“Nothing,” Nikolai murmured, after Lilith asked him what he’d been thinking about.  He couldn’t reveal his thoughts yet -- not when he still felt so unsure.  Nikolai didn’t want to raise Lilith’s hopes until he knew for certain that he possessed the strength needed to defy her master.  A betrayal like that would turn the entire vampire community against him.  And then where would he go?  How could he protect Lilith, if he himself was being hunted?<br/><br/>Again, a strange warmth spread through Nikolai when Lilith curled up against him.  Part of him wanted to just stand there and hold her in his arms forever.  However, she needed her rest, so he carried her up to his room -- although, admittedly, he carried her very slowly.<br/><br/>Reluctantly releasing Lilith from his embrace, Nikolai tucked her into bed.  But before he could step away, she reached out, seizing his hand.  A wide smile spread across Nikolai’s face as she asked him to stay with her and read her fairy tales.  Twining his fingers around hers, Nikolai gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.  “I must leave for a little, to arrange for food.  But otherwise, I am most happy to stay with you.”<br/><br/>Still holding Lilith’s hand, Nikolai searched the underside of her arm for a vein that wasn’t too badly scarred.  When he located one, he withdrew the syringe from his pocket and popped off its cap.  “You will be experiencing a slight prick,” Nikolai apologized, and then felt silly.  A needle puncture probably wasn’t much of an ordeal, compared to all the times she’d been so roughly bitten.  Still, he hated the idea of causing her any discomfort, and made sure to be extra careful as he injected the sedative.<br/><br/>After discarding the syringe, Nikolai retrieved a book from the shelf.  Then he pulled a chair over to Lilith’s bedside and sat down.  “Do not fight the sedative,” he advised, tenderly stroking Lilith’s cheek.  “If you fall asleep in the middle of a story, I will read it again later.  And, in the meantime, perhaps these tales will give you pleasant dreams.”<br/><br/>Opening the book to his favorite story, Nikolai began to read about the Tsar of a distant who had three sons.  His most prized possession was a marvelous tree that bore fruit all year round.  But one morning, while the Tsar strolled through his garden, he noticed that something had eaten some of the fruits.  So that night, he ordered his eldest son to stand watch and catch the thief...