Now, it was my turn to look on in shock. “What? Why?”Raven shook her head. “I’m not sure, but time will tell.” Then, she looked directly into my eyes and took my hand. “If you plan to go through with becoming human, you cannot ever be discovered. I would think twice before giving up your vampire.”I nodded slowly, shocked by Raven’s revelations. “Thank you so much for this. You have been most helpful.” I squeezed her hand, and then released it. “Why the bodyguards? You never had them before.”Raven took a deep breath and leaned back on her seat. “It is a most dangerous time for supernatural creatures such as us.” Then, she looked into my eyes. “One cannot be too careful.” She leaned forward as she spoke. “Make sure that you have bodyguards for you and your family at all times. It is imperative, to protect your children.”I nodded. “Thank you.

We woke in the middle of the night and dressed, in case Jase woke up before us. He was getting older, and I vowed to make sure to move him into his own room next to ours when we got back home.The sun shone brightly through the window the next morning, caressing my cheek. It felt great to be in the sunlight, after not being able to enjoy it for so long. For so many years, I had spent my life living in darkness, until Leila literally brought sunshine into my life. Not only literally by developing the Sunlight Serum, a cure for our aversion to sunlight, but she had brought sunshine into my life figuratively, as well, bringing light back into my life with her sweetness, her goodness. I had never met anyone like her before.I looked across the bed where Leila was still sleeping. I rose from the bed, threw three blood bags into the microwave, and made coffee. When the microwave stopped, I took two of the blood bags and opened the front door. Outside our room, both Blake and

Leila grabbed her purse and said nothing about the bodyguards outside our hotel room as we left. Knowing how protective I was of them, having bodyguards outside our door didn’t surprise her, I was sure. Channing silently held the elevator door for us, and then stepped in, while Blake took the stairs. When the doors opened, Channing escorted us out, while Blake already had our limo door open, looking around.“They remind me of Secret Service Agents,” Leila whispered.“I hope you don’t mind, but it’s necessary,” I replied, handing Jase to Leila after she was safely inside the car, and then I slid in behind her. Channing slid into the limo beside me, while Blake slid into the passenger seat beside the limo driver.“Where to, Mr. Steel?” the limo driver asked as he looked into the rearview mirror.“Fifth Avenue,” I said. “We’re going shopping.” Leila was looking out the window

Owen, my new limo driver in New York, pulled into the airport and directly onto the tarmac and up to the plane. He was a vampire, too. In the past, I had hired human drivers, but they were too easily compelled, unless they wore a Bloodstone ring, which stopped compulsion. But I didn’t want to take the chance … not after what happened to Clarence and to Fredrick, my last limo drivers.Blake had discreetly called ahead and got us an immediate flight out, nonstop to Las Vegas, Nevada. A moment later, our car pulled to a stop a safe distance from the plane.“You have to hurry,” Channing said with his door already open.I nodded, understanding. Blake had pulled some strings on my behalf and they held the flight for us … again. As soon as the car came to a stop, Channing jumped out and looked around. Satisfied, he stepped back so I could get out, and then I held my hand out for Leila. I looked up and through the huge plate glass window,

We talked into the night throughout the flight until the FASTEN SEATBELTS sign began flashing overhead. A few moments later, Leila stirred, so I took Jase from her, who was still sleeping, as well.“Well, it was nice to meet you,” I whispered so as not to wake Jase. “If you need any help settling into the role of Alpha, just let me know.”He nodded his thanks. “I hope to have good relations between our species.”“As do I.”He looked kindly at Jase. “Is this your son?”“Yes.”“He’s adorable,” Xander said. “I hope to have one of my own one day.”I laughed, watching Jase sleep. “This little one was completely unexpected, but a very welcome surprise.” Then, I looked into Xander’s eyes. “You will have one of your own one day I’m sure … when the time is right.”He smiled and nodded. “B