Free Seduced by the Night by Robin T. Popp Page A

would be up soon and Harris needed time alone to think.
    He left the room and walked down the tunnel for another hundred yards, coming to a stop at a seemingly random spot. Glancing both ways to make sure no errant vampires were nearby, he activated a lever and a part of the pipe slid back, revealing the small hole he'd tunneled out to be his resting place. It had taken almost a month of hard labor, but had been worth it. At least now when he slept, he didn't have to worry about someone staking him in his sleep.
    Climbing inside, he closed the door and lay back. He opened his mind and reached out, moving past Patterson, to the city beyond, feeling for a presence he hoped—he prayed—would be out there. He'd felt her once before— the adult chupacabra . Dr. Weber, the biochemist who'd been coerced into working for Lance Burton, had told them she'd died, but if she truly had, the link they all shared would have died with her. That hadn't happened.
    He conducted his search systematically, covering each inch of the psychic plane until he felt the first pull of fatigue. The sun would rise soon and he could add another failed attempt to his list of achievements.
    Then he touched something. He was so shocked that he almost let the link dissolve and had to scramble to hold on to it. It was her, the adult chupacabra . He recognized her "feel." Stretching his awareness, he tried to get an impression of where in the city she was—if she was even
in
the city. He had no idea how far the mind link stretched.
    As the sun came up, the link shuttered and collapsed, but at least now he had hope. If he could find her, then he could secure more venom. Then all he needed was a biochemist to unlock the venom's secret—and make him human again.
    ----

Chapter 6

     
    “Good evening." Miles's voice came from the doorway. "I brought you a cup of your favorite gourmet coffee…" His words trailed off as Bethany swiveled around on the lab stool to face him, a cup similar to the one he held suspended halfway to her mouth. "Oh. I see you already have some." His gaze shot past her to the other side of the lab table where Dirk sat and his expression turned cold and resentful.
    Hoping to stave off another argument between the two men, Bethany placed her cup on the table, hopped off the stool, and hurried to Miles. "That was so sweet of you. You must have read my mind. I told Dirk when we stopped on the way in that one wouldn't be enough to get me through the evening. You saved us a trip back out." She planted a kiss on his cheek as she took the cup from his hand. "T hank you for being so thoughtful."
    Miles pulled his attention away from Dirk and the expression in his eyes softened, but not by much. Grabbing her elbow with his free hand, he steered her out of the lab, into her office. "Are you sure you won't come with me tonight?" he implored her. "I could have a dress delivered here in no time."
    Bethany couldn't think of anything she'd like less than attending the boring social affair, but she didn't say that to Miles. "No. I really do have a lot of work to make up."
    He glared past her into the lab. "How long, Bethany ? How long are you planning to stay out at that place?"
    "I don't know, Miles. Until it's safe to leave, I guess."
    "I don't like it—and I don't like that man. I know you trust him and it seems he's good at what he does, but… it's just not right."
    Miles was usually a very patient man, but even he had his limits. "The award ceremony is coming up," he ventured on. "You'll want to accept the Rod O'Connor Award in person, won't you?"
    It was a cheap shot. He knew how much receiving that award meant to her. She struggled to control her irritation and was saved from answering him when a buzzer went off in the lab. "Miles, I have to go. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
    She started to walk away, the extra cup of coffee in her hand, but Miles put a hand on her arm to stop her. "I'm sorry, Bethany . I miss you." He kissed her then, but it