Chapter 1

VOLUME ONE: Eternally Yours

Prologue

Laying in the darkness, pain wrenches me, sending electrical currents throughout my body. As the pain subsides, I can see nothing at all in this black fortress, not even my hand as I hold it before my face. My breaths are shallow when pain suddenly jerks within me again, but I cannot let on that anything is amiss, for danger is all around. I turn over on the small bed and wrap my arms around myself, trying not to attract attention. I need blood, even though I am human, but I won't give my captors the satisfaction of knowing.

My thoughts go immediately to Lance: his touch, his dark, chiseled good looks, his bright green eyes. When love finds you, you recognize it, commit it to memory and lock it in your heart forever. You know it in your soul. You sacrifice everything for it.

As I lay in the dark, I remind myself that there are many types of love. Some, you would die for. I steel myself and silently prepare to fight when another sharp pain grabs me. I'm not sure how long I can hold out, but I must. I must hold out for him. I would die for him.

Suddenly, a noise resonates loudly in the darkness, causing the walls to vibrate. Yes, Lance is coming for me. I know it. I have to hold on to all hope, for to let go is to die, and I must survive. I must survive for him. Another pain wracks my body, but I make no noise.

Loud noise resounds all around us, but this time within the cavernous room. Abruptly, a light comes on, sending the room into a bright, white glow. I'm instantly blinded, but my vision slowly returns. He is coming for us. He's here. I just hope that it's not too late.

Two months before

"Rosa, would you be so kind as to show Mr. Dorman to Examining Room Eight?" I checked the chart of a patient that I had just examined. Rosa, my head nurse here at Southside Medical Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was about to go on break, but I knew that she wouldn't mind helping me out. Although I'd been on my feet for eight hours straight, I wasn't ready for a break yet. Working with patients always rejuvenated me.

"Sure. I'd be glad to." She smiled as I handed her Mr. Dorman's chart and then she headed toward the waiting room.

I took a deep breath as I pulled the chart from the tray next to Examining Room Seven. The name on the chart read Henry O'Malley, and it stated that he had broken his arm. Not one to keep patients waiting, I gave the door a light knock.

"Come in," a young man in his mid-twenties answered. When I walked in, a young man was sitting on the examining table holding his arm. Even though he must have been in great pain, his eyes lit up and a broad smile spread across his face when I entered the room.

"Good afternoon, Mr. O'Malley," I greeted him with a professional smile, and then turned to check his chart again, ignoring his pearly white teeth and the cute dimple on the side of his cheek.

"What do we have here?" I asked, setting down the chart to look directly into his eyes.

"Well, I think I've broken my arm or so it seems." He smiled and the dimple appeared once again.

"Well," I replied, returning his smile. "We'll fix you right up in just a bit."

"Have I seen you somewhere before?" He lifted an eyebrow expectantly, trying to make small talk.

I laughed to myself. Even though I was only twenty-nine, I had been a doctor for two years now, which included four years of pre-med, four years of medical college, and two years of residency, but my long blonde hair and blue eyes made me appear younger. "Not unless you've been to the ER lately," I said flatly, taking the stethoscope from around my neck. "Let's get down to business, shall we?"

"Sure, if you like," he said with a sly smile. "Will this bed do?"

"Perhaps I should introduce myself first." I laughed, ignoring his proposition. "My name is Dr. Leila Reynolds. I'm the ER attending physician tonight."

O'Malley let his eyes travel up and down my five-foot, six-inch frame and smiled. "Doctor, huh? What time do you get off work?"

"Later," I replied sarcastically, and then added, "but I'm married."

A lock of his dark hair fell lazily over one eye. As he pushed it back, he gave me the sexiest smile he could manage. "Happily?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Somewhat," I replied, pulling up the rolling chair to get a better look. "Why don't you relax and let me take a look at your arm?"

He lifted his arm, cringing a bit. "After you set my arm, why don't you let me take you out for a drink?"

I raised an eyebrow, brushing a strand of my long blonde hair away from my face, turning the full force of my blue eyes on him. "Look, I'm your doctor. Let's set your arm, shall we?"

He let his good hand trial up my arm, raising gooseflesh that traveled down my back, and then turned his smoldering, eyes to mine. "Then, afterward, you'll let me take you out for a drink?"

"Nurse!" I yelled, standing up straight as Rosa entered the room.

"Yes, doctor?" she asked professionally, raising an eyebrow.

"I think this young man here needs a sedative," I said, then added, "In fact, why don't we knock him out?"

"Knock knock me out?" His seductive smile suddenly disappeared. "Is that really necessary?"

"Well, you tell me? Is it?" I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms. Rosa suppressed a smile, knowing what was happening and why I had called for her.

"No, no not at all," he stammered, changing his mind. "I'd rather stay awake, if you don't mind."

I eyed him for a moment, letting him squirm, then said to Rosa, "On second thought, just a pain killer will do. I don't think it'll be necessary to knock him out yet."

"Right away, doctor." Rosa bit her lip, trying to conceal a smile that spread across her smooth, mahogany cheeks as she walked out and closed the door. She came back, brandishing the longest syringe that she could find. His eyes grew wide. A moment later, we began the arduous task of setting his arm, and he behaved for the rest of the evening.

After I finished setting his arm and Mr. O'Malley was on his way out the door with a temporary cast, I noticed the dark shadow of a tall man standing at the end of the hallway. It was hard to tell, but he was extremely attractive with dark, wavy hair that just touched his collar, brilliant, green eyes, and a regal air-a true Renaissance man. His black Armani suit and pristine, white shirt open at the color and no tie was evidence that he was a hospital benefactor, a businessman.