Declan: He could kick himself. He knew the moment they approached her room that Aster was unsettled, yet he pushed her anyway. It wasn’t until she started to freak out completely that he realised his mistake…he’d have to learn to listen the new instincts that awakened when she was reborn. Declan found two suitcases in the back of Aster’s vast closet and pulled them out. The cases clearly hadn’t been used in some time, but they looked to still be in good condition. While he gathered her clothes, his phone buzzed. Without looking at the caller I.D., he answered, “Yeah?” Holding the phone between his shoulder and ear, he kept going. “How are things there?” Rowan asked without a greeting. “It’s fine. She’s doing well.” “No brain damage or anything like that?” “No. Emotional though.” “That’s to be expected. Edward will be there in half an hour.” “Oh God,” Declan plopped on the unmade bed. The room really did

Declan: Aster bristled with anger – it sparkled in the air like electricity. Declan stood closer, getting ready to stop her in case she lost her temper. Anger was the strongest of vampire emotions, and took the longest to get under control. It took him nearly a century to learn how to control his rage. He was angry with Edward too – if it were anyone else, Declan would have helped Aster to kill him, but the guilt would have eaten her alive. The second Aster lunged towards her father he came up behind her. He almost grabbed her, but at the last minute pulled back. He wanted Edward to learn a lesson – it would cut the argument about whether or not Aster had to stay down to one minute instead of an hour. Edward let out a yelp of surprise, then squealed as Aster sunk her fangs into his neck. She missed his vein by only a fraction, and very little blood pumped from the wound. He fought against her, trying to push her off him, screaming her name, b

Declan: Aster stood on the lawn, looking up at their manor, her mouth hanging open. Declan grinned at her. She hardly grew up poor, but Edward’s wealth, vast as it may have been, wasn’t a fraction of the wealth Declan’s family had built up over the centuries. “Wow,” she said, “just…wow. I thought we were rich.” “You are, it’s just that we’re…richer.” “How do you find your way around this place?” “It’s insane, right? Declan used to draw me maps,” Joel chuckled. “But you’ll get used to it.” “Wanna go inside?” Declan asked Aster. “Sure,” she said, still amazed and a little breathless. But before they could, Samuel and Matthew came flying out of the house. “Dammit,” Declan swore under his breath. He had no desire to see Matthew tonight – or any other night in the foreseeable future. “Aster,” the brothers exclaimed in unison, and went right for her. Declan took her hand in his, and she gave him a gra

Declan: He had to slow his pace so Aster could keep up with him. It would take her a while until she’d gain enough strength to keep up with him. He could also tell that this very long night was starting to wear her out, and she was getting tired. They whizzed across the estate, stopping when they reached the edge of a forest that took up easily half of their estate. Deep in the forest was an old huntsman’s cabin, this is where he took her. It was far enough from the house so no one would overhear them, and the trees surrounding the cabin would muffle any sounds – just in case. All the bedrooms in the house were soundproofed as much as possible, but someone standing right outside his door would still hear every word. The cabin was dirty – no one had been here for years – but he didn’t plan on staying long. The minute he closed the squeaky door, Aster turned on him. “Where have you been?” “You’re angry.” “Damn right I’m angry. I

Declan: Declan caught her before she hit the floor. He swept her into his arms, carried her out of the cabin, then soared into the sky with the unconscious girl in his arms.  Even after more than six hundred years, he still loved flying. His heart still dropped into his stomach every time he lifted off, waiting for that moment that he’d plummet to the ground, but it never happened. A few seconds later, he touched down outside the manor house. He walked into the foyer with Aster in his arms. His brothers weren’t there, and Rowan still shone in his absence – either still busy cashing in his favours with Edward, or in the donor room with Cyrus. Even the familiars were missing. It didn’t bother him too much; everyone would be expected to stay close by Cyrus so they could attend his every need. He zoomed through the quiet corridors, passing a few familiars on his way. They registered as he passed them. After years of serving vampires, none of