It had been such a long time since anyone had excited him like this. His heart pounded, the scent of the forest filling his lungs and the scent of the vampire leading him on. Th e gurgling sound of the river was nearby, the creek that ran past the cabin emptied into it. Carrick's scent went toward the river, then petered out. Crafty old vampire had doubled back. It took only a few seconds for Russ to pick up where the trail continued. He was a breath behind his lover now. He paused, as the scent trail abruptly ended beneath a thick copse of trees. Wait... It didn't end. It went up. He looked up into the leafy canopy.