaned over Cullen to brush his forehead with a kiss before she turned in obedience to the hypnotic
compulsion Syndil had used on her.
Chapter11
Corinne heard the music first. Soft. Sweet. Perfect. It was so wonderful, it brought tears to her eyes.
The voice singing the lyrics conveyed a husky blend of male sensuality and outpouring love. She knew
who it was and found herself smiling. "Dayan." She whispered his name softly.
The music continued, but she felt the slight shifting of the bed where she was lying. "Corinne. I thought
you might sleep forever. I want you to know you took several hundred years off my life. I cannot afford
another scare like that. The next time I send you to sleep, I expect to find you where I left you."
Her soft mouth curved into a smile, but she didn't open her eyes. "Listen to you. You sound almost as if
you'reattempting to order me around." She sounded amused, drowsy, incredibly sexy.
Instantly his blood turned to molten lava, a slow burn that consumed his body and wrapped his heart in
flames. She was so beautiful to him, lying quietly beneath the blankets, her hair spread out around her
face, a dark silky mass he couldn't stop himself from touching. Dayan placed his guitar carefully beside
the bed and leaned over to kiss her irresistibly lush mouth. "I command and you obey. That is the way it
is supposed to be." His voice was a tool of seduction.
"Really?" Her smile widened to reveal her intriguing dimple. "I hadn't heard that. I've always thought it
was the other way around."
"You have been talking to the wrong people."
Corinne's long lashes fluttered, and with a small effort she managed to open them. She lifted her hand to
his mouth and touched the lines of strain with a gentle fingertip. "You really were afraid for me. I didn't
mean to worry you."
His hand captured hers and he brought it to his mouth, kissing the center of her palm before he placed it
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