Eyes widened in terror, Aquina saw Hassan pass by the little tree outside. She backed away slowly and made her way back to huddle with the others. In the firelight, she didn’t see the rock. The heel of her hiking boot caught it and she went down hard. Her bones rattled inside her and she sat for a moment assessing the damage. She had managed not to cry out, but it had been close. The pain started at the base of her spine and ran upward into her neck. She had the mother of all headaches. For a minute, she thought she might get sick.The nausea passed, and she laid back. She knew she shouldn’t sleep, but it seemed like a wonderful alternative to the stress around her. She closed her eyes, and her hands came to rest by her sides. She gripped the stones she found there and willed herself to just let go.The stone in her right hand felt warm. In fact, it felt as if it had a pulse. Wary eyes opened quickly, afraid that she had found a rodent or insect. She sat up quickly and o

They found themselves in a small room, lit only by firelight, still holding hands. A loveseat sat across from the hearth, an open door just to the left. The windows were enormous and open with only a gauzy curtain for privacy. The air was warm and carried the scent of salt water. The sky was dark and filled with stars. When Beecher looked outside he couldn’t see another house, or for that matter, a road. “Where are we?” He murmured, but when he turned to Aquina, saw her looking at him with those intense eyes, all other thoughts vanished. He went to her, reached for her.Aquina, suddenly unsure of herself, tried to think of something witty to say. She knew she used sarcasm to hide her inner feelings, but it wasn’t going to work here. He knew her too well. She kept her eyes on his, darkening with anticipation as he drew nearer.He wondered that he could find her so sweet, so simple after all their banter. He figured she kept it that way to disarm him. It was working.He pulle

Throughout the long night, the noises that tore through the estate were horrendous. There was shouting and shrieking followed by wailing and sobs. Then there was nothing. The silence was louder than all the other sounds put together. Finally, there came the sound of a baby’s cry. The five looked at each other in wonder.Upstairs, Dalya lay asleep in the bed. She was heavily sedated and looked peaceful. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, her face as serene as an angel. Hours prior it had been a different scene. The doctor had come immediately at Katalea’s call. The baby had started pushing to come out before they could get Dalya back into the bed and hooked up to an IV. They tried to stop the pushing with medication, but the baby had a mind of its own. It wanted out.“There there, Agapito. Let me give you something for the pain,” Grandfather cooed. “Noooo, noooo, just get it out!” Dalya shrieked.The contractions were relentless. It seemed to Katalea that one w

Over the din of chairs pushing back, Grandfather shouted, “How can they be gone?” The nurse stood frozen, her hands gripped the back of the chair that Grandfather had just shoved out of the way. Her eyes rolled back and her face seemed to contort. A deep growl started in her chest and erupted from her sneering lips as a man’s voice spoke. “I told you nothing would come between me and my mate. Did you think this puny nurse was enough to keep me away?” The laugh that followed sent shivers down Katalea’s spine. The nurse’s eyes, now black as coal, surveyed the room. “My mate and I will raise an army and defeat you. All the embryos are growing and need a mother. We will come back and destroy all of you and your pathetic Pride.” With that, the nurse fell bonelessly to the floor. The others stared at each other, not knowing which way to turn first. Grandfather stooped to pick up the nurse, while Grandmother ran to prepare a place on the nearest couch to lay her down. “Kata

They rushed after him, Dakari leading the charge. He wasn’t hard to find as the outer door to their little den had been sealed, magically, by Grandfather. “And thank the goddesses,” Katalea thought as she watched the big man pull and tug, trying to get the door open, “Can you imagine the local police getting a whiff of vampire in the middle of a homicide investigation?” “Luca, what is it?” Zinnia soothed. “We are all family now, whatever it is, we can help.”Luca finally gave up his worthless mission and turned to face the rest. His face looked weathered, somehow older, and far more sinister.“You guys don’t understand, you can’t.” He rubbed at his smooth scalp and lifted his chin as if praying for calm. With his eyes closed, he inhaled and held his breath. Opening his eyes, he released the air. His whole body seemed to slump as the breath left his body. “Let’s sit down then, I have a story to tell you,” he said, and made his way to the nearest little sofa. The bulk of him