Thank you all for your enthusiasm, it means a great deal and I am so lucky to have such wonderful readers as you! This chapter is the climatic point and the last two chapters will be posted during the weekend. I thank you for this journey you have followed me through and I hope you will like the ending and be satisfied that Our Man has found His Lady.

MK

The stars had begun to poke their cheerful faces out of the darkening sky but Hoss was too worried to appreciate the heavens. He stared blankly up at the sky, not seeing the beauty. He could only see the face of his oldest brother and the back of Sport as the horse had carried Adam out of sight. Sighing, he picked up a long stick and poked at the campfire, watching the sparks fly upwards. A glowing ember landed on his sleeve and he brushed it off, too preoccupied to feel the dull sting. The moon emerged from behind a cloud and caught his eye. The gentle glow met his gaze, unwavering and true. There was something soothing about nature that always took away his troubles.

A breeze blew about the camp and the horses stirred, one of them nickering contentedly. Hoss shook his head, resigned to his worries. He added a few more sticks to the fire and then crawled under the wagon, settling on his back. Pulling the blankets tightly around himself, he stared up at the twinkling stars, seeing them as if for the first time. The beauty soothed and reminded him of what he had been taught to do in such tense situations as this.

Closing his eyes, he began to pray. He prayed for the safety of his brother, for his own peace of mind and for an easy night's sleep for the rest of his family. The entreaty helped him to drift off and allowed his troubles to be turned over to a higher power. His heart's burden lightened considerably, he fell into a light sleep and happier dreams.

I* * * * *I

Angelina walked quietly to the cabin's west window and looked out. The sun had gone down and stars twinkled in the heavens. She sighed and glanced to the largest of the two cots. Adam was laying on his side, his head propped up by a fist and a smile upon his face. His eyes radiated such warmth and acceptance; this had to be a dream. She suddenly felt very intimidated and forgot what task she was supposed to complete.

"How do you want me, darlin'? Sitting up or lying down?" he grinned at her, a wink punctuating his last question.

When he spoke, his gentle voice made her legs weak. But then, a wracking cough ruined his sexy delivery, his face filled with discomfort, and he looked much more like the fragile human that he actually was. Concern touched her heart as he sighed and lay back down, his eyes closing. Coming to stand by his side, she let her mind wander as her eyes traveled over his exquisite form. How she wished that there were time to rip his clothes from his sculpted body and give herself over to his pleasure. Oh, to feel the flex of his muscles, to see the expressions of ecstasy wash over his glistening face, to note the power of his body upon hers, to smell the spicy sweetness of his hair as she held him close...why couldn't there be more time?

With a regretful sigh, she bent to slip her hands under his neck. Gently raising his head, she sat and lowering it into her lap. She rested her back against the wall and smiled down upon him. "Rest easy and simply do what I say, no matter how bizarre. Alright?"

He nodded wobbly as she raised her left wrist to her mouth and bit into the tender skin. She winced, blood instantly running down her arm. He tried to sit up and protest but she pulled him back to her lap. Bringing her bleeding wrist to his lips, she urged him to drink. His confused eyes transferred between her and to her wrist. Gingerly, he took her hand and placed it upon his right cheek so that the cut was directly over his mouth. One more hesitation and he closed the inches.

As his tongue licked the first drop from her skin, Angelina leaned her head back against the wall and let a groan of pleasure escape her. A masculine moan filled the room as he drew harder, his face relaxing into a blissful mask. He was losing himself in the taste and she was losing herself in the sensation. Rising up on an elbow, he grabbed her arm and held it tightly in both hands, drawing harder still. She knew that her blood tasted like sugar to injured humans and caused an instant craze for more. She let him satisfy his body's cry and meanwhile enjoyed the intimate act.

As the seconds passed, she began to feel weak and knew that the time had come to separate. In his euphoric state, he clutched at her arm more tightly but she firmly withdrew it nevertheless. Denied, he sank back to her lap and became drowsy as she sat breathing heavily, trying to regain her strength.

While she stroked his hair with loving fingers, he began to stir. His face screwed up and she knew what was coming. Once his body had absorbed the healing properties of her blood, the residue had to come back up. In a single move, he bolted up, staggered over to the door and disappeared outside. She smiled faintly and closed her eyes, feeling too weak to go after him. Closing her eyes, she slumped against the wall and waited for her metabolism to recover.

After a few minutes, he returned, looking alert and decidedly healthier. His tanned color was rich once again and his eyes had lost their glazed sheen. He closed the door and leaned against it, his face a bit red as he self-consciously wiped at his mouth.

"What just happened, Angelina? Did I...did I do what I thought I just did?"

She opened her eyes and nodded, too tired to turn her head. "Come close, sweet..."

Rubbing his hands restlessly over his hips, he stepped forward and sat next to her. She looked at him then and smiled, reaching a hand out to play with the curls at the base of his neck. He leaned his head into her caresses and sighed, his eyes lazily watching her. Together, they relaxed, not knowing or caring about what to do next. As her strength returned, she moved closer, snuggling into his side.

"I love you, Adam...but are you sure about all of this?"

His smile deepened and he flicked his eyes over her face. His right hand slipped to her neck, playing in her hair and then his fingers gripped firmly, drawing her lips to his. She grasped his shoulders and lost herself in his kiss, allowing him to pull her into his lap. From within her bliss, she felt herself lifted into the air as he stood. She smiled under his lips and pulled him closer. He released her body so that her feet slid down to stand against him. His calloused hands rubbed her back but paused upon finding the tear in the side of her tunic. She gasped upon feeling his fingers on her bare skin.

"You need to get out of those bloodstained clothes," he murmured with all seriousness. Moving to the cot, he pulled the gray blanket away and returned, holding the fabric up so that her body would be hidden. A lopsided smile charmed her as he nodded. "Go ahead, I promise I won't look."

Thinking that whatever made him happy was fine with her, she smiled and began to slip her clothes off. Once she was done, Adam carefully draped the blanket around her and stepped behind her.

His fingers found the two messy braids joined at the back of her head and he worked diligently, releasing the strands to fall by her face. She held her breath, not used to being nurtured in this way. Tears moistened her eyes as his fingers began to run through her hair, massaging her scalp until she didn't know where her relaxation ended and reality began.

"Does that feel good?" he asked.

"Oh, god, yes...thank you. I have never...ahh...never been so...mmm...so cared for."

"You best get used to it. You've lived alone for far too long, my dear, and it is time you were taken care of," he said thickly, his fingers brushing her mane over her shoulder as his lips found the sensitive contours of her neck.

She leaned her head back against his shoulder, exhaling contentedly. "I do not deserve you and I am afraid. We have not known each other very long and our relationship is young still. What if something happens and I am alone again..."

"Shhh, you mustn't think like that," he admonished, turning her into his chest. "How many times do I have to tell you, Angelina? I'm not going anywhere. "

Frustration filled her and she bemoaned the decades of paranoia that were now threatening her happiness. Moving away from him, she clutched the blanket closer and stepped to the window. "Do you know that I can hear your heart beating as surely as I can see those stars? Even now, your blood cries out to me, begging me to fill my body with your nourishment." She faced him, emotion welling up. "This is the torture that I endure each long day and endless night. I love you! But, this is killing my soul...and I would appreciate if you do not take that tone with me. I am not a child for you to reprimand, Adam!"

He stood still, leaning on one leg and she couldn't tell what he was thinking. He shifted and passed a hand over his mouth, turning his back. Regret nudged at her mind, making her worry that she had been too forceful.

"Adam, I am sorry, I should not have raised my voice to you. It is only that I..."

"You have had your say and now I want to have mine," Adam commanded, turning to face her, hands coming to rest on hips. "I am only going to say this once. If I have to continually remind you of my loyalty then we CAN'T have a future. You're right that our relationship is young but I think I have proven myself thus far. This morning, you died in my arms! Then you came back to life! You went on to reveal that you are immortal, that you drink blood for sustenance and then you nearly killed me during your revelation! Just now I drank your blood and it healed my illness. That, in and of itself, has me extremely unsettled at the moment. I think that I am being pretty calm about all of this."

"I realize that but..."

"Would you let me finish?" he demanded, his stormy expression stopping her cold. "My life hasn't been a piece of cake either. I had a mother and two stepmothers die before I was seventeen. I've been shot, stabbed and beaten countless times and I've watched my father and two brothers go through the exact same and worse. Four years ago, I was captured by a madman and held out in the desert. I was starved, humiliated, whipped and denied water for days. So, you see, I have plenty of reasons to lie down and give up the ghost but I haven't and I won't. I am not the blameless angel that you think I am so stop thinking that you aren't good enough for me because I am the one who is damaged goods. I am the one who is NOT worthy of such love as yours!"

Angelina stood wide-eyed, numb after the revelations made. She came to his side and placed a hand on his arm. His cold expression softened and he slid a hand from her shoulder, down her arm and caught her hand.

"We are more suited than anyone could ever predict, are we not?" she said, struggling to keep her tears from spilling over.

He locked eyes with her and a smile teased about his mouth. "I suppose we are."

An uncomfortable silence fell between them then, neither one seeming to know what to do next. Adam moved away and crouched down, gathering her limp dress from the floor. His fingers began to search through the fabric and at first she was confused but then knew exactly what he was looking for. Dread rising in her throat, she waited while he found the dagger and rose, holding the decorated weapon gingerly. He looked up at her, his eyes sad.

"Is this the ceremonial dagger you spoke of?"

She nodded, frozen to the spot. "Yes, it is. How did you know?"

"When you died, I washed away the blood on your face and tried to put your robes back how I thought they should be worn," he said, walking away and placing the weapon down next to a kerosene lamp. "A knife was sewn into the inner tunic but I didn't think much of it until now."

"You are wise, Adam, too much so for me, I fear."

He chuckled without humor and went to the window, closing the burlap curtains. Complete darkness fell inside and her senses were instantly on high alert. She followed him with her eyes as he took a match from the box and struck it. The light flickered upon his face as he lit the lamp, blew out the match and covered the flame with the glass chimney. Only then did he turn his attention to her.

"If I am to help you break the curse, we best get to it."

She couldn't respond, not ready for his willingness and dreading what was to come. He raised his hands and began to unbutton his shirt, his eyes never leaving hers. One by one, the buttons released and he slowly shrugged out of the garment. She drew in a breath, distracted by the light flickering on his muscled chest and corded shoulders. He extended a hand to her and, as if in a daze, she came to him.

To her surprise, he roughly pulled her against him and took her lips under his. Caught in his grip, she released the blanket and let it fold in half down her back so that she could encircle her arms around his neck. She shivered as his hands roamed over her shoulder blades and back, gently stroking her skin. However, he didn't venture further along her body as she expected. He drew back and smiled strangely, pulling the blanket back around her shoulders to shield her nakedness.

His eyes penetrated hers, making her breathless. "I am taking control and I want to do this my way. Do you agree?"

She could only nod as he led her to the cot and drew her down with him. Nestled against his side, she draped the free section of the blanket over him and pressed her length along his. She felt incredibly vulnerable and trembled as her bare skin met his ribs. He raised a hand around her and pressured her head to relax against his chest. She sighed and lay still, wondering what he wanted next.

A tantalizing scent filled her nostrils and she tensed in horror, her body igniting. Bolting upright, she saw blood trickling from a cut in the side of Adam's neck. He held the dagger in his hand and its tip was reddened with his blood. He dropped the dagger on the ground, all the while holding her gaze intently. Permission clear in his face, he gripped her hand tightly and nodded. Closing his eyes, he turned his head away and exhaled, relaxing into the pillow.

"Adam...what did you do? I do not know if I can control it!" she screamed, shaking her head as the frenzy began to take hold. "Cannot c...control it...you need to run! Run!"

He turned back slowly and raised a hand to her face. "Hey, hey, look at me, Angelina. You are more than that monster. This is going to be hard, I'm sure, but you can feed without killing me."

"How do you know that?" she panted, tears streaming down her face as her fangs dropped down despite her efforts.

"Because you want to marry me and be at my side forever."

She stared at him, the frenzy lessening only a little. "W...what did you say?"

He smiled. "I'll ask you properly once all of this is past. Now feed and let's get this over with, shall we?"

Turning his head away again, he exposed his neck for her...and waited. She took a shaky breath, gathered her courage and moved in as slowly as possible. Rising up on her knees so that she hovered over him, she focused on his shoulder. Kissing along his collarbone, she inhaled deeply of his spicy scent. A calm stole over her as she lost herself to him and experienced a level of control that she had never felt before. It was as if she had transcended into a realm of peace and could feel the stars aligning as they should. Her fangs dropping down again, she lowered her head and kissed the bleeding cut. He flinched but didn't move. His breath came faster as she slowly bit down and a groan hitched from his throat. Her venom paralyzed him and he went limp as she wrapped her arms around his body. Holding him with the utmost reverence and treating him as the precious gift that he truly was, she began to draw.

As his blood began to flow into her, she was overwhelmed by his memories. Images of his anguish filled her and made her choke. All of the pain that he had ever felt, both emotional and physical, hit her at once and she cried out into his neck. He groaned, long and deep, a pleasured sound as if he was enjoying the release of his pressured heart. He squirmed lightly, his mouth falling open as she struggled to feed. It was normal for her to feel the pain of her victim but this time was so horrific. Unlike any other feeding, she desperately wanted to get away but couldn't. Her body was enjoying his sweet blood but her mind was filling so fast as to be dangerous.

At last, she gathered her willpower and tore herself away, sobs wracking her frame. He lay still, rolling his head sleepily, the cares of the world lost as he drifted. After the images that she had seen, her heart bled for him. The emotions drove her to slip a hand under his head, touching her forehead to his right temple. Rocking him gently, she whispered her love until he began to come around. Groggily, he raised a hand to his bloodied neck and winced.

"Oh, my darling, let me heal that," she said quickly.

He mumbled something as she bit her lip and covered the bite marks with her healing kiss. The wounds immediately shrank into nothing and his eyes popped open. Struggling to sit up, he touched his fingers to his neck. A look of awe came over his face but then that look was replaced by concern .

"Are you okay? Why are you crying?"

His hand touched her shoulder and she jerked, sitting up against the wall and holding her blanket tighter about herself. Her hair fell over the side of her face, shielding her tears from his view. He tried to comfort her but she couldn't bear his touch and when he pulled the hair away from her face, she bolted to her feet. Stooping, she picked up the fallen dagger. "We must hurry, your blood will absorb into my body very soon. I must be dead before it is gone or the transformation will not occur."

"But..."

"Take this and finish the task at hand," she said numbly, handing the blade to him.

His face was horrified and he shook his head. "No...no, I'm not ready for this..."

"Do it now!" she cried, parting her blanket slightly and pulling the blade to point at her heart. He stared at the dagger in his hand, tears glistening in his hazel eyes. She began to panic. "You have to do it now, Adam, or I am lost. I will help you, alright?"

"I...love...you," he croaked, tears slipping into the corners of his mouth.

"And I adore you, my fondest dream."

Inching her fingers to close around his, she gripped firmly. Bracing herself, she propelled her body forward and was impaled. She cried out weakly into his neck, a ghastly pain followed by numbness consuming her. With great effort, she raised her head and cradled his face as she was aware of his body shaking with sobs.

"Wait...for me, d...dearest..." she smiled, staring into his beautiful hazel eyes as her world went black and her body slumped against his chest.