LeilaAfter cleaning up the penthouse and putting everything away, I headed down the hallway toward the family room. The children were playing Chess with Addie again.“Is everything okay?” I asked, sitting on the small sofa along the wall.It was already time to think about remodeling again. Sirena was too big for the rocking horse now, and Jase had outgrown it a while back. They were growing up too fast. And if they went away with Raven, I was sure to miss the rest of their short childhood, too.“Mom, what’s wrong?” Sirena sat beside me and held my hand.I pulled her onto my lap and held her close. “Nothing, baby doll. Mommy’s just thinking.”“What about?” she asked, too bright for her young years.I smiled, kissing her cheek. “Nothing, baby. Everything’s fine.” I gave her another hug and then set her down. “Why don’t you play Chess with Addie and Jase while I talk to Daddy?”She nodded, a crease forming between her eyes. “Okay, Mom.” Then she hurried over and slid onto Jase’s lap. H
LeilaLance nodded. “I was thinking of him, too. And when she goes to high school or college, he looks young enough to blend in, even though he was turned when he was twenty-five.”I nodded as tears welled up in my eyes. “I was wracking my brain, trying to think of someone on this short notice, but he was the only one I’d trust explicitly. On the other hand, we thought we could trust Jeremy, too, and he ended up betraying us. So, we had to be careful who we send with the children.”Lance nodded, looking down at my hand as he ran his fingers over mine. “I know you don’t want the children to go, and neither do I. But with Raif coming after them, I’d never forgive myself if something happens to the children... or you.”I nodded. “I know, but I’m staying here with you. I don’t want to send the children away at all. But I’m not leaving without you. The only way I’d go is to help settle the children in, but you need to come with us, too.”He shook his head, his eyes misty. “I can’t leave th
LanceBang, bang, bang!“Stay here.” I jumped out of bed the next morning, slipped on my trousers, and grabbed a shirt. “I’ll be right back.”Leila nodded, already out of bed and slipping into her robe. “Who could it be this early?”“I don’t know, but hurry and get dressed.” I hurried to the door, and Raven was standing on the other side when I opened it. “Raven, is everything okay?”She shook her head. “No, it isn’t. May I come in?”“Yes, of course.” I stepped back to let her in.She wrung her hands, pacing. “I have to take the children... now.”“What?” I asked, buttoning my dress shirt. “I thought you weren’t going to leave until this afternoon.”“I wasn’t,” she replied. “But I have to take them now.” She grabbed my shoulders, looking into my eyes. “Trust me on this.”“With my life,” I replied. “What is it?”“Someone’s coming for the children. They’re on their way.”“Who?”I looked up, and Leila was standing in the doorway of the bedroom, shell shocked.“I’m not sure, but it’s someo
LanceI stormed through the Compound until I came to the throne room, where Darius used to pass judgment on members of his coven. Raif was sitting there with Selestra draped all over him.“Where are my children?” I growled, clenching my fists.Selestra’s head snapped up.“So, Lance….” A broad smile spread across Raif’s face. “How does it feel to have what you hold most dear taken from you?”“Give me back my children!” Leila screamed, starting toward him, but I stopped her.“Well!” Raif chuckled. “I see you brought the little missus this time! I think I just might kill her, too.”“Over my dead body,” I stormed toward him, but Raif was already on his feet.“If you kill me, you’ll never find your children!” Raif growled as Selestra took a step back. “You took everything from me!”I scoffed, inclining my head toward Selestra. “Obviously, I haven’t taken everything.”“She came back to me after you left her, alone and defenseless!” He walked purposefully toward me.I burst out laughing. “Th
Leila“Put me down!” I yelled when we arrived back at our castle. “I’m in control now.”Lance set me on my feet as he looked into my eyes, ripping out my heart. “Leila, I promise you, we’ll get the children back.”I nodded. “I know. Lance, I’m so sorry I called you a liar. I was just—”“I know.” He pulled me to his chest as I held him, gripping his shirt.“Lance, I—” Then it hit me as I looked into his eyes. “Raven’s still here.”“I know, but—”“No, Lance!” I cut him off. “Maybe she can help us find the children.”He let out a deep breath. “You’re right.” He motioned with his head toward the stairs. “Let’s go!”We darted up the stairs and were on the top floor within seconds. Down the hall, two guards stood outside our door along with Raven’s guards.“Has anyone entered or exited the penthouse while we were away?” Lance demanded.Javier shook his head. “No, sir.”“Thank you.” Lance opened the door and stood back, letting me go in first.“Raven,” I said, quickly crossing the room to he
Leila“Seize them!” guards yelled as soon as they saw us.“Mommy!” Sirena yelled, running toward me.Addie stood in front of us, donning her fighting stance. “Stay behind me!”But I grabbed Sirena and Jase and pulled them behind me. “Stay behind me and don’t look!”Lance leaped at one guard and quickly ripped off his head as his body burst into flames. One of Raven’s guards ripped out the heart of another vampire, and orange, red, and yellow flames shot up from his corpse as he fell to the ground, along with his heart. Raven’s other guard ripped the head off the last vampire, holding it by the hair, and then dropped it onto the floor as it burst into flames, along with the body. Addie didn’t move from in front of us, standing as protector over the children and me the whole time.“Where’s Selestra and Raif?” I yelled, holding the children behind me.“They were here earlier, but they left,” Addie replied.“Leila, stay here with the children!” Lance and Addie darted quickly out the door,
Lance Four Months Later “Good morning, love,” I said, greeting Leila one morning. She looked as sexy as ever after stepping out of the shower. “Morning,” she replied, sadness in her eyes. “I’ll be right out.” Then she walked into the dressing room and locked it behind her, pain ripping through my chest. She blamed me for the children leaving with Raven, or at least I thought she did, although she never said so. Since the children went with Raven, Leila spent most of her time training with Annette Depraysue at the Tenebris Witch Coven. Luckily, it was close by, so Leila came home at night, but she was becoming more and more quiet, withdrawing within herself. And I blamed myself. If I could have protected my children better while they were here, maybe we wouldn’t have had to send them away. We receive frequent reports about the children from Raven along with pictures... and they’re growing fast. Too fast. We also visit them as often as possible, but it’s not the same. Although w
START VOLUME 4PrologueLanceNow that the children are in New York, Leila isn’t the same. She’s moping around the castle and barely drinks enough blood to keep her body from desiccating. When a vampire desiccates, their body hardens, eventually withering away until they’re nothing but a useless shell, becoming living mummies. Although I would never let that happen to my Leila, I’m worried. I fear she may leave me if something doesn’t change between us soon.I’m losing my family, and I’m unsure what to do about it.As the leader of the North Coven, I must stay here to defend and command the coven. It had never been a problem before, but now, it is. My first priority must be my family and their protection. In all my years as a vampire, I’ve never had a family before, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let Raif and Selestra take them from me now.Raif is my one-time best friend. Now, he’s after the children and Leila to get back at me for succumbing to my lust years ago with Selestra, his woman