Then it was gone, leaving her hollow. She had been bled dry all in an instant. A fierce starvation gripped her and Alicia screamed again. She was dying. She must die; she could not survive this sick and horrible hunger. But Edward was there. He wrapped her in his strong arms, holding her tightly. His hot, open mouth covered hers. Alicia struggled, but slowly she realized that as he breathed into her, the hunger eased. He was kissing her now, a deep, slow kiss, and the warmth spread. Slowly, ever so slowly, the hollowness filled. The pain of starvation ebbed, taking the panic with it. Sanity returned and she sagged into Edward’s embrace. “It’s all right, Alicia. It’s all right. I’ve got you. It’s over—do you hear me? It’s over.” He cradled her head against his chest. He was breathing hard. “You’re safe now.” Edward smoothed her hair back from her brow and smiled. His cheeks were pale, but there was a fierceness in his gray eyes. Alicia blinked hard and the darkness at the edges of her vision retreated.
