A Guardian’s Love

by

Stein Willard

Book 2

Guardian Series

A Guardian’s Love

Guardian’s Series - Book 2

By Stein Willard

First Edition copyright 2012

Second Edition copyright 2013

Third Edition copyright 2015

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form other than that which it was purchased and without the express permission of the author or publisher. Please note that piracy of copyrighted materials violate the author’s right and is illegal.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Credits:

Editor: BMac

Editor: R. Lee Fitzsimmons

Cover Design: DEPE

Back of the Book

Her name is synonymous with death. As the Assassin of the Royal Vampire Clan, Paloma has followed orders without question. But the killing became too much even for her. At the risk of losing the last sliver of humanity she still possessed, the deadly Enforcer went to ground only to resurface five centuries later. But in her absence the world had changed, as would her life.

Meanwhile, the daughter of two powerful vampires, twenty-year-old Inger Marsden was a free spirit who frequented pubs and nightclubs for two reasons: to hunt and destroy renegades hiding amongst humans and to find gorgeous women for no-strings attached liaisons. Life couldn’t get any better for the young slayer—or so she thought.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank all my Guardian series readers for the enthusiasm they’ve shown for the series over the years. Through you I’ve rediscovered my characters and fell in love with them all over again. Thank you for the feedback and support you’ve given over the years. It will always be a pleasure to write for you.

NancyG, my first and biggest fan, thanks to you the Guardian series are being published. You believed in me and my work, even when I doubted myself. I will never forget.

To my editing ‘squad’, old and new: Peetsden, Rleef, Dan and BMac, thank you for your skill and patience in making this book a reality. I bow to your prowess.

Dedication

To you, my readers.

Chapter One

France, 1530

The smell of blood was thick in the air.

The battle has been raging for almost two hours and within those two hours she had drank her fill of the enemy’s blood. Early on she had taken on two burly men, and just before killing them, had drank from them both. Not too much to make her sluggish, but just enough to take the edge off her hunger and sustain her for the remainder of the battle.

As was her habit, Paloma quickly scanned the battlefield and felt immense relief when she saw the tall, dark figure of her friend slicing through a throng of enemy warriors. At least she was using her sword now. At the start of the battle, the Vampire Queen had burst head-on into the first line of enemy warriors without waiting for her army of Undead to follow. The sickening sound of tearing flesh had made Paloma want to clamp her hands over her ears. Tahlia was angry and many people were going to have to pay with their lives before her hemorrhaging heart was healed.

Feeling Paloma’s eyes on her, Tahlia swung blood-red eyes in Paloma’s direction. There was death in the red eyes and for a brief second Paloma almost felt sorry for the waves of enemy soldiers marching toward them, toward Tahlia, toward their deaths.

For centuries their Race had been hunted, and innocent lives lost in the process. This time, however, the enemy had struck close to home, and Tahlia was sending out a brutal and bloody message to the Chinese Emperor. A message they wouldn’t forget easily.

The battle was winding down. It seems the Chinese General was not a complete fool. There would be no victory for them here, not with the trail of broken bodies Tahlia left in her wake. Once the enemy surrendered, the army of Undead would retreat to its camp, care for the injured and go to ground before dawn.

As was her prediction, the enemy retreated an hour later. Glancing to where she had seen Tahlia last, Paloma found the dark vampire warrior standing motionless, looking at the broken bodies around her as if in a daze. She walked over and bowed deeply in front of her blood-splattered Queen. The broad shoulders drooped and Paloma felt the pain of the Queen cleave through her.

The battle had been won, but the pain still remained. Tahlia had buried her lover two days ago and since then had gone on a rampage, killing almost two enemy battalions before the Royals could restrain her. Paloma felt the powerful presence of other vampires nearby and sighed with relief.

Jonas and Pierre appeared next to her.

Tahlia was too powerful for her to subdue alone; but combined, the two Princes were powerful enough to control her, if need be.

“Shall we go for a walk, Tahlia? Dawn will break soon, and we need to clear our heads before going to ground.”

The blood-red eyes were gone now. In their place: two pitch black pools of anguish stared out of a beautiful pale face.

“Yes.”

They’d walked in silence for quite a while before Paloma came to a stop. Tahlia kept on, prompting Paloma to follow. She knew where Tahlia was going. A few minutes later, they entered a clearing amongst a copse of trees. In the middle was a fresh heap of earth. On top of it a bunch of wildflowers rested near the foot of the grave. Tahlia stood, still as a statue.

“How am I going to live without her, Paloma?”

The voice sounded so forlorn that Paloma took a step closer. They had been friends since they were children, and Paloma knew that at that moment Tahlia needed a friend more than a subordinate. Paloma studied her friend’s face for a few seconds and felt her own heart break at the sight of the long red tears streaking down Tahlia’s face. She knew how much Tahlia loved Amelia. Amelia, with her beautiful long blonde curls and brilliant sapphire eyes. Amelia’s death was so unfortunate.

“She was still so young and so innocent.” This time Tahlia’s voice broke and Paloma pulled her into a tight embrace. She knew there were no words that would lessen Tahlia’s pain, so she merely held her in her arms.

†

Naples, three weeks later…

She knew of their presence even before they attacked. There were ten of them. No match for a master vampire of her age and skill.

One was very close. She could smell his body odor mixed with a twinge of fear and anticipation.

His excitement made his blood splash against the thin walls of his veins, calling to her hunger. She hated killing humans, but not when it came to self-defense. This group had been responsible for the deaths of many of her warriors—noble and loyal warriors—who lived by the Creed of the Race, condemning the killing of humans. They all had died undignified deaths. Decapitation, their mouths stuffed with garlic and with crude wooden stakes in their hearts. She shuddered at the memory.

An oily, evil stench wafted up in her nostrils and her eyes hardened. Amongst the slayers was a truly deranged human. She hated human slayers, but she hated the evil ones more.

“Keep your eyes open. She is very dangerous. Do not underestimate her.” The man was obviously the leader, because the others nodded and quickly spread out.

The leader was dressed in a dark leather battle suit with a broadsword hanging from his belt. Some, with his shiny black hair hanging loose about his shoulders and his dark brown eyes, would consider him handsome. But she could sense the darkness in him. He was dangerous; cruel and depraved.

She was tired of killing, sickened by death, but sometimes there was no other way out. Her violent past would never leave her be. Just three weeks ago she had stood on a battleground, splattered in blood, her veins pulsing with the thick adrenaline-filled blood of the enemy. She had been doing this for centuries—wiping out whole armies and making many women widows and orphaning many children. She swallowed at the knot in her throat. Never before had she been so conscious of her emotions, about life, love, death, and pain. She had feared for her sanity as she had torn through the army of human invaders. Would she ever experience true love? Was she even capable of loving another being as Tahlia loved Amelia? Their love was so great that Amelia’s death had pushed Tahlia over the edge, resulting in the biggest mass murder in human history to date. Not able to stand the almost paralyzing pain of loss that was consuming her friend, Paloma had stolen away soon afterwards, needing time and space to clear her head.

She slowly floated down from where she’d sat, high up in a tree looking down at the men. As much as she was deadened by the thought of what she was about to do, she wasn’t about to lay her life down yet. The men walked right past her, unaware of the horror hiding in the shadows. The evil man turned around and probed the shadows where she stood, waiting. Takes one monster to sense another, she thought coldly.

“Good heavens, she is behind us.” His voice held so much fear that it stunned the other men with him. He turned quickly and grabbed one of the men nearest to him. “Shoot. Shoot now, before she slaughters us.” Frozen by shock and fear, the man only stared at the twin red pools staring at him from the dark.

She stepped out of the shadows, grabbed the man and threw him against a tree trunk a few meters away. She growled her satisfaction when she heard the heavy thud. He wasn’t getting up. This fight had become personal because she was now avenging the deaths of her friends. She tore through the group like a warm knife through butter, trying to get to the evil man. She kept him in her sight, her sharp hearing zoned in on him.

“You need to get away from here, Monsignor. She is more powerful than we thought,” one of the men shouted.

The leader looked around and grabbed a dark-haired young man by the elbow. “Borromini is right. We need to get out of here.”

The young man tried to pull away from the leader, his eyes on her. Paloma grimaced when an arrow pierced her abdomen and with a snarl she clutched it and pulled it out. A stream of blood rushed over her hand.

“She is bleeding, Father. She is not invincible. We can destroy her.”

The leader balled his fist and slammed it into the face of the younger man. The young man cradled his bleeding mouth.

“We are leaving now, Jonah.”

A gunshot rang out and all pandemonium broke out. She ducked, coming up behind the man who’d fired at her, snapping his neck. Another man with a sword came at her and she quickly sidestepped the blade and pierced him with her claws. Jerking it upwards, she sliced him in two. Stepping over the mutilated body, she heard a carriage speed away and scanned the area. The leader had escaped. She contemplated chasing him down but instead returned to the fight. Their paths definitely would cross again.

But first, she needed to put a continent or more between her and the memories of death and Tahlia’s pain. The state she’d left Tahlia in three weeks ago spelled danger. A lot of blood would flow before Tahlia’s broken heart was appeased and Paloma didn’t want to be part of that. She would go to ground for a few years. Once fully rested she would pick up where she’d left off: she would hunt down the leader and his band of killers.

†

New York, present day…

A slow thud sounded.

Then another and another until the sound caught a rhythm and began beating steadily. A gasp sounded and a rush of air filled compressed lungs. The earth shifted as elongated claws shot out. With both hands braced on the sides of the grave, the Vampire hoisted itself towards freedom.

The eyes snapped open, taking in the area. Tombstones were everywhere she looked. Sharp silver eyes flicked over the nearest and zoomed in on the date of death, widening in shock. What had been intended to be a short underground restorative nap had turned into a 500-year-long slumber. Tahlia!

Last she remembered was being on a ship. Tahlia had disappeared and in her emotional state it was impossible to predict what the Queen would do. Jonas was in Russia cleaning out a nest of rogues. Pierre and Genevieve were on holiday. That left her to track down a broken-hearted Tahlia. Over the centuries the Dark Princes had learned to subtly wriggle themselves out of their duties when it came to Tahlia’s emotional state. She understood why. An emotional Tahlia was a deadly and volatile predator.

The trip over to wherever she now found herself was hazy. She remembered that the Captain was easily swayed by a few gold baubles. To be on the safe side and to prevent them from happening upon her during her daytime sleep, she had compelled the whole crew. She even drank from them without any bother.

Paloma was filled with shame and anger. All she wanted was to get away from the pain and death left in her wake. But she had shirked her responsibility. She had deserted her Queen and needed to find her. Was she still alive? She has to be. Please let her be, the vampire pleaded as she stumbled forward.

But first things first. She needed to find her way through this unknown century. Then she would set off for Romania. Tahlia always went to ground there after the burial of her lovers. She came to a sudden stop as realization dawned. Amelia died 500 years ago. Maybe Tahlia wasn’t even underground. She pulled her cloak tighter around her shrunken body. She would search every corner of the earth to be reunited with her friend. First, however, she had to get herself into shape. It would take her at least a couple of days and lots of fresh blood to regain full strength.

A loud sputtering sound suddenly pierced the night. Confused, she jumped into the shadows, reaching for her sword. What kind of animal could make such a racket? Her eyes widened when she caught sight of the source of the noise. Her jaw dropped as she stared.  A one-eyed steel horse, judging from the human straddling it, passed by and the noise amplified. She covered her ears with her hands. The noise was almost unbearable for her sensitive hearing. She stared at the thing until it disappeared out of sight.

She quickly stumbled further before the steel horse came back. Leaving the graveyard, she kept to the shadows. She was just about to slip into a dark alley when she sensed a group of young men ahead, their auras broadcasting violence. Her fangs pricked her tongue at the thought of the adrenaline spiked blood rushing through their veins. The perfect snack for a starving vampire.

The closer she got to them the more intense her hunger become, so intense that her stomach clenched and released rapidly. Dressed in a cloak and with a slightly unsteady gait, she knew she fit the part of an easy target. She was halfway into the dark alley when a muscled young man with a shocking amount of markings on his upper arms stepped in front of her, blocking her way.

“What do we have here?” His voice was gruff as he stepped closer. He reeked of violence, more so than the others did.

“I do not want any trouble. Please let me pass?” she mumbled in a soft voice, playing her part to perfection.

The man laughed and turned towards his friends. “What do you guys make of this? She must either be very brave or very stupid.”

Three more young men stepped out of the shadows, all of them brandishing small daggers. At the sight of the blades, she almost laughed out loud. What damage can such a puny weapon do? She felt the heaviness of her broadsword where it was hidden underneath her cloak and smiled. She’d keep it there. No need to embarrass the youngsters with the size of her power.

“She doesn’t look like she has anything of value on her, George. Maybe we should just let her go?”

Silver eyes turned to the young man who had just spoken, touching his mind lightly. He was reluctant to partake in what his leader had in mind. Maybe she would save him. The man known as George snorted and slowly began to circle her. His eyes took in her dusty appearance and he grimaced.

“A woman always has something of value on her, Pete, even one that looks like this hag.” He reached out and pulled off the hood of the cloak. Paloma had kept her head lowered all the time, but with the hood gone, she lifted her head and straightened her hunched figure as she turned blood red eyes on George. She saw him stumbling back as she towered over him.

“What the hell…”

Grabbing him closer so that their noses almost touched, she stared into his eyes until she felt the wet splatter at his feet. Satisfied that she had scared him adequately she dragged him closer and sunk her fangs into his neck. Just as she thought, the blood was filled with adrenaline. She greedily drank from him, feeling her parched organs expand at the nourishment. After a few moments, she flung him away and tossed her head back, humming as the thick red liquid splashed down her throat. She became aware of the sound of anxious heartbeats and turned her eyes on the other three men who stared at her.

“Be gone before I change my mind.” They didn’t wait to be told again and fell over themselves in their haste to get away. With them out of sight, she walked over to where George lay, still dazed. “You are a bad influence on your friends and a danger to society.” She dragged him up towards her again. She was still hungry but had been scared to drink too much from him the first time, killing him in the process. This time she planned on taking a little more, maybe every last drop.

She was just about to sink her fangs in his neck again when she heard it. It sounded like a heartbeat, but it was very shallow. With a narrowed gaze, she lifted her face and sniffed the air. There was no one close by, but still the thumping didn’t let up. George struggled weakly in her grasp and blocked out the sound, she turned her attention back to the whimpering man. Looking down at the weakly pulsing vein in George’s neck, she felt her fangs lengthening. She was still hungry, but the incessant thumping was very distracting. Even as spittle seeped through her cracked lips at the delightful smell of George’s warm blood wafted up to her nose, she became aware of the strong pull of the distant heartbeat, too. After a few seconds of deliberation she tossed George from her and melted into the shadows, her hunger overshadowed by the urge to find the source of the incessant thudding. She followed the sound that called out to her through the darkness. Like a siren’s call of old, it beckoned her into the unknown.

The park was dark. Cloaking her presence, she glided between the lush green trees until she came to stand under a big old tree and looked up. A tightly bound bundle nestled amongst the branches. She reached out to pull it free, but before she could make contact, two big liquid pools of blue stared back at her. A child—a girl of about fifteen months! She was stunned at her inability to have been able to decipher the scent. Another shock was the fact that the child could see her. As an ancient, not many could detect her presence when cloaked, especially not if she didn’t want to be seen.

Unnerved by the fact that the child could penetrate her invisible shield, she touched the toddler’s mind. Who was this child? She jerked back violently, her stomach churning when she felt the power emanating from the little one’s mind. The child was a powerful psychic, but that wasn’t all. She also felt the presence of a master vampire in the child’s mind. A powerful and dangerous presence had left its mark on the child. The message was loud and clear. Whoever marked this child would kill to protect her.

Not wanting to get involved without knowing whom she was taking on, Paloma took a step back, but she wasn’t quick enough. A chubby little hand reached out and grabbed a strand of her brittle hair. Almost immediately the baby’s gurgling pierced the night stillness. Stunned, the vampire reached out slowly and touched the baby’s rosy cheek. It had been crying, possibly in its sleep, because she hadn’t heard anything while she was stalking it.

Her body tensed, her skin thickened. The night had an unexpected evil feel to it. She hastily loosened the baby’s grip on her hair before stepping back into the shadows. Someone was coming. A streak of mist floated from between the trees and solidified into a human form. Sniffing the air sharply, the other vampire looked up and reached out to grab the bundle. An abrupt hissing sound followed by a sharp cry and the acrid smell of burned flesh filled the air. The vampire pulled away from the child, growling angrily.

The silver eyes narrowed. If Paloma could touch the baby without it scorching her, it meant only one thing. The child was under the protection of a Clan Royal. This other vampire wasn’t a Clan Royal, probably a rogue. Her sense of duty made her step out of the shadows, dropping her invisibility cloak.

“When have you become so perverted that you are now preying on babies?”

Shocked by the intrusion, the other vampire swung around. Paloma grimaced when she recognized Gillian. Gillian’s eyes, glowing red in the dim light of the nearby lamppost, widened when she recognized the steely silver eyes that peered at her from out of the black cape.

Seven centuries ago she thoughtlessly engaged in a fling with Gillian. The only thing she regretted was that she had trusted her, only to find that Gillian had disclosed the location of her lair to a group of amateur vampire slayers armed with pitchforks, holy water, and wooden crosses. With Paloma out of the way Gillian thought she could move in to become Tahlia’s closest confidant and hopefully the Queen’s consort. Waking up to find herself surrounded by a gang of vampire slayers baying for her blood was not amusing to say the least. Paloma had since searched the globe for Gillian, but the woman had managed to evade her every time. Tonight, however, she would not stand a chance.

“Paloma! What brings you here?” Gillian carefully took another step back.

“We still have unfinished business, you and I.” Lifting her hand Paloma pushed down her cloak and the moonlight gleamed on her blonde head. “Now is as good a time as any to finish what we started so long ago.”

Paloma could now sense Gillian’s fear. Gillian held up her hand and smiled weakly, making Paloma frown. What did Gillian hope to barter with this time?

“I have a business proposition for you, Paloma. It will make you more powerful than you already are.” Gillian’s voice had a desperate edge to it.

A harsh sound that resembled a laugh escaped Paloma’s lips. “What makes you think I want to side with a traitor like you? You of all people should know that what you have done is tantamount to a death sentence. You will have to be destroyed, and I will do whatever it takes to protect the laws and honor of our Race.” She cast a quick glance at the hidden baby who looked at them with big blue eyes. “Your intention toward that baby was not noble. I could sense your hatred. You were going to kill it just to send a message to whoever you are running from.”

Paloma’s hands transformed into claws as she took a threatening step forward. “Let’s get this over with.”

Rising to the challenge, Gillian went for her sword and took on a battle stance. “We do not have to do this, Paloma. It is obvious that you have just surfaced and are weak. I will cut you down before you have even laid a finger on me.”

The master vampire nodded. “I cannot wait to see you try.”

A deep red glow flared to life in the silver eyes. Using preternatural speed, Paloma dived at Gillian, catching her off guard. Gillian screamed in anger when Paloma’s claws raked over her face. Paloma watched as Gillian reached out to determine the damage. The rogue vampire hissed when she encountered deep bloody welts. Gillian’s hand tightened around the hilt of her sword, and with an ear-piercing screech, she attacked.

Paloma sucked in her breath when the blade sliced through her upper arm and she swiftly side-stepped another downward cut. The power Gillian put behind the thrust had thrown her off-balance, leaving her back open for an attack. Seizing the opportunity, Paloma raked her claws down Gillian’s back, slicing through flesh and bone. Satisfied, Paloma pulled away. Her claws glistened with blood.

The wounds were deep and Gillian was fast losing a lot of blood. It was evident from her sluggish moves that the loss of blood was affecting Gillian. A thrill ran down her spine and Paloma turned around sharply. A powerful presence was nearby! Their fighting had pushed them further and further from the tree and probing the darkness she felt sharp eyes resting on her.

<Watch out!>

The warning rang through her mind and she turned, just in time to ward off being cut down by Gillian. She was mildly surprised that Gillian was still able to fight. Perhaps she had underestimated her. At the age of 900 Gillian wasn’t a youngster and she was also a respected fighter, having trained under Tahlia. She was only replaced when her obsessive interest in Tahlia became obvious.

“If you think I will make it easier for you, you must think again. I might not be as powerful as you, but I have trained hard over the centuries.” Gillian’s speech was slurred and Paloma knew that it would not be long before the rogue vampire was completely incapacitated.

Tired of the fight and eager to determine the identity of the mysterious master vampire, Paloma reached out fast, grabbing a stunned Gillian by the throat and pushed her claws into Gillian's chest. It curled around Gillian’s pulsing heart. Gillian stopped struggling; her eyes were wide with fear. Paloma thought of making it quick, but stopped. The world would be a better place without Gillian, but for someone who’d awakened after a 500-year long slumber, Gillian was a walking encyclopedia.

“First I want to see what you were up to in my absence.” Her fangs sunk into Gillian's neck and she drank deeply. A few minutes later she pushed Gillian away from her but tightened her claws around the now slow beating organ. When Gillian fell to the ground, Paloma stared at her claws that now clutched Gillian’s severed heart. The organ stuttered for a few more beats before it stilled. Visualizing a flame, she charred Gillian’s body and tossed her heart into the fiery blaze. Strange, but the world already felt like a better place without Gillian. Her thick ancient blood had done what George’s couldn’t. She felt revived again. Her great power surged to the surface and she flexed her shoulders.

Looking into the flames, she processed the information she’d got from Gillian. Tahlia was here in New York, living with her lover who was now a vampire. Chances are the mystery master vampire could be any of the three Royals, probably even Tahlia herself. She was relieved to know that her search wouldn’t take so long after all. There were still many other bits and pieces to work through from what she’d gleaned from Gillian, and she would make time for it later. Now, she needed to get back to the baby and take her to a safe place.

She walked over to the tree, but the closer she came to the tree the more worried she became. She didn’t hear the heartbeat any more, an indication that the baby was gone. Whoever took the baby must’ve shrouded her presence. She walked around the tree, touching the tree bark to see if she could pick up a scent.

After a few minutes, she stepped back. Nothing. The vampire was very careful not to leave any leads. She looked up towards the moon. She needed to look for a temporary lair before the sun came up. She would have to lay low for a while before she sought out Tahlia. It might take a while to convince her that she was indeed still loyal to the Race and had not strayed in the 500 years of her absence.

Chapter Two

19 Years later…

The nightclub was bursting, just the way she liked it. Dressed in tight leather pants that hugged her long legs and a white silk shirt that hung loose, Inger knew she fit in well with the crowd. She could probably pass for one of the artsy types.

Over the past five years, renegades had infiltrated the arts and entertainment scene where no one frowned upon their odd and erratic behavior. The more eccentric you appeared the more revered you became. It wasn’t uncommon to find celebrities living a reclusive lifestyle, but over these past years, the number had grown exponentially. Celebrities and socialites were rarely seen out and about during daytime anymore. To accommodate these wealthy social hermits, shop owners began keeping similar irregular hours. With shops open until whatever hours of the night and morning, more people came out of their homes after dark. Thereby creating an abundant food source for renegades.

Inger’s eyes scanned the interior of the dimly lit nightclub and she grimaced. She couldn’t see any renegades, but she knew they were here; she could sense them. She wondered what the patrons’ reaction would be to the presence of these predators in their midst. She signaled the bartender and placed her order. She was still on duty so a seltzer would have to do. The bartender left to fix her drink, and she took the time to scan her immediate surroundings in the mirror over the bar.

Bingo!

A few feet away a group of five young men stood, looking out over the dance floor. They seemed like a bunch of frat boys on the prowl, except there was a tell-tale space between the second guy and the fourth. She swung around in her chair, leaning her elbows on the bar and grinned. Yep, number three was indeed there. She stared at his back long and hard. It was obvious he was a newbie; otherwise, he’d have known that renegades cast no reflection in mirrors nor would he have placed himself so close to one. She’d keep her eye on him, waiting for him to move away from the group. Then she would strike.

Soon after her first kill, Inger had stopped seeing renegades as humans. One of the slayers she had been paired with had stamped that idea out of her mind. He made her see that the “humans” they killed were simply empty replicas of what they once were. But that still didn’t make it easy to destroy them. Renegades recruited more and more youngsters and she’d even sensed a few newbies on campus, where she was pursuing a law degree. Usually, she waited until it was dark, before roaming the darkest alleys of the campus, letting them find her. Inger smiled. Her mother would freak if she found out she was using this particular tactic. She was trained to ambush and to always know where her enemy was instead of having them stumble upon her.

Inger was just about to take a sip from her drink, when she felt the hair at the back of her neck rise. It was here. She could feel its presence strongly. Since she started working for the Human Vampire Slayers Consortium four years ago, she had felt this…thing trailing her. What worried her most—it’s very powerful aura. So powerful, in fact, that its very presence overloaded her psychic abilities. The only others she knew who could do that to her was her mothers and her two uncles. When she was old enough and her powers had developed fully, she had confronted her grandfather about the power that her two mothers and uncles transmitted. Instead of answering, he had looked around the room. The next thing she knew Tahlia and Jemima appeared in the room with them. That night was the beginning of a new life for Inger. A life where vampires lurked in the dark and drained corpses littered dark and narrow alleys across the city.

For weeks, she had walked around with the awful truth about her family—vampire mothers—dangerous, nighttime creatures who preyed on humans for their survival. Scared that if anyone at school found out about it she would be ostracized and then ridiculed, Inger had kept the truth hidden behind a surly façade throughout high school and never spoke about it with anyone. That was until she met Rita MacLauchlan. There was an instant attraction and soon afterwards, they’d started dating. She had long suspected she was attracted to women, but had dated many boys. Her beauty drew men to her like bees to honey. Inger, however, kept her true sexual preference from her family.

She and Rita had been dating for about three months when Rita took her to work one day. It was there at the Human Vampire Slayers Consortium offices that Inger had an epiphany. Not only did she discover that her parents were “the good guys,” but she decided she was going to work with them or rather for them. It took the intervention of her grandparents to sway her mothers to allow her to train as a slayer. Tahlia and Jemima gave in, but there was a condition. She was never, ever to get herself bitten or killed. For the past four years she’d managed just that. It wasn’t a difficult promise to keep, nor was it overly easy. Renegades were not very skilled fighters. Their approaches were usually predictable and impetuous. Her rigorous training under the tutelage of the Royal Vampires made her more deadly to them than the other way around.

About three years ago, she became aware that she was being stalked. It wasn’t intrusive in any way, but it unsettled her that there was someone or something on her tail that she couldn’t see. She never breathed a word about this to her mothers, knowing they would immediately pull her from her duties. In turn, she made sure that she never let her guard down when she went hunting. After a while one thing became quite obvious. There were menacing vibes coming from her stalker, but none directed at her. In a way she had become accustomed to having it around her every night. It felt as if she had backup with her all the time. Inger took a sip from her drink and turned to face the packed dance floor, scanning the crowd. What would her stalker look like? It must be a vampire that she was sure of, but why would a vampire be stalking her. A vampire who had no ill intentions towards her?

A cute blonde girl with a pixie haircut caught her eye and Inger smiled. The girl smiled back at her and beckoned her over with a crooked finger. Taking a long sip from her drink, Inger strolled over to where the girl stood. Close-up she was even more beautiful. Dressed in a soft, flowing white dress, the girl started swaying her hips slowly, rubbing her pint-sized frame against Inger’s taller one. Pulling her closer, Inger smiled appreciatively when she felt the perky breasts against her chest.

She was no stranger to one-night stands. Since breaking up with Rita three years ago, she had decided to stick to no-strings-attached sexual encounters. After mutually satisfying sex, they each went their separate ways and a month or two would pass before she went in search of another sex partner. Of late, however, some nights after her sex partner had left, she would linger in the hotel room, wondering what it would be like to actually have someone she could go home to after class instead of picking up strangers for sex. Someone she could spoon with while talking about their respective days.

Inger found herself entertaining that thought for a few seconds, and then rudely pushed it from her mind. Giving herself a mental shake, she focused on the cute woman rubbing herself up and down her body.

“You are way too sexy to be here alone, you know,” said the blonde, looking up at her. “Where’s your missus?”

Inger grinned. The blonde was feisty! This was going to be a very, very pleasant evening, indeed.

“Believe it or not, I’m here all by myself.” she said softly and pulled the blonde even closer to her. “Enough talking for now, beautiful, let’s go dance.”

†

Glittering silver eyes followed the couple as they danced close. A low feral growl started from deep within her, but she managed to suppress it before it spilled over her lips. The blonde had slipped her hands under Inger’s shirt and was stroking the slayer’s stomach.

From where she sat, in a shadowy part of the bar, Paloma could see the ill-disguised lust in Inger’s eyes as the girl touched her. She had followed Inger to the nightclub until the young woman was safely inside. Instead of entering herself, Paloma had melted into the shadows of a dark alley nearby where she had sensed six renegades lying in wait for the vampire slayer. She'd already picked up their scent a few blocks away, and from the halting way Inger had entered the nightclub, she knew that Inger was aware of their presence, too. After she had destroyed the renegades, Paloma had entered the nightclub. The slayer had tensed when she entered the club, so Paloma knew that her entrance wasn’t missed, either.

Paloma had tried, but when the sun went down it was difficult for her to keep her distance from the beautiful raven-haired, blue-eyed siren. She was on her mind every second of every waking hour. Paloma found her breathing became slightly labored and her nipples hardened at the thought of taking the twenty-year old hothead to her bed. It had taken all her patience and control to keep herself from going crazy every time Inger left a bar or nightclub with a woman and headed to the nearest hotel. She knew what happened on the starched white sheets of the hotel room while she waited in the shadows. When Inger left the hotel room after a few hours, satiated and tired, Paloma followed her back home or to her dorm room, seething with anger and jealousy. She’d lost track of how many women Inger had slept with over the past few years but it would have to end—tonight.

The song ended and Inger and her partner walked back to the bar. Paloma’s anger boiled to the surface when the blonde snuggled into Inger’s arms and placed a soft kiss on her neck. The slayer obviously liked it because she gave the girl a hungry kiss in return. Paloma felt her body begin to shake. It took great effort not to walk over and drag the girl away from Inger.

“If you are trying to get her attention, you are going about it the wrong way.”

Shocked that anyone could have crept up on her without her sensing their approach, Paloma turned sharply to find calm black eyes resting on her. No wonder, she thought. She was looking at a master at tracking and stalking. For a few seconds they merely stared at one other, and the centuries they’d spent apart fell away as they relived their past. The last time they’d seen each other was in 1530, after which Paloma had gone to ground, only to resurface twenty years ago.

“Tahlia.”

“We thought you were destroyed in battle.”

Paloma gestured to the bartender and ordered a glass of red wine for Tahlia.

“I intended to rest a short while, but I guessed I overslept.”

Her eyes moved slowly over Tahlia’s face. Over the past twenty years she had caught glimpses of Tahlia here and there. The Vampire Queen was even more beautiful than she remembered. She had also grown stronger over the past five hundred years if the faint crackling sound in the air surrounding Tahlia was anything to go by.

Tahlia took a sip from her wine and nodded her thanks. “What is your interest in my daughter, old friend?”

Paloma was aware of Tahlia calmly observing her over the rim of her wine glass. She turned her head in the direction where she had last seen the young couple. “I am just looking out for her. The renegades in town are not very fond of her.”

Tahlia looked at her in silence for a few seconds and only centuries of self-control stopped Paloma from squirming in her chair. She held Tahlia’s gaze until the dark woman nodded.

“Thank you for looking out for her.” Tahlia said after a while. “I will call her over so that I can introduce you. Do you mind?”

Paloma felt her heartbeat go into overdrive. Meet Inger face-to-face? The last time she had been in close proximity with Inger was when the young woman was a baby in the park twenty years ago. She looked up and found the black eyes resting on her. Tahlia was not a fool, and Paloma was aware that Tahlia could hear her heartbeat thudding erratically.

“It would be an honor to meet your daughter.”

“Good.”

Tahlia picked up her glass and took a sip.

†

<I am at the other end of the bar, Inger. Would you mind coming over? Alone!>

Inger groaned inwardly. Just when she thought her entertainment for the night was sorted out and they would leave for a hotel room soon, her mother had to come and hang out at the same nightclub. She didn’t have to look around to locate her mother. The air in the nightclub was practically crackling—a clear sign that a potent being was in the vicinity—even more powerful than her stalker. Only people with strong psychic abilities could pick up on the power surge in the air. She looked down into the smoldering blue eyes of the blonde and sighed.

“Duty calls. I need to meet with a friend. Will you wait for me?”

“Just make it quick,” the blonde said with a sexy pout.

With a lingering look at the sulky lips, Inger walked over to where her mother leaned against the bar. She was a few steps away from her mother, when the person sitting next to Tahlia looked up and their eyes met. Inger blinked in confusion as she looked at the woman. A tremor shot through her body, its potency almost brought her heart to a stop.

What a woman!

Her long blond hair was loose and rested on wide, leather-encased shoulders. She was still too far away to make out the color of her eyes, but she was sure that it would be something spectacular. The woman was tall, almost as tall as her mother—maybe just a couple of inches shorter. She also exuded the same dangerous aura as her mother, carrying it with the same composed magnificence as Tahlia. How come she’d never seen her before?

<It is rude to stare, child.>

Thoroughly reprimanded, Inger tore her gaze away from the enigmatic woman and looked at her mother. The black eyes looked back sternly.

“What was that all about?” Tahlia asked coolly when Inger came to stand in front of her, she flicked a glance at the blonde girl waiting at the bar for Inger. “Your mom ordered me to find you, because you have not been answering your phone for the past two days.”

Inger rolled her eyes. To avoid confusion between her two mothers as a child, Inger started to call Tahlia “mother” because she was the strong quiet one. Jemima was “mom” because she was the one who nagged her about everything—her dress code, her studies, everything. She was sure that Jemima would have a fit when she found out that she was dating women.

“Please don’t tell mom. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

Tahlia pushed away from the bar, her face set in an even sterner scowl. “You will tell your mom. I think I have put myself in the firing line way too often of late.”

Tahlia turned and Inger felt her mouth go dry at the sight of the other woman looking at them. Her eyes were such a colorless grey. They shone like two deep pools of quicksilver under the flashing lights of the nearby dance floor. She was even more breathtaking up close. Sexy. Alluring.

“Let me introduce you to a friend of mine,” Tahlia continued. “This is Paloma Soleil.”

The beautiful vampire extended her hand and Inger folded it gently in hers. The unexpected jolt made her loosen her grip quickly as a riot of goose bumps broke out on her skin. She stole a quick look at Tahlia and found her looking calmly at them with her bottomless black eyes.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Paloma.”  Knowing that she would stare again if she turned to look at Paloma, Inger turned to Tahlia. “How do you know each other?” Not able to refrain from looking at the blonde vampire, her blue eyes slowly turned back toward the tall woman. The silver eyes seemed as if they were staring right through her, gleaning her mind for deep, unspoken thoughts. Luckily Inger had been taught at a very young age to block any mind probing to protect her family.

Tahlia took a sip from her wine and smiled faintly. “We are childhood friends.”

Inger’s eyes widened. Impossible. She could never understand how her mother could be over 2 000 years old and still look so good, but now this woman is living—no existing—proof that her mother is indeed as old as she said she is. To find someone who knew Tahlia when she was still human was incredible.

“That makes you over 2 000 years old, Paloma.” Inger felt her palms began to sweat. What a gorgeous cougar!

Paloma nodded. “Yes. I was born in 55 BC.” Paloma said with a slow smile.

Her blue eyes widened. “No kidding. I’ve never met a vampire older than my mother.”

Looking at Tahlia, Paloma smiled, a teasing smile, making her silver eyes twinkle. It made Inger’s mouth go even drier.

“I can tell you a lot about your mother when we were growing up.”

Inger laughed softly and walked into Tahlia’s arms.

“I doubt she was a goofy girl growing up.” Inger felt the arms tighten around her and she purred softly. When Inger was a small girl, Tahlia would take her in her arms and hold her snugly until whatever was troubling her had passed. When she looked up into Tahlia’s face, the black eyes were so tender that Inger rose onto her toes to plant a gentle kiss on Tahlia’s cheek. Whenever Tahlia was near, she felt loved and protected. “I love you.” The words spilled over her lips, and she felt the deep, calm heat that spread from Tahlia to her.

“I love you too, my Angel.”

For a long moment, they shared a deep loving look before Inger gently stepped out of the embrace. “Tell mom I will come by later tonight and that she doesn't have to worry about me. I’m taking good care of myself.”

†

As mother and daughter talked, Paloma couldn’t take her eyes off the girl. Inger’s blue eyes were filled with so much love for Tahlia. Suddenly Paloma was aching for someone to look at her like that. If that someone happened to be Inger, even better. The possessive way Tahlia held the girl to her made it clear that if Paloma were to try to get to know the girl better, she’d have to get past Tahlia first.

<You got that right. I will kill anyone who tries to hurt my child.>

Tahlia was still staring at her daughter with infinite tenderness, but her voice echoed in Paloma’s mind with a steely undertone. Paloma knew that she meant it, too.

Paloma took a sip from her wine and studied Inger over the rim of her glass. Being around her was quite distracting. Their first touch had been so intense that little light bulbs burst behind her eyes and her heart missed a few beats.

“Jemima is having an exhibition. I am on my way there now, but feel free to drop in if you can. I would like to introduce you to her.” Tahlia’s eyes were even darker now as she looked at Paloma. “It is great to have you back.”

Not waiting for a reply, Tahlia kissed Inger again, turned, and disappeared into the crowd.

“It’s very stuffy in here, don’t you think.”

The sound of Inger’s voice spiked her blood with desire, and she had to blink a few times before she could turn to look at Inger. She didn’t want to scare her off with unbridled lust in her eyes.

“Yes. It is getting crowded.” Would she want to go somewhere quiet, perhaps? Maybe somewhere where they could explore this instant attraction between them?

There was a commotion at the door and an entourage, headed by burly bodyguards, pushed a path through the dancing throng. In their wake a beautiful brunette in a killer red dress followed, causing a number of the club patrons to reach for their mobile phones and push closer to take pictures of her.

“Who is she?” Paloma asked with mild curiosity.

“Verna Gregg. She’s a famous movie star.”

Shaking her head, Paloma turned back to the bar to pick up her glass. The one thing about this century that baffled her was the hero-worship people had for so-called celebrities. Popular culture was something she would never fully understand.

“She’s coming over to us.” Inger’s awe-filled voice sounded close to her ear and Paloma stiffened when Inger’s breath brushed her neck. When she turned she found Inger standing very close to her, her blue eyes staring straight into hers. There was a strange expression in them, but before she could decipher the look in Inger’s eyes or react to her closeness, the tiny brunette pushed between them, her green eyes devouring Paloma.

A head taller than the actress, Paloma had a clear view of the woman’s bosom. Her dress was cut so low that her breasts almost spilled out. Her blood red lips opened, exposing brilliant white teeth. The tip of her tongue slowly ran over her teeth while her eyes moved dreamily over Paloma’s tall frame.

“Would you like to join me at my table?”

Before Paloma could form a reply, Inger took a step closer and wiggled herself in between the two of them. With a tight smile she looked at the brunette as if to tell her to back off. Paloma felt her blood heat up even further at the feel of Inger’s body so close to hers. She turned smoldering eyes on Inger, but the slayer’s attention was on the actress.

The movie star smiled as she looked from Paloma to Inger. The green eyes came to rest on Inger last. “You can both come. It’s my birthday, and I’m just looking for someone to share the evening with me.” The actress’ eyes once again roved slowly over her and this time, Paloma could smell the woman’s arousal. She turned to look at Inger and found her staring at the actress with flashing blue eyes.

†

Inger couldn’t fully comprehend the annoyance she felt upon seeing the lustful look the brunette gave Paloma. It wasn’t as if the vampire was hers. Ach, what the hell. The actress also didn’t have any rights to Paloma, either. Without thoroughly thinking through her next action, she pulled Paloma against her and slanted her lips over the beautifully sculptured mouth of the vampire. What started off as a stunt to repulse the star’s advances on Paloma turned into the most sensual experience ever.

Paloma’s arms snaked around her middle and she felt the vampire open her mouth in search of her tongue. She found it easily and expertly sucked it deep into her mouth. The kiss lasted but a few seconds, but those were the most devastatingly erotic few seconds of Inger’s life. When they pulled away, blue eyes clashed with wide silver ones. They stared at each other in mute shock. A soft cough broke the heated moment and they both turned quickly. The brunette was gone, replaced by a tall blonde glaring at them.

Chapter Three

“Mom!”

This spelled trouble. Standing behind Jemima was Tahlia, her unflinching black eyes resting on Paloma, whom Inger noticed was pushing a visibly shaking hand through her hair.  Jemima stared coolly at her and Inger sighed deeply.

“Don’t Mom me, Inger Charlotte Marsden.” When Jemima used her daughter’s full name, she was really angry. “What do you think you’re doing?” She swung around to look at Tahlia with blazing blue eyes. “This is your fault. We should’ve been stricter with her, but you were always the one who said I was too tough on her. Now look what’s happened. Not only is she placing her life in danger every day as a slayer, she also hangs out at rowdy nightclubs, kissing…” Jemima’s eyes shifted to Paloma, and they narrowed slightly, “dangerous looking women.”

Paloma threw an amused smile at Tahlia and in return received a cold feral smile exposing her fangs. Looking around worriedly to see if anyone had seen Tahlia’s fangs, Inger quickly stepped closer.

“Maybe we should have this conversation later at home.”

“No, we will have it out here and now,” Jemima said through clenched teeth, her eyes resting coldly on Paloma.

“But people are staring, Mom.”

“No they’re not. We are not visible to the human eye anymore.”

There goes that excuse. Tahlia must have cloaked their presence with a spell. To the human eye they weren’t there, but no one would dare come near to where they stood. Tahlia’s spell instilled an ominous and repulsive feeling of dread in any human who crossed into the spell barrier. Everyone walked long circles around the section of the bar where they stood. She saw the cute blonde she’d danced with earlier being escorted to the VIP section of the nightclub by one of Verna Gregg’s bodyguards. There goes my entertainment for the evening. She turned back to Jemima, but the angry look in the blue eyes made her quickly look towards Tahlia.

“Can’t we go somewhere else to talk?”

Tahlia placed her hand on Jemima’s shoulder.

“Maybe she is right. Let us go to the art gallery.”

†

Once inside the gallery, Jemima bundled her family into the office. “What do you have to say for yourself, Inger?” she asked in a low threatening voice. When Tahlia stepped closer, Jemima held up an unsteady hand. “She will have to come clean tonight, my love. No more breaks for her. If she can take on renegades, I’m sure she’s capable of defending herself now—here—to us.”

Inger grimaced and walked over to the big oak desk and leaned against it. Jemima stood with her arms folded behind her back. It was actually a relief to get this off her chest.

“I like women.”

There was a dead silence. When she looked up at her mother, she saw Jemima’s eyes slowly beginning to burn with anger again. “What do you mean, you like women?” The words were uttered softly, but Inger knew that Jemima was trying very hard to rein in her anger. Inger hopped up onto on the edge of the table. Her leather-clad pants leg swung back and forth and she rolled her eyes at Jemima.

“Just what I said, Mom. I’m attracted to women. I’ve been dating women since I was sixteen.”

Inger waited for her mother’s outburst, but nothing came. Instead Jemima turned slowly to look at Tahlia who stood quietly in the center of the office.

“No, Jemi, before you blame me. I did not know. I might have suspected it, but I did not know.”

Inger jumped to her feet. “What’s the big deal anyway? You’re in a lesbian relationship. I thought you would be happy for me! ”

“No, you didn’t; otherwise you would’ve told us a long time ago that you’re a lesbian.” Jemima snapped. This time Jemima’s eyes were glowing a deep red and Inger threw a panicky look at Tahlia.

Tahlia walked over to where a quivering Jemima was trying hard to check her temper. Gently she lifted Jemima’s chin and stared into her eyes. “You will have to calm down now, my love, because you are really starting to arouse me.”

Inger smiled when she saw the red ebb from Jemima’s eyes as her mouth fell open in shock. Way to go, Mother! Jemima burrowed into Tahlia’s arms and lifted her face for a kiss, but before their lips could meet, Inger rudely interrupted them.

“Hello, I’m still here. Your impressionable daughter, remember?”

Smiling intimately, they moved away from each other. Tahlia lifted her head and looked at the door.

“It seems your guests are looking for you. I will take things from here and…I promise that I will be tough on her.” Tahlia said, turning to Inger.

The blue eyes that were smoky with desire a few moments ago once again frosted over. Inger sighed heavily.

“Next time you don’t answer your phone, I will come look for you myself, Inger. And don’t think this is over.”

Jemima turned to leave the room, but before she turned the knob she turned back, walked over to Inger, and pulled her into a tight hug. Inger wasn’t sure if she was imagining it, but she thought she felt a sense of desperation in the way her mom held her.

“Be careful out there. I love you.” With a quick kiss on the cheek, she was gone.

“Let’s go for a walk in the park.” Tahlia said to Inger as she grabbed her jacket.

“I can do with a bit of fresh air,” Inger replied. At least it’s all in the open now. What a relief!

†

Paloma lifted a shaky hand to her lips. She could still feel Inger’s lips on hers. She wondered how Inger was doing. It wasn’t her intention to get the girl into trouble. She had offered to accompany the small family to the gallery, more in support for Inger than to explain her involvement. Her offer elicited varied reactions. Jemima had stared at her with complete mistrust and antagonism, whereas Tahlia had simply shaken her head ‘no.’ Inger’s reaction was what mattered most to her and the one she found most memorable. The girl had turned to her, a look of pleasant surprise on her face. With a beautiful smile Inger had thanked her and assured her that she would be fine. It took a lot of willpower to watch them walk away. With Inger gone, the night had lost its luster.

She left the noisy club in search of a quieter place where she could make sense of her growing feelings for the young woman. Returning to her empty mansion on the hill, she found herself replaying the kiss over and over in her mind. Each time she added a new detail as she fleshed out the brief kiss to a full make-out session before her fireplace.

Sighing, Paloma turned away from the window and sat in the leather armchair, picking up the book she’d been reading. But after reading the same line for more than half-an-hour, she put the book aside and closed her eyes. As much as she was attracted to Inger, nothing would come of it. Tahlia probably would not condone a relationship between the two of them. After all, Inger was human, albeit a very strong psychic, and Tahlia probably would think her daughter wasn’t ready for an intense relationship with a vampire.

Since she was made a vampire, she’d had a few flings with humans here and there, but nothing serious enough to make her want to stay with one person forever. Nor was she ready to follow Tahlia’s example of waiting her whole life for a lover to be reincarnated, only to bury her at the end of a short human life. She knew that she wasn’t strong enough to go through that repeatedly.

Paloma closed her eyes and gave in to the paralyzing feeling that had been her companion for so long—loneliness. She was so desperately lonely that the place in her chest where her heart was supposed to be felt hollow. She raised a hand to her cheek and groaned when it came back stained with blood. She quickly came to her feet. There’s no use sitting here, feeling sorry for myself. I’ll go out and take a long brisk walk.

In the past three years when she’d felt like this, she usually ended up at the campus. She would sit on the balcony outside Inger’s bedroom, listening to her moving around in her room as she got ready for bed. Other nights she would just follow her around town, admiring her extraordinary fighting skills as she worked diligently at ridding the city of renegades. Tonight Inger was with her parents, and she wasn’t going to tempt Tahlia’s wrath by seeking her out.

†

The park was quiet except for the occasional hooting of an owl. Sipping on her takeaway coffee, Inger turned to look at Tahlia who sat silently next to her on the bench.

“Why don’t you want me to date women?”

Sitting up straight, Tahlia shook her head, her eyes tender. “It has nothing to do with your sexual orientation, Inger. Your mother is just upset because you did not confide in her—in us. We know so little of what is going on in your life since you moved out.” When she saw Inger shiver slightly Tahlia leaned over and pulled Inger close to her. “I knew about you and Rita, but I wanted you to come and tell us yourself.”

Shocked, Inger looked up into Tahlia’s black eyes. “You did?”

Tahlia couldn’t hide the smile. “Yes, I did. If you ever tell your mother I knew, I will deny it.”

Laughing softly, Inger nestled deeper into Tahlia’s body and sipped her coffee. “So you don’t mind that I prefer women?”

“Not at all, honey. As you said earlier, your mom and I are lesbians, too.” Tahlia gently brushed Inger’s hair away from her face. “Maybe we overreacted a bit, but it would have been really nice to have you sit us down and tell us. The three of us used to talk about anything and everything. What changed?”

Inger sat up straight so she could look Tahlia in the eyes. “I wish I knew the real reason for not telling you, but I don’t know why. All I know is that I thought I’d get a mouthful from mom about my sexual preference. She scolds me over everything. Sometimes it feels as if she didn’t want me.” Inger looked away as a hurt look crossed over Tahlia’s face. “I’m sorry.”

Tahlia tightened her arms around her. “Do not apologize for your feelings, my child. I must say that I never knew you felt like that.”

They sat in silence for a long while before Tahlia spoke again. “She loves you very much. I know that, because the day we found you, she was locked in a battle fighting for her life. I had to make a choice between whom to save that day.” Tahlia smiled. “I chose you, knowing that upon my return, Jemima might be dead and lost to me forever.” Inger felt a shudder go through Tahlia and rubbed her cheek against Tahlia’s chest. She knew how much her mothers loved each other. “But she fought back valiantly knowing that calling to me for help would mean putting your life in danger. She did not want that. Nor did she want to break my heart by dying.”

“Why would you take such a big risk not even knowing me?”

Tahlia gently cocked her head to the side so she could look into her daughter’s eyes. Inger smiled at the warm look in the expressive eyes. “I felt something when I touched you that day. I felt as if you belonged to me. When I returned to Jemima I found that she had managed to survive the battle, although she was gravely injured. It was then I decided to give her the most precious gift I could. I offered to raise you with her.”

Inger wiped at her eyes. She wasn’t even aware that she had started crying.

“I didn’t know.”

“Jemima fell in love with you the moment you grabbed hold of her pinkie.”

Inger laid her head over Tahlia’s heart. “Thank you for telling me. I understand her so much better now.”

“I am glad I could help, baby.”

For a long while they sat in companionable silence. Inger replayed the earlier events of the night in her head. She specifically recalled the desperate way Jemima had held her. Maybe she should learn to place herself more in her mother’s shoes to understand why she reacted the way she had. It seemed as if Jemima was completely rattled by Paloma, and Inger could see why. For all her sexy appearance, Paloma was a dangerous woman. Just like her, Jemima must have sensed Paloma’s deadly aura. She smiled. Tonight she resembled a lioness guarding her only cub. And what a lucky cub she was.

Inger hoped that one day she would be half the mother to her own children as Jemima was to her. Inger smirked inwardly. Children? She didn’t even have a girlfriend, nor did she seem to be able to hang on to one. Children were definitely not something she could envision in the foreseeable future. She first needed to work towards finding someone she could consider raising kids with. A pair of silver eyes swam before her mind’s eye and she swallowed.

“Tell me more about Paloma. Why haven’t I heard you talking about her until now?”

Tahlia looked down into Inger’s blue eyes. Inger was mildly curious by the lack of surprise or any other emotion in her mother’s eyes. She wondered if Tahlia had expected the question.

“You like her, huh?”

Inger shrugged. “Who wouldn’t? She’s incredibly beautiful and very sexy.”

“Do not forget dangerous.” Tahlia added calmly.

“I didn’t sense any malice coming from her. If you are childhood friends, wouldn’t you know if she were evil?” Inger set the empty cup aside.

“No, Paloma is not evil.” Tahlia gently pushed a lock of dark hair behind Inger’s ear. “About 500 years ago, Paloma just disappeared. We all thought she was killed in battle. It was only that night nineteen years ago when I found you that I saw her again. While we were fighting Gillian and her band of renegades, I left to hide you not very far from here. After the battle, I came back to get you and saw Paloma fighting off Gillian to protect you. That was how I knew she was alive and that she still was my friend.”

A warmth infused Inger’s heart. Paloma saved her! That must mean something…or was it perhaps fate at work? Soon after she started training as a slayer, her grandfather had told her about the night she was found. His version of what happened that night left out what Tahlia had told her about Jemima’s sacrifice and there was no mention at all of Paloma. Paloma knew her all this time. The thought made her stomach clench with a strange emotion.

“Why did you doubt her in the first place?”

Sighing deeply, Tahlia rubbed her eyes.

“The lifespan of a vampire is very long and after a while it becomes a bland and bleak existence. I had many good friends who grew tired of living and simply chose to walk into the dawn, destroying themselves.” At Inger’s soft gasp of shock, Tahlia pulled her even tighter against her.

“Some became corrupt by the power they wield and the fortunes they amassed over the centuries. Murdering innocents and the weak became the order of the day for them if it meant they could gain more power. Those we hunted and killed.” Tahlia inhaled deeply, and Inger knew what Tahlia was going to say next would not be pleasant “That was what Paloma has been doing for centuries. All that killing does have an effect on a vampire, and I was not sure if Paloma was able to hold on to her soul in the end.”

No wonder the woman’s aura screamed violence. Nevertheless, the gorgeous creature she’d met tonight in no way resembled a soulless killer. Then again, looks could be deceiving. But that kiss didn’t lie. Before she could delve deeper into the memory of the kiss, she became aware of Tahlia’s eyes on her. She wondered how long her mother had been watching her and how much she’d given away with her thoughts.

She scanned her mother’s face. “You're older than most. How did you manage to stay sane?”

Laughing softly, Tahlia rubbed Inger’s hands between hers, her eyes were infinitely tender. “Your mother saved me. Our love kept me from self-destruction.” Tahlia gently brushed her lips over the cool knuckles of Inger’s hand. “I first met her a year before I was made a vampire in 32 BC. Her name was Aurora and we fell in love. Since then I have waited every century for her to be reincarnated. Twenty years ago, I had to convert her to a vampire to save her from Drake.” Tahlia’s eyes glowed with love as she whispered. “She saved me.”

They sat in silence for a while, listening to an owl hooting nearby. At that moment Inger made herself a promise. She wanted what her mother had and she wouldn’t settle for second-best. Once again she was reminded of Paloma. What was it about the woman that made it so difficult to keep her out of her mind? They had barely spent an hour together, and the woman now consumed her thoughts. Maybe this was fate.

“The attraction between us is mutual. Would it bother you if I try to see if things can work between Paloma and me?”

“You are a grown woman, Inger, but I am not sure if you are ready for a relationship with a vampire—let alone a master vampire. Paloma has many enemies who will, by way of association, become your enemies, too. It might become too much for you. All I ask of you is to think about it carefully. The only person who can give you firsthand experience about the kind of life you are letting yourself into is your mom. Talk to her first.”

At Inger’s nod, Tahlia came to her feet and in a fluid movement swung Inger in her arms. She grinned down into Inger’s glowing eyes. As a kid, Inger loved it when Tahlia picked her up in her arms and raced through the streets with her. She fastened her arms around Tahlia’s neck, her heartbeat accelerating with anticipation.

“I am taking you to your room and then I need to go get my beautiful wife and take her home.”

Using preternatural speed Tahlia streaked off in the direction of the campus.

†

The next day after class, Inger rushed over to the Melton Hotel and down to the safe house. Tahlia and Jemima were sleeping and would rise in another four hours or so, but meeting her parents wasn’t what brought her here. She opened the door to the library and smiled.

Good. Joan was here. If there was anybody who knows almost everything about Vampire folklore, it was Joan. Except for a few grey hairs here and there, for a woman pushing sixty, Joan still looked beautiful and young. Soon after she found out the truth about why her parents could never attend her extramural activities during the day, she had spent a lot of time in the library with Joan. Thanks to Joan, she eventually was able to process her hurt and fear and saw that her mothers may be scary vampires but their love for her was deep and she had nothing to fear.

As always, a bespectacled Joan was deeply engrossed in a book.

“Hi, Joan, how’re you doing? I haven’t seen you around for quite some time.”

Joan looked up and smiled, putting down the thick leather-bound volume she’d been reading.

“I had a lot of research to do.” She took off her glasses and gently folded them. “Our European branch needs some info on a group of medieval vampire slayers. It seems that some kind of an underground slayer organization is operating in Europe and are indiscriminately killing and maiming vampires.” She shook off the thought. “But enough about that,” she said, smiling. “What brings you here?”

Closing the door behind her, Inger sat next to Joan. Before she could say anything, Joan held up her hand.

“Before you drag me into anything illegal, missy, I should warn you that your parents are asleep downstairs and that they will be able to hear everything you say.”

“They know already. I just needed some info on a certain Paloma Soleil.”

Joan picked up her reading glasses, frowning as she studied the young girl intently. “What a strange request. Paloma Soleil was last seen alive in 1530. Many believe that she was killed in battle. Why the sudden interest in her?”

If Paloma wanted to stay undetected she wouldn’t blow her cover. Strange that both her mothers knew about Paloma, but the Consortium was still left in the dark. She would have to ask her mother why.

“I’m just fascinated by her. The other day Bryan Collespi from the Consortium rumbled off a list of vampire warriors and her name just stuck. What else do you know about her?”

Putting on her glasses, Joan walked over to a shelf and pulled out a book. “Tahlia will actually be able to tell you more about her, seeing as they grew up together and were made vampires around the same time. Tahlia was crowned as the Vampire Queen and Paloma was made the official Protector of the Vampire Race. After the three Royal Vampires, she was the most powerful and feared warrior. Her fighting skills were legendary, and it is rumored that she had killed more rogue vampires and overzealous slayers than any other vampire in existence.” Joan paged through the book for a few minutes before speaking again.

“It is said here she was ambushed by a group of vampire slayers near Naples and was decapitated. Nobody could authenticate the event, but the slayers belonged to a group who called themselves the ‘Servants of Redemption’.” Joan quickly sat up straighter. “Oh my! This is the same group that the European branch is investigating.”

Puzzled, she looked at Inger. “They have a link with Paloma Soleil. Something is not adding up. I need to get to the office and run this by Michael and the others.”

Alarmed, Inger quickly came to her feet. “What could this mean?”

Joan held the book against her chest, her green eyes glittering with barely contained excitement. “It could mean that the most dangerous Vampire assassin in history has resurfaced. It could also explain why the organization has reactivated.” She grabbed her purse and car keys. “I need to be off. See you later.”

Once the door closed behind Joan, Inger strode over to the computer, opened a search engine and typed in PALOMA SOLEIL. Not much came up, but she did learn something. Many of the facts corroborated what Joan had told her. I was right! Inger thought triumphantly. For all her sexy looks and gorgeous body, Paloma must be handled with care. She was very dangerous indeed—the Vampire version of the Grim Reaper. A shiver ran down her spine as she recalled the silvery gaze of the Assassin.

†

Tahlia was already dressed and sitting on the bed in their underground chamber when Jemima rose from the rich patch of ground that served as their daylight resting place. With a flick of the hand she cleaned herself and got dressed before turning to look at Tahlia.

“You’re up early. What’s bothering you, my love?” She walked over and sat next to Tahlia.

The black eyes turned to look at her. “I need to speak with Paloma.”

For twenty years Jemima had known the vampire warrior was in town, but not once had Tahlia spoken about her—until now. She hadn’t pressured Tahlia, but whenever the woman’s name came up, her thoughts raced. Tahlia was very secretive about her. Even Pierre and Jonas refused to talk about her the few times she’d tried to fish out details. Many times she’d been tempted to search the library for anything she could find on Paloma, but she was scared of what she might discover. She wasn’t sure if she was strong enough to handle the truth. Secondly, she wasn’t sure how Tahlia would feel about her going behind her back to find out about Paloma. So she decided to wait. But since Tahlia had brooked the topic first, she might just as well ask the one question she’d been carrying around with her for two decades.

“Why don’t you want to talk about her?” The blue eyes became clouded. “Were you lovers?”

Tahlia’s black eyes widened in shock. “No.” Tahlia reached out and took Jemima’s hand in hers. “Since becoming a vampire, you are the only woman I have ever been with.” The black eyes melted. “There will never be another woman for me.”

“But why all the secrecy? Nobody seems to want to talk about her.”

Tahlia nodded. “With good reason.” She paused. “We are childhood friends.”

“What? You mean to tell me that she’s as old as you?” The shock in the blue eyes made Tahlia smile.

“Actually she is older than me. We grew up together and our mothers were best friends.” Tahlia’s voice trailed off for a few seconds. “When my mother heard of Lecrac recruiting young men and women, our mothers took us to be converted. In return Lecrac took care of the families of those whom he made vampire. That was the only way we could take care of our parents. Five centuries ago she disappeared, only to resurface twenty years ago.”

Jemima pushed a shaky hand threw her hair as she studied Tahlia. How were they going to deal with another master vampire who—if Tahlia’s reaction was anything to go by—could be an enemy?

“What does this mean for us…for you?” Jemima leaned her head on Tahlia’s chest. If this vampire was indeed an enemy, Tahlia must be torn by the thought of having to destroy her.

“Seeing her just brought back a lot of memories that I buried when she went missing. Also, with her resurfacing, I am sure many of her enemies will be lured here in their quest for revenge.”

Jemima’s blue eyes sharpened. Her thoughts immediately went to her wayward daughter. “Does it mean that Inger might be placed in more danger than she already is?”

Tahlia nodded. “She is attracted to Paloma, and I have seen how Paloma reacts to Inger.” Tahlia rubbed over her eyes. “They will become lovers, and I am afraid there is nothing we can do about it.”

“There must be something we can do. If Paloma is as dangerous as is rumored, I don’t want my child near her.”

Tahlia came to her feet slowly and stood with her back to Jemima. Jemima could see the tension in the broad back. “Paloma is very honorable, and I can assure you that she will not hurt Inger intentionally.” She turned back to look at Jemima with sad eyes. “I am in a very difficult situation, Jemima. I have my loyalty towards Paloma on the one hand and the love and protection towards my daughter on the other. I am not sure how and if they will work out, but I feel that they need a chance. Paloma is lonely. I have sensed her loneliness for the past twenty years.” Tahlia again turned away. “Did you know that she had been dogging Inger for the past three years, looking out for her? I have even seen her countless times, sitting on the balcony outside Inger’s room.”

Jemima came to stand behind Tahlia and gently turned her to face her. “What are you saying?” she asked softly.

“It is obvious that Paloma loves our daughter. I think she is safer being with Paloma than being apart from her.”

Jemima nodded. “I love my child very much, and I don’t want to see her get hurt, Tahlia. I will try not to interfere.”

Tahlia nodded and took Jemima’s hand. “She is in the library. Let’s go greet her.”

†

After leaving her parents, Inger made a quick stop at her grandparents’ house before getting on her motorcycle to roam the streets for renegades. She stopped at Joe’s, a bar notorious for being a gathering spot for renegades. After parking her motorcycle, she took off her helmet and shook out her hair. Almost immediately she felt the vampire’s presence.

“I’m going in for a drink. I promise not to be too long,” she spoke into the darkness and sauntered into the club.

†

Once Inger was out of sight Paloma stepped out of the darkness with a wide smile. The girl’s got spunk, taunting her like that with her last remark. For the past week she had sensed a vaguely familiar presence in town, but couldn’t put her finger on it. That feeling was stronger here. Whoever it was must be inside and Inger was in there. Using the shadows as cover she slipped into the bar.

†

Inger knew she was in trouble the minute she entered. A very disturbing presence filled the room. It felt as if something evil and full of hatred was ready to pounce on her. Walking over to the bar she quickly scanned the interior. The place was packed with renegades—a good harvest. The metallic smell of blood hung heavy in the air and she knew instinctively that there were blood cows in the back room.

The latest craze at establishments that catered to vampires was serving human blood. For this purpose young men and woman are recruited and paid handsomely to serve as human cows to be sucked on by vampires. This practice was not only cruel, but it was dangerous. More often than not the human cows were ‘accidentally’ drained. That left the police force baffled with the number of bloodless corpses piling up in the city morgue.

Inger ordered a beer. With every movement she made, she was aware of the renegades staring at her. She was hard to miss, being a human female entering a notorious bar alone.  When her beer arrived, she took a long swig and turned to face the renegades.

That was when she saw her—the Assassin. Death incarnate, according to the texts she’d read earlier. Her tall athletic body clad in black leather, Paloma walked toward her. The silver eyes were on her, staring at her with so much intensity that Inger felt her stomach do a summersault. Paloma gave her a slow smile, and all Inger could do was to stare at the woman, her mind blank except for the mental image of her golden sweat-slicked body bucking above hers, urging her on. The silver eyes flashed and Inger wondered if she’d read her mind. It wasn’t possible of course. Paloma had not taken her blood. Nevertheless, she would have to be careful around the woman.

Chapter Four

“You frequent odd places, Slayer.” Paloma said when she reached Inger. The silver eyes looked calm, almost drowsy, but Inger sensed an acute alertness about the woman. There was something else, something very familiar. The buzzing was particularly strong as if it were coming from close by. She turned her head slowly and stopped. The only person standing close to her was Paloma. She looked into the silver eyes and received her answer before she could ask.

“Now that I know you were shadowing me for the past three years, may I know why?” She was angry with the woman for having stalked her, but mostly she was angry with herself for having been stalked by such a sexy creature and not having known. Goodness, had she known she would’ve made sure to entice the vampire into following exactly where she’d wanted her to go—a hotel room with a huge bed and room service, perhaps. She mentally shook her head, ridding her mind of the vivid images of a naked Paloma on top of her. Instead, she fixed a cold stare at the blonde vampire.

Paloma gestured for the bartender to come over and ordered a glass of red wine. “I was just looking out for you.” Her eyes were staring deeply into Inger’s and hidden in those silver depths was an indecipherable emotion. Lust, perhaps. Or was it bloodlust.

“What makes you think I needed your protection?” Inger snapped.

Taking a quick sip of wine, Paloma smiled. “You are an exceptional fighter, and I think I am learning a lot from you. You know where they gather and how to flush them out.”

Said like a true diplomat, Inger thought and looked past Paloma to a short balding man in a grey suit. He looked out of place in the bar, and his eyes bored into Paloma’s back. He emanated deep hatred.

“Do you come here often?” she asked the vampire and was surprised to find that Paloma’s gaze had never left her. The silver eyes were guarded, but for a fleeting moment she saw a brief flicker of something; a strange emotion that made her heart stutter.

“No.”

“Then you must make enemies faster than I do.”

Paloma grinned and without turning to look at the man, spoke. “I was hoping he would see me. Now at least I have a face to work with. Are you done with your drink? We have a bar to clean out.”

With the words barely past her lips, Paloma exploded into action using preternatural speed. Inger could barely make out the flashing of a sword as Paloma worked the room like a killer tornado. As Inger watched, more corpses joined those that lay decapitated on the floor. Paloma was a dark blur as she moved. The only others she had seen move like that were Tahlia, Jonas, and Pierre. Another super vampire, she thought.

Out of the corner of her eye, Inger detected a movement. Oh no, you don’t. The man in the suit was making a beeline for the door. Inger grabbed a nearby chair and hurled it at his feet. He crumbled to the floor, hitting the edge of a table on his way down to lie there, unconscious. Reaching for her guns, Inger joined the fracas. Within the space of minutes the bar was quiet, with body parts strewn around the floor.

Paloma carelessly threw the scattered body parts onto a mound, and, with the flick of her hand, the pile burst into flames. Inger grimaced when the fire alarm went off. She saw Paloma turn to the bartender, who stood rooted behind the bar, his eyes stiff in their sockets.

“You will remember nothing of what happened here tonight. An ashtray caught fire and set off the alarms. Do you understand me?”

The man swallowed hard as he nodded repeatedly. Pulling the man in the suit up by the scruff of his neck, Paloma left the bar. Inger threw another glance over the trashed interior of the bar before making her way to the exit. When she came outside, there was no sign of Paloma or of the man. With a muttered curse she walked over to her motorcycle.

On the drive to the campus, she relived the brief and brutal fight. Her mind stuck on an image of a blood-splattered Paloma, her eyes glowing bright red as she looked down on the dismembered body of a renegade. No wonder her own kind feared her so much. The woman was a killing machine.

†

Opening her eyes, Inger reached for her alarm clock. It was only 2 a.m.  She rolled onto her back. Something had awakened her. She swung her legs from the bed. There was someone on the balcony. Now that she knew what the buzzing meant, she quickly donned her robe and stepped onto the balcony. At first she didn’t see her.

“You should not be so careless as to come out onto the balcony unarmed.” A voice spoke from behind her.

Turning sharply, she saw Paloma step out of the shadows. The blonde hair blew gently in the breeze and she looked at the younger woman in silence. The sight made Inger’s stomach flip over.

“What are you doing here, Paloma?” Inger asked as she tore her gaze away from the compelling woman. She looked out over the dimly lit campus ground, suddenly uncomfortable at being alone with this woman. She was acutely aware of her near naked body under the thin robe.

Paloma kept her distance, but her silver eyes were so intense that Inger felt them leaving a scorching trail where they scanned her body.

“I wanted to come and see if you had arrived home safely, cara. I had to rush off to secure that man before his people got to him first.” Paloma’s voice was velvety soft, the small endearment causing Inger’s body to react almost instantly.

Inger folded her arms over her chest, attempting to hide her hardening nipples. She nodded slowly. “I’ve arrived safely as you can see, but I really need to get back to bed. I’m taking a test tomorrow.” But her legs refused to move as she returned Paloma’s stare.

†

For the first time in many centuries Paloma felt panic. The feeling was so foreign that she felt herself tremble. After she had secured the man, she rushed home and took a shower to try to wash off the stench of death, but to no avail. The oppressive feeling intensified as soon as she’d stepped out of the steaming water. There was only one sure way she knew to regain her balance. Looking at the girl standing before her, she felt her world slowly tilt back into position, grounding her. It was not her intention to wake Inger. When she heard Inger’s breathing change as she slowly came awake, Paloma considered fleeing into the night. Selfishly, she stayed. Her heart had ached to see her again and now that she had she was anxious at the thought that Inger wanted to leave her so soon.  She was terrified of going back home to that dark and dank underground cellar—alone and lonely.

Paloma let her eyes slowly travel over Inger, her nostrils flaring as she tried to restrain herself from reaching for her. She doubted that Inger, her dark hair sleep-ruffled and blue eyes still drowsy, had any idea how close she was to being ravished. Paloma saw Inger draw the robe closer around her body, probably uncomfortable because of the older woman’s close scrutiny. Her sharp eyes immediately zeroed in on the small hardened peaks of Inger’s nipples, and Paloma’s mouth fell open in a soundless gasp.

Ignoring her own advice of not rushing the girl, Paloma took two quick steps and pulled Inger into her arms. She saw the alarm in Inger’s eyes and she gentled her hold. Her eyes filled with tears as she rested her cheek on Inger’s soft hair.

“I will never hurt you, but since you kissed me in the nightclub, I have craved to hold you in my arms again.” She tenderly tightened her arms around Inger and simply held her. Paloma could actually feel her cold heart thaw as the heat of the young girl seeped into her core.

The last time she’d held someone like this was almost 800 years ago. It was one of her lovers, a beautiful Italian countess, but like all the others it hadn’t lasted. Something had always been missing in her relationships. Some of them included a deep affection, loyalty, ignorance, and in many cases, fear, but there was always a vital part missing. For as long as she remembered, she’d wanted more. Whatever “it” was, she’d never known—until now.

Paloma had wanted someone who could look beyond the monster and reach out to the woman within. Someone who was comfortable around her kind. Someone who understood her—someone like Inger. She gently pushed Inger out of the embrace and looked down into her face. The blue eyes looked back at her with a mixture of confusion and wonder. Paloma rejoiced at the lack of fear.

“The only person who holds me like that is my mother. You should one day tell me about my mother. There are so many similarities between the two of you.”

Smiling slightly, Paloma playfully touched the tip of Inger’s nose.

“Never confuse me for your mother, cara.” Paloma’s eyes moved to Inger’s lips. She almost groaned out loud when Inger’s lips parted, pushing out a shaky breath. “What I want to do to you has nothing maternal to it. In fact, your mother will kill me if she finds out I am having this conversation with you.” Her breathing was unsteady from suppressed desire, and she gently stepped away from the girl’s intoxicating nearness. “It is getting late, and you need to get back into your bed.”

Paloma ran a soft hand over Inger’s hair before she pushed Inger through the door. She didn’t follow her inside and seeing the question in Inger’s eyes, she shook her head.

“Your mother has placed strong protection spells at your doors and windows. I will try to unravel them one day, but I need to warn you…” Inger’s blue eyes widened slightly. “Once I have altered the spells, and I am inside your room, I will want more than a kiss, dearling. Remember that.”

She pushed the door close and stepped back. She waited until a blushing Inger had locked the door and then she disappeared.

†

Paloma was a few yards from Inger’s room, when she sensed another presence. Swinging around, automatically taking on a battle stance, she backed down immediately when she saw who stood behind her. Staring at the woman, she was once again taken aback by her ethereal beauty. After twenty reincarnations, Jemima still looked as beautiful as she had the first time she’d seen her.

“We drop by every night to see if she’s home safely and that she’s covered and warm. As a child she used to kick off her blankets. It kept us busy covering her up every five minutes.” Jemima’s voice was calm, but her blue eyes showed an inner-turmoil. “The habit just stuck.”

Not knowing what to say, Paloma merely stared.

“We’ve raised her with so much love. Maybe we were too protective at times, adding to her being a little naïve, but we wouldn’t want to see her get hurt. She has a beautiful heart and a loving spirit.”

Paloma nodded. It was clear what Jemima wanted to say without actually saying it. She had anticipated this talk for a while now.

“I understand your concern, Jemima, and I can assure you that I will not let any harm come to her. I will protect her with my life.” It was true. After having been around her since she was a toddler, Inger had unwittingly placed a spell on Paloma’s heart, making it impossible for her to even consider a life without her.

There was a slight shift in the air, and Tahlia appeared next to Jemima, her black eyes burning with a disturbing intensity. Paloma knew that Tahlia was still slightly annoyed at her for the kiss she and Inger had shared.

“I was hoping that I would find you tonight. We have something urgent to discuss. The Consortium found a possible link between your resurfacing and the revival of a vampire slayers group that had been dormant since the 16th century. Maybe you have information that can be helpful. We are meeting tomorrow night at the Melton Hotel. I will send Juan to accompany you.”

Paloma looked past Jemima to the balcony of Inger’s room. She had hoped to spend the next night with Inger, but she was trained to put duty before anything else. That was the code to which she’d been devoted for more than two millennia.

“I will be there.”

“Good.” Tahlia took Jemima’s hand and together they melted into the shadows.

†

“Ms. Marsden?”

Inger’s head jerked up and immediately became aware of muffled giggles. Standing in front of her, hands on hips, was Jonathan Warren, her Criminal Law professor.

“I take it you must be done with your test.” He held out his hand. “If I may.”

She had dozed off while taking her test. Damn! Her eyes quickly scanned over the test paper. At least she seemed to have filled in all the blank spaces.

“I’m waiting, Ms. Marsden.”

Sighing she handed over the paper and leaned back in her chair, ignoring the looks her classmates threw her way. After Paloma left this morning she couldn’t sleep and instead decided to study for the test.

“Had a wild night, did you?” A teasing voice said close to her ear.

Turning, she grinned at the girl sitting behind her. Marsha Bredenkamp was her next door neighbor. Blonde and beautiful, she was also one of the most popular girls on campus.

“Yep. I was up late studying.”

An unladylike snort came from Marsha. “Not from what I saw, you didn’t. I spied a hot blonde on the balcony with you, and she didn’t seem like the tutoring kind.”

Startled by Marsha’s revelation, Inger made a mental note to warn Paloma about coming to her room in the future. Her parents usually just materialized inside her room, but with the spells at the doors and windows, Paloma would have to be more careful during her nocturnal visits.

“I assume you must be done, too, Ms. Bredenkamp.” Professor Warren stared at them over the frame of his glasses. “If you will bring your paper to the front, please, I will kindly ask the two of you to leave the auditorium so as not to disturb the rest of the class.”

†

Stepping outside into the sun, Inger was so intent on reaching her room to catch up on sleep, that she wasn’t aware of the two men following her at a distance. Once she’d entered her dorm, the men stopped.

“We will have to come back with reinforcements. One of us will have to stay here in case she leaves her room.”

†

Her black eyes were pensive as Tahlia observed the way Pierre and Jonas interacted with Paloma. It felt good to have them all together again. The four of them had fought back-to-back for centuries, and, over the ages, had developed a strong familial bond. Pierre and Paloma chatted softly with their heads close, while Jonas looked on with an almost tender smile. As soon as she had been aware of Paloma’s presence two decades ago, Tahlia had informed the Princes. It was a unanimous decision not to act on her sudden reappearance until Paloma initiated contact. Last night she informed them that she had met with Paloma. She wasn’t surprised when both Pierre and Jonas smiled at her. She knew then that she had made the right decision to break the agreement by approaching Paloma at the nightclub.

The doors swung open and Michael Jensen entered the room with Joan in tow. The minute they saw the tall blonde, they came to a stop, gaping at Paloma. Michael at least managed to recover quickly from his reaction, but not Joan. She stared at Paloma with reverence. Paloma’s silver eyes stared back blankly.

Tahlia almost smiled at Paloma’s demeanor. That look helped them many times as youngsters when they had to bargain with street vendors for prices. Paloma always intimidated the hell out of the merchants.

“Since we are all here I believe we can start.” Tahlia walked over to the gleaming oak table and took her seat. The rest of the group followed suit. Clearing his throat, Michael looked at Paloma.

“My name is Michael Jensen, and I’m the head of the Human Vampire Slayer’s Consortium.” Gesturing to Joan he continued. “My colleague here is Joan Arcadia. She’s in charge of the research component of the organization and knows almost everything there is to know about vampire legends and history.”

Paloma nodded her acknowledgement.

“Ms. Soleil, we thought you dead for almost 500 years. If I may ask, how did you escape the ambush staged by the slayers?” Joan was still staring at Paloma with awe.

“I killed them all and then I went to ground.” Paloma answered calmly. Tahlia saw the slight shiver that ran through Joan at Paloma’s curt reply.

“What do you have for us, Joan?”

Jonas was looking at Joan with a slight frown and Tahlia wondered if Jonas felt intimidated by Joan’s reaction to Paloma. Over the centuries many straight women has fallen prey to Paloma’s dark sensual charm, and both Jonas and Tahlia knew that Joan wouldn’t stand a chance if Paloma were to set her sights on the researcher. Joan blushed lightly and flipped open the file lying on the table in front of her.

“About 800 years ago a clandestine organization of human slayers operated in Europe, hunting rogue and Royal Clan vampires alike. Columbus Mercredi, an Italian nobleman, who had a score to settle after his only daughter was seduced and killed by a rogue vampire, headed the group. Already a firm believer in the occults, he formed a group recruiting killers from prisons across Europe and trained them to hunt vampires. In their search, they butchered vampires and humans indiscriminately. The last official recording of their operations was in 1530 when they claimed to have killed Paloma. No reference to them appears in any literature from the 16th century onwards.”

She reached for her glass of water and took a quick sip. “About fifteen years ago the group’s operation was reactivated. Our European branch started tracking the group and found their head office in Naples, coincidently right at the spot where their predecessors had claimed they killed Paloma. The Euro branch alerted us that the group was infiltrating the U.S. With so many coincidences, we thought it a sound idea to investigate the link between the group and Paloma.”

Tahlia turned to Paloma. “Why do you think these people might be hunting you?”

“Prior to our battle at Naples, I had been aware of the group’s operations as they had killed a few of my warriors.” She rubbed over her eyes. “I went after them and destroyed their cells, leaving my calling card so I could flush out the remaining members. The battle at Naples was actually an ambush. Mercredi and his son managed to escape. I thought they would not be able to regroup after the blow I had dealt them. Last night, however, I captured one of their members at a bar downtown. He is locked away safely until I figure out what to do with him.”

Tahlia’s gaze sharpened at hearing that. She wondered if Paloma would’ve come forward with the news had she not been invited to this meeting.

Michael cleared his throat. “Maybe you can bring him to us for questioning. He will be locked up safely and no one will get to him without my permission.”

“These men are cold-blooded killers, and I do not trust you to be as effective in getting him to talk. I know how to make them talk.” Paloma’s voice sounded flat.

Michael looked to Tahlia, silently begging her to step in. Tahlia nodded and turned to Paloma.

“You will keep the slayer with you, but will only question him in the presence of me, Jonas, or Pierre. We want him alive.” Her black eyes bore into Paloma’s until the Assassin nodded. “Good. Michael, we will let you know as soon as we have any information. Until then I suggest we keep our eyes open. Joan, ask the Euro branch for the top structure of the organization. We need to know where to hit to weaken them.”

Coming to her feet abruptly, she walked over to Paloma. “I want you to come with me. Inger has been kidnapped.”

†

A wave of nausea washed over Inger when she tried to lift her head and she slumped back. Slowly opening her eyes, she found that she was in the trunk of a moving car. The last thing she remembered was getting on her motorcycle, ready to leave for her weekly dinner date with her grandparents. She’d heard a sound behind her, but before she could turn to inspect the source of the sound, her head exploded and everything went black. The car was speeding. Even if she screamed she doubted anyone would be able to help her.

<I am nearby, my baby. Don’t worry.>

<Mom! > She almost cried at the sound of Jemima’s voice in her head. <I’m scared.>

<I won’t let them hurt you.> This time Jemima’s voice was icy. <There are four of them in the car. Your mother is on her way.> Her tone softened. <Don’t be scared, honey.>

The car came to a stop and after a short while the trunk was popped. The men were dressed in dark suits, and one of them had an antique crossbow aimed at her chest. She was pulled roughly out of the trunk and dragged to a nearby steel cage. The heavy door slammed shut after she was unceremoniously pushed inside.

Looking around she saw she was in a large warehouse. Three more men brandishing crossbows guarded the cage. Once she was secured, the men completely ignored her, literally turning their backs. She carefully studied the interior of the warehouse. The place was empty except for the steel cage that was her cell for the time being. The men stood around, some smoking. She tested the cage door, knowing even before she did that it would be useless. She had heard the heavy door latch earlier. She looked around again. She had to do something instead of sitting here like a caged animal. She studied the men closely. They all had one thing in common. They all looked very inconspicuous, almost as if they wanted to blend in without drawing any attention to themselves. And then there were the crossbows. Who in this day and age walked around with crossbows? Maybe she would get more answers the old fashioned way.

“Now that you have me, I would like to know what you intend to do with me.”

One of the men, a dull looking fellow with cold grey eyes, turned to look at her. Inger was taken aback by his obvious hatred.

“Shut your mouth, bitch. You will speak only when spoken to!”

“Well, then, you don’t know me at all, mister,” Inger snapped, thoroughly miffed by the man’s insulting remark, but before she could continue with her tirade, the air in the warehouse shifted. A dark, oily manifestation of evil filled the space. She saw the men look behind her. She slowly turned to see who the newcomer was. Whoever he was, Inger knew that his presence spelled danger for her.

The back of the warehouse was dark and anyone not knowing what to look for wouldn’t have seen the shadows shifting. Inger gasped as a gangly human shape stepped out of the inky darkness. Whatever she was looking at might once have resembled a human being, but that must’ve been a very long time ago. It was the scariest creature she had ever seen.

Inger had come face-to-face with a living nightmare. The creature in front of her reeked of violence, hatred, and death. Its face was contorted by bloodlust, and his deep-set eyes stared at her with unconcealed hunger. Inger felt a shiver run down her spine. Ambling forward, the creature approached the cage. The closer it came, the more terrified Inger became.

“So, you are the daughter of the Vampire Queen.” The creature’s voice was raspy and every syllable was pronounced haltingly.

“Why did you bring me here?”

The vampire stretched his tall frame and Inger saw the muscled wings growing out of its back. “You, my dear, are our bait and my snack while we wait for the Assassin to come to your rescue.” The creature glided over to the gate, and, with a flick of his hand, the door swung open. His elongated claws reached in for her.

With her hands bound tightly together it was impossible for her to dodge his grasp. The claws curled around her throat. Inger screamed when the tip of a long nail broke her skin and she felt a sticky wetness running down her neck. The creature tossed her against the bars and touched the tip of his blood-stained nail to his black tongue.

“Ah, so sweet and uncontaminated—just the way I like it.” She felt the nausea build up again when the creature stuck out its black tongue to lap the last bit of blood from the tip of his claw. “I will enjoy every last drop of you. But first we need to get your parents here.” He reached for her again, but this time he stuck his nail deeper into the wound in her neck making Inger scream in agony. “That is right. Make sure they know where to find you.”

Suddenly pandemonium broke loose.

Chapter Five

One moment she was lying on the cage floor and the next she was cradled in a tight embrace. Her nostrils were almost immediately assaulted by the scent of blood and she turned her face away to press it into the warm body holding her. It was Jemima. Looking up into Jemima’s face, she found the blue eyes were tender. Her mom was here. Everything was going to be okay.

“I need to close the wound in your neck, honey.” With a quick flick of her tongue over the oozing wound, the blood flow stopped and the wound began to close. Jemima reached down to Inger’s hands and quickly untied the rope binding her. “You need to get out of here, Inger. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

When Inger looked over Jemima’s shoulder, she saw two blurring shapes moving around the warehouse picking the men off one by one. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the creature attempting to slink away and pushed out of Jemima’s arms.

“He’s getting away, Mom.” Jemima nodded and was gone so quickly that Inger blinked repeatedly to clear the blurriness the sudden movement caused. A deep growl of hatred sounded and Inger stumbled to her feet. She needed to help her mother. The thought, however, didn’t last long.

With her blonde hair flowing loosely, Jemima gracefully dodged the creature’s claws. She was so fast it actually looked as if she were in two places at once. She ducked and sidestepped the creature’s attacks with supple ease. The rest of the fight was over and Tahlia and Paloma were busy getting rid of the bodies. The only action was between Jemima and the creature.

This was the first time Inger had seen her mom fight, and she was awestruck by her skill and agility. With her tall body encased in black leather, Jemima moved around the renegade, successfully slipping in deep slashes with her elongated claws, whilst staying out of the monster’s reach.

With spittle running down its deformed chin, the creature reached for her, but the space where Jemima had been a split second ago was empty. She popped up behind the vampire. Her eyes glowed red as she grabbed it by its wings and swung it into the air.

Before the creature could gain enough momentum to flap its wings for stability, Paloma joined in. She bounced into the air and grabbed the renegade by its throat, pulling it down until it crashed onto its back. She anchored him to the concrete floor by sitting on him, her knees smashing down his wings. Paloma grabbed his wrist and brought it to her mouth. She ripped through the tough flesh with her fangs and sucked on the monster’s wrist.

Inger felt her stomach turn and quickly stumbled away from the grisly scene.

“There are too many of us to defeat, Assassin. We will not rest until all of you are destroyed.” The monster grated out, but he was powerless against Paloma’s superior strength.

Paloma lifted her head and threw the wrist and hand away from her as if they were contaminated. A slow trail of dark red blood trickled down from the corner of her mouth. This time Inger lost the battle and gagged violently. She was pulled against a soft body as her back was stroked gently.

Tahlia studied her worriedly. “He did not hurt you too much, did he?” She didn’t wait for an answer, but pulled Inger tighter against her. A deep shiver ran through Tahlia and Inger quickly looked up at her mother. A single red tear ran down the Vampire Queen’s cheek. Shocked to see her strong mother so vulnerable rattled Inger and she reached out and wiped the tear away. She pressed her face into Tahlia's neck, overwhelmed by emotion.

<Don’t cry, Mother. I’m not hurt. You came for me. I knew you would.>

Attuned to her lover’s emotions, Jemima quickly walked over to where they stood. She kept her back to the creature and Paloma, shielding everyone else from witnessing this private moment. Inger gave her mom a grateful smile as she held tightly onto Tahlia. She knew Tahlia, like Paloma, wouldn’t want anyone to be privy to what might be considered a weak moment. Inger pressed her lips against Tahlia’s cheek.

“We’re all fine, Mother.”

Tahlia nodded slowly as her eyes anxiously ran over both Inger and Jemima. Inger knew she was checking them for injuries.

“If we were a few seconds late, he would have killed you.” Pain flashed across the beautiful features. “I cannot afford to lose either of you. You are my life.”

“But he didn’t and I’m okay. You and mom came to rescue me.”

There was a deep groan and they turned sharply. The vampire’s head lay a few feet away from them, and Paloma was wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

“He was Mercredi’s son, Jonah,” she said.

†

Tahlia swung Inger into her arms and using preternatural speed they were at her grandparents’ mansion in a matter of minutes. After reassuring James that she was unharmed, Tahlia carried Inger to her room. She waited until Inger disappeared into the bathroom to take a shower before she left.

She found Paloma waiting for her outside in the hallway. After the meeting with the Consortium Tahlia had hoped to talk with Paloma, but before they could start, Jemima had alerted her to Inger’s capture. It had cost all her willpower to sit through the meeting knowing that her daughter was in trouble. The others would’ve understood had she rushed off, but Jemima was adamant that she could handle the situation while Tahlia was indisposed.

In the end the faith she’d put in her wife’s ability to head the rescue was a good call. Jemima had grown into a great fighter over the past twenty years. Tonight was the first time she’d seen her wife’s ferocity on display. Her ruthlessness also had to do with the fact that it was her daughter who was threatened. An hour later, Tahlia could still feel the queasiness in her stomach at the danger Inger had been in. A weak smile formed on her lips when she saw the concerned look on Paloma’s face.

“Is everything all right, Tahlia? Inger?”

“You have always looked out for me. This time you have helped me save my daughter. Please accept my gratitude.”

They studied each other for a long moment, before Paloma stepped forward and pulled Tahlia into a tight embrace.

“We promised our mothers that we would look out for each other. Besides honoring my promise, I did it out of love. I love your daughter, old friend.” Paloma held Tahlia’s eyes even though Tahlia could see a nervous tick in Paloma’s cheek. “May I have your permission to court her?”

Paloma’s desire was out in the open. Tahlia’s eyes bored into Paloma’s silver ones, but still no one broke the growing silence. Finally, Tahlia nodded.

“Firstly, I grant permission as long as you do not hurt my child, because if you do, I will have to hunt you down, and we both do not want that to happen.” A red gleam flashed through Tahlia’s dark eyes. She wanted Paloma to know that she meant every word. “Secondly, it will not always be easy for me to see you with Inger, and I might react negatively at times. Bear with me. I will inform Jemima about your wish to court Inger. Allow her the opportunity to act and react like a mother. She loves Inger very much and might have misgivings about a union between the two of you.”

Paloma nodded and stepped closer. She touched her right hand to Tahlia’s chest, right over her heart and Tahlia’s eyes widened. The Old World gesture reaffirmed a deep binding promise. The last time such a promise was made between them was when they were still children and they vowed always to be there for one other.

“I promise to look after her always and to love her for as long as I draw breath.” Paloma’s voice broke and the silver eyes faltered. “I love her, Tahlia. I love her more than anything in this world.”

Touched by the heartfelt declaration, Tahlia stepped back.

†

Inger lifted her face to allow the water to caress it. Her thoughts were on the night’s events, and she gingerly touched the spot where the vampire had pricked her skin. There was only smooth skin now, but still a shudder ran through her body. This was the closest she’d ever come to death. She rested her forehead against the warm tiles. Tonight she had stared death in the eyes and it scared her. It had terrified her, to be honest. When she’d looked into the eyes of the renegade, one thought crossed her mind. She’d realized that she was too young to die. There was still so much she wanted to do. So many things she wanted to experience. Things like love. She wanted someone she could go home to, just like her mothers. The love they shared is what she aspired to. Cool silver eyes flashed through her mind and she exhaled noisily.

As much as she was attracted to Paloma, she doubted if the vampire would want to settle with a girl. Paloma appeared so controlled and sophisticated. She didn’t fit the part of a player, but she also didn’t look like she was ready to commit to an exclusive relationship. Hell, the woman was gorgeous and sexy and could have any woman she wanted. Growing up around female vampires, she was awed by their seductive powers. Paloma was like them, but so much more. Maybe it was time to move on before she got in way too deep. She wondered if it were possible to have your heart broken before you’ve actually fallen in love. She reached for the towel. With it wrapped around her, she strolled into her bedroom only to come to a quick stop. Sitting on her bed was Paloma, her silver eyes looking calm but intense.

“Your mother let me in, but if I had known you were in the shower, I would have waited a while longer.”

Inger clutched the towel tighter to her as she stared at the other woman. Paloma was sitting stiffly on the bed. Her large hands rested in her lap. She looked both beautiful and dangerous. Inger gave herself a mental shake and walked deeper into the room. Her thoughts were going down a really dangerous path.

“If my mother let you in, she must’ve had a good reason.”

They were alone in her bedroom and just the thought of having this sexy, dangerous woman in such close quarters made her heart race. It made her act stupid, too. Without any further thought, she turned her back to Paloma and dropped the towel. The moment the towel hit the floor, she regretted her rashness. But it was too late. What’s done is done. Secretly she was glad for all the hours she’d spent in the gym over the past four years. Her body was firm and evenly muscled.

She heard Paloma suck in her breath and grinned slyly. Her action might’ve been impulsive, but it seemed not have been in vain. When she turned to face the vampire she found the silver eyes roaming hungrily over her body, moving from her long legs up to her face. When they made eye contact, Paloma’s eyes were translucent with desire.

Inger felt the heat pooling between her legs at the raw lust in Paloma’s eyes. A heavy compulsion ushered her towards Paloma, and her legs carried her slowly towards the bed. She shrieked when Paloma’s hand shot out and pulled her onto the lap of the vampire. Her eyes widened in shock when she felt a cool hand cupping her twitching mound.

Inger gasped at the intimate touch, her eyes fixed on the large hand covering her naked sex. This was unexpected, too fast, and so unbelievably erotic. The hand was lifted slowly and Inger stared in total fascination at the slickness coating the vampire’s strong fingers.

“You need to put on clothes before I forget my honor and ravish you.” Paloma’s voice came out muffled as she pressed her lips against Inger’s cheek. She slowly loosened her grip. “I have not been with anyone for over 500 years.”

Swallowing hard, Inger nodded and scrambled off Paloma’s lap. She rushed over to where the towel lay. Whatever made me think that I would be able to handle Paloma? For the second time that night she felt close to being gobbled up by a vampire. With the towel wrapped tightly around her body, Inger slowly turned to look at Paloma. This time the vampire was looking at her with such a heart-numbingly sad look. The look lasted only a second before the silver eyes again went blank.

“I am not one of those women with whom you can flirt and have a hasty romp in the backseat of your car,” Paloma said in a harsh tone. In one fluid movement she was on her feet and walking slowly towards her. “I have lived long enough to know when I want something, and I have also learned not to look a gift horse in the mouth. When I am presented with the opportunity to take what I want, I take it.”

Inger shivered when Paloma touched her naked shoulder and a strong electric current ran from her shoulder to settle in the pit of her stomach.

“Unless you want what I want, do not ever try to do what you did tonight. I will seduce you and take you to my bed. And when I am done with you, you will never be able to look at another woman again, because your body will crave my touch. And my touch only.”

With a final look at Inger’s exposed legs, Paloma stepped back.

“Hurry up and get dressed. The others are waiting for us in the boardroom.” She walked to the door and let herself out.

Still shivering, Inger stared at the closed door for a few seconds before she fled to the bathroom and closed the door firmly behind her.

†

Paloma could feel Tahlia’s eyes following her as she crossed the boardroom to take a seat at the table. On the way to the boardroom she had bumped into Rafina which explained the mugs of steaming coffee on the table. The subtle taste of Inger’s ill-concealed fear was still lingering in her mouth and she was glad for the coffee to mask the taste. Looking up she found Tahlia staring at her with unblinking eyes. Jemima stood a few feet away chatting to Michael while Pierre was sitting quietly, looking deep into his cup of coffee. The sight worried her. He worried her.

Pierre’s loneliness was almost tangible. Genevieve had disappeared while Paloma was still underground, but biting Gillian had brought Paloma up to speed with almost all the events she had missed over the past 500 years. Losing Genevieve was devastating. That was probably the most difficult news she had to process when she’d sifted through Gillian’s memories. She had known Genevieve very well. The sweet, petite redhead had a heart of gold.

While she and the Royal Vampires had crisscrossed the globe fighting and killing, Genevieve was the one they all came home to. She reminded them never to let go of their humanity and to distance themselves from their kills. She was Pierre’s life, and for him to have survived four hundred years without her—without a mate—was due greatly to his stout sense of duty. He knew he was needed, and that was the only reason he hadn’t yet walked into the dawn.

The door to the boardroom opened and Inger stepped inside. As if on cue, all the others took their seats. Ever the doting mother, Jemima pushed a mug into Inger’s hand. Everyone in the room could feel the waves of comfort that came from Jemima. Inger smiled weakly at her mom before scanning all the room’s occupants. When their eyes met, Paloma sensed the apprehension the young woman was trying hard to hide. Paloma picked up her cup and took a long swallow of the bitter brew to hide the grimace that came to her lips.

Having filled in the others of what had happened earlier, Tahlia turned to Paloma. “What did you find out about the slayers and their vampire?”

Paloma gently placed her cup down. “It is not good. The vampire we killed tonight was the son of Columbus Mercredi, the founder of the Servants of Redemption. Drake turned both Mercredi and his son. Acting on Drake’s counsel they managed to capture a vampire to serve as a blood cow.” She saw the looked of shock and horror on Joan’s face.

“How did they capture him?” Paloma saw Jonas reach out and take Joan’s hand.

“Her. It is a vampiress. I have no idea, but I know they are holding her somewhere in Italy. We will never know how many others she was forced to create.” Paloma looked from Tahlia to Jonas and then to Pierre.  “We will have to find and destroy her.”

Even after centuries of hunting and killing their kind, it had never become easy, but it needed to be done. The three Royal Vampires nodded curtly. They would have to do it together. The others in the room must have sensed the weight of the four master vampires’ decision and remained silent. Tahlia broke the silence.

“Now that we have destroyed his heir, Mercredi will be coming for us. I left one human alive to take a message to whoever they report to.”

Michael cleared his throat softly. “We can use that to our advantage.”

“How?” Inger asked. She had been quiet until now, only sipping from her mug and throwing nervous glances Paloma’s way.

“If Mercredi comes, there is a good chance that he will bring the vampiress with him. We will have home ground advantage and can organize an operation here.”

“Why are they are keeping her alive?” Inger asked, not lifting her eyes from her mug.

“After centuries of killing innocents, a vampire’s blood becomes diluted with every kill and they begin to lose some of their powers,” Paloma explained. “One such power is the ability to shape shift to and from the human form. The vampire will also have trouble blending in with the shadows as he will be followed everywhere by a hideous demonic stench warning humans of his presence, thus robbing them of sustenance.”

The room was quiet after she answered. Paloma turned to look at Inger and found her looking back. The blue eyes held a look of stark horror. Paloma quickly turned away, not wanting to see the fear in Inger’s eyes again.

“A vampire such as the creature we destroyed today will need the fresh blood of another powerful vampire to revive, albeit temporarily, its failing powers. Mercredi must have found a vampiress of pure heart.” There was a small silence. “One of ours.”

Frowning suddenly, Jonas sat up straight. “The only vampiress I knew who would fit that description is…was…” His voice trailed off, but Paloma knew exactly what he was going to say.

All the eyes in the room sought out Pierre’s. He shook his head.

“I have questioned each and every servant in the household more times than I can remember about that night. They all remember seeing her being staked through the heart and left to die in the flames.” His blue eyes were almost pale with anguish as he relived the memory. “If…if she were alive she would have contacted me.”

Tahlia nodded. “Pierre has a point. We stick to our original plan. We lure Mercredi here and free the vampiress.”

The three Royal Vampires came to their feet and left the room with the rest following in their wake.

†

Inger was the last to leave the boardroom. As soon as she stepped through the door, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She knew who it was before she turned to face her. It was quite late already and she wasn’t sure if she was up for another mentally draining round with Paloma. The reason she left the boardroom last was to avoid meeting with her.

“Could we talk, please?”

Inger looked at the grandfather clock in the lounge. It was late and she was tired. Nor did she want to talk to Paloma while she still felt uneasy about what happened earlier in her bedroom. She shook her head slowly and saw the silver eyes darken.

“I can hardly keep my eyes open. Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

Paloma stepped back. “Yes, you must be very tired. I will see you tomorrow.”

With a gentle smile, Paloma walked over to where the other vampires stood talking to the Consortium members. Inger was about to leave when she overheard Michael talking.

“We’ve had successful trials to date. Of all ten vampires we’ve injected with the serum, all of them have been able to walk about during daylight hours.” Intrigued, she stepped closer, but a stern glare from Tahlia made her blush at being caught eavesdropping. She was still a junior member of the Consortium and was not privy to most of the issues discussed. Her direct involvement in the evening’s earlier event was the only reason she was allowed to sit in on this meeting.

<This is not for your ears, Inger.>

She quickly turned and left the lounge. At the door she turned to look back and felt the air explode out of her lungs. Paloma was staring at her with an intense expression of longing, but she quickly averted her eyes and turned back to listen to Michael.

†

After Michael and Joan left, accompanied by Jonas, Juan, and Pierre, Jemima came to sit next to Tahlia where she and Paloma were sipping their coffee. Paloma felt a pang of envy when she saw the possessive way Tahlia looked at Jemima. Examining Jemima, she too would’ve looked at Jemima that way.

Dressed in black pants and a tight-fitting white shirt that clung to her curves, Jemima looked gorgeous. Paloma was taken back to the year 29 BC, when she’d stumbled upon Tahlia and a young woman in one of the animal fodder sheds. Tahlia’s mother, Grinolde, was worried when her daughter hadn’t returned home in time for the noon meal and had sent her out to look for Tahlia. After having looked everywhere possible she’d turned, in desperation, to the royal fodder sheds situated near the walls of the Emperor’s castle.

The first stall was empty, and she had impatiently pushed open the door to the second stall only to be brought up short. There in the thick fresh hay, she’d found Tahlia with her head buried between the legs of a beautiful blonde girl with vivid blue eyes. Shocked by the intrusion, the pair had jumped up and hastily pulled on their clothing. Catching them in the act had shocked Paloma, but not too much. She had suspected for quite a while that Tahlia, despite her unbelievably good looks, was attracted to girls. She was always found in the presence of a beautiful girl or two. But seeing her like that with another woman had rattled her. Mainly because she too had been suppressing her attraction to women for the past few years. Yet, here was Tahlia fearlessly living out her life.

When she had shifted her gaze back to the girl, she’d felt her blood run cold. It was Aurora, the most untouchable woman in the whole realm and Caesar’s goddaughter. What did Tahlia get herself into this time? She could get her head chopped off for what she was doing with the noblewoman. And then it struck her that the girl was staring at Tahlia with absolute adoration in her beautiful blue eyes. Exactly like Jemima was looking at Tahlia now.

“You seem to be far away, Paloma,” Jemima noted, snapping Paloma out of her reverie. Grinning, Paloma lifted her mug to her lips. “I was thinking about the first time I saw you. Nearly two thousand years ago.”

A black eyebrow curved upwards and Tahlia placed her mug on the coffee table. Her black eyes held a subtle warning. Jemima, on the other hand, had a mischievous smile.

“Do tell.” Jemima took her lover’s hand in hers and squeezed it until Tahlia’s piercing gaze moved away from Paloma and the black eyes focused on her. “Tell me everything. It’s good to have someone whom I can quiz about Tahlia’s younger years.”

Paloma cradled the mug in her hands for a few seconds before she began. “What I remember from that day was the way you looked at Tahlia.” She took a sip from her mug. “You looked at her the same way you were looking at her just now.”

“How?” Jemima asked softly, stroking Tahlia’s strong hand.

“Like she was the only reason you existed.”

Jemima lifted Tahlia’s hand to her lips and kissed it tenderly. “She is the reason I exist.”

She turned to look deeply into her lover’s eyes. ”What do you say, baby?” Jemima asked with a sultry smile.

Paloma’s eyebrows shot up upon hearing the endearment. The next moment she blinked at the reaction the endearment had on Tahlia. The dark woman grinned as she came to her feet.

“I think we will turn in for the night. You are free to sleep over if you like,” she said, not even looking at Paloma. Uttering a hasty “night,” Jemima hurried after Tahlia.

The minute they were out of sight, Paloma sighed deeply and placed her mug on the table. She knew what activities the remainder of the night held for the amorous couple. Loneliness crept up from her heart to her throat where it almost choked her.

<Go to her.>

Paloma’s head snapped up. It was Tahlia’s voice. Paloma hesitated. Inger was scared of her and would surely kick her out of her room.

<I know my daughter. Go now.>

Paloma came to her feet and slowly made her way up the stairs.

Chapter Six

Inger sat up in bed when her bedroom door opened softly and closed with a soft click. The now familiar buzzing in the air caused her to tense up. What was Paloma doing in her room? She leaned over to flick on the light, but Paloma’s voice stopped her hand mid-air.

“No … please.”

She slowly lay back, pulling the sheet up to her chin. Making out the dark shape moving closer, Inger held her breath as she felt a weight settle on the bed.

“I do not want to see the fear in your eyes when you look at me. It makes…it makes me feel like a monster.”

After Paloma spoke, a deafening silence filled the room.

Unconsciously, Inger rubbed the spot over her heart. Her heart ached at the sadness she’d heard in Paloma’s voice and the crushing waves of loneliness radiating from the vampire.  Compassion winning out, she sat up again and gently groped in the darkness until she found Paloma’s hand. She felt it tremble slightly as she slowly lifted it to her lips. She heard Paloma gasp when her warm lips touched the cool skin of her palm.

“You’re not a monster,” she said gently. She recalled the intense longing she had seen in Paloma’s eyes earlier that night. Inger gently tugged on the hand and felt Paloma’s resistance. “I’m…I’m sure you know why I fear you?” She once again tugged on Paloma’s hand. The invitation was clear, and she wished the light were on so she could see Paloma’s eyes. She felt the vampire carefully trying to pull away from her, so she tightened her hold.

“Do you know what you are asking of me?” She could hear the dread in Paloma’s voice.

“Yes.” She tugged on the hand again. “Let me hold you for a while. Let me help you keep the loneliness away, even if it’s just for a few hours.”

There was complete silence for a few seconds and she gave a sigh of relief when she felt Paloma budge. Paloma’s hand starting to tremble again and Inger pulled her closer still as she made space on the bed next to her. Paloma reached down and Inger heard the sound of a zipper as Paloma took off her boots. She gently stroked Paloma’s back, feeling a tremor run down the strong body. For the first time since meeting her, Inger saw beyond the powerful creature that was Paloma and sensed the hope at what she was offering. Even after Paloma had removed her shoes, she remained seated on the edge of the bed, now visibly shaking. Inger gently coaxed the vampire into her arms like one would a frightened animal.

“Lie down and let me hold you.”

Paloma slowly eased onto the bed. Encircling her waist with strong arms, Inger pulled her tightly against her warm body, spooning her. They lay like that in silence, with Inger gently cradling the quivering body to hers. After a while, when Paloma’s shaking worsened, Inger gently turned Paloma over onto her back. A soft keening sound escaped Paloma’s lips and Inger felt her heart constrict. Humbled, that this strong woman allowed her to see her in this state, Inger pulled her closer again and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

“Oh, Paloma...” She gently held the vampire until the shaking stopped and she lay quietly in her arms. She didn’t loosen her hold, but held her tighter still. She could feel the sadness of the vampire pounding through her, and she brushed a soft kiss over the wet cheek. “I’ve got you. It’s going to be okay.”

†

No one had ever seen her so vulnerable before, not even Tahlia, yet Paloma didn’t feel self-conscious. It just felt right. This was her woman, and she was going to do everything in her power to claim her as such. With her face buried in the young woman’s neck, Paloma heard the warm blood rushing though Inger’s veins, but she was quickly distracted by her soft feminine scent. She smelled of hope and for the first time in 2000 years, Paloma felt at peace. Finally, her demons were gone. Thanks to the gentle touch of a 20 year old human girl. Maybe one day she will tell Inger about Lucia.

Inger’s hand continued to caress her back, and Paloma had to fight the urge to hum in pleasure. If my enemies should see me like this, my reputation would certainly be severely dented. The hand suddenly stopped, and Paloma stiffened. Oh, no…what now? Did I say it out loud?

“I want to see your face, Paloma. Is it okay if I switch on the lamp?”

Scared that Inger will see the shadows in her eyes, Paloma wanted to say no, but instead she found herself nodding ‘yes’.

Inger had to lean over her to reach the switch, and the action brought her breasts close to Paloma’s face. The soft, heady fragrance of Inger enveloped her, causing a slow heat to pulse to life in her lower region. Paloma swallowed hard. With her enhanced sight she could see through Inger’s pajama top, to the soft globes dangling just within reach of her mouth. If she lifted her head a fraction, she’d be able to brush them with her lips. Just then the light flicked on and Paloma looked up into Inger’s eyes. She felt a warm glow settle in her heart at the genuine concern she saw in the blue eyes. It was a far cry from the panic of earlier. She hoped never to see that look in Inger’s eyes again.

Inger touched her fingertip to the dried red streaks on Paloma’s cheeks and Paloma quickly closed her eyes to hide the terror in her own eyes. Will Inger be spooked by the blood tears and eventually decide that she was truly a monster who had no business being in her bed?

“You are not a monster.” The words spoken so softly made Paloma’s eyes fly open. Inger was staring down at her with a soft look in her eyes. “You are a spectacular woman. Don’t ever think of yourself as a monster again.” Inger bent her head, and Paloma’s heart skipped a beat when she felt lips gently brush over hers. Inger lifted her head and gazed into Paloma eyes. The look was intense. With shock, Paloma recognized the expression in the blue eyes. Inger desired her!

Paloma felt Inger’s pulse speed up as Inger again lowered her lips to hers. This time the kiss lasted longer. Inger cradled Paloma’s head in both hands as she explored Paloma’s mouth with a deep, probing kiss. Not wanting to interrupt this magical moment, Paloma simply lay there, allowing Inger to taste her. Inger lifted her head and Paloma inhaled sharply at the hunger she saw in the blue eyes.

“You see now,” Inger murmured softly, “you are not a monster. Instead I turned out to be the big bad wolf seducing you.”

Paloma reached out and traced Inger’s lips with a fingertip. “You are so beautiful, Inger.” Her eyes moved up from the soft lips to Inger’s eyes. “I adore your kisses. May I beg you for more?”

Inger smiled sweetly before planting a trail of small kisses everywhere on Paloma’s face until she reached her mouth. This time Paloma didn’t remain motionless. Her hand moved up to where Inger’s full breasts brushed against her chest. Breaking the kiss, she caught a hardened nipple between her fingertips, and to Inger’s delight, gently rolled it.

“Oh…yessss…” With that soft murmur, Inger crushed Paloma’s restraint and her hand dived under the covers. She heard Inger gasp when Paloma touched her gently between her legs. She captured Inger lips in a deep kiss.

“I will stop if you want me to, cara.” She pulled away, their lips barely touching and looked deep into Inger’s eyes. “Do you want me to continue?”

Without a word, Inger rolled onto her back. The invitation was obvious. Paloma’s love for this young woman filled her chest, threatening to rupture her overflowing heart. She gently wrapped her arms around Inger and squeezed her sweetly. I love you. I love you.  I love you, she chanted silently.

After almost 500 years of acute loneliness, Paloma had trouble trying not to rush Inger as she quickly flicked open the buttons on Inger’s silk pajama top. When the material fell away, two beautiful rounded breasts with dark nipples were exposed to her hungry gaze. Groaning her appreciation, Paloma stared at the rich bounty for a few moments before latching onto a dark nipple. At the same time her hand slipped into the pajama pants. She smiled inwardly when she found Inger wet. She slowly circled Inger’s throbbing clitoris with her fingertip, all the while sucking delicately on her nipple.

†

Inger’s head was spinning from pleasure. She never doubted for a minute that Paloma would be a great lover, but experiencing it firsthand left her breathless. She gasped when she felt Paloma pinching her nub, making her feverishly buck her hips.

“Easy, my angel, I do not want this to end too quickly,” Paloma whispered around a hard nipple. She smoothly pushed two fingers deep inside her, making her jerk upright. The sliding motion started off slowly, but escalated steadily the louder she became. Inger heard a gasping sound and was pleasantly surprised to find that it came from Paloma.

The blonde head lifted from her breast. Silver eyes held hers captive while agile fingers stroked deeply within her. Inger reached up and pulled Paloma into a hungry kiss. Paloma’s tongue slipped into her mouth, and Inger groaned at the expert way Paloma sucked on her tongue.

Inger wrenched her mouth away, ending the kiss. “I can’t wait any longer, Paloma.”

“Then show me how much you have enjoyed my touch,” Paloma whispered huskily.

Inger felt her body starting to shake as she sensed a heat wave rushing from the deepest recess of her body, roaring towards the throbbing place between her quivering thighs. She pressed her head into the pillow.

“I’m coming…Oh my…Ohhhhh…”

Her whole body shuddered violently as the quickly building pressure gave way to tiny flames of pleasure, swimming through her bloodstream. It teased her nerve endings, searing her body from the inside out. Paloma pressed deeper and a hoarse cry of acute pleasure escaped her lips. She clutched Paloma to her as her hips rocked wildly. The next moment everything went black.

When, after a few minutes, she opened her eyes, she encountered velvety silver eyes gazing down at her. Licking dry lips, Inger lifted a hand to touch Paloma’s cheek, but her hand limply fell back on the bed. She was completely drained. Inger exhaled noisily. That was the longest and most powerful orgasm she had ever had. She absently wondered what the health implications would be if she had more than one of these every night—forever.

Paloma pulled her into her arms, kissing her cheek. “Sleep, cara. If you wish I can visit you again tomorrow night.”

Inger picked up on the hopeful note in Paloma’s voice. She nodded weakly. “It’s a date.”

Smiling, Paloma gave her a soft kiss before she rolled out of bed. Inger watched languidly as Paloma pulled the sheet over her and reached for the light switch.

“One last kiss,” she gasped, still slightly out of breath from her powerful orgasm.

This time she held out her arms and Paloma moved into them. They shared a tender kiss before Paloma loosened Inger’s grip around her neck and tucked her in again. Her eyes fluttered closed as she distantly heard the soft click when Paloma left the room.

Chapter Seven

Tahlia felt her fangs lengthening, but she bit down hard to retract them. Slowly she walked over to the crude wooden table that stood in the corner of the room and picked up a piece of cloth to wipe her face. Without turning around she spoke.

“I am not usually one to give in to violence easily, but I need to warn you that if you ever spit in my face or at any other part of my person again, you will live to regret it.” Dropping the cloth she turned to look at the man who was chained to the wall. “We have countless ways to make vermin like you talk, and we will not hesitate to employ such methods. But first we want to give you the option of volunteering the information we need. What we will do in turn for you is to let you go free. Of course, a few terms and conditions will apply.”

She came to stand in front him. This time she moved out of the way fast enough before the ball of spit could touch her. With a deep unearthly growl Tahlia’s hand shot out and clamped around the man’s throat. She tightened her hold, lifting him off the floor, straining the thick chains holding him prisoner.

“No, Tahlia. That is exactly what he wants,” Jonas said coolly from behind her. After a moment’s hesitation, Tahlia loosened her grip and took a step back. Her eyes burned with blood red rage before they slowly shaded to their customary black depths.

“You are right.”

Paloma stepped out of the shadows and the captive’s eyes filled with hatred. “You will not get anything from me,” he spat out and Paloma shrugged.

“If you say so.” Her voice was calm. She stepped closer to the man and grabbed his head between her two hands. “Let me give you an idea of the kind of people we are and then we will see if you still refuse to talk to us.” Her eyes glowed a deep-red as she planted the bloodiest battle scenes from their past into his mind.

At first the captive showed no emotion as the violent scenes flashed through his mind. After a few minutes beads of sweat formed on his forehead. A little while later, his body became tense and he began to shake as he tried to block the images of death and carnage. Spittle ran down from the corners of his mouth, and his eyes rolled back as he passed out.

Paloma turned to Jonas and Tahlia. “He will be out for a few minutes. Once he regains consciousness the scenes will continue to haunt him. I will stay with him until he talks.”

“Tell me again why we cannot just bite him to get the information?” Tahlia asked in a cold voice as she looked at the man with contempt.

“Joan warned us that this group in particular experiments with drugs and other debilitating compounds, which could be fatal to our kind.” Paloma walked over to the unconscious man, turning his head from side to side as she studied his neck and face. “Maybe they inject their spies with these drugs knowing that we would think first to bite them.”

The gate to the dungeon creaked open and Michael, followed by Pierre and Juan, stepped in.

“I just got some good news from the laboratory. The drug is ready. All we need now is to find a suitable volunteer.”

A sound came from the side of the room where the slayer was chained. The minute the man opened his eyes and saw Paloma he quickly closed them, but that didn’t stop the relentless sequence of carnage that flashed through his mind. It took only a few minutes before the man caved in. To make sure that he knew they meant business, Paloma didn’t cut the stream of carnage immediately.

“I will talk. I will…talk.”

“Good.” Probing his mind quickly, Paloma erased the thoughts she had planted. Jonas and Pierre stepped closer to take over, and Paloma moved to stand next to Michael.

“I will do it, but I want the drug to be administered tonight.”

Michael turned to Tahlia, but Tahlia’s gaze was on Paloma.

“Are you sure you want to do this? The drug has not been tested on an ancient before. It might have crippling side-effects.”

“Yes, I am completely sure that I want to do this,” Paloma said without hesitation. She watched as Tahlia stepped closer. “I want to do this, Tahlia. After her kidnapping I do not trust anyone but myself to guard her.”

Tahlia smiled at her. “I will always be indebted to you for doing this.”

The silver eyes warmed considerately, but she didn’t say anything.

“We have samples upstairs in the laboratory. Dr. Lorraine Carter will administer the drug. If you’re ready, you can follow me.”

†

Inger felt stupid for having gone through all this trouble and not have Paloma show up. She looked down at herself and grimaced. She’d called in sick for class and had stayed at the mansion the whole day, wanting to be close to Paloma who she knew was asleep in one of the underground chambers. After lunch she went shopping with her grandparents. As she was walking past one of the boutiques she’d spied a sexy little black cocktail dress. She rarely wore dresses, but the memory of burning silver eyes made her enter the boutique. She wanted to look beautiful for Paloma, especially when she dropped in later that night.

This morning when she’d awakened, the first thing on her mind was their lovemaking, and she knew they’d never be able to go back to how things were. She was eager to see Paloma after the night they’d had together. The dress was a backup plan to fry the vampire’s circuits once they’d moved past the uncomfortable moment she anticipated at their first post-coital meeting.

But at 4 a.m. there was no sign of Paloma. Swallowing back bitter disappointment, Inger sat down heavily on the bed. Slowly, she took off her earrings. There was a soft knock on the door.

<It’s me. May I come in?>

<Yes, Mom.>

Jemima materialized in front of her and took a seat next to her on the bed. Wide blue eyes took in her appearance.

“You look beautiful, Inger. I haven’t seen you in a dress in a very long time. I believe the last time was on your prom night.”

She gave Jemima a weak smile. “I just felt like wearing one today. By the way, Grandpa insisted that I buy it.”

She felt Jemima’s gaze on her and looked up into pensive blue eyes.

“She will come. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that Paloma is crazy about you.” She smiled when she saw Inger’s shocked face. “I know that you like her, too. Your mother told me, and I asked Paloma herself a few days ago.”

Inger smiled weakly. “Yes, but I doubt if anything will come of it.” Inger reached up to unclasp the string of pearls. “If Paloma were really as crazy about me as you say, she would’ve been here already.” Jemima reached out and stilled her hands.

“Why do you say that?”

“She asked to see me tonight, but she still hasn’t shown up. We…we…”

“I know. You made love last night,” Jemima said quietly and Inger’s eyes widened.

“How…we…” She closed her mouth and a dark red stain crept up her throat.

“When you were younger both Tahlia and I took some of your blood. That way we knew exactly where you were every minute of the day, and it also enabled us to communicate with you mentally. We can feel what you feel at any given moment—fear, pleasure, anger. We usually block out most of it to grant you privacy, but some of the feelings are very strong and cannot be discarded. Last night was one such example. We blocked it, but we knew what was happening.”

Good heavens, both her mothers knew she was having sex last night! They surely experienced the powerful orgasm she had, too. This means they also must’ve felt the butterflies in her stomach whenever Paloma was in the vicinity.

“You needn’t feel ashamed at all, my child. What happened between the two of you is an act of love. As strong and powerful as Paloma is, she would not provoke the wrath of your mother for a fling. Tahlia would never allow that.” She gently lifted Inger’s chin and looked searchingly into her eyes. “There really isn't much difference between your mother and Paloma. Both are honorable, passionate, and loyal. Believe me, child, Paloma will show.”

“I hope you’re right, Mom, because right now I feel like an idiot for dressing up and being stood up.”

Tenderly kissing Inger’s brow, Jemima came to her feet.

“Sleep tight, my love. Your mother has just arrived, and I’m sure Paloma is not far behind.” She disappeared in a cloud of mist.

Inger had walked to the bathroom to wipe off her make-up and change into her pajamas when the bathroom door opened softly. She heard the faint buzzing and turned away from the mirror. There in the doorway stood Paloma, beautiful, sexy, and sheepish-looking. The silver eyes were unusually bright as they moved over her body and Inger felt her anger and disappointment evaporate. They stood looking at each other for a few seconds before Paloma broke the silence.

“I am sorry for being late, cara.” She brought her hand from behind her back and Inger stared at the single red rose. “We were kept longer than we anticipated, but I rushed over as soon I could.” She held out the rose.

“Thank you. It’s beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as you. Nothing compares to you, you know?” Smiling, Inger looked up at Paloma. The silver eyes were serious, and, looking closer, Inger saw the dark shadows underneath.

“You look tired.”

“It was a busy night.” The silver eyes slowly traveled over her again, lingering on her long exposed legs and then back to her blue eyes. “You look beautiful. I love the dress.”

They looked at each other once again, but this time Paloma stepped closer and pressed her lips against Inger’s. “I have missed you a lot.”

Inger placed her hand against Paloma’s cheek. “I missed you, too.”

Paloma took Inger in her arms and kissed her gently. When they came up for air, Inger took Paloma’s hand and led her to the bedroom.

“You really look exhausted. Let me hold you for a while.”

Arm in arm they left the bathroom. Inger was vaguely puzzled by how heavily Paloma leaned on her, but remembering how tired the vampire looked, she discarded the thought. They were but a few feet away from the bed when Paloma’s knees suddenly buckled and she crashed to the floor. The sliver eyes were almost white as they lifted to look at her. Inger fell to her knees next to Paloma.

“Paloma! What’s wrong, Paloma?” Her voice was laced with panic as she gently stroked her lover’s clammy forehead with a trembling hand. Paloma reached out to touch her face, but halfway through the action the silver eyes rolled back in their sockets and the hand dropped limply.

Inger rushed to the door and down the hallway to her parents’ bedroom, descending the stairs to their underground chamber. Tahlia and Jemima stood in each other’s arms. She vaguely remembered that she was mentally linked with her parents and she could’ve summoned them from her room.

“Mom, something’s wrong with Paloma. She…she just passed out.” Not waiting for a reply, she rushed back to her room only to find both her parents there already. Paloma was lying on the bed, her beautiful face pale and beads of sweat forming on her upper-lip.

“What’s wrong with her, Mother? Is she injured?”

Tahlia took Inger’s hand and led her away from the bed.

“She will be fine. She just needs to rest well tonight.”

Looking frantically between the bed where Paloma was lying and Tahlia, Inger shook her head. “There’s something you're not telling me. What happened to Paloma?” Inger now shook like a leaf. “Please, tell me what's wrong with her?”

Tahlia pulled her closer.

“Paloma will be fine. Will you watch over her? I will carry her to her underground chamber.” Inger saw the genuine worry in Tahlia’s black eyes, and Inger looked towards Jemima, who was gently brushing a stray tendril from Paloma’s forehead. “Dawn will be upon us soon. Let’s get to work.”

Inger watched as Tahlia tenderly tucked Paloma in. She had to take the stairs down to the chamber, but her parents transported to the underground chamber. Dawn was about to break. She sensed its approach by the sluggish movements of her parents, but she also knew that they would not leave her until she was comfortable before giving in to their daylight sleep. If need be they would stay awake. She had seen them move around during the daylight hours on a few occasions. Tahlia turned to her, and her eyes were sunken deep in their sockets, a sign that she was feeling the rays of the sun and needed to go to ground.

“Call me any time you need me.” Tahlia gently cupped Inger’s cheek. “She will be okay, baby.”

“I will, Mother. I promise.”

Nodding, Tahlia took Jemima’s hand and they kissed her goodnight. Once they left, Inger slowly walked over to the bed and looked down on Paloma’s face. She was very pale, and Inger felt her panic rise. She shrieked in surprise when a hand shot out and pulled her closer. The silver eyes cracked open slowly.

“I will be fine. Do not worry too much.” The husky voice was soft. The silver eyes fluttered closed again, and Inger sat on the bed next to Paloma. She needed to get some sleep, but she would wait a few hours or more to be sure that Paloma was resting comfortably. The chamber was underground so no sunlight would reach down here. It was almost impossible to think that just last night she had been kissing those beautiful lips. Her eyes moved to Paloma’s large hands, and she shuddered lightly. The things those hands had done to her last night. She blushed. Here she was fantasizing about what they had done while Paloma was so obviously ill.

She picked up a cool pale hand and rubbed it between her warm ones. Inger gently nudged Paloma and was surprised to see the silver eyes open briefly. It was already dawn and still Paloma was awake. Maybe she should call her mother. But then her mother would also be asleep right now.

<I am monitoring her vitals from here. She is doing fine now. You should get some sleep, too. I will wake you if she needs you.>

With one final look at Paloma’s pale face, Inger left her bedside and walked to the stairs leading to the upper floor and the bedrooms. At the door she turned again. Will Paloma be okay down here alone? Her eyes swept the room. Except for the large bed in the center of the room, it was barren and impersonal. She looked back at Paloma’s stiff form and a shiver ran down spine. She looked like she was dead.

One day, as a child, Inger had slipped down to her parents’ sleeping chamber during the day and found them both lying on their big bed. When she got closer she was scared by the stiffness of their bodies and the fact that there was no movement coming from their chests. She had rushed back up to her room, hiding in her closet, not knowing what to think. That was when Tahlia’s soft and gentle voice caressed her mind, reassuring her that they were fine. They’d had a very late night, she explained, and were exhausted. An hour later her parents came to her room, and they’d spent a large portion of the night with her, playing games and telling her bedtime stories. She smiled at the memory. She had always been loved.

Looking at Paloma lying there alone made her heart constrict. She was alone. Had been for centuries except for last night when she had lain in her arms. Moving quietly, she eased herself onto the bed and placed her head on the pillow, curling her body around Paloma’s.

“Thank you.” Paloma’s voice was soft, but the immense gratitude in the croaky voice was unmistakable. Her eyes welled up, and she pulled Paloma into her arms and closed her eyes. She was surprised to find herself dozing off almost immediately. Tahlia must have had a hand in it.

<Goodnight, Mother.>

<Goodnight, my angel.>

Chapter Eight

The silver eyes missed nothing, the tiny laugh lines forming around the beautiful mouth and the pout when she slept. She had the overwhelming urge to plant a soft kiss on those luscious lips, but was reluctant to wake the slumbering woman. She had awakened an hour ago and was pleasantly surprised to have found the soft, warm body of Inger curled around hers. This was definitely something she could get used to. She shifted her weight and placed her ear over Inger’s heart. A soft smile curved her lips upwards. She would never tire of hearing the steady sound of Inger’s heartbeat. It was this sound that led her to Inger in the first place.

Realization dawned suddenly. It was the middle of the day and she was awake! The sun was up and she didn’t feel the sleep paralysis that normally kept her prisoner in her own body during the day. She gently untangled herself from Inger’s limbs, and, not using her powers, slowly made her way to the stairs and up into the room above.

Inside the room she stared at the heavy curtains covering the high window. What if the drug didn’t work? She could almost feel the pain inflicted by the sun’s rays. Over the centuries she had experienced that venom countless times.

Giving the curtains one last look, she strode over to the windows, grabbed the thick material in both hands and yanked them apart. She hadn’t seen the sun in its full, shining glory in over 2000 years, and she was going to see it again, even if it meant she would have to endure the pain to appease her curiosity. She gasped when a ray of sunlight burst through, hitting her face. Momentarily stunned by its brilliance, she waited for the pain to register and for the room to fill with the acrid smell of burning flesh. But the pain didn’t come nor did the odor. What she felt instead was warmth caressing her face and a faint burning sensation behind her eyes. But she didn’t close her eyes. She couldn’t, even if she’d wanted to. The sight before her was too overwhelming to even blink. The sky was blue, the exact same color of Inger’s eyes. The blazing sun basked the landscape with its shimmering light. She felt a sudden wetness on her cheek and wiped the tear away.

There was a soft gasp behind her and the next moment Inger pushed past her and yanked the curtains closed, shutting out the sunlight. “What are you doing?” Her voice was shaky and she raked Paloma’s body with sharp blue eyes to determine her injuries. “Were you trying to destroy yourself? Why?”

Paloma smiled gently, her eyes devouring the disheveled beauty standing before her. “No, I was not. You have given me reason to live again.”

Paloma reached behind Inger and pulled the curtains open. This time her gaze was not on the sunlit scenery outside, instead it rested on the beautiful girl standing in front of her. Her raven black hair gleamed under the rays of the sun and her startling blue eyes seemed even bluer in the light of day. Even though they weren’t related biologically, Inger’s appearance eerily resembled both Tahlia and Jemima. She had Tahlia’s dark complexion and Jemima’s almost transparent blue eyes. She was unbelievably beautiful and she was Paloma’s. She had to make sure that Inger knew it too—soon.

Inger was staring at her with an open mouth. She looked adorable with her face pulled into a confused frown. “But…but I thought…”

Paloma bent her head and placed a hard smacking kiss on her lips. “I have volunteered to test the daylight drug and to guard you during the day.”

This time Inger’s scowl held menace. “You did what?” Her voice was calm, but Paloma could hear a steely undertone.

“I volunteered that they test the drug on me.”

Inger stared at her and Paloma found herself backing away slowly. Not out of fear, but because she wanted a better view of this spectacular woman as her anger slowly gained momentum. But she was disappointed. Inger’s initial anger faded quickly, and she merely stared back at her, a strange look in her bright blue eyes.

“You were willing to put your life at risk so that you could guard me during the day?” Inger asked softly, closing the distance between her and Paloma.

Completely confused, Paloma sent out her senses trying to read Inger’s thoughts, but she ran into a strong mental block. Tahlia has taught her well, Paloma thought.

“Yes, I volunteered to look after you, because Gene and Carlos do not stand a chance.”

Inger laughed softly. “Gene and Carlos? Those two are total pushovers. I’ve run circles around them since I was six.”

Paloma raised her eyebrows. Gene and Carlos were over 600 years old and considered ancients, but it is true, they really were no match for the unpredictable Inger. Even hidden in the background, she’d helped them on numerous occasions to keep tabs on a teenaged Inger. Last night she recalled seeing the relief in their eyes when Tahlia informed them that Paloma would head the operation with them as security detail. She fully understood their trepidation. No one would want to have anything happen to the Queen’s beloved daughter on their watch.

“My point exactly. Your mother knew that you would prove to be too much for them.”

Inger took another step closer and this time she was standing so close to Paloma, her breath brushed the vampire’s face.

“What are we going to do while we wait for the day to end and night to fall?” The blue eyes were calm, but the energy was predatory. She was being seduced. Interesting, but not now. The warm rays of the sun were calling out to her, wanting to caress her pale skin.

“If you promise not to laugh, I will tell you.” She gently brushed a stray black lock from Inger’s face. She smiled faintly when Inger nodded eagerly. “I would like to go for a walk in the park. Afterwards you can show me all the sightseeing spots in the city.” She saw the surprise in Inger’s eyes. “What? I have never seen the city in daytime before.”

Inger stared at her for a while; her blue eyes sparkled with merriment. Paloma reached out and touched her cheek gently.

“Maybe later, we can go somewhere where we can be alone. Just the two of us.”

Inger looked at her and Paloma felt the presence of the little minx inside her mind. She didn’t block the gentle intrusion; instead, she cracked open the vault that contained all the erotic dreams and thoughts she’d ever had about her.

Inger blink a few times before a red stain crept up her neck. With a final look into the smoldering, silver eyes, she turned and walked away. At the door she turned to look back at Paloma.

“I will take a quick shower and then we can leave.” Her blue eyes were hooded.

†

A gnarled hand slammed down so hard on the table that all those in the room jumped. Everyone, that is, except the redhead who looked at the man with pure hatred blazing in her green eyes. She could smell the humans’ fear as the same gnarled hand pushed back the cape that covered the man’s face. He was bald with dark veins running over his egg-shaped head. His snake-like eyes, set in a severely wrinkled face, coldly swept the room.

“How could this have happened?” His voice was gruff with emotion. “You promised me that everything was under control, and you would bring me the Assassin’s head on a silver platter. Instead I have lost my son to her.” The eyes hardened further. “My heir.”

Not one of the group of expensively dressed men seated around the table was able to make eye contact with the creature.

“Somebody needs to tell me what went wrong or at least whose fault it was. If I do not have an answer by the end of this meeting, I promise no one will leave this room alive.” The snake-like eyes held icy determination. “I am waiting.”

Tired of the bloodshed after centuries of being in the presence of this…thing, the woman stepped forward. She was the only person in the room who was safe from the pale vampire’s wrath. She stifled a mocked yawn.

“And then what. After you have killed them…what then? Paloma bested you 500 years ago and again this time.” She walked over to stand next to the vampire, her eyes not hiding the contempt she felt for the creature. “She is the ultimate Assassin. She was groomed to kill you and others like you. Your money will not be able to save you this time, Mercredi.”

The vampire’s claws shot out and wrapped around the woman’s slender neck, but she didn’t flinch.

“Hold your tongue, woman, or I will count you among the corpses that will soon litter this room,” the renegade growled. At the creature’s threat, there was an audible gasp from the others in the room.

Disdainfully, the woman lifted her hand and pushed the creature’s hand away. “If you could, you would have killed me centuries ago.” Her voice dripped with hatred. “The humans in this room were corrupted by their own greed, and I do not really give a damn if you slaughter them, but do not try to intimidate me with your false bravado.” She turned her back on him and smiled at the helplessness she felt coming from the renegade. But it only lasted for a few seconds.

“I know exactly where your mate is now. I will bring you his head on a platter for you insolence. You will rue the day you decided to take me on in front of these,” a gnarled hand swept the table before him, “these cattle.” His claws snaked out and he grabbed the man closest to him.

The woman turned away and left the room. Columbus was depraved and he used any chance he got to show her just how deeply. She heard the obscene sucking noise behind her as he drained the human, but she kept on walking. He had kept her prisoner for more than 400 years, threatening to kill her mate. But this time she had caught him in a lie.

About 120 years ago he had told her that her mate was destroyed in battle. Devastated by the news, she had begun to settle into her loathsome life. With Pierre gone, life held no meaning, and every chance she got she baited the vampire, hoping he would forget the vital role she played in his foul existence and kill her. But today he gave her the best news ever. His son, the vile animal, was dead and her beloved Pierre was still alive.

For centuries she had mourned the death of her beautiful blond angel, but tonight she was going to lock herself in her room and try to make contact with him. That’s if he hadn’t severed their mental link believing her dead. But there were others she could contact. Tahlia, Jonas, and Paloma were still alive. She smiled as she made her way to the luxurious set of rooms that had been her prison for the past 400 years. For the first time in four centuries she felt the stirrings of happiness.

†

Jemima gently cradled her, and for once Inger melted into Jemima’s arms. She hugged Jemima closer to her, inhaling the familiar honeysuckle scent of her parent. The love and safety she felt in Jemima’s arms was the same as when she was a child. She snuggled deeper when Jemima’s arms tightened around her. She recalled the conversation she’d had with Tahlia a couple of days ago. How could she ever have doubted Jemima’s love for her? Cradled so tenderly against her mom's chest, she was completely overwhelmed by Jemima’s radiating love.

<What’s bothering you?>

The gentle voice in her mind made Inger smile where she had her head pressed against Jemima’s shoulder.

<I love you, Mom.>

Jemima pulled back to look into her eyes, a highly skeptical look in her sapphire gaze.

“What is it that you want from me this time, Inger? A Porsche, perhaps? Bored with the motorcycle already?”

Inger smiled and placed a gentle kiss on Jemima’s cheek. “I just want you to hold me like you're doing now, Mom.”

Jemima laughed softly and held her close again—careful not to crush her.

<Knowing you, there must be a catch.>

Tahlia’s voice interrupted their mental conversation and was filled with so much love that both Jemima and Inger turned to look at her where she stood, looking out of the window with her back turned to them. Jemima allowed Inger to step from the embrace and walk over to Tahlia. Inger knew Jemima would not mind, as a child she’d moved between them like this, giving them both equal attention. Locked in Tahlia’s strong arms, Inger stole a quick glance Paloma’s way. They were at her grandparents’ house, and Paloma was playing chess with her grandfather.

As per Paloma’s request, their day was spent sightseeing. The silver eyes were wide and sparkled with childlike awe as they walked through the sunny park. A highlight of the day was when Inger showed her how to lure a pigeon closer in order to feed it. The look on Paloma’s face at doing something so mundane was amazing. Inger reveled in Paloma’s enthusiasm, and it was humbling to see how she would stare and point out every day things Inger overlooked. Paloma was especially captivated by the dog parks, but their stay there was brief. The dogs immediately picked up the scent of a predator in their midst and ran to cower behind their humans. Afterwards they went to a small restaurant for lunch. It was there that she’d first sensed Paloma’s amorous intentions. Thus she was completely caught off guard when the playfulness was replaced by long yearning looks. Paloma had quietly sipped on a glass of wine, but still Inger could feel her intense gaze.

She was greatly relieved when Paloma left the table for a while, giving her time to collect her thoughts and get her emotions under control. Their sightseeing was concluded when Paloma was called to the Consortium headquarters for a checkup and tests to evaluate the progression of the drug. It was dark when they returned to the mansion, and she was pleased to find her parents were already there. In their presence, Paloma had kept her distance and instead challenged James to a game of chess. Time and again she would catch the smoldering silver eyes resting on her, as was the case now.

James looked up from the chessboard and found Paloma staring at her, causing Inger to blush. His blue eyes moved across the room to where Rafina was reading a thick paperback novel. She must have felt his eyes on her, because she too looked up and they shared a smile. They rose and walked towards each other.

“We old-timers need our rest unlike you night crawlers.” James turned to look at Paloma.  “You're welcome to sleep over, Paloma. Inger can show you where you can rest.”

Paloma smiled and respectfully came to her feet too. “I wish you both a good night’s rest.”

Chapter Nine

When the door closed behind James and Rafina, Paloma settled her tall frame back into the chair. She was surprised when Jemima immediately came over to sit in the chair that James had vacated. She lifted her head to meet Jemima’s eyes. She wasn’t human and thus wasn’t supposed to feel anxious when confronted by her lover’s mother. Jemima scanned the chessboard quickly and nodded.

“My father was thoroughly outplayed, I see. No wonder he made such a quick and graceful exit.”

“He is one of the best I have ever played against.”

Jemima picked up one of the ivory carved chess pieces, turning it around in her hand, but her eyes were focused on Paloma. “I never got the chance to thank you for volunteering to look after my daughter. She’s very special to Tahlia and me.”

Paloma looked over to where Tahlia and Inger stood arm in arm, gazing out into the night. Yes, Inger was very special indeed. A hazy scene of a gasping mouth and quivering thighs crossed her mind, but she quickly pushed it back before anyone could read her thoughts—especially the woman sitting next to her. When Paloma turned to look at Jemima she was surprised to see the hint of fear in the other woman’s eyes. As a vampire, she, too, was private about feelings, so she didn’t pry. It wasn’t in her nature to do so, either.

“She is very special to me too.”

“I know.”

They sat in silence, looking at each other. Paloma felt a strong ripple of power surge through the room. She was shocked to find that it came from Jemima and not from Tahlia as she’d initially thought. Her eyebrows rose as she looked at the blonde with new respect. For such a young vampire, Jemima was quite powerful. She was a baby at fifty compared to Paloma’s 2000 years. From what Juan had told her, Jemima was completely drained by Drake and had a full blood replacement from Tahlia. That meant that she had inherited the same rich and powerful genetics of Lecrac. She looked at Jemima more closely. Yes, it was there—the subtle power that clung to her. She didn’t carry it like they did but instead hid it behind her soft blue eyes and easy smile.

Tahlia too must have felt the surge of power in the room because Paloma saw her swing around to look at them. Her black eyes rested possessively on Jemima before moving to Paloma, where they sharpened with burning intensity.

“I got the warning,” Paloma said calmly, but with slight amusement. The power display was simply to ensure that Paloma knew that if she hurt her daughter, Jemima was more than capable of taking her on—without Tahlia’s help. Jemima’s lips curved up in a slow, feral smile and with a fluid movement she came to her feet. Paloma couldn’t help but admire the woman as she walked away to join her family. If Inger turned out to be like her mother, she would have to find a hobby to keep herself sane so Inger could have a rest. A low growl in her head cut her thoughts short, and she looked up to find Tahlia’s dark eyes boring into her. Smiling, she shrugged and came to her feet.

“I am going out.” It seemed the family needed time together.

Paloma’s eyes met Inger’s, before the young woman’s eyes shyly roamed over her body. She was definitely interested. It had been pure torture spending the day with Inger and not touching her. Inger had looked so beautiful as she patiently took her through the city, her blue eyes twinkling with amusement as she’d looked on as Paloma tried to take in everything at once. One specific moment stood out. They were feeding the pigeons, and she had turned to look at Inger. Those amazing blue eyes were gazing at her with a pensive look and she was biting down on her lower lip. The surge of desire sparked by that image had left Paloma trembling. Since then it had been impossible for her to think of anything else but making love to Inger. But this time she would not make the first move. She’d been broadcasting her need the whole afternoon only to be snubbed by Inger. Let her take the initiative for a change.

“I will be here at dawn to accompany you to class, Inger.”

She saw the confusion in Inger’s eyes.

“Are you not going to spend the night here?”

She shook her head.

“I have a few places to go and people to see. I might not be done before dawn.”

Inger nodded, but Paloma saw the speculative look in the blue eyes. Yes, my love, I want you to wonder about me. She dissolved and streaked through the open window.

†

Shortly after Paloma’s departure, Inger went to bed, leaving Tahlia and Jemima behind. The minute they were alone, the two lovers melted into each other’s arms, sharing a long, passionate kiss.

“I thought we would never get the chance to be alone, my love,” Jemima gasped with her face pressed into Tahlia’s neck. They’d fed earlier before coming to the mansion, but the smell and heat of Tahlia’s body so close to hers, spiked her blood with desire and called to her ever-present hunger. She contemplated taking a few sips, but then she would miss out on their lustful ritual afterwards. She pulled back and looked into Tahlia’s eyes. Oh, those beautiful black eyes. Tonight they were velvety soft and ablaze with love. My sexy, dangerous…wife. She rolled the word around in her mind. It had a nice ring to it.

“But you still have not made an honest woman out of me yet?” Tahlia’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

Jemima laughed softly. “I will have to rectify that.” Her blue eyes held an enigmatic look, and Tahlia frowned.

Since Jemima had realized her power and had proven to be a great warrior, she’d stopped worrying too much about her safety, but now and then that same mysterious look would come into her eyes and she knew from experience that it meant trouble. The last time she’d had that look was about twelve years ago. Jemima had left the safe house without Tahlia’s knowledge and walked straight into an ambush set for her by a bunch of renegades. Luckily Tahlia had sensed her anxiety and had followed her, only to arrive and find Jemima ripping into the band of renegades. Her explanation for leaving the safe house without protection was because she wanted to surprise Tahlia with flowers because it was their anniversary. Since then Tahlia had come to panic when she saw that look.

Jemima leaned forward and pressed a kiss on the furrowed brows. “You worry too much, my love. I will not do anything irresponsible.” She lifted Tahlia’s hand from where it rested on her hip and placed it on her breast. “Would you like to see the new lingerie I bought?”

There were no meetings planned for the night, nor did they have to worry about Inger roaming the streets. The night suddenly turned into one that Tahlia knew she would remember for centuries to come. She grabbed Jemima close, and, using preternatural speed, rushed them to the basement.

†

Earlier in the day, Paloma had noticed a black van that seemed to appear at almost all the sightseeing spots she and Inger visited. While they were having lunch at the restaurant, she had excused herself without alerting Inger and crept closer to the van. The closer she had come, the more ominous was her feeling. There were three men in the van, and all of them reeked of violence and death. They were members of the Servants of Redemption. They carried the same stench as the guy she captured a few nights ago and the ones they killed in the warehouse. Standing next to the van, she had eavesdropped on their conversation. When nothing of importance was said she made a move to distance herself from the van but was stopped in her tracks. The topic had moved to the vampiress.

“If the boss doesn’t need her anymore, maybe he will allow us to have some fun with her,” one of the men was saying. “She’s quite hot or so I’ve heard.”

“You wish. If he's kept her alive for 400 years, she must be very important to him. What would make him change his mind about her now?”

The first men snorted. “There are so many other vampire chicks running around. When the boss gets here, I’m sure he will re-evaluate the arrangement he has with the redhead.”

The third man laughed.

“You two are crazy if you think Mercredi will replace her. Focus on the human girl instead. She’s quite a looker even though she lacks that dark sensual aura of the bodyguard. I wouldn’t mind banging her silly though.” The other men chuckled, and Paloma made up her mind. The last speaker would die first and the rest would follow. No one would talk like that about Inger and live.

The radio crackled, followed by a harsh voice. “The bodyguard’s no longer at the restaurant.”

At that exact moment she had materialized in the van with them. It had taken the men a moment to sense her presence, but by then it was too late. She had snapped their necks before they got a chance to respond to the man on the radio.

Now she was in the city morgue, standing in a corner cloaked in an invisibility spell. Someone was sure to come and identify the bodies. Once she knew who the person was, she would follow them until she found their hiding place. The place was deserted and quiet except for the beating of the rain on the roof. She had been there for quite a while; still no one had turned up. She had read the state coroner’s mind earlier before sending him home and found that the police were there earlier asking if they had notified any next of kin, but no names were known or persons had come forth.

She had been a hunter long enough to know that Mercredi wouldn’t want the men to be linked to him, and three unclaimed bodies in the morgue mixed with a very suspicious and dedicated detective could spell trouble for his organization. Someone would be sent to get the bodies, and she was waiting for that person.

Although she was no stranger to death, being in a morgue was not comfortable. She quickly turned her thoughts to Inger and found herself smiling. Since having met her, Paloma was surprised by the many times she found herself smiling for no apparent reason. The little minx was good for her old, tired soul. When the drugs had taken action last night and she was near total collapse, she remembered Inger coming to lie next to her, holding her in her arms. It was a great feeling, being taken care of for a change. She had gone to bed alone for so many years, but last night made all those other nights fade into obscurity.

Paloma stiffened suddenly as a slight ripple coursed through the air. Three shapes materialized a few meters from where she stood. Renegades. They went to the cooler containing the bodies of the three men and unceremoniously dragged the bodies out of the freezer.

Outside, she followed them at a safe distance until they entered what looked like a deserted warehouse. At least she knew now where to come back to. She would come back during the day, when no one expects a vampire to attack. She dissolved and made for home. She would spend the night at her place.

†

Inger sat up in bed and scanned the room. The room was cast in semi-darkness but she could see the shadows shifting. She had been hoping for Paloma’s return. Inger was surprised when the vampire announced that she would not be staying over. After the day they had spent together, she assumed that the night would end with them being together. For a brief moment in the park, she had looked at Paloma and realized that there was so much more to Paloma than meets the eye. A small skirmish broke out amongst the pigeons over one of the crumbs with the smaller guy losing. Paloma had distracted the larger pigeons with a handful of crumbs, letting them fight it out while slyly feeding the smaller guy on the side. The act seemed uncommon for someone who was perceived to be so deadly. As their eyes met, Inger recognized the feeling she had struggled with for the past few days whenever the tall vampire was in the vicinity. She was in love! It had made it difficult since then to meet the pale eyes without giving away her feelings. Her parents’ presence helped a lot in soothing her jumbled thoughts, but it only lasted until Paloma announced that she was leaving.

She had come to bed more than four hours ago, and still she couldn’t sleep. Her thoughts were filled with memories of the two of them in this very same bed. All the tossing and turning had helped her make up her mind. The next time she saw the vampire, she was going to seduce her. Peering into the dark corners of her room, it seemed her plan of seduction was going to be activated sooner than she thought.

“Come to me.” Her voice sounded loud in the quiet of the room. But still there was no movement. “I know you’re there. Come.”

For a few seconds there was still no movement, but then a figure disentangled itself from the shadows and stepped forward. Inger reached over and switched on the bedside lamp. The silver eyes burned into hers.

“How did you know I was here?”

Inger pulled back the covers and patted the empty space next to her in bold invitation. “I sensed your presence.”

When Paloma still didn’t make a move towards the bed, Inger laughed softly. “What? Don’t tell me you're scared of getting into bed with me? Is Paloma Soleil, the legendary Royal Vampire Assassin, scared of getting into a bed with a mere human?” She fell back against her pillow and her hands went to the buttons on her pajama shirt.

Paloma stepped forward quickly and stilled her hands.

“I wanted to come see you one last time before I went home.” Paloma’s voice sounded strangled and Inger rejoiced in the power she had over this dangerous woman. She relived the last time Paloma made love to her. Her strong, yet gentle hands holding her in place while she was plundering her body, her soft husky voice mumbling to her in Italian, her hot tongue in her mouth, her persistent fingers down there.

Her blood was on fire as she flung the top aside and slowly lifted her hands to cup her breasts. Her nipples hardened immediately, and she grinned when she heard a soft gasp coming from Paloma. Paloma bent over her, her lips slowly descending towards one of her nipples. Inger groaned when she felt the hot mouth clasp over her. Paloma’s tongue licked the rough surface of her nipple and Inger arched her back off the bed, groaning softly.

“Stay with me tonight, Paloma. I just want to feel your touch one last time.”

Paloma lifted her head. “What are you talking about, ‘one last time’? I will never get enough of you.” She pressed her lips against Inger’s parted lips. “I plan on claiming you as my woman, my life partner, and if I have to wait decades for you to be reincarnated, I will wait for you and claim you again and again.” Paloma’s voice broke, and she pressed her face in Inger’s neck.

Inger felt the wetness on her neck and held the blonde head gently to her. Her own eyes were also damp. She was being offered more than she had ever thought possible. When she looked at her parents she had always been in awe of their love, but even more so after Jemima had confided in her the sacrifices, the fidelity, and the heartache. Now her blonde warrior was offering her the same. She pulled the blonde’s head back and looked deeply into the mesmerizing silver eyes. They held such a raw expression of love that Inger felt her heart tighten.

“Do you realize what you are offering me, Paloma?”

The silver eyes didn’t even blink when she answered. “Yes. I offer you everything that is me, my breath, my thoughts, my love, my loyalty.” Their lips met halfway and with a flick of her hand, Paloma had them both naked. The urgency between them had been building throughout the day and it didn’t take much to push them both over the edge. After a rather noisy session with Inger almost tearing the sheets, she laid snuggly in Paloma’s arms. Struggling to get her breathing under control, Inger lazily drew shapes on Paloma’s muscled stomach.

“Paloma?”

“Yes.”

Inger lifted herself onto her elbow and smiled down at the vampire. “Thank you for volunteering to look after me. My mom told me earlier tonight that you took a big gamble, not knowing whether the drug might kill you.”

Paloma reached up and Inger purred as the long lean fingers brushed through her hair. “I had no other choice,” Paloma murmured. “You are too important to me.”

Inger brushed a kiss over Paloma’s lips. “Thank you.”

“There really is no need for that, but I graciously accept your gratitude.”

With an impish grin, Inger bit Paloma on the ear. “To show you my immense gratitude I have something for you.” She pushed her hand under the pillow. “Here.”

†

Paloma’s eyes moved from the object in Inger’s hand to her brilliant blue eyes. Her eyes narrowed slightly before her hand moved downwards to test Inger’s readiness. She sighed softly at the wetness she found there. She reached for the toy and rolled away from Inger.

“You are so beautiful.” Paloma whispered and planted a hard kiss on Inger’s lips before strapping on the toy. Inger smiled when Paloma turned back to her and moved to lie between her legs, giving Inger a deep kiss.

Paloma gently dipped the blunt head of the toy in her wetness, pushing it in a little bit to make Inger moan softly. She continued until she felt Inger’s nails rake down her back. She was ready. Inger felt Paloma entering her, her strong hands on the back of her knees pressing her legs open wider. Inger closed her eyes.

“Look at me, my heart. I want you to look at me as I possess you. I want you to know who and what I am.” Paloma grated out between clenched teeth. She grunted when the toy slid deeper and deeper still until it stopped. She was buried to the hilt. The Assassin pressed her face into Inger’s breasts to regain her composure.

†

Impatiently, Inger bucked her hips and moaned when it went even deeper. The blonde head lifted slowly and this time Inger felt a low menacing thrill down her spine, but before she could react on the feeling, Paloma threw back her head and with sharp white fangs showing, she began to move her hips. The silver eyes were almost transparent with desire as she reared back and thrust into her over and over again. The feeling was so intense that Inger felt herself gasping for breath. Paloma’s face was set in a tight mask of passion while her strong hands were pressing her legs higher. Opening her legs wider for her powerful thrusts, Inger heard foreign words falling from the vampire’s lips. Just when she felt her body starting to tremble with the onslaught of her orgasm, Paloma growled deeply and doubled her efforts and deepened her strokes. The bed creaked under the weight of her thrusts.

“I…claim you…as…mine…now…and…till the end of time.” The words left Paloma in gasps even as her thrusts became more frenzied. Inger grasped the flexing mounds in her hands, urging Paloma to go deeper still. Paloma lowered her head and Inger felt the sharp pinpricks on her left breast as she felt herself slip over the edge, falling deeper and deeper into an abyss.

She could still vaguely feel Paloma plunder her releasing body with deep thrusts, but the intimate feeling of Paloma drinking from her breast was what Inger knew she would remember forever. It was the most erotic feeling she had ever experienced. So this was what it felt like to be possessed fully—heart, body, mind, and soul. It was nothing like how her mom tried to explain to her. It was more. It was earth shattering. When she came to, it was to find the silver eyes studying her anxiously. Not again…was she going to suffer blackouts every time they have sex?

“Are you OK, my love?”

Her mouth worked, but still no sound came forth, Inger resorted to a weak nod. All she wanted to do now was to curl up against her lover and sleep. She doubted if she would even wake up tomorrow morning. Her whole body was still vibrating like a tightly strung wire with the aftermath of her orgasm. When she tried to close her legs, she found them unresponsive and the place between her legs registered a warm dull ache. With all the strength she could muster after having been thoroughly ravished, she rolled over on her side and pushed her naked backside into the cradle of Paloma’s strong body.

“Sleep…I need to sleep.” She sighed again when she felt the strong arms circling her waist, pulling her closer.

“Sleep, my heart. I will watch over you while you rest.”

Inger’s eyes cracked open and she pushed closer still to Paloma. “Don’t leave me.”

Paloma placed a kiss on her sweaty shoulder. “Not even if my life depended on it, my love.”

With that assurance, Inger felt consciousness slip away.

Inger woke an hour later and felt the warm body curled around hers. Paloma had stayed. She turned as carefully as she could so as not to wake Paloma. She wanted to see what the Assassin looked like when she was asleep. She turned, only to find the silver eyes open and staring back at her.

“You’re still awake?”

“Holding you in my arms is too distracting.”

Inger smiled and pushed a stray lock of hair behind Paloma’s ear. They were lying facing each other and Inger shifted closer noticing that Paloma was still naked. She loved the way the vampire’s cool skin felt against hers.

“Let me help you sleep, will you?” She pressed her lips against Paloma’s.

The silver eyes flashed, amused. “You could try.”

Two hours later, Inger slid off the Assassin’s trembling body and tucked her into the crook of her arm. From the lack of movement or sound, it was obvious that the Vampire had dozed off. Licking her damp fingers slowly, Inger moaned softly, who would’ve thought that the woman would taste so intoxicating. She’d taken her over and over again, but simply couldn’t get enough of Paloma’s taste and the sexy hissing sounds she made deep in her throat. She looked down into the face of her lover.

The Assassin was lying next to her, drained, after hours of scorching passion. She tenderly stroked the sweaty body of her lover. There was still so much she’d wanted to teach Paloma. She hadn’t even started on the good parts when Paloma’s quaking body couldn’t take anymore and she’d slipped into a deep soundless sleep. Oh, how exhilarating it was to have so much power over one so powerful, Inger thought. Closing her eyes, she snuggled closer to Paloma.

Chapter Ten

Tahlia turned sharply and scanned the room to locate Jemima. She frowned when she found her chatting and laughing with one of the hunters.

<Did you say something?>

She got her answer when Jemima turned around, her beautiful face reflecting confusion.

<No, love. Why?>

Tahlia weighed her options on whether to tell Jemima or to keep quiet. She didn’t want to alarm her unnecessarily. She shook her head and smiled. <I must have imagined it. There are so many hunters in the room, and I have been chatting to some of them telepathically.>

She saw the doubt on Jemima’s face, but she still managed to pull off a light-hearted smile and turned back to the hunter with whom she’d been conversing. Just when she thought she had succeeded in having reassured Jemima, she heard her lover’s voice, calm and strong.

<You never make mistakes. What’s going on?>

Tahlia sighed. There was no use in lying to her. <I have been hearing this female voice in my head for the past few days. It started two weeks ago when we were at the mansion with Inger and Paloma. I have been hearing it on and off since then.>

She saw Jemima excuse herself from her group and come over to her. The blue eyes were troubled. Tahlia gently touched her mind and brushed against a cloud of panic in her lover’s mind. Jemima was scared that if someone had tapped in on her private mental path, then every mental path was compromised.

“Who is she, and what does she want from you?” Jemima’s question was calm, but Tahlia could also hear the faint distrust in her mate’s voice. She reached out and pulled Jemima to her, and together they moved through the opened patio doors. Once outside, she turned to face Jemima.

“I am not sure if I should be alarmed or not.” When she saw the unease in Jemima’s eyes she shook her head. “The voice does not sound threatening. It is just that I cannot place whom it belongs to. I know the voices of almost each and every Royal vampiress alive.”

Jemima turned to look at the moonlit landscape.

“Maybe you need to open up and hear what she has to say. It could be very important.”

Tahlia reached out and took Jemima’s hand in hers. “It seems as if she is trying to reach someone else, but using my mental path. Maybe you are right. Maybe I should just open up instead of cutting her off every time.”

A sudden flutter of movement in the garden caught both their attention, and Tahlia quickly placed her body in front of Jemima’s. They were at James’ mansion, and, although they had spun strong safeguards to protect the house, humans still could slip through undetected, especially with so many of them working as blood cows for renegades. They are easily manipulated and thus cannot be trusted. Two shadows emerged from the dark, and Tahlia relaxed. Inger and Paloma stepped into the light, holding hands. They stopped and melted into each other’s arms as they shared a passionate kiss.

“At least our daughter is safe and…loved,” Jemima said evenly and Tahlia pulled her into her arms.

“Yes. Anyone messing with her will have to answer not only to us but to Paloma.”

Jemima placed a soft kiss on Tahlia’s cheek.

“Anyone messing with her must surely have a death wish.”

The couple moved back into the shadows, and Tahlia and Jemima both knew what was happening under the cover of darkness. They looked at each other longingly. They had done the same so many times. Making love in the garden against a tree or on a soft patch of grass had been a regular occurrence for them in the beginning. Now, twenty odd years later, they still slipped into the garden to make love under the stars. It was perhaps time for them set up another starlight rendezvous. Jemima’s arms snaked around Tahlia’s waist, and she pressed closer to her lover. Tahlia looked down at her, her dark eyes probing.

“You are really fine with this?”

“Fine with what, darling?”

“Inger and Paloma?” The dark eyes studied her closely.

Jemima pushed out a noisy breath and glanced in the direction where Inger and Paloma were hidden in the shadows. “I still would’ve liked for Inger to wait before getting involved with Paloma.” The blue eyes were cloudy. “But she loves our child, Tahlia, and she has proven her love so many times over.” She pressed her face into Tahlia’s neck. “In the end all we want is our daughter’s safety and happiness. Paloma offers her both.”

“Yes, she does.” Tahlia softly stroked the blonde hair. “But does she really need to sleep with Inger? Can they not just…you know…hold hands or something until she is a little older…” Tahlia was interrupted by Jemima’s laughter. At least the gloomy look was no longer on her face.

“If you haven’t noticed, my darling, Paloma is gorgeous, and if Inger is anything like you, I’m sure her morals flew right out the window the minute Paloma’s eyes fell on her.”

Tahlia wanted to argue the point and defend both Inger and herself, but she realized that what Jemima had said was true. She was there when Inger first laid eyes on Paloma. Her daughter almost tripped over her tongue at the sight of the Assassin. She, on the other hand, never stood a chance where Jemima was concerned. One look into those beautiful eyes, and she was…is a goner.

“I know what you mean,” she conceded softly. Jemima chuckled, her blue eyes sparkling with merriment.

“You both are too easy.”

Footsteps sounded behind them and they turned to see James coming their way. After twenty years he had aged, but at 69 he still managed to keep his robust figure and twinkling blue eyes. Jemima immediately moved into her father’s arms and sighed softly when he vigorously rubbed her back, something he’d done when she was a girl. Tahlia knew how much Jemima loved it.

“Tell me what it is with the women in my life and dangerous vampires?” His blue eyes scanned the garden then shifted back to Tahlia. “First my daughter falls for a dangerous woman, and now my granddaughter is head over heels in love with a vampire assassin.”

Jemima kissed her father on the cheek and went to stand next to Tahlia. Tahlia felt herself drown in the azure depths.

“They know how to love us without being told, Daddy.”

James had a teasing look in his blue eyes. “Do you remember what a handful she was, Tahlia?”

“Oh yes…” Tahlia grinned broadly. “Especially as a teenager. She would sneak out at the oddest hours of the night to crash house parties. I must say I have spent more hours than I care to remember standing in dark corners watching teenagers puke all over themselves.” Her black eyes smiled into James’ eyes. “Luckily she was not one of the ones puking.”

Jemima laughed softly. “I had to do the same with Inger. The child was uncontrollable and would only listen when I threatened to ground her.”

“Karma, my dear. What goes around comes around.” James said in a sing-song voice.

There was blurred movement, and Inger and Paloma appeared next to them on the patio. Almost immediately, Tahlia’s sharp nose picked up the musky scent of spent passion. She looked at Paloma. The vampire warrior sported a love bite on her neck that was slowly starting to fade. Inger hadn’t fared well, either. Her lips were swollen and her blue eyes looked dazed. James must’ve seen it too because he smiled back at Inger and took her by the arm.

“Hey, honey, I don’t think we’ve had that talk yet.”

Inger had a quizzical look on her face as she glanced at her grandfather. “What talk, Grandpa?”

“The birds and the bees one, of course.”

Tahlia ginned when Inger blushed furiously.

“Grandpa…”

Laughing loudly, James pulled her into the house with him.

“Let’s go see what your grandmother is up to.” They walked away arm-in-arm.

Tahlia’s black eyes bored into Paloma’s silver ones. Will she ever get used to the fact that her childhood friend was actually sleeping with her daughter. Reluctantly she looked at Paloma, really looked at her. She was stunned by what she was seeing. Inger was right. Paloma was a striking woman. Her eyes travelled over her childhood friend’s strong body and the scrutiny only stopped when they met an amused silver gaze.

Tahlia smiled faintly as she studied her friend. She was aware of Jemima looking at the both of them. The silver eyes didn’t stray from hers and Tahlia felt the centuries fall away.  She was once again back on the cruel streets of Rome...

The man was stronger than he looked and the harder she tried to pry him off her friend, the more determined he became. His uniformed body was pressed up against the lanky one of Paloma, holding her up against the coarse wall. She once again tried to pull him off, but he didn’t budge.

Tahlia felt helpless as she searched the area looking for help, but they were in a deserted area of town. They were on their rounds to collect dirty soldier uniforms for their mothers when the drunken soldier accosted them. She could see in his eyes what he wanted as they’d moved over Paloma’s frame even before he had lunged for her.

“Wait your turn,” he growled at her. Tahlia turned her head away from the overwhelming stench of drink on his breath. The man’s rough hand ripped wildly at Paloma’s threadbare tunic, groping at her young breasts. She saw Paloma’s terrified eyes and knew that even if it killed her, she was going to do everything in her power to deter the man from further soiling her friend with his vile touch.

Era, the blacksmith’s daughter, had suffered through this brutal deed. It had left her wandering the streets with a vacant stare for weeks afterwards. Marila, Era’s mother, had told her mother not long after that her daughter was still afflicted by night sweats and that the man’s seed had caught and her daughter was breeding. She met her friend’s scared eyes. This man was not going to defile her friend like that…not as long as she could prevent it. Picking up a shard of a broken water container, she advanced on the heavily-breathing soldier and bashed him soundly on the head and shoulders.

“What—?” He turned from Paloma and reached for her. His grimy hands had locked around her throat as he lifted her off the ground. “This will teach you to interrupt me.” He dropped her and lashed out with brutal kicks to her head and stomach. He only stopped when Paloma brought the shard Tahlia had dropped, down hard on his head making him crumple into a heap.

Dazed and weakened by pain, Tahlia allowed Paloma to lead her to the small house their family shared. Luckily their mothers were not home and Paloma continued to gently bathe her aching body before putting her in bed. The silver eyes had studied her like a hawk before she came to her feet.

“I will return soon, Tahlia. Please be alive when I get back.” The tears running down her friend’s cheeks made her blink. Paloma never cried—never ever.

“I promise. Just hurry.”

She must have dozed off because when she opened her eyes again, it was not Paloma’s gaze she encountered, but the teary blue ones of Aurora. Having her there was a cool balm to her throbbing body.

“Oh, my heart, I will personally make sure the beast never draws another breath again.” With soft, smooth hands she had caressed her cheeks before planting a soft kiss on the corner of her lips. “My beautiful angel…” The blue eyes hardened suddenly. “I will have them cut off his arms and legs and leave him only his belly to crawl on.”

She would’ve smiled if it weren’t so painful, but she weakly squeezed her lover’s hand.

“I will be fine, dearling.”

Paloma had stepped forward and knelt at the side of her bed, her silver eyes solemn as they locked with hers. “I will always be indebted to you, Tahlia. From this moment onwards, I will be at your service. I will protect you and yours with my life.” She had placed a soft kiss on her sweaty brow. “I love you dearly, my sister.”

That day they became sisters. They had protected each other even at the expense of their own lives. That’s why it hurt so badly when Paloma had disappeared. Tahlia wasn’t there to protect her friend, her sister. She hadn’t kept her promise, and the guilt had lingered for 500 years. Tahlia had opened her mind to Jemima while she and Paloma relived that day. She felt her lover’s arm slip around her waist.

“I will go see if our guests need anything.” Jemima said out loud and walked away. Tahlia followed her with her eyes until she disappeared into the crowded room.

†

Paloma watched as Tahlia's eyes follow Jemima. She cleared her throat softly, and Tahlia turned to look at her.

“I would like to ask you formally if I could bind myself to your daughter, Tahlia.”

Paloma had chosen her words carefully, aware of her friend’s mood. Tahlia completely adored her daughter. When Inger was younger, she’d always found them sitting in the park after dark, their dark heads close as they talked and laughed. Knowing how much Tahlia adored her daughter, she could only imagine how difficult it was going to be for her to fully release her daughter into her care. But Paloma needed more. She needed to fully possess Inger before she could be completely happy.

Tahlia’s black eyes narrowed. “Are you going to make her Vampire?”

Paloma felt the tension coming off Tahlia. She will have to tread carefully if she wanted to claim Inger and still retain Tahlia’s friendship and respect. She doubted if she could gain both, but it was worth a try.

“No.”

Tahlia cocked her head to the side. Paloma could see Tahlia’s mind work behind the unreadable gaze.

“Only vampires can be bound to each other, and even then you know the intricacies of the process. If something should happen to Inger, you will be doomed to a life of loneliness, like Pierre.”

Paloma’s eyes held Tahlia’s. “I love her enough to want to take the chance.”

Tahlia turned away and looked out over the garden. “Have you spoken to her about this?”

“Not yet. I wanted to speak to you first.”

Tahlia turned back to Paloma. “Speak to her first. But I want you to be honest with her otherwise I will have to. Tell her what could happen to you should something happened to her. You need to tell her everything.”

Paloma frowned, but nodded. Knowing Inger, upon hearing this, she most definitely would refuse to marry her.

“What if she wants me to convert her?”

Tahlia’s eyes grew sad. “It hurts to admit this, but I cannot be everything for her anymore. You are what she wants now. In the end it is Inger’s decision, but it hurts nonetheless, thinking of her living in the dark as we do.”

“I will consult with you first, Tahlia.” She could feel Tahlia’s pain like it was her own. She placed her hand over Tahlia’s heart. “I will never do anything to hurt you, sister.”

Chapter Eleven

Inger had difficulty concentrating on the text before her, so, after a valiant effort she gave up. After class she decided to visit the library to read up for a paper. She realized now how fruitless it was. Sitting opposite her reading through a thick Latin volume, was Paloma. Inger was acutely aware of her lover’s subtle presence in her mind and her intoxicating physical presence. Since they had become lovers, they were inseparable. Paloma accompanied her everywhere now that she was using the daylight serum.

In class Paloma would cast a visibility spell to cloak her presence and would stand guard at the door, her silver eyes not leaving her. In the beginning it took a while getting used to Paloma’s presence in the lecture room. Sometimes, like today for instance, she was incredibly drawn to Paloma. Inger found herself looking to the door more times than she could remember. In the end it prompted her professor to ask her if she had urgent matters to attend to before the lecture ended. With half the class chuckling, she had felt Paloma’s smile in her mind. Blushing furiously she made a point not to look towards the door for the duration of the lecture.

Paloma shifted and lifted her eyes from the book she was reading. “If you want, I can get the professor back for having put you on the spot.” Inger gasped and Paloma smiled. “I am not talking about killing him.”

Paloma had snuck into her mind again. Ever since Paloma had taken her blood, it was becoming harder to keep the Assassin out of her mind. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to block her lover’s invasions anymore. Inger grimaced. “No. I wasn’t concentrating. He had every right to poke fun at me.”

Paloma nodded. “OK. But if you change your mind, I have the perfect prank to make him the laughing stock in class for a change.”

A shadow fell over them and even before Inger looked up to see who the person was, she felt waves of menace bouncing off Paloma. She quickly looked up and couldn’t help but smile. Jeremy Givens was in her class, and she knew he had been trying extremely hard for her to notice him. As captain of the football team, he could have his pick of girls and she was flattered by his attention. He was incredibly good-looking causing all the girls and even some of the female professors to swoon.

She looked up into his sky blue eyes and smiled. Her smile faltered slightly when she saw the blatant lust in his eyes. She also knew that even with his back to her, Paloma could sense his lust. The air in the library suddenly became stifling, and Inger knew Paloma had something to do with the sudden ominous feeling in the air. She had to get rid of Jeremy, and fast.

“Hi Jeremy, how can I help you?” She tried to keep the tension out of her voice. Paloma sat motionless, her eyes riveted on the page of the book before her.

Jeremy beamed at her. “After the match tonight, we’re going to a party. Is it OK if I pick you up at seven?”

Inger had to smile at his overconfidence. At seven tonight she will most likely be lying in Paloma’s arms, but this boy didn’t even consider the fact that she might be seeing someone. She slanted a quick glance towards Paloma and what she saw in the vampire’s eyes made her quickly turn back to Jeremy. Out of the corner of her eye, Inger saw Paloma quickly averting her gaze. What she saw in those eyes spelled great danger for Jeremy. Paloma’s eyes had dripped venom and were almost white with what she identified as jealousy.

“I’m sorry, Jeremy, but I’m seeing someone. Thank you for the invitation though.”

Jeremy shrugged as he flashed another brilliant smile.

“You should give the loser the boot.” He winked at her. “You belong on the arm of a real man, sweetheart.” Hearing that, Inger groaned under her breath. “You can bring your friend along. I’ve heard that these foreign exchange students are quite lively. The guys will have a lot of fun with her.” His blue eyes leered at Paloma. She was thinking of something to say to get Jeremy to move on, her eyes on Paloma.

All of a sudden the library erupted in jeers and laughter. When she looked at Jeremy, her jaw dropped. He was standing there, the cocky expression still on his handsome face and his pants pooled around his ankles. It took him a few seconds to realize that everyone was not laughing with him, but laughing at him. When he looked down he dropped his school bag and grabbed a book out of a nearby shelf to cover his privates. A look of horror distorted his handsome features.

“Natalia is not interested in boy with tiny manhood.” Paloma drawled in a heavy accent loud enough for everybody to hear. “I like a man with…” she gestured towards Jeremy’s crotch, “a strong weapon.”

More jeers and laughter sounded as a pale Jeremy pulled up his pants and stormed towards the exit. When Inger looked back at Paloma the silver eyes held a look of death. “He got off lightly this time, but if he ever tries that again, I will skin him alive.”

Inger felt a chill run down her spine. That was no idle threat. She quickly grabbed her notes off the desk and pushed them into her shoulder bag.

“Let’s get out of here.” As far away from other people as she can before Paloma snaps.

†

The warehouse looked deserted to the human eye, but the moment Paloma stepped in she smelled the foul stench of renegades. She signaled for Gene and Carlos to spread out and comb the rest of the interior while she went to work on the near-invisible clues in front of her. She was sniffing the air, analyzing the different smells and filing them in her mind. It would make it easier to identify who was in here in the last 24 hours. Except for the repugnant smell of renegades, there were also a great number of human scents.

<I think you should come and see this, Paloma.>

Paloma quickly came to her feet and using preternatural speed, raced up the stairs to where the offices were located. Carlos and Gene were in one of the offices and they made way for her to enter. Four corpses lay strewn on the floor and from where she stood it was obvious that it was a vampire killing. Her eyes moved over the puncture wounds covering the arms and legs of the corpses. Blood cows. She studied the gaping wounds in their necks. Whoever killed them must’ve either been in a hurry to feed or the intention was to kill. The latter sounded more plausible. She turned to the two hunters.

“These killings were committed by one vampire. Do you know what that means?”

“A gluttonous appetite like this can only mean that the killer must be a renegade ancient who surfaced recently. Or perhaps the killer was merely chasing the thrill of the kill,” offered Gene.

Paloma nodded and left the office.

“I cannot help but feel that we are missing something.” She turned back to look at the corpses. “I have a feeling that Mercredi is already in town. But how did he sneak in without our sentries picking him up?”

She jumped down from the steel walkway and came to land on her feet. This time she carefully walked through the warehouse, her eyes darting from the floor to the walls to the ceiling. There must be something here.

†

The green eyes cracked open and for a few seconds she didn’t know what exactly had awakened her from the deep sleep. She lay quietly for a few seconds. There it was again—a familiar presence. It was vague, but close by. She felt a stirring in her mind. Mercredi was trying to read her mind. She shut him out rudely. Erecting a strong ancient mental block, she tried to reach out to the owner of the scent. She smiled when she made contact. Help has arrived—finally.

†

Inger looked up from her books when she felt the presence behind her. When she turned, it was to find Paloma sitting on her bed. She rolled her eyes when she saw the look in Paloma’s eyes.

“I have to finish this paper tonight.”

Paloma shrugged, her eyes still looking at her hungrily. “I can wait.” She swung her legs onto the bed and with her hands folded behind her head, she looked at Inger. “I am very patient.”

Inger felt her body respond to the hot look in Paloma’s eyes. Maybe taking a five-minute break wasn’t such a bad idea, she thought as she studied the vampire stretched out on her bed.

“I am meeting with Michael and Joan in an hour at the safe house. Do you think you will be done by then, because I do not want to leave you here alone?”

Inger quickly scanned through her notes. She would still need at least an hour to finish reading the report. She turned back to Paloma.

“Maybe you could pick me up afterwards?”

Paloma raised herself onto her elbow. “No.” The silver eyes were serious. “I will wait for you.”

“Why? I am not in any danger in my room?”

Paloma swung her feet off the bed and came to stand behind her. A slight shiver went down her spine at the light touch of Paloma’s fingertips around her neck. Of late she had only to look at Paloma and her body would rebel against common sense. Many passion-filled nights had started with a slow glance and a light touch from Paloma. Inger came to her feet and turning, stepped into Paloma’s arms. Yes, she did feel safe in her arms.

“I cannot shake the feeling that something big is going to happen soon. I will not let you out of my sight until I know that it is safe for you to wander around alone.”

“Do you think that Mercredi is in town?”

Paloma nodded. “I am not sensing him—not yet—but earlier we found the bodies of four blood cows. It could be his handiwork.” Paloma’s eyes were hard. “As a human he was an evil, cruel man. As a monster with superhuman power and an undead army, he is a force to be reckoned with.” Her arms tightened around her, and Inger looked up. “I do not want anything to happen to you, therefore, I beg you not to stray too far from me, my love.”

For four years Inger had been fighting renegades successfully and had prided herself on that. She’d hated the idea of anyone coming into her life and telling her how to run it, even kicking against her parents’ interference. But with Paloma it was different. She respected her fighting skills and knew that Inger could take care of herself when needed.

“OK. I’ll go with you.” She turned back to her desk to pack up her books. “Where are we spending the night?”

“If it is fine with you, we can sleep over at my place. I have not been there for a while.”

Inger came upright from sorting her notes. These past weeks they’d either slept at the safe house, her dorm room, or at her grandparents’ place. They were never alone. At Paloma’s place they would be alone. She will be totally alone with Paloma. She had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she failed to detect Paloma’s presence in her mind.

Paloma took a few steps backwards, a wounded look in her eyes. “You are scared of being alone with me? With the monster?”

Inger’s head snapped up. She quickly stepped forward, but Paloma moved farther out of reach. Inger became desperate as she felt the distance between them. The silver eyes were hooded, hiding the pain. Oh, what have I done now? Even though Paloma came across as unflappable, Inger still sensed the vampire’s unease with how Inger perceived her. Every time Paloma drank from her while they made love, she noticed how withdrawn she became afterward. It is as if she were ashamed and wanted to hide from her. Inger’s desperation intensified.

“No, Paloma. You misinterpreted my thoughts.” She reached out to Paloma, and her heart jumped in her chest when Paloma took another step back. This action brought Paloma against the bed. “I’m not scared of being alone with you. I feel safe with you.”

“It hurts, Inger.” Paloma sounded so forlorn, that Inger felt like crying.

Purposely keeping her mind blank to hide her next intention, Inger quickly pounced on her. A deep growl escaped Paloma’s throat before they both crashed onto the bed. Lying on top, Inger gently pushed the long blonde locks out of Paloma’s face. Paloma was so much stronger and could actually have swatted her away like a fly had she wanted to. Instead she simply lay there, her silver eyes awash with pain.

“All those thoughts meant nothing, my darling. I love you.” Inger’s voice was shaky, and tears blurred her vision. “I never meant to hurt you. Please believe me.”

Paloma’s hand lifted, and she gently touched the tears on Inger’s cheeks. “Say it again.” The silver eyes were wide with wonder. “Tell me you love me again.”

“I love you,” Inger whispered softly and planted a kiss on the sensual lips before she hid her tear-stained face in Paloma’s neck. “They were just random thoughts. I don’t even know where they came from.”

Paloma’s arms came around her and held her tightly. “Hush…I love you too, sweetie. I love you more than words can express.”

Inger lifted her head, her face set in a deep scowl. She rubbed over her wet cheeks.

“Sweetie?”

Paloma lifted a blonde eyebrow. “What is wrong with it? You call me sweetie and honey.”

Inger laughed softly and hugged Paloma to her. The vampire’s naïveté was so refreshing at times. She made a mental note to be more careful with her thoughts in future. Over the past weeks, she had noticed Paloma looking at her with something akin to worried anticipation. Now she knew those expressions reflected a fear of expected rejection. It would take some time before her warrior would be truly convinced that she wanted to be with her…with Paloma, the Vampire Assassin. Inger planted a soft kiss on the cool cheek and smiled down into the glittering eyes. She promised herself to assure Paloma of her love often and fervently.

“I love you, but please don’t call me sweetie again. You sound like an older woman who’s trying to take advantage of me.”

“Who says it is not intended that way?” Paloma said in a suddenly husky voice and flipped them over until Inger was lying underneath her. Inger reached out immediately to pull the blonde head down for a passionate kiss. For a long moment they were lost in each other’s taste, before Inger broke the kiss.

“I love you,” she gasped. “I don’t have the words to make you understand just how much, my love.”

The silver eyes were luminous. “Then show me, cara.”

†

Tahlia surged into a sitting position. Startled, Jemima quickly sat up too. The sun had been down for about half an hour, but the two of them were still lounging on their bed cuddling and chatting, when Tahlia sprang up. Tahlia’s black eyes narrowed and Jemima immediately linked her mind with Tahlia’s.

<Who are you? And what do you want with me?>

There was a short silence.

<I am trying to reach my mate. Are you Tahlia?>

Jemima turned to look at Tahlia. “Please don’t identify yourself. We don’t even know who this is.”

Tahlia nodded.

<Your mate? What is his name?>

The pause was longer this time. And just when they thought she would not answer, the soft voice came again.

<Count Pierre Lafayette.>

Tahlia’s eyes widened a fraction, but no other outward sign portrayed her shock.

<How do I know you are who you say you are? Let us meet somewhere?>

<I have to go now. It is not safe to talk for long periods at a time. I will be in contact again.>

And then the mental link was severed. Tahlia lay back slowly, taking Jemima with her.

“If that was Genevieve, then we know who our captured vampiress is. I will have to tell Pierre.”

“I just hope this is not a hoax or worse, an ambush. Either way, Pierre would be devastated.” Jemima sounded worried.

“You are right.” A short silence followed. “Maybe I need to put Paloma onto this woman.”

“Just make it clear that Inger is not to get involved. You know how stubborn she can be.”

Tahlia pressed a gentle kiss on Jemima forehead. “I will do that.” But Tahlia was more worried than she let on. Something was not right, and she didn’t want either Jemima or Inger caught up in this.

Chapter Twelve

The gnarled hand reached out and touched the smooth tear-streaked cheek of the human. The girl’s eyes, frozen in horror, were fixed on the creature’s heinous face. Its deep-set eyes were aglow with bloodlust.

“I love this century. Food is in abundance.” He turned his head and looked at the frowning woman who stood a few feet away. “What about you, Genevieve?” He turned back to the girl.

The woman’s clear green eyes rested on the girl who trembled so hard, her teeth clattered. She felt sorry for the girl. Since their arrival a week ago Mercredi had already killed four blood cows. His excessive appetite and psychopathic nature were a dangerous mix and put a lot of lives at risk. She turned away sadly, knowing the girl’s fate. Mercredi loved killing and if he had an audience, even better.

She opened her mind and searched her immediate surroundings. It was about time that she got away from Mercredi. Since his son was killed, Mercredi was so bent on revenge that he was bound to make a few mistakes. She had to exploit his distracted state.

“I am going to my room.”

“How boring and predictable, Genevieve. As much as I have appreciated your companionship over the past four centuries, I have to admit that you sorely lack a few social graces. We will have to work on that.”

Ignoring the barb, she left the room.

†

Pierre’s eyes widened and he stepped away from Tahlia. His face was ashen and his entire body shook. He didn’t react when Jonas came to stand at Tahlia’s side. She held out her arm and with a quick glance towards Jemima, Jonas bent over and sank his teeth into her wrist. The sudden pain made Tahlia flinch fractionally, but Jemima seemed to have noticed and she took a protective step forward.

A sharp warning glare from Tahlia stopped her in her tracks. After twenty years together and having been witness to her immense power, Jemima still acted as if she were her personal bodyguard. Her gaze softened and a reluctant smile came to Jemima’s face. Jonas flicked his tongue over the pinpricks.

“We need to verify this.” Jonas placed his hand on Pierre’s shoulder. “Did you recognize the voice?”

It took Pierre a few seconds to answer and when he did, his voice sounded dejected. “No. It was not Genevieve. I know her voice.”

“Do you think we should investigate the matter, Pierre?” Tahlia’s voice was soft and tender. “We will not if you do not want us to.”

Pierre turned to look at her with sorrowful blue eyes, and Tahlia felt Jemima’s hold on her hand tighten.

“What if it is just a hoax?”

Jonas cleared his throat softly. “What if it is not? I would like to ask for permission to investigate the matter.”

“If it might lead us to Mercredi, then I do not really have the right to refuse you. On one condition ,” His voice turned cold. “I want to be part of the investigation.”

†

As soon as Pierre and Jonas left the lounge, Jemima turned to Tahlia. The black eyes were velvety soft. No words were necessary and they both closed in for a lingering kiss. Afterwards they held each other.

“I can’t imagine my life without you, darling.” Jemima planted a soft kiss on Tahlia’s smooth cheek. “I feel for Pierre.”

“I know exactly what it feels like, and I would not want to go back there again.”

There was a soft knock on the door before it swung open. Inger stuck her head in and grinned. She stepped into the room followed by a stoic Paloma.

“Hi, love birds. Paloma warned me to knock first before entering. I’m glad I did. You guys looked like you were up to no good,” Inger teased.

Jemima looked up into Tahlia’s eyes and smiled when she found the unblinking eyes zeroing in on Paloma. She sniffed the air faintly and wrinkled her nose at the subtle musky scent of sex clinging to Inger and Paloma. No wonder Tahlia was staring daggers at Paloma. Paloma stared back calmly. Sighing softly, Jemima walked over to Inger and kissed her on the cheek.

“Hello, my love.” She turned to Paloma. “Nice to see you too, Paloma.”

Paloma acknowledged the greeting with a curt nod. Tahlia stepped closer to hug Inger.

“You will have to stop glaring at Paloma like that, Mother. We are together, and like all new couples we are very much in love and can’t keep our—”

“Please do not finish the sentence.” Tahlia groaned, holding up her hands. She placed a soft kiss on Inger’s crown as the girl giggled at her resigned mother’s subtle outburst. “It takes getting used to, seeing you all grown up.” She brushed a finger over Inger’s soft cheek. “I will try not to be so, how do you call it again…uptight.”

There was a soft snort and all eyes in the room turned to Paloma, who was finding it difficult to keep a straight face. A stern look from Inger, and Paloma turned and quietly left the room.

“What you see in her baffles me, you know.” Tahlia’s black eyes were still focused on the closed door, but before Inger could form a reply, Jemima heard soft laughter ring in Tahlia’s mind.

“So how have you been lately?” Jemima grinned when Inger blushed. “The requests for advances on your allowance also seemed to have stopped. Found yourself a rich sugar mommy, did you?”

“Oh, Mom…” Inger blushed even harder. “It’s not like that.”

Jemima pushed a loose strand of hair behind Inger’s ear. “I know, honey. You seem happy.”

Jemima saw Inger throw a cautious glance in Tahlia’s direction. “She’s unbelievable, Mom.” Jemima smiled when Inger looked back at her. The blue eyes glowed with love. “She is everything I’ve ever wanted, and I love her with all my heart.”

A sigh of relief sounded and Jemima glanced at Tahlia. From the beginning Inger and Tahlia had forged a bond, one that had grown stronger over the years. As much as Tahlia wanted Inger to be happy, she knew that it must be difficult to let go of her daughter so soon.

“That was all I wanted to hear, my child. I know Paloma loves you, but I was not sure about your feelings for her. Now that I know it’s mutual, my heart can rest.”

Inger burrowed into Tahlia as tears filled her eyes. “She is the one, Mom, and there will never be anyone after her again.” Jemima’s heart melted at the emotion in her daughter’s voice. Her eyes met Tahlia’s and they both smiled. Their daughter had found the same deep love they held for each other. Inger was going to be fine.

The oak door swung open and Paloma entered. Her silver eyes darted fleetingly over Tahlia and Jemima before they came to rest on Inger.

“Are you OK, sweetie?”

“Sweetie?” Tahlia looked down at Inger. “It sounds so…”

Jemima grinned at Inger, who was blushing fiercely. “I know, baby, but it seems to work for them.”

Tahlia nodded slowly, looking at Paloma, who was still staring at Inger. “Paloma never really had any imagination.” This time she sounded suspiciously close to laughter. “Let’s give them privacy, love.”

Hand in hand they walked to the door, but Tahlia came to a brief stop next to Paloma. “Sweetie…?” She shook her head and walked over to where Jemima was holding the door open for her. Once they were in the hallway, Jemima gave Tahlia a tight hug.

“I’m so proud of you.”

“You are?”

“Tonight you managed to put even Paloma at ease by not scowling too much.” Jemima gave Tahlia a soft kiss. “And just for the record, I think sweetie is a cute endearment.”

Tahlia pursed her lips. “It sounds strange coming from Paloma.”

Laughing softly, Jemima hooked her arm into Tahlia’s as they slowly made their way down the long hallway. “I like it,” she said and leaned her head against Tahlia’s.

Chapter Thirteen

Paloma lay in her big four-poster bed with a sleeping Inger cuddled against her. She recalled what had happened earlier in the evening. Inger was pleasantly surprised by what Paloma had planned for their first night at her mansion. Paloma had ordered flowers and candles that were strategically placed around the house. The ultimate surprise, the five star chef she’d hired to prepare an intimate dinner for two.

When Paloma had pushed open the door to her mansion, the candles flickered on immediately, and she was thrilled at Inger’s look of pleased surprise. Over the last two decades she had called upon the services of an interior designer to make the house look more like a home, hoping one day to bring Inger here. From the wide eyes of her lover, it was obviously money well spent.

Inger was stunned. “Oohs” and “ahhs” were the only sounds she could muster as she toured the eight bedroom mansion. Afterwards they had cuddled up on the sofa in front of the fireplace until George Grain, the chef, announced that dinner was ready. Once again Inger was speechless. Her eyes flickered from the chef to her and back to the grinning chef.

“Baby, that’s…that’s…” Inger finally gasped when the chef had left them.

“George Grain, I know.” Patiently, she had looked at her star struck lover. “It is truly good to see my attempts to impress are working.”

An unbelievably brilliant smile lit up her young lover’s face at that, and she was rewarded with a deep, toe-curling kiss, leaving her brain scrambled long afterwards. Throughout dinner, Inger had cast worried looks her way as Paloma spooned forkfuls of food into her mouth. From Inger’s appetite and commentary, it was clear that George Grain had lived up to his name. The unpleasant lump of shrimp and asparagus in the pit of her stomach was the ultimate sacrifice for the perfect romantic night.

The last time she had tried to eat solid food, was many centuries ago when both she and Tahlia were still fledglings, and before they were promoted to their current status. Growing up poor, they’d never had the opportunity to eat thick slabs of beef soaked in gravy or sweet, fresh vegetables. They’d visited a tavern and had ordered heaping plates of food, just to become violently ill later, emptying their stomach contents in the alley at the back of the tavern.

By the time they had come to bed it was already past twelve, but before she could reach for Inger, the brunette had stepped away. Her blue eyes were pensive.

“If I try really hard, I can get my head around the daylight drug thing, but you’ve just stuffed your face, and, except for the peculiar green tint around your mouth, you are still doing okay. Do you want to tell me something?”

Grinning, Paloma had taken a seat on the bed. “The last time I ate solid food was 2000 years ago. You have no idea how unpleasant it was. I still shudder when I think about it.”

Inger had moved to sit next to her. “Then why did you do it again? I know you’re a vampire and that you don’t do solid food.”

“I just wanted us to have a normal romantic evening together.”

The tenderest of expressions had crossed over Inger’s face before she’d planted a soft kiss on her lips. “Your reputation as the one vampire not to mess with is taking a serious knock tonight, Assassin. You are so sweet.” Inger had placed her hand on Paloma’s stomach, rubbing it gently. “Are you sure you will be OK. I’ll understand if you’re not up for making love tonight. The evening alone was exceptional.”

As much as she’d wanted to take advantage of having Inger in her own bed for the first time, the churning coil of food in her stomach was too unpleasant to ignore. She’d considered slipping out of bed once Inger was asleep, to get rid of the food before it leaked out of all the pores of her body.

“Maybe you are right. I should not aggravate my already burdened stomach.” They had slowly undressed each other between tender kisses and gentle touches. Because Inger planned on getting up early tomorrow morning to finalize her reading report, she’d fallen asleep almost immediately. Paloma was left cradling her close to her body, memorizing every inch of her beautiful face.

Now, three hours later, though slightly tired because she was no longer taking her daylight naps, Paloma realized that looking down into the face of her beloved was much more satisfying than sleep. She gently kissed the cool brow and smiled when Inger mumbled something in her sleep and snuggled deeper into her arms. She was gently stroking the raven locks when she felt the slight disturbance in the air. Immediately she sent out her senses, and what she found made her eyes burn with intense fury. The audacity!

Paloma gently disentangled herself from Inger’s limbs and reached for her clothes. In her unbridled rage, her hand had morphed into claws, ripping through her shirt. Swearing under her breath, she stared long at her hand willing it to change back. Ach, what the hell… Flicking her wrist she was dressed at once. She stopped briefly to arm herself before streaking out into the night.

†

Balanced on a thick branch overlooking the foliage of the mansion’s garden, a set of sharp green eyes pierced the night. She is in there. I can sense her. It felt incredibly uncomfortable and stupid to broadcast her presence to such a dangerous and powerful woman. Who says she won’t just come after her in a killing rage. Compared to Paloma Soleil, she was a babe in the woods, having been made a mere 400 years ago. She hadn’t seen the Assassin in action, but her fighting ability was legendary—even amongst renegades. She grimaced at the term.

Renegade. She hated it. A cold breeze touched her face and she quickly dived from the branch, just in time because the branch she was perched on a few seconds ago crashed to the ground, completely pulverized. She didn’t have long to mull over her lucky escape when a tall, blonde woman appeared right in front of her. The steely silver eyes glared at her with undisguised bloodlust. The Assassin was getting ready to kill her and, from the look of it, she was actually looking forward to it. Her green eyes widened when Paloma took a threatening step closer and she slowly raised her hands. An angry hiss from the hunter made them stop mid-air.

“I come with an important message for you, and killing the messenger would be a regrettable setback for those involved.”

“Why should I trust you? Your whole existence is based on death and lies.”

The green eyes flashed in anger, but the renegade quickly lowered her gaze when she saw the escalating aggression in the silver eyes. Baiting the Assassin was a stupid—a very stupid—idea. Over the years she had trained hard and well and was fully accomplished in a number of martial art disciplines, not to mention her expertise with various weapons, but the Assassin was created to kill. In fact, she was a weapon of mass destruction all on her own. Her mother had told her all about the hunter’s exploits.

“Have you ever thought about how we were created? That some of us were victims, too?” The green eyes looked up into the quicksilver eyes. “Not all of us were willing participants.”

“Remind me to feel sorry for you after I have torn out your black heart, Renegade.”

The green eyes hardened. As much as she admired the woman, she was making it extremely difficult to remember that right now.

“I was sent by Genevieve.”

The silver eyes widen fractionally, but it was there for only a millisecond and then it was gone.

“Go on.”

“Can we go somewhere we can talk calmly?”

†

Paloma frowned at the renegade. “No. We talk here, and then perhaps I will allow you to leave—alive.”

All the while she was talking to the renegade, Paloma had to keep her anger and hatred in check. Renegades were the enemy and nothing could erase that fact. For centuries they had killed innocents and forever stained the name of the Vampire Race. She had cloaked her presence after leaving the house and had crept up upon the renegade. Her intention was to strike her dead on the spot, but the renegade’s quick reflexes surprised her, an indication that she was well-trained, not like the other renegades who relied on numbers and no skills.

Her eyes moved coldly over the woman, and she knew that if she weren’t a renegade she might’ve been attracted to her. She was quite beautiful, with her pale skin, rich copper-colored shoulder length locks and light green eyes. She had killed thousands of female renegades before, only seeing the hideousness they represented. This one was different. Maybe it was what she had said earlier about being a victim herself. She mentally shook her head. What was she thinking? It must’ve been the food she’d ingested earlier. A renegade was a renegade.

“Where is she?”

“Who?”

Her hand snaked out and she grabbed the renegade by her throat, pressing down a bit until the green eyes bulged a little. “Do not play games with me.”

“OK,” the renegade rasped out, and Paloma loosened her grip.

“I will repeat myself. Where is Genevieve?”

“Please, take your hands off me.” This time the renegade’s soft voice held a touch of steel. “Or I will have to retaliate.”

Paloma felt an almost gentle nudge in her ribs. Looking down she stared at the heavy silver gun pressed against her. Disgusted with herself for having allowed her concentration to slip, she pushed the other woman away from her with an angry hiss. She quietly watched as the renegade massaged her bruised throat. Her eyebrows lifted slightly when the renegade opened her short leather jacket and put away her gun. A sign of trust, Paloma thought.

“Thank you,” the renegade snapped and turned her green eyes on her. “I only communicate with her telepathically because Mercredi never allows her too far away from him. Since coming to the States, I have been tracking them, but they seem to change lairs often. For the past few weeks I have been corresponding mentally with another woman, but I could sense that she was a very powerful entity and feared approaching her face on. You seemed a slightly safer option.”

Tahlia. Yes, the renegade wouldn’t have breathed a second longer in her presence. For all her domesticated façade, Tahlia was ruthless where renegades were concerned. “What have you been telling her?”

“Simply what Genevieve asked me to relay. She wanted to make contact with her husband, but with Mercredi tapping in on her mental conversations all the time, exchanges are kept short and cryptic. She tasked me to get the message out that she was alive soon after she found out that her husband was still living.”

There was a few seconds of silence.

“How do you know Genevieve?”

The redhead turned away.

“I do not think it is important now. You need to find a way to outfox Mercredi and save her. He keeps very close tabs on her, physically and mentally.”

The renegade disappeared, leaving Paloma to stare after her. Tempted to go out and feed quickly, she looked at the stars. She sensed the presence of a young couple nearby, making love in their car. Maybe she could slip off quickly and…a soft stirring in her mind made her turn sharply towards the house. Inger was awake, and she was becoming increasingly anxious at waking up alone. She rushed back to the house, stopping on the way to quickly double-check her safeguards. Good renegade or not, she wasn’t taking chances with the life of her mate. When she appeared beside the bed, a pale-faced Inger threw herself into her arms.

“Are you OK? I felt your anger. What upset you so?”

She brushed a gentle kiss on Inger’s forehead. “I felt the presence of a renegade nearby and went to investigate. Afterwards I was planning on going out to feed, but I sensed that you were awake and rushed back.” She tenderly rubbed her lover’s back. “I promise not to leave you again, my love.”

The blue eyes searched her face gently, before Inger reached out and pulled the blonde head closer to her. A soft probing kiss followed and then Inger lifted her dark locks and bared her long slender neck.

“Drink from me.”

Humbled by the offering, Paloma could only stare at the throbbing vein in Inger's neck. Her anger at the renegade woman had fueled her hunger, but the deliciously erotic sleep-warm scent of Inger was fueling her sexual hunger. She reached out to touch Inger’s cheek and felt guilty when she jumped slightly. She was scared but still she had offered.

“I need something else for now.”

Inger turned to look at her, perplexed.

“What?”

A slow lecherous smile formed on Paloma’s lips as realization dawned on Inger’s face. Inger’s lips curved into a grin and she slowly lay back, pushing down the sheet to totally expose her body. It took Paloma only a second to get out of her clothes before she crawled over the bed, covering the waiting body with hers. With her smoldering silver eyes holding Inger’s blue gaze captive, she planted her hands on both sides of Inger’s body and began to slowly and erotically rub her body over Inger’s. She only stopped when she felt a deep shiver coursing through her young lover’s body. Sliding lower, she sucked a nipple into her mouth. With a deep sigh, Inger arched her back. All the while Paloma’s hand was lightly running over Inger’s body, leaving her body awash with tiny goose bumps. The rest of the night was spent in erotic delight.

When Inger peaked for the third time, Paloma bit into the pulsing vein. Inger’s hands locked at the back of Paloma’s head, keeping it in place as she drank deeply. When she had taken enough, Paloma closed the pinpricks with her tongue and looked down at Inger. Guilt and shame coursed through the vampire as she carefully studied her lover for any aftereffects. She felt like a lowlife for relegating Inger to the status of a blood cow. Inger must have picked up on her mood because when she spoke her tone was level and honest, albeit a little sleepy.

“I love you and you love me. Never think otherwise, my love.”

Paloma gently tucked Inger into the crook of her arm and caressed her damp skin until she’d fallen asleep. She lay awake afterwards processing the information she’d received from the renegade woman.

Chapter Fourteen

Tahlia looked long and hard at the syringe before handing it to Michael, who looked back at her, waiting for confirmation. Slowly she turned to Jemima. The blue eyes were somber as Jemima gave her quick nod. Tahlia turned back to Michael.

“I am ready, but I only want you to administer the drug to Jemima once you are sure it is completely safe to do so.”

Michael nodded and handed the syringe to a tall brunette standing nearby. “Dr. Carter, if you would, please?”

The black eyes scanned the room until they came to rest on the tall blonde standing next to Jemima. While waiting for her body to absorb the drug, she would be counting on Paloma to take care of her family. The Assassin’s eyes flared up and Tahlia nodded. She felt the cold invasion of the needle in her vein and closed her eyes. For the first time in a very long time she would be rendered helpless, incapable of taking proper care of herself and protecting Jemima. Just the thought that something could happen to Jemima while she was unconscious made her want to pull the needle out of her arm and throw it away from her.

<I will be fine, my love. Paloma, Pierre, and Jonas will not let anything happen to us.>

The black eyes opened and probed the blue ones.

<I know, but I cannot stop worrying. If something should happen to you, I do not know what I will do. Will you wait until I am present to supervise your transformation? It would make me feel at ease knowing I am there to look after you myself.>

There was a long silence before the reply came.

<I guess I can do that. But make sure that you come for me the minute you are well enough to do so. I too want to know that you’re okay.>

Tahlia felt as if a rock had been rolled off her chest.

<I will sleep next to you tonight and when dawn breaks, I will personally oversee the administration of the drug on you.>

She felt a paralysis come over her, almost like the sleep paralysis when the dawn was upon them. Tahlia turned to face her brothers and they quickly stepped forward to help her out of the chair. She caught a whiff of honeysuckle and smiled weakly.

<I am with you, my baby. You are in safe hands.>

†

Inger smiled warmly when she stepped out of class and spotted Paloma standing under a tree waiting for her. She stopped for a few seconds just to look at her. Since their first night alone two weeks ago, they had spent more and more time together, fighting renegades and afterwards cuddling up in bed, chatting and making love. Seeing her now, dressed in tight blue jeans, a black t-shirt and a tan leather jacket, Paloma looked exquisite. It was with pride that she noted both men and woman throwing admiring glances Paloma’s way. Switching her bag to her other shoulder, she walked over to her. Standing opposite each other they stared at each other.

“You look totally hot today.” Inger said as her eyes leisurely traveled over Paloma.

“That is good to know. I would really be disappointed if you did not find me attractive.”

Chuckling huskily, Inger took hold of Paloma’s hand. Even in the heat of the day, Paloma’s skin felt cool to the touch. She curbed the urge to pull the vampire close for a kiss. There were too many eyes on them and although she didn’t give a damn about their audience, Paloma might.

“I find you devastatingly sexy, and I’m sure I must have convinced you by now.”

“Yes, you have,” Paloma said with a smile. “I checked your schedule on the fridge, so I know you do not have class for the rest of the day.”

Paloma reached for Inger’s bag. Swinging it over her shoulder, she steered the brunette into the direction of her car.

†

The moment her eyes opened, Tahlia turned on her side, eager to look at Jemima who was sleeping next to her. Gently she touched the cool pale cheek and swung her feet off the side of the bed. She was still fully dressed and she patted her pockets to locate her mobile phone. She punched in a number.

“I am awake. Yes…I will be waiting for you.”

Hanging up, she pulled Jemima into her arms and held her tightly.

<Michael and Dr. Carter are on their way. I will wake you once they are here.>

A chuckle echoed in her mind, and Tahlia planted a soft kiss on Jemima’s cheek. It was nine in the morning. Being awake at this time of the day was demanding for Jemima, but not impossible

<You haven’t seen the sun in more than 2000 years. Aren’t you even a little tempted to go outside and feel the sunlight on your face?>

<I want to share that moment with you, my love.>

The blue eyes cracked open, and Tahlia felt herself melt at their adoring expression. “I sometimes wonder if I truly deserve you.” Jemima’s voice was husky.

Tahlia’s hold tightened around Jemima. “You do, trust me.” She lifted her head. “They are here. I want you to know that I will be sitting here with you until you open your eyes again. Your dosage will be exactly like mine—for 72 hours.” She kissed the tip of Jemima’s nose. “Imagine, three sun-soaked days together. We will have a lot of fun.”

There were footsteps on the staircase and their guests stepped in. Michael looked at Tahlia and grinned. “Can you believe you’ll be seeing the sun again after 2 000 years? I actually brought my camera with me.”

†

They parked in front of a posh Italian restaurant, and Inger turned to look at Paloma. They’d made love as soon as they’d arrived at home. Afterwards Paloma had left her to her homework, disappearing to who knew where. Upon her return around five, she’d insisted they go out for a late lunch. Inger was more than happy to take a break from working on her case study and readily agreed.

“What’s this? Gondolfini’s? Are you still trying to impress me?” she teased lightly.

“Nope.” Paloma placed her hand on Inger’s knee. “I have you in my bed already.”

“Then what’s the occasion? First you rock up in your Porsche at campus, and now you’re taking me to one of the most expensive restaurants in the city.”

Paloma patted Inger’s knee and grinned. Paloma got out of the car and she did the same. Tossing the key to the valet, she took Inger’s hand.

“We're not even properly dressed. If you’d told me we were coming here, I would’ve changed.”

“Do not fret about that. I have sorted it all out.”

The restaurant was pure glitz and glamour, counting all the who’s-who of New York society amongst its clientele. Spread over two floors, the restaurant had a warehouse effect with large floor to ceiling windows. Placed strategically, large white pillars broke the monotonous open space, giving the interior an almost ancient Roman architectural atmosphere. The floor space was divided into four sections of eating spaces with large potted plants separating the different sections. Paloma was expertly steering her through the tables towards the staircase in the corner leading to a private dining area on the first floor when a female voice stopped them.

“Yoohoo ”

Turning, they both let out a pained groan as they recognized whom the voice belonged to. Verna Gregg’s green eyes lazily moved over Paloma’s figure, making Inger bristle.

“Hi. Remember me?” She held out her hand to Paloma. “We met at few weeks ago.”

Paloma nodded. “Yes, I remember now. You are the movie star who was celebrating her birthday.”

Verna grinned, showing off a row of perfect pearls and Inger couldn’t shake the mental image of a hungry Great White. The green eyes shifted to Inger, taking in the jeans and t-shirt combo with mild distain, before returning her attention to Paloma.

“Would you like to join our table?” She waved to a table nearby and Inger’s jaw dropped. Jessica Valentine and Aretha Bourne waved at them.

“Thank you, but we are meeting friends for lunch.” Paloma lightly squeezed Inger’s hand to get her attention. “Shall we?” Paloma gave a curt nod in Verna’s direction and Inger almost stuck out her tongue at the celebrity’s clear disappointment. Instead she followed Paloma who was walking towards the stairs with purposeful strides.

“Why were you staring at those women like that?”

“What do you mean?” Inger was surprised by Paloma’s clipped tones.

Paloma didn’t break a stride. “You were practically salivating at the sight of them.”

This time the iciness in Paloma’s voice made Inger’s steps falter before she rushed to keep up with Paloma.

“Please don’t tell me you’re jealous.” Inger sounded incredulous. “If you are, you have absolutely no reason.” She remembered the incident with Jeremy Givens and how Paloma had humiliated him in the library. She’d have to tread carefully. She didn’t want Paloma to stomp back over to Verna’s table and do who-knows-what to the actresses.

“I find it hurtful that you would look at other women that way while I am with you.”

They reached the foot of the stairs and Inger pulled Paloma back just as she was about to ascend the stairs. “It didn’t mean anything, Paloma. I simply admire them for their work. They’re talented and famous actresses.”

They stared at each other for a few seconds before Paloma nodded, her eyes a dark grey. “All this is new to me.” She threw her arms in the air. “You are still very young, and I need to remember that.”

Inger frowned. “My age has nothing to do with it. I am committed to this relationship and to you.”

Paloma’s eyes softened. “I never doubted that.”

Inger smiled thinly. There were so many things left unsaid between them, but now was not the appropriate time to delve into them. When she turned away, she caught Verna staring at them with a sly smile. She must’ve noticed the tension between them and was waiting for her chance to pounce. She turned back to Paloma and found her looking at her strangely. All she wanted was to put distance between her and Verna’s freaking impolite stare.

“Let’s not keep our lunch companions waiting. Or was that just an excuse to shake off Verna?” She started up the stairs and heard Paloma follow. Once on the first floor she turned towards the private booths. Paloma walked past her.

“Over here.” They came to stand at a booth and when Inger saw who their lunch companions were, she stared in total disbelief. Never in a million years would she have expected to meet them here.

“What are you two doing here?”

Tahlia and Jemima grinned at the shocked expression on their daughter’s face. “We thought we’d surprise you.” Jemima shifted to make way for Inger to sit and Paloma moved in next to Tahlia.

A waiter approached their table and they quickly placed their drink orders. Tahlia’s black gaze moved between the two of them before it came to rest on Inger. “You had a fight.” It was more of a statement than a question.

Inger shrugged. “We simply had a tiny misunderstanding, but we’ve sorted it out.”

The black eyes remained expressionless. “No you have not.” She turned to Jemima. “We are going for a short walk. I would suggest you sort out your misunderstanding.” She came to her feet and waited for Paloma to step out first so she could pass.

With a worried look on her face, Jemima placed her hand on Inger’s shoulder as she too passed through to take Tahlia’s outstretched hand. Without looking back the pair left. The waiter returned with their drink orders and glanced meaningfully at the two empty places. Inger quickly explained.

“I can sense that you are still angry at me,” Paloma said soon after the waiter had left.

Inger took a drink from her wine glass.

“What do you expect, Paloma? Your jealousy is unfounded.”

“It is not my intention to be like this.” Inger saw the regret in Paloma’s eyes. “Vampires are very possessive by nature. Finding love is like the Holy Grail for us, and we guard it jealously.” Paloma reached for her hand and brought it to her lips. “You know that I love you very much.”

Inger sighed deeply. “All I’m worried about is that you will become like this every time you see me talk to a woman or look at one.”

The waiter stepped closer with a stack of menus. He quietly placed them on the table and left discreetly. Paloma gently stroked the back of Inger’s hand with her thumb. Her silvery eyes held remorse. “Will you forgive me if I apologize for my possessiveness and promise to be more…relaxed when we find ourselves in the presence of other women and…men?”

The blue eyes widened. “Men?”

“Yes. As if I do not have enough trouble fighting of lusty women. I also have to deal with immature college boys.”

Giggling softly, Inger playfully slapped Paloma’s hand. “You love to exaggerate. You make it seem like I’m this totally irresistible woman who attracts attention wherever I go.”

The silver eyes melted. “But you are, my love. That is how I first met you.” Inger’s eyebrows arched in question. “Soon after I had resurfaced, you called out to me. Following your call, I stumbled upon you in the park where Tahlia had hidden you.”

Confused, Inger worried her lower lip between her teeth. “Let me get this straight. Are you telling me that you knew me even before we met? But how? I mean…” Inger licked her lips as her eyes roamed over Paloma’s face. “I would’ve remembered meeting you. You’re not easy to forget, believe me.”

Paloma gave her a sexy grin and took a sip of her wine. “Many centuries ago I visited a small seaside village in Italy where the local fishermen swore to the existence of a sea siren, whom they called Lucia. Of course, I was drawn to meet Lucia. I went out to sea with the fishermen on numerous occasions, but it was all in vain. I finally wrote it off as a fiction of their imagination. But I still had my doubts because Lucia kept calling to me. Even in my daylight sleep I could hear her sweet siren song.” The silver eyes were devouring her now and Inger felt the heat building up between her legs. She closed her eyes when Paloma reached out and lightly touched her fingertips to her temple. Inger gasped when she was pulled into a dark swirling vortex.

When she opened her eyes again she saw the tall black-clad figure of Paloma standing on a ragged cliff looking out at a foam-spitting sea. Dazed and utterly confused, she looked around her. A small tranquil village lay below them. What she assumed was candlelight painted the windows of the houses yellow, giving the village a cozy feel. She turned to Paloma and found her looking at her. Before she could form a question, Paloma's voice carried on the breeze.

“I asked them to describe her to me.” The silence that followed was so absorbing that Inger leaned closer and would have stepped over the cliff in her eagerness if not for Paloma's strong arm that pulled her up tightly against her. It was quite cold and she was grateful for Paloma’s body heat. She smelled wonderful, like a mixture of the rain-soaked earth after the first spring shower and fresh crisp mountain air.

“What did they say she looked like?” Inger snuggled deeper into Paloma’s body.

“We can go ask them.”

Paloma’s hold tightened further around her body and Inger felt them moving. Fast and effortlessly, they cleaved through space and time. Just as suddenly they came to a stop. The strong smell of fresh fish assaulted her nostrils and opening her eyes Inger saw a battered wooden fishing boat bobbing on the waves in the harbor. It was quite dark, but after a while her eyes could make out a few shapes moving about on the deck. Paloma took off her long cloak and handed it to her. Instinctively, Inger knew she didn’t want her strange 20th century clothing to raise suspicions.

“Vittorio, my old friend, may I come aboard?” Paloma’s voice was gentle and almost immediately the commotion on the boat stopped.

“Cara, I have not seen you around for a while.” The man was speaking in rapid Italian and Inger was shocked to find that she understood every word he uttered. She looked up and found Paloma smiling at her.

“Vampire magic,” Paloma whispered. She turned to answer the man. “I have a friend here who would like to find out more about Lucia.”

The unseen man guffawed. “Ah, Lucia…she too disappeared when you left, my friend. Please, come aboard. The men just finished preparing dinner. I would be honored if you could stay and dine with us.”

“It would be an absolute pleasure to sample Antonio’s seafood special again.” Inger looked up at Paloma who was smiling down at her. “I will not swallow, I promise.”

Paloma led her to the climbing rope that doubled as stairs. Holding her close with one arm, Paloma scaled the rope easily and carefully placed her down on the swaying deck. A man, presumably Vittorio, came over to them clutching a lantern. Inger could see the confusion on his face, thinking he was probably wondering at the speed they’d scaled the rope. With the light falling directly on him, she was surprised to find that Vittorio was in fact quite old. She estimated him to be at least in his late seventies. A smoking pipe hung from his mouth, which was almost fully covered by a bushy moustache. The fisherman stepped closer and kissed Paloma’s hand. His admiration and affection for Paloma was evident as they shared a warm look before Vittorio turned to her. She saw his deep-set brown eyes blink a few times before he looked from her to Paloma and back.

“It is her.” He took a small step backwards, nervously licking his lips. “But how?” The question was directed at Paloma, who took a reassuring step in Vittorio’s direction and put an arm around the old man’s shoulder.

“When I met her she reminded me so much of Lucia that I decided to bring her to you. She didn’t believe me when I told her that she looked like our Lucia.”

Vittorio, assured by Paloma’s closeness and explanation, took a bold step towards her and reached for her long black hair. Rubbing several strands between his fingers, he shook his head.

“Yes, child, you look exactly like her. If I have not touched you myself, I would not have been truly convinced that you were not our Lucia.” He traced a rough finger down her cheek and gave her a wide smile. “You, too, are ciao bella. Come, let me go show you off to the others.”

<We will not stay long, my love. I do not feel comfortable having you here in this century. I have always believed that you are a reincarnation of Lucia or perhaps a descendant. If the two of you bump into each other now, we might inadvertently alter the future.>

Inger nodded and followed Vittorio to meet the other fishermen. They stayed for a delicious Italian seafood dish while the men regaled her with stories of Lucia. Some of the accounts sounded rather farfetched but looking at the men, Inger saw honest conviction in their eyes. Who was she to doubt them? Inger was surprised to find that she was actually sad to think that she had to bid farewell to the scruffy fishermen with their rough hands, quick smiles and warm eyes. She couldn’t help but laugh at the incredulous looks of the other men upon seeing her for the first time. Just like Vittorio, their first reaction was fear as they all tried to move away from her. They only relaxed after Vittorio’s explanation and then they swarmed her. After a while Paloma stood and held out her hand to her. The men looked crestfallen at their quick departure, but Paloma firmly refused their request to stay a while longer. When they were back at the cliff, Paloma cradled her face in her large hands.

“You will have to close your eyes so I can take you back.”

Inger did as she was asked, but quickly snapped them open again. Paloma’s gaze was questioning.

“Will I remember this when we return?”

“You will,” Paloma murmured. “But I can remove it if you want.”

“No,” Inger said quickly. “I want to keep these memories.” She grinned. “By the way, did you get that recipe from Antonio?”

At that Paloma threw her head back and laughed heartily. When her humor had subsided, she shook her head slowly. “You are the most extraordinary woman I know, Inger. Here you are almost 700 years in the past and the most pressing question you have is about a peasant dish.”

“It was really good, honey. It just melted in your mouth. I’m sorry you couldn’t taste it, but take my word for it. It was delicious.”

“Considering your appetite, I believe you. I can probably write out the recipe for you. Remember, I spent many nights on the boat with the men.”

Inger clasped her arms around Paloma’s neck. “How did I get so lucky?” She poured all her love and adoration for Paloma into the kiss she gave her. When their lips parted with a soft smack, Inger was pleased to see a dazed look in Paloma’s eyes. “Home?”

She watched with amusement as it took Paloma a few moments to collect herself.

“Yes. Now close your eyes.”

When Inger opened her eyes again she was surprised to find them back at the restaurant. If she remembered correctly they’d spent more than two hours with Vittorio and his crew, but back here everything was still unchanged.

“It’s as if time stood still here,” she said.

“The two timelines have no influence over each other, unless you deliberately change something in the past. Only then will it affect the present.”

The waiter appeared at their table again and only then Inger remembered her untouched drink. Smiling at the man, she ordered fresh drinks for her parents. When the waiter left to fill their orders, Inger took Paloma’s hand in hers and brought it to her lips. “It’s amazing to think that you knew me before we first met.”

“It was actually the other way around. As a baby, you recognized me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before today?” Inger looked at Paloma, watching the beautiful face closely.

Paloma blew out a noisy breath. “I am not sure. Maybe I was scared you would not believe me. As I watched you grow up, I was stunned by your resemblance to Lucia. I already knew then that I had found my one true love.”

Inger carefully looked around the floor and when she saw no one was looking at them, she leaned closer and gave Paloma a quick kiss.  “Have you met her? Lucia, I mean?”

“No. I only saw a likeness of her once. One of the fishermen managed to draw a painting of her while she was apparently sitting on a rock combing her hair.”

There was a slight ripple in the air and both Inger and Paloma turned to look at the stairs. Tahlia and Jemima came walking up the stairs, smiling and holding hands. They were both dressed in light linen suits. Tahlia in white and Jemima in a dove grey.

“I never thought it would be so nice to feel the sun on my skin again,” Jemima gushed while taking off her sunglasses and folding them. Tahlia on the other hand was more reserved, but not even she could hide the excitement that radiated off her in waves.

“I am glad you have managed to sort out your little misunderstanding.” Tahlia looked from Inger to Paloma. “I saw a large group of people playing chess in the park, and I fancy a game or two. Are you up for it, Paloma?”

Inger rolled her eyes while Jemima laughed softly. “Those guys look like professionals, my love. I don’t want you to be humiliated in public.”

Tahlia’s brow lifted arrogantly. “None of them has had two thousand years to refine their skill.” She turned to Paloma. “The two of us started playing at the age of ten. In our teenage years, we started to play for money or bread, which we took home to our parents.”

“Later it became a way for us to ground ourselves.” Paloma had a faraway look in her eyes as she spoke. “In between battles we would play chess to while away time or just to clear our heads.” Inger’s hand slipped into the vampire’s bigger one and squeezed softly. Their eyes met and Inger could see the shadows, brought on by Paloma’s memories, slowly recede.

“But today we will play for the pleasure it brings us both, my friend,” Tahlia said with a gentle smile.

Chapter Fifteen

Her hands shook so much, she knew she would give herself away if she reached for her wine glass. The beady little eyes of Mercredi were sharp and didn’t miss anything. Just as she suspected, she looked up and found the creature staring at her. She hated being in the same room with him, especially now that a rescue was a possibility. Still, she didn’t want to draw unneeded attention to herself. Luckily Mercredi was so distracted by his growing hatred for whoever killed his son and his plans for revenge that she knew he was bound to let his vigilance slip. It was then that she would take her chance.

She heard a faint echo in her mind and quickly erected mental blocks to keep Mercredi out. She had to find a way to get away from him so that she could verify the identity of this person seeking her out. She hated that Mercredi could, it he wanted, be privy to her thoughts and mental conversations. That was a drawback of him feeding on her blood regularly.

“My scouts have managed to find out who was responsible for Jonah’s death.” Mercredi’s raspy voice interrupted her thoughts.

“What is keeping you from pursuing them?”

The monster smiled, exposing stained fangs. She looked at him, her disgust visible on her beautiful face. “The time is not right. I know that they are aware of my presence here in the city, but they do not know when I will strike.”

She sniffed the air and felt her stomach recoil. The smell was unmistakable. Another human was going to die tonight. She had lost count of the number of humans Mercredi had killed in the past couple of weeks. His vicious bloodlust was the reason he couldn’t leave his lair to hunt. Even with the blood she provided to rejuvenate him, he already was too far gone. His stench was so repulsive that any human would smell him coming a mile away. She pushed her chair back and came to her feet. She needed to get away from him before she did or said something that might jeopardize her intended escape.

“Are you not going to stay for dinner? The animal blood you are taking is weakening you. One day it will sap your great strength, and you will have no purpose for me anymore.”

“The last thing I would like is to become a monster like you, Columbus. If you had listened to my advice all those centuries ago, you could still have retained your human form.”

Before the creature could respond, she left the room, walking past a group of guards. They were Mercredi’s personal security detail and followed her every move when she was outside her room. Her bedroom door closed behind her as she went to sit on the bed.

<Are you still there?>

There was a long silence before the voice answered. She was busy reading in the lounge when the voice sought her out, but before she could reply, Mercredi had entered the room.

<Yes.>

<Are you really who you said you are?>

<Count Lafayette? Of course. How do I know you are Genevieve?>

She smiled thinly. Pierre was an insatiable lover and like all vampire couples they too had loved to take each other’s blood during sex. He would flip her over and drink from her lower back, sending her off on another series of orgasms. As much as she wanted to confirm the true identity of the person, she didn’t feel comfortable revealing such personal details about her marriage. Maybe she could test his memory of the many travels they had taken together.

<In June 1775, my husband and I visited the South of France. Only he would know the name of the inn we stayed in. If you…>

<Valpré. The innkeeper Erwan and his wife Claudette had three daughters.>

There was a stunned silence from both sides.

Not even Tahlia or Jonas had known about their plans to go on holiday. Pierre had just returned from a battle and knowing how shattered he felt after all the killing, she had wanted to take him somewhere quiet with only her as his companion. Valpré was an ideal location. Pierre and Erwan had played chess almost every night for the two weeks they had stayed there, and the two men had grown to become good friends. It was one of the best holidays they’d ever had, with the only unpleasant memory being the amounts of solid food they had to eat to keep the couple from suspecting anything.

<Genevieve?> This time she heard a soft pain-filled echo in the deep voice.

She had to be sure. It was so long since she’d heard his voice it was impossible for her to recognize it anymore.

<If you are in fact Pierre Lafayette, why did you not respond all those centuries ago when I was trying to contact you?>

<Once I had searched for you all over and did not find you, I started to mourn you. To find closure, I blocked our mental channel completely.>

She felt a stirring in her mind. She quickly erected a powerful mental block. She didn’t want to lead the monster to Pierre. Not now that she had found him again.

<I need to go now.>

<No. Do you know where they are holding you?>

<We shall talk later.>

†

Pierre slammed his fist on the table, causing both Joan and Michael to jump in their seats. Tahlia slowly came to her feet to stand next to Pierre. They were all in the boardroom, waiting patiently as Pierre made contact with Genevieve.

“Is it she?”

Too emotional to speak, Pierre nodded, and Tahlia placed her hand on his broad shoulder.

“We will get her back.” She turned to Paloma and Juan. “Starting tonight, I suggest we list all the empty properties around town as well as the outskirts. We will divide ourselves in groups and search them all.” She turned to Jemima and Inger. “I would like for you two to do a bit of surveillance. If Mercredi is in town and has not been seen out and about, his victims are being delivered to him. Check the local police stations for missing persons. Find out how many reports have been filed in the past month and question family and friends for leads.”

“I know of someone who can infiltrate the renegades and bring back valuable information.” Once she had said it, Paloma almost immediately reconsidered her suggestion. Who said she could be trusted?

“Who is this person?” Jonas asked with a frown. “Unless he is a renegade it will not help us much.”

Paloma nodded slowly. “She is a renegade.”

The silence in the room was deafening. Tahlia’s eyes narrowed to slits. Even Pierre and Jonas were staring at her skeptically.

“We do not consort with them nor do we enlist their help. By the way, how do you know we can trust her?” Tahlia’s voice was cold.

“If Genevieve trusts her, it must mean something.”

“Genevieve?” Pierre asked slowly. “How do know that?”

“About a week ago, this renegade woman sought me out to deliver a message from Genevieve. She said Genevieve was here in New York, but that Mercredi is keeping their location secret, with a large group of renegades guarding him. Genevieve wanted to make contact with Pierre, but her mental path to him was blocked and Mercredi was suspicious, monitoring her brain patterns to intercept any communication.” Paloma gave Pierre an apologetic look. “I wanted to be sure before telling you.”

Joan cleared her throat softly. “Do you trust her, Paloma?”

What a loaded question. It might sound like she was committing high treason by what she was about to say, but she had no other choice. “I think she can be trusted. She was the one who was corresponding with Tahlia.”

She saw the angry flare in Tahlia’s eyes. “How did a renegade tap in on my mental channels?” Tahlia snarled, but Paloma knew that Tahlia was more disturbed over her answer. Royals and renegades are mortal enemies and looking at Tahlia’s granite face, it wasn’t going to change soon.

Paloma sat back in her chair. “I wondered about that too and have been considering different probabilities.” She pushed a hand through her hair. “I believe that she must have been converted by Genevieve. That is the most probable explanation I could come up with. If she was created by Genevieve then she is of our blood and could be a great help to us.”

The Royal Vampires looked at each other. This was a hard but necessary decision to make. Never before in their history had they enlisted the help of a renegade. But one of their own was in dire need of their help. They nodded simultaneously.

“Do you know where to find this woman?” Jonas asked.

Tahlia sat back, comfortable with Jonas taking over the rest of the proceedings.

“No. I will have to go look for her.”

“If you can, find her as soon as possible and arrange for her to meet with us.”

“I will leave as soon as we are done here. I have her scent, so it will not be difficult to track her down.”

†

Central Park looked peaceful, bathed in the silver rays of the moon. She had seen daylight scenes of the park on TV. It was always crawling with humans who congested the walkways. She suddenly stiffened, sniffed the air and almost gagged. She was here. How the hell could she have allowed her to sneak up on her like this? She wasn’t a fledgling. At her age it was a disgrace that she was such an easy target. But then, she wasn’t dealing with an amateur either. She turned slowly and froze.

The Assassin stood a hairsbreadth from her, forcing her to take a hasty step backwards. The silver eyes were expressionless, but she could feel the tightly contained aggression radiating from the woman. Her weapons were in her waistband, but with the master vampire standing so close, it would be suicide to try to reach for them. Paloma would cut her down even before she’d opened her jacket. The vampire simply stood there looking at her and that was when it hit her. If the vampire had wanted her dead she would’ve been dust by now. No use wondering, she thought as she straightened her shoulders.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of your deadly company, Assassin?” She tried to sound cocky and fearless and was glad her voice didn’t come out in a croak. She was surprised to see a faint flicker of amusement in the silver gaze, but it was gone so quickly that she almost thought she’d imagined it.

“I want to talk to you.”

Trinity heard the reluctance in the other woman’s voice and stifled a grin. They must really need her if they were willing to ask for the help of a lowly renegade.

“I am listening.”

There was soft rustle behind the vampire, and a tall gorgeous brunette stepped out from behind Paloma. She was young, maybe in her early twenties. The expression in the silver eyes when they touched on the human was astonishing. Paloma looked back at her and didn’t even hide her possessiveness. The human, on the other hand, stared back at her boldly. The woman’s bulging knee-length jacket, Trinity knew instinctively, concealed an arsenal of firearms. A kindred spirit, she thought wryly.

“What is it you want to talk to me about?” She was talking to Paloma, but her eyes still rested on the dark-haired beauty standing next to her. She’d heard so much about the legendary Vampire Assassin, but she had never thought she would one day meet her, let alone see this side of her. She was indeed lucky to have captured this deadly warrior in such an unguarded moment as she had when she had looked at her mate.

There was a sudden power surge in the air and quickly scanning the area she frowned when four heavily armed vampires appeared behind her. She relaxed slightly when her eyes fell on the tall, handsome blond vampire. She would know him everywhere. He was in her dreams—rather Genevieve’s dreams that she had inherited. If Genevieve was considered to be her mother, then this man undoubtedly would be her father. She cautiously took a step in his direction, but a tall dark woman held up her hand and glancing her way, Trinity gasped softly. The Vampire Queen. She truly was in the presence of greatness, surrounded by the three Royal Clan Vampires and the Assassin. The other dark male she didn’t know, but that didn’t make him less dangerous. The blond vampire was staring at her intensely, making her squirm inwardly. He stepped forward and held out his hand.

“My name is—”

“I know who you are.”

He nodded slowly. “Would you mind if I speak to you in private?” A sad look crossed his face, but it was gone almost immediately. “Please.” The last word was uttered so softly that she knew even if she’d wanted to she wouldn’t be able to say no. She nodded and followed him when he walked away from the group.

†

It was late when they reached the dorm and Inger was leaning heavily against Paloma’s solid frame. She unlocked the door, but before she could enter, she was roughly pulled back and shoved behind Paloma’s back. Shaken, she looked at Paloma to find the Assassin’s eyes had shaded to red.

“What’s wrong, Paloma?”

“There is someone in your room.” Paloma placed her hand on the door handle.

An unexpected cool breeze brushed against her. Inger turned sharply to find Jemima standing behind her. Jemima’s face looked like it was cast in stone.

“Stay behind us, Inger.” Jemima ordered sharply.

Paloma pushed the door open. They didn’t even bother to switch on the light, relying on their supernatural sight. Inger cautiously peered into the room.

“What are you doing here?”

At the sound of Paloma’s curt question, Inger burst into the room and quickly flicked on the light. She gasped when she recognized the person standing there clutching a knife Marsha! But how? Why? She really liked Marsha. She felt a dull ache in her chest. Marsha had been the only friend she had on campus. She recalled the one day after class when Marsha tried to fish out details about having seen her with Paloma on the balcony the previous night. She pushed past Paloma and came to stand in front of Marsha, but she made sure she was out of touching range.

“Why, Marsha? I thought we were friends.”

Marsha eyes spat fire and at her.

“Friends?” She waved her hand at the vampires surrounding her. “You fraternize with these…these monsters?” She lifted the knife, but Jemima lifted her hands and with a curt wave the knife was flung from Marsha hand. The next moment the girl dangled in the air, and Jemima’s hand was fisted in Marsha’s t-shirt.

“Why do you want to hurt my daughter?” She grabbed a handful of Marsha’s hair and exposed her neck. Inger knew what Jemima was going to do. Blood didn’t lie. Exposing her fangs, she opened her mouth wide; looking into Marsha horrified eyes and bit down. After a few sips she pushed Marsha away from her, sending the girl sprawling on the floor.

“She’s a blood cow. I think we may have found a lead.”

Tahlia suddenly materialized in the room. Her black eyes were so cold that even Inger felt a shiver run down her spine. “You call us the monsters, while you offer yourself to them as live feed.” Tahlia reached for the girl, but a warning look from Jemima made her step aside.

“I know your friend disappeared a few days ago. What do you know of the people who took her?” Jemima made sure that her fangs were showing as she spoke to Marsha “I’ve taken your blood, so you can’t lie to me. Now talk.”

Marsha’s tear-stained face was pulled in a stubborn mask. Jemima held up her hand and looked at it intently until it transformed into a claw. She reached out, but before she made contact, Marsha began to talk.

“Karin told me that she had this client who was a regular. The night she disappeared she went to this bar to meet him. I couldn’t go with her because I had a reading report I had to finish.” She brushed her tousled hair back with a shaky hand. “When she didn’t come back to her dorm room, I called the police to report her missing and told them to go look for her at Joe’s, a bar across town.”

Inger grimaced at hearing the name. Joe’s was one of her regular hunting spots.

“And?” Jemima prompted the shaken girl.

“She's still missing.”

“Are you blaming Inger for the disappearance of your friend?” Jemima wanted to make the link between the girl and her obvious hatred of Inger. Inger moved closer, eager to know the answer. Instead of answering, Marsha looked up at Inger and her eyes glowing with a fanatical light.

“She's a murderer,” she spat and her spittle sprayed over the vampire standing in front of her.

“How did you come to that conclusion?” Jemima’s voice was dangerously low.

“About a month ago, she and that…” Marsha pointed a shaking finger at Paloma. “that monster killed my brother and his friends at Joe’s.”

Inger stepped closer, understanding dawning. “You were with the blood cows in the back room?” She shook her head incredulously. “Those men we killed were all renegade vampires. They are ruthless killers. You and all the other blood cows place yourself in grave danger every time you allow them to feed off you.”

Marsha glowered at her, and Inger knew that no matter what she said, the girl was not going to listen.

“You are the danger,” Marsha replied. “You and your friends kill indiscriminately. I promised myself that I will avenge my brother’s death.” Her voice dripped venom.

“I didn’t kill your brother. I killed a monster that preyed on humans.” Inger said softly.

“And what about your friends? They too are monsters who live on human blood.”

Inger shook her head. “You are so wrong, Marsha. It’s because of them that we humans can still walk around freely at night without being attacked or killed by renegades. They keep the balance and protect humankind from the real monsters.”

Her eyes became somber as she looked long and hard at the rumpled-looking girl. It was still painful to think that the only other person on campus she regarded as a friend had been plotting her demise. Her duty as a Consortium member was to protect and serve no matter what the circumstance. She couldn’t leave Marsha to continue on this destructive path. She shuddered to think that one day she might be the one who might have to destroy Marsha if she were accidentally converted.

“A very dangerous renegade vampire is in town.” She tried to draw Marsha’s attention. “We need your help to track him down because we believe your friend was taken to him. For us to save her, we need to know where to find him.”

For a few moments she thought Marsha was going to ignore her, but the girl lowered her face into her hands and her shoulders began to shake. Helping her off the floor, Inger led Marcia over to the bed. Inger pulled her closer to her and held her tightly. They sat like that for a few minutes until Marsha’s tears subsided.

“I promise that we will do our best to save her if you can lead us to one of the people who recruit blood cows.”

Looking up, Marsha’s eyes were swimming in tears. “I don’t think she’s alive anymore.” The girl’s voice sounded so lost, that Inger gave her arm a gentle squeeze.

“Why do you say that?”

“I know of four other people in our circle who were recruited and were never seen alive again.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Our contact always hangs out at Joe’s. His name is Toro. He’s a big muscled man, with a bald head and a silver ring through his nose.”

Tahlia quickly stepped forward and before Marsha could pull away, Tahlia framed her face in her hands and stared deep into her eyes. After a few seconds she let go of Marsha who fell back on the bed, unconscious.

“Will she be OK?” Inger asked worriedly.

“Yes. I have erased her memory and planted new ones. She will not remember anything beyond coming to your room. You will have to overnight somewhere else. I know your final exams are coming up, but I do not think it is safe for you to come back here anymore.”

Nodding, Inger walked over to where Paloma and Jemima stood. Taking Paloma’s hand she left the room. In the hallway, she turned and pressed into Paloma’s tall frame. “I’m really tired and would like to go to bed now.” Physically and emotionally drained, she leaned heavily on her partner. “I…I just want you to hold me until I fall asleep.” She felt the soft lips of the Assassin press on her crown and she sighed deeply.

†

Lying next to Paloma, Inger’s mind was replaying the events of the night. She was very lucky that Paloma escorted her to her room or she probably would’ve been dead by now. She rolled onto her side and smiled weakly when she found Paloma looking at her, concern etched on her face.

“Do you want me to help you sleep?”

She reached out and traced the luscious lips with her fingertip. “How do you plan on doing that?”

Paloma playfully nibbled on Inger fingertip. “I can compel you.”

Inger snatched her hand away. “That’s it? You’re going to use a spell?”

Paloma lifted herself onto her elbow, her grey eyes warm. “Yes. You had quite a shock tonight and your body needs to process that.”

Reaching out Inger pushed her hand under Paloma’s pajama top. A few days ago they had gone shopping and she couldn’t resist the black silk pajamas, knowing they would look incredibly sexy on Paloma. She had been right. That same night Paloma had tried them on, Inger was so turned on by her lover’s appearance that she had shamelessly ravished her. Her hand skimmed over a taut nipple and she heard Paloma suck in her breath.

“You really need to rest, my love, and as much as I am tempted to surrender to your seduction, I will have to do the right thing.”

Gently tweaking the nipple, Inger frowned. “Which is?” She grinned when she saw Paloma’s eyes flutter closed, her mouth falling open. Leaning forward, she pressed a hard kiss on Paloma’s lips. “There are many other ways you can try to help me sleep, you know.”

“But not tonight.” The silver eyes looked into hers with an intense light glowing in their depths.

Inger felt a sudden sleepiness come over her and she turned accusing eyes on Paloma.

“Sorry, my love, but you need the rest.” Inger felt a soft peck on her cheek as her eyelids felt too heavy to keep open.

†

Once she was sure that Inger was comfortable, Paloma quickly checked the safeguards and went to the lounge. Tahlia and Jemima were sitting on a couch chatting softly. They came to their feet when she appeared.

“She is asleep.”

They dissolved and solidified in an alley behind the bar.

†

Tahlia sniffed the air and grimaced. These kids have no idea in how much danger they place themselves in. “There are blood cows inside.” She turned to look at Jemima and frowned. Jemima was nowhere to be seen. She must’ve transported herself inside, she thought with sudden alarm.

<Pray that you are safe, my love, because if not, I will personally make you pay.>

<Sometimes you and Paloma are too slow for my liking. I’m waiting for you inside.>

Inside, the bar was fully packed and a quick sniff confirmed that more than half of tonight’s patrons were not human. Paloma wrinkled her nose in distaste and followed Tahlia to where Jemima stood at the beer-stained bar. As they walked through the throng of renegades, they could feel their eyes on them. Some quickly made for the exit.

“He’s not here tonight. Maybe we should wait for him outside,” Jemima said when they joined her.

“Now all that is left is to clean out the bar.”

The door to the bar swung open, and a sexy redhead in a tight black leather outfit walked in. Tahlia heard Paloma curse under her breath.

Chapter Sixteen

With an overconfident swagger, the redhead walked over to the far corner of the bar. She was barely seated when two male renegades approached her.

“Hey, beautiful, you up for some company?” the taller of the two men asked.

“If I had wanted company, I would have brought my own,” Trinity snapped and ordered a glass of wine. She hadn’t sensed the presence of the master vampires in the bar from the outside and only noticed them when she stepped inside. She could feel their eyes on her, and judging by the tension in the air, a fight was inevitable.

The two men moved in closer and she felt her patience slip. Just as she was about to tell them off, they were unceremoniously pulled away and tossed across the floor, capsizing tables and chairs in the process.

“I can take care of myself and do not need your help,” she snapped.

“Yes, you do. Now get out of here. You do not want to be caught in the middle of this fight.” Tahlia’s eyes were deep pits of rage, her power swirling around her.

“Why do you care, anyway?”

The Queen’s eyes narrowed fractionally. “Because when we leave this bar in exactly 3 minutes, no renegade will be left standing, including you.” The words were uttered calmly, but Trinity knew it wasn’t an idle threat. As good as she knew she was, there was no way that she could take on three master vampires at once.

She pushed away from the bar and without a backward glance made for the exit. She was a few feet from the door when she felt a powerful pulse and turned. Shocked, she watched as one renegade after the other fell at the feet of the three women. They worked the room like a tornado. All she could make out were three blurry shadows cutting through the throng of renegades. She knew that they were simply using their sense of smell to differentiate between human and renegade. Falling in the latter group, she quickly left.

She had been hunting renegades for centuries, destroying the ones she knew deserved to be killed, but seeing these master vampires at work made the hair rise at the back of her neck. They killed brutally and without remorse. She prayed that they would never have to come after her.

She had barely stepped into the shadows when a motorcycle came to a stop outside the bar. The rider took off the helmet and Trinity’s eyebrows shot up. It was Paloma’s lover. She stepped deeper into the shadows and was shocked when the girl peered into the shadows where she was hiding. The blue eyes were icy and Trinity knew that she’d been detected.

With a shrug she stepped into the light, her hands resting on the holsters of her handguns. The Assassin’s mate also had her hands under her long coat. From the human’s stance she knew that fighting her would not be a one-sided affair. The girl exuded loads of confidence.

“What are you doing here?” The tone was brusque.

“Same as you…hunting.” She stepped closer to the girl and was mildly surprised when she stood her ground. She had spunk. “What's a beautiful girl like you doing with a dangerous woman like the Assassin, anyway?”

The blue eyes hardened further and she saw the minuscule tightening of the small hand on the weapon that was concealed under the long overcoat. “Why don’t you ask her yourself?”

The blue eyes looked passed her and Trinity stiffened. She had been so absorbed by the presence of the girl that she hadn’t noticed Paloma’s presence. It seems she was making it a habit of letting her guard down around the most deadly killer on the planet. When she turned, she looked into the blood-red eyes of a very possessive lover.

“What business do you have talking to her?” Paloma voice was so quiet, it bordered on ominous.

Trinity grinned and took a step back. “Actually, we just bumped into each other and I reckoned it would seem very rude not to even greet her, seeing as we are in the same line of work.”

Paloma moved fast. The next moment Trinity found herself hoisted up in the air by the front of her leather jacket, her feet dangling in the air.

“You need to stop manhandling me, Assassin. It is becoming really annoying.”

“If I ever see you near my…ward again, I will destroy you.” Paloma dropped her.

Although she landed on her feet, Trinity sent Paloma a cold stare. She hated the way the woman treated her, but she also knew that she wasn’t powerful enough to take her on. Without a glance to the human, she dissolved. Feeling bruised and abused, there was only place she knew where to go to restore her good mood.

†

A dull blue light shone through the curtains. Trinity shook her head slowly. She was at it again. It was close to 2 a.m., and still the teenager was busy on her computer. She moved closer and melted into the shadows of the darkened room. A quick glance at the computer screen made her frown in displeasure. What the hell was a fifteen year old doing on a dating site? Her eyes moved from the computer screen to the blue-black shoulder length hair. The girl seemed to be oblivious to her presence, giving Trinity the chance to quietly observe her.

Gabriella Talos was a survivor. Born into an immigrant family from Puerto Rico, her parents and younger brother were killed barely two months after their arrival in the States, leaving the beautiful seven year old orphaned. The night Gabriella’s family was killed; Trinity had been tracking a gang of renegades who were spreading terror in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood, leaving the police baffled by the murders. That night, she had caught them in the act.

When she arrived at the scene, they’d already slaughtered Jose and Armelia and were feeding on five year old Jorge. Another member of the gang was dragging a beautiful dark-haired girl into the room. His hand fisted in her hair as he pulled her toward the center of the room.

Trinity was standing outside by the window, debating whether it was worth it to take on seven renegades to rescue one child. She didn’t know how the girl knew of her presence, but she had turned her head to the window, looked her straight in the eye and mouthed for her to help her. By the time she had gotten over her shock the renegades had tossed Jorge’s body away like a piece of soiled cloth and were reaching for the girl. The big dark eyes were begging her, and she had obliged.

Because she couldn’t enter the house without an invitation, she had relied on her trusted Glocks to do the job for her. From outside she had picked off the vampires with unerring accuracy, pumping wooden pellets into their chests. Afterwards she had gently persuaded the girl to the door. Trinity had gathered the cowering girl in her arms and took her to a nearby convent. She’d thought that would be the only contact she was ever going to have with the human girl, but she had returned to the convent the very next evening.

The girl intrigued her. A wave of emotion had come over her when she’d held the sobbing girl in her arms. The thin trembling arms were clasped tightly around Trinity’s neck and her wet face was pressed into her shoulder. The trust the child put in her that night had set off an overwhelming need to protect her. She knew then that her future was to be irrevocably linked with the girl’s.

Trinity visited the convent again two days later. She was informed that the child’s name was Gabriella Talos and that she had been moved to an orphanage a day earlier. She had left money for the burial of the slain Talos family members and went in search of Gabriella.

A wonderful family who raised her like their own—under Trinity’s watchful eye, of course, quickly adopted Gabriella. She had checked in on Gabriella regularly, making sure she was safe and that she never wanted for anything. At first, Clara and Mark Jameson had questioned the motives of the faceless Samaritan who deposited vast amounts of money in their bank account, but after a while they accepted the monetary gifts. Trinity had set up a college fund for Gabriella, hoping she would one day opt to go to college and not return to the abject poverty awaiting her in Puerto Rico. As selfish as it sounded, she couldn’t think of losing the girl, her only ray of light in her otherwise dark existence.

The chair creaked and Trinity was quickly brought back to the present. Wide amber eyes were looking back at her. She smiled at the girl and ruffled her hair affectionately. Gabriella always looked at her with so much affection and trust.

“Why are you sneaking up on me? I had expected you much earlier.”

“I had to attend a meeting.” If that is what my humiliation could be called, Trinity thought bitterly.

Gabriella walked into her arms and they hugged for a long while.

“You’re sad. I can feel it.” The amber eyes were serious. “Who hurt you so?”

“Ah, it was just some…some vampire bully.”

“Why didn’t you just kick his ass?”

She gave the girl a stern look. “Watch your language, mija.” She playfully tapped her on the tip of the nose. “By the way, the bully is so much more powerful than me. In fact, she is one of the most dangerous vampires alive.”

The girl pulled away, her eyes big in her young face. “Is she a bad vampire?”

To me, yes, Trinity thought, but for Gabriella’s sake she shook her head. “No. She is a good vampire and part of my mother’s clan.”

The brown eyes were solemn. “When will I meet your mother?”

“One day, mariposa, one day. Tomorrow is a school day, and it is way past your bedtime. Get some sleep.” She would question her on the dating site business later. For tonight she just wanted to bask in the acceptance of this child.

An hour later she lay listening to the gentle snores of the teenager she held in her arms.

†

Inger refused to make eye contact with her irate partner even as she felt the silver eyes resting on her with burning intensity.

“I thought you were asleep when I left.” Paloma’s voice was calm, belying the anger Inger knew the vampire was feeling.

Inger shrugged and carefully studied her lover’s bloodied clothes, assessing her body for injuries. “You're getting negligent where I am concerned, my love. I’m psychic and have the ability to thwart many of your mental coercions.”

Paloma stared at her in silence, before she turned away and held the door open. Inger was surprised at the lack of any further argument. But she knew Paloma well enough to know that the issue wasn’t resolved by a long shot.

“It is messy in there.”

Paloma wasn’t kidding, Inger thought as she entered the bar. The tile floor was sticky with blood and body parts were spread all over. She saw Tahlia frown when her eyes lit on her, and Inger groaned under her breath as Jemima came striding over to where she stood.

Sometimes it was hard for her to believe that the two women who raised her with so much love and tenderness were capable of such violence. What she saw before her was a massacre. From the body parts strewn around it was difficult to gauge how many renegades were killed. All she knew was that there were a lot of them.

“It’s dangerous for you to be out here.” Jemima was speaking to her, but her eyes rested on Paloma. “I thought you said she was asleep.”

“It appears she was faking.”

Nobody said anything more as they swiftly cleaned up the scene. While the others worked in the bar area, Inger walked down the long corridor past the restrooms to the small storeroom at the back. She pushed open the door and gasped.

†

For the second time that night she lay in bed mulling over all that had happened earlier. Paloma hadn’t said a word to her since their return and she figured that she was still angry with her. It was the first time they lay in bed together without Paloma’s strong arms holding her. She turned her head and found Paloma looking at her. Paloma appeared calm, but she could sense her inner-turmoil.

The last time Paloma had spoken to her was when she’d come looking for her and found her in the storeroom. Something must have gone horribly wrong, because what she’d witnessed would stay with her forever. She was rooted to the floor as she watched the scene before her with revulsion.

There were two women and a man, but it was difficult to tell them apart, since they were all in the process of changing and were ferociously feeding on one another. Their eyes were gleaming with bloodlust and their fangs stained with blood as they were ripping chucks of flesh from each other. When they’d sensed her presence, they had lunged for her. She must’ve made a sound because, just as she was pulling out her guns, Paloma was in the room with her. She grabbed the one nearest to her and snapped its head off. The other two Inger felled with a rain of bullets.

“You should be more careful in the future.” The silver eyes were cool and distant. “We did not have time to sweep the whole building yet.” She had turned and continued with her task of dragging bodies together before incinerating them.

Paloma had pointedly ignored her since then. Inger could tell that even her parents had noticed that something was wrong because she found them casting worried looks between her and Paloma. When they’d arrived at home, they went through their nightly rituals in silence and slipped into bed.

Looking into the eyes of her lover, Inger realized that since they had met two and half months ago, she had never thought that Paloma would ever be so angry at her that she’d refuse to even talk to her. It seems she was mistaken…and she hated having Paloma angry at her.

“I’m sorry, my love,” she apologized softly, her hands itching to touch the vampire’s face. She hated not being able to touch Paloma. They were an extremely physical couple and touching each other was a pivotal part of maintaining intimacy for them.

The silver eyes warmed a fraction, but Paloma still kept her distance. “Why did you do it?”

“I knew my parents were waiting in the lounge and that you were up to something.” Her hand moved under the covers and she found Paloma’s hand. “I didn’t want to be kept in the dark anymore.”

“What do you mean ‘anymore’?”

Inger came up to rest on her elbow. “Before we met I was free to come and go as I wanted. I’ve hunted and killed many renegades without the assistance of anyone. But now, I can’t even leave the house without a companion.” She squeezed Paloma’s hand. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but in a way I miss my independence—and the sense of adventure.”

Paloma reached out and pulled Inger against her naked body. Inger shivered at the familiar sensation of Paloma’s skin against hers.

“I understand how you feel, Inger, but do you realize what it will do to me if something happens to you.” The husky voice sounded shaky. “Your mother advised me to have this conversation with you a while back, but I never thought that I would need to.”

“What does my mother have to do with this?” she asked in a wary tone. Her parents had promised to allow Paloma and her space in which to explore their relationship and not to interfere. If they had gone back on their word she would really be—

Paloma interrupted her thoughts. “They did not go back on their word. They simply wanted you to understand what it meant to be forever bonded to a vampire.”

“What are you talking about?” Inger asked with a frown.

“When I pledged my life and heart to you, I did so literally.” She gently caressed Inger cheek and smiled. “I take it that you know your parents’ history? How they met and how they finally managed to be together twenty centuries later?”

“I know bits and pieces, but what does it have to do with us

“We are in the same boat now. I am forever linked to you and once you grow old and perish, I will wait for you until you are reincarnated again.”

“Yes. But my parents—”

Again, Paloma did not allow Inger to finish her sentence. “We might not be as lucky as your parents, Inger.”

Paloma looked away but not before Inger had seen the bleakness clouding her eyes. This was not what she’d expected to hear. She’d thought it was a given that they would love each other throughout eternity—like her parents.

“But as long as you are still alive there is a chance for us, Paloma?” When Paloma still refused to look at her, Inger became worried and turned Paloma’s face so she could look into the silver eyes. They were so sad that she couldn’t help dreading the answer to the question she was about to ask. “What are you not telling me?”

Paloma bent her head and planted a tender kiss on the soft lips. “When I joined us, I placed my life in your hands. No other vampire has lived through the loss of a partner. We thought Pierre was the exception to the rule. It gave us all hope that maybe it was possible to survive the demise of a partner. We know now that Pierre survival was because Genevieve was not dead. Their souls were still joined and that had kept them both alive.” She turned away again. “You might not be reincarnated for centuries and I might not be there when you are finally reincarnated.”

Inger pushed away from Paloma and came into a sitting position. When she turned to look at her, Paloma saw the horror in the blue eyes.

“No. I will not let you do that. Not for me. We will have to reverse the joining.”

Paloma shook her head. “It cannot be undone. And even if we could, I would not want to. I will perish without you. I wish for you to understand why I am so scared of losing you. Why I cannot stand it when you put your life in danger. Inger, I am absolutely terrified of living in a world without you.”

Inger’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at Paloma.

†

Paloma reached for the soft hand that was resting on Inger’s lap and brought it to her lips. She cursed her thirst when, for a brief moment, she was distracted by the soft splashing sound of warm blood coursing through Inger’s veins. She had fed tonight and fed well. Because of the anger she’d felt towards her human lover, it could’ve been risky to approach her. Just as much as her desire fed her thirst, so did anger. She felt the gentle probing in her mind and quickly erected a block. What a disaster it would be for Inger to find her fantasizing about drinking her blood.

<You can’t hide anything from me. I can read your thoughts even without us being in the same room.>

Paloma groaned softly and lifted her head to look into the somber azure gaze.

<That is a sign of our union. Only the one I claim can access the most private of my being—my thoughts.>

Inger nodded and lay back, unceremoniously pulling Paloma down with her and cradling her in her arms. They lay like that, wrapped around each other, for a long while. Their soft breathing being the only sound in the room.

“What if I become a vampire—like you?”

Paloma stiffened and pulled away from Inger. Within the blink of an eye, she found herself standing in the farthest, darkest corner of the big room. Strange how she’d been expecting the question, but she was completely stunned by how terrified the thought of Inger as a vampire made her. Tahlia was right. Inger didn’t belong in the shadows. She would wither and die.

“Please, do not speak of that again. Do not even think of asking me to convert you.” Paloma’s voice was so hoarse it came out as a deep throaty growl. “I made a promise to your mother.”

She saw Inger reach for the switch on the bed lamp. Paloma blinked when she saw the stubborn set of Inger’s chin.

“It’s my life and I can do with it as I please,” she said flatly.

Paloma came to sit on the edge of the bed. She tilted Inger’s face so they were looking at each other. Her eyes bore into Inger’s.

“There is something you need to understand, Inger. I am not only your mother’s loyal servant; I am her best friend, too. I want you to apologize for that wayward remark you just uttered. Your mother is one of the most honorable beings alive and has always and selflessly placed the needs and safety of others above her own. She does not deserve the disrespect you are showing with such remarks. Nor would I want to be the reason you destroy your relationship with her.” The silver eyes softened. “I am simply not worth it, no matter what you might think.”

†

Thoroughly chastised, Inger ducked her head. She felt the presence in her mind and was engulfed by sudden sadness. Inger realized that one of her parents must’ve established a mental link earlier and was trying to slip stealthily out of her mind.

<Mother,> she called softly, but only silence greeted her soft enquiry. <I felt you. Please forgive me.> Still there was no answer. She turned to Paloma.

“You are right. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I acted out of desperation when I said it. I will talk to my parents tomorrow.”

Paloma nodded and reached for her, her eyes shining with admiration. “You need to sleep now, sweetie, for tomorrow we need to be up very early.”

†

Jemima turned away slowly, a frown on her face. Inger was thinking of becoming a vampire. She had been worried about Inger’s state of mind earlier tonight. When she’d left with Paloma she had established a mental connection just to assure herself that she would be okay, especially after she’d noticed the strained atmosphere between the two lovers. Even if she didn’t want to accept it, Inger was right. It was her life to do with as she pleased. Jemima doubted that Tahlia would look at it that way.

Jemima rinsed her face with cold water and strolled into their sleeping chamber. Tomorrow would be their last day before the drug wore off and they were once again confined to the night and its shadows. Despite the interesting sights and sounds that the sunlight afforded, after twenty years of living as a vampire, she’d missed the serene beauty of the night. She adored the night—the sounds, the smells and especially the moon-kissed landscapes—especially with her dark lover by her side.

She looked at Tahlia as she lay on her back with her eyes closed. My baby. A small smile formed on her lips. Tahlia needn’t know about Inger’s issue now. Tomorrow was too important a day for the both of them, although Tahlia was completely in the dark about her plans. For the past two days she had refrained Tahlia from taking her blood, not wanting her to know of her plans. She walked over to the bed and the black eyes opened. Tahlia spread her arms in a loving invitation. Dropping her robe, Jemima slipped into Tahlia arms and after a kiss, closed her eyes.

“We need to be up very early tomorrow.”

“Why?” Tahlia murmured with her nose buried in Jemima’s hair.

“You will just have to wait and see.”

Jemima smiled when she felt Tahlia’s presence in her mind and erected a strong mental block.

<No you won’t, my dear. Goodnight.>

†

Seven hours later, Tahlia found herself standing opposite James, who was decked out in a tan suit, sporting a wide toothy grin. Standing next to him, Rafina was dressed in a beautiful ecru gown with matching blue accessories. She, too, wore a mysterious smile. Feeling completely out of the loop, Tahlia slowly turned to look at all the others gathered in the spacious lounge of James’ mansion. They were all dressed up and her eyes widened when Jonas and Pierre strode into the room. Both men looked very handsome in latte-colored suits with sky blue silk ties.

Since Jemima entered her life, she felt like she was not as on top of everything as before. Today was a good example. She hadn’t even known about Jonas and Pierre’s plan to have the drug administered to them. Was Jemima orchestrating a coup d’état right under her nose?

Jonas nodded curtly and walked over to where Joan was chatting to a somber-looking man in a black suit. She spotted Paloma, dressed in tight fitting black pantsuit, standing next to a teary-eyed Inger who looked beautiful in a tight body-hugging beige dress. She studied her appearance in a mirror nearby and frowned. Shaking her head, she was tempted to slap her forehead. How could she be so stupid? She should’ve known when Jemima had insisted she wear the tan pantsuit, but, until this very moment, she hadn’t realized what was going on. The familiar notes of Mendelssohn’s The Wedding March filled the room, and everyone turned towards the door. Swallowing hard, she also turned to face the door. She was getting married!

Jonas and Pierre pulled the doors open and Tahlia felt the blood rush to her head. Jemima stood in the doorway. With her tongue glued to the roof of her mouth, Tahlia could only gape at the exquisite vision. Dressed in a brilliant blue dress, which set off the color of her sapphire eyes and her long blonde hair falling free on her naked shoulders, Jemima looked so gorgeous that Tahlia felt her heart swell with pride. She was marrying the most beautiful woman in the universe.

Jonas, Pierre, Rafina, and Inger fell in behind Jemima as she slowly hooked her arm through James’ arm and made her way to where Tahlia stood. She was aware of the somber-looking man coming over to stand next to her, but she only had eyes for the beautiful woman walking towards her. Their eyes met and held until Jemima stood next to her.

“I cannot believe you managed to organize all this…” She included everything and everyone with a sweep of her hand. “without my knowledge. At least now I understand why I was refused sex for the past two days.” The look she gave Jemima was filled with all the love and desire she felt for her. Jemima blushed and averted her eyes.

<Don’t look at me like that, Tahlia. Not now.>

<Later then, my love.>

She took Jemima’s hand and brought it to her lips. The somber gentleman cleared his throat and together they turned to face him. Well, what do you know, Tahlia thought as her eyes welled up. I am getting married to the woman of my dreams.

Chapter Seventeen

Inger stood on the balcony overlooking the garden while the other guests enjoyed the delicious breakfast being served by the caterers. Her parents had looked so happy together and seeing them like that brought tears to her eyes. After the ceremony it was so cute to see them holding hands as they accepted well wishes and greetings from the guests. She turned and leaned back against the balustrade, searching for her parents amid the throng of wedding guests.

Michael and a few of the Consortium members stood in a group, sipping coffee, obviously talking shop. Shunning the spotlight, Tahlia leaned against the wall as her eyes followed her bride like a hawk. On the other side of the room, Jemima was engaged in a lively conversation with a few female hunters.

Returning her gaze to Tahlia, Inger again was overwhelmed by guilt. This morning Paloma had once again given her a mouthful over the remark she’d made last night, and it was with a heavy heart that they drove to her grandfather’s mansion. The dark head turned slowly and the black eyes met hers, making her heart melt at the warm look that crossed Tahlia’s features.

<Do you want to join me?>

She quickly crossed the distance between them and sighed when she was wrapped in her mother’s strong embrace.

<I didn’t mean what I said, Mother. It just came out, and I’ve regretted it ever since. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?>

Tahlia bowed her head and pressed a soft kiss on the crown of Inger’s head.

<I doubt there is anything that would make me stay angry with you for longer than a second, Inger. By the way, I do not even know what you are talking about, but I appreciate your coming to me.>

Inger snuggled deeper into Tahlia’s arms. A soft tap on her shoulder made Inger turn reluctantly to face the intruder. She grinned when she looked into Jemima’s twinkling eyes.

“You’re hanging onto the wrong woman, missy; yours is over there.” She pointed to where a gushing Joan was bending Paloma’s ear. “And by the looks of it, she needs rescuing from Joan. The woman never stops when it comes to work stuff, and it seems as if Paloma is her latest research project.”

Rolling her eyes, Inger walked over to where an obviously uncomfortable Paloma was being interviewed by a fired-up Joan. The silver eyes reflected her relief when she turned and saw Inger coming towards them.

“Hi Joan, I think Jonas was looking for you earlier.”

Joan’s green eyes were contemplative as she looked at Inger.

“Nice try, girly. Jonas is a vampire and knows where I am every moment of every day.” She lightly patted Paloma’s arm. “I’m done for now, but I still have so much I want to ask you.” With a naughty wink at Inger, she sauntered off to where Jonas waited for her, his hand outstretched and his dark eyes tender.

Inger couldn’t help but notice how odd they looked together. Jonas was young, dark and unbelievably handsome, whereas, Joan looked like she could’ve been his mother, with the light sprinkling of grey hair that graced her temples and the laugh lines that decorated her lips. With admiration she studied Joan’s frame as she slipped into Jonas’ arms. She still looked good for a fifty-two year old woman—tall, sexy and slim.

<Does it bother you that Joan looks older than Jonas?>

She turned to look up into Paloma’s eyes.

<Not really, but it does look odd. I guess I will have to get used to it though. One day I might look like I’m your mother, too.>

Paloma took her hand. “Do you want to go out on the balcony?”

On the balcony, they quietly stood next to each other. Each was busy with her own thoughts. After a while Paloma broke the silence. “The judge is still here.”

Inger turned to look at her, perplexed. “What do you mean?”

“Just what I said.”

Paloma’s eyes were studying her closely, and Inger became more confused at the wary look she saw in them. What did The Honorable John Stephens have to do with them? The longer she stared at Paloma, the more nervous Paloma became. Think, Inger, think, she prodded herself mentally. She turned to look for the bulky figure of the judge and found him talking quietly with Michael and Dr. Lorraine Carter. She studied the man for a while and her eyes fell on the book in his hand. The Bible! She turned back to Paloma.

“Are you serious?” she asked incredulously.

“Yes. What do you think? Shall we?”

She had never thought about that. Getting married had never been on her list of priorities. When she turned twenty all she’d been looking forward to was graduating, joining a law firm, and finding herself a nice apartment. In her meticulously planned future, her love life was going to stay the same—no-strings-attached sex with beautiful lusty women.

Paloma happened and her life was tossed upside down. Her gaze softened as she looked into her lover’s eyes. For the first time she had experienced true love. She had finally found somebody to go home to and someone to cuddle up with in front of the TV. Paloma gave her all that and more. Gone were the nights spent in cold hotel rooms with a stranger’s body for comfort.  But marriage was too sudden for her to process at this stage.

She reached out her hand and gently stroked Paloma’s hand. “I love you, Paloma. More than I have ever thought myself capable of...”

“But?” Paloma prompted softly.

“I’m still getting used to our relationship and—” She didn’t get to finish her sentence, for Paloma turned away sharply, a deep growl vibrating through her tense body. Her eyes shaded from grey to red as they scanned the garden.

Inger watched as a line of vampires filed through the door, leaped off the balcony and stealthily spread out into the garden. Paloma quickly pushed Inger behind her as she searched the hills surrounding the mansion.

“Someone is out there. I can sense them.” Paloma turned and pushed Inger through the double door. “Close the door, and do not open it until we are back.” In one fluid movement Paloma turned, dropped off the balcony, and disappeared into the garden.

Inger touched the air with her senses and recoiled at its thick evil aura. Stepping back, she pulled the curtains shut. At that exact moment, a knock sounded on the front door. She turned to find Michael, Joan, and Dr. Carter each pulling out a firearm.

“Don’t answer that. Warn the servants not to open the door for anyone,” Michael instructed sharply. Inger quickly ran down the hallway to stop the housekeeper, already halfway to the entrance.

“No, Juanita, do not answer the door.” She stepped past the puzzled maid and put the safety chain in position. Standing close to the door, she felt her stomach turn. Their visitor was not here for a social call. The evil presence on the other side of the door was very strong.

She grabbed Juanita by the hand and pulled her away from the door. “Go quickly and make sure all the doors are locked.”

The girl was completely stunned by Inger’s strange behavior and stood rooted to the spot, Inger grabbed her close and shook her. “Now, Juanita, now!”

The doorbell sounded again, and Inger jumped at the sudden intrusion. Michael and Joan came to join her. “We have CCTV cameras around the house. There's a monitor in my grandfather’s study. It’s the second door on your left.”

A loud thump banged against the door, and she heard the door squeak under the power of the blow. Another blow followed with the same results. With a sudden feeling of unease, Inger sized up the door. If the battering continued, it would not hold. At that moment Joan came rushing out of the study, her face pale.

“Whatever we do, we shouldn’t let it in.”

“What are we dealing with, Joan?”

“A ghoul.” Joan’s voice was shaky.

The silence that hung in the air was thick with trepidation. Ghouls are the daylight hounds of vampires. Zombie-like beings, they are kept alive by a vampire’s spell. Fed on the blood of their vampire masters they are turned into grisly errand boys. Ghouls are incredibly strong, and some even succeeded in killing vampires. The door squeaked again and this time, a splinter came loose and fell to the floor. It made Inger jump into action.

“The bunker! We need to get everyone in the bunker. The door down there is solid steel, and not even a ghoul would stand a chance against it.”

She was glad to see Joan and Michael reacting quickly as they began to herd everyone to the basement. Checking the clip on her gun, Inger took a few steps away from the door. She was ready for whatever was forcing its way through the door. Suddenly the door flew off its hinges, and Inger opened fire.

†

Inger! Paloma’s heart jerked in her chest at the sudden feeling of fear that gripped her. Before she’d turned around to announce her intention of returning to the mansion, Tahlia and Jemima were already speeding towards the house. A few yards from the house, Paloma stopped and sniffed the air. Whoever planned this assault knew what they were doing. The six ghouls hidden in the hills had lured all the vampires out of the house, leaving the humans sitting ducks.

The front door was ajar. Judging from the scratches and dents, whatever gained access into the house was very strong and very determined to get inside. Paloma again sniffed the air. A car waited nearby. She could smell the carbon dioxide from the exhaust. Tahlia stepped through the doorway while Jemima lifted her hands and floated up to the second story, entering the house through the balcony.

Paloma turned and moved in the direction of the waiting car. In the distance she could still hear the ongoing battle between the vampire hunters and the ghouls. Cloaking her presence, she walked right up to the service van parked outside the high wall of the mansion.

A man, the driver she presumed, was leaning against the driver’s door, smoking a cigarette. He must’ve sensed her presence, because he flicked away his half-smoked cigarette, hopped into the driver’s seat, and drove off.  No one else was in the van with him, but his behavior was suspicious enough for her to follow the speeding vehicle. The mansion was rather isolated and there was no one for another 5 km. Why would an empty van be parked here at the same time a group of ghouls attacked the house? She was convinced the driver somehow was part of the ambush.

†

Inger groaned and lifted a shaky hand to her throbbing head, she stiffened when she encountered a large bump. That is not good, she thought. She tried to sit up, but fell back immediately when the world began to spin dangerously. She lay still and took a deep breath as she waited for the pain to ebb. A feeling of déjà vu washed over her as she remembered the last time she had been kidnapped. Where was she and what happened? Cautiously opening her eyes, she looked around slowly so as not to jar her aching head. She was surrounded by total darkness. Frowning, she turned her head to the other side and gasped. Twin red dots glared at her from across the dark expanse.

A vampire!

The last thing she remembered was directing the staff to the bunker. A quick head count revealed that her grandparents where not amongst the group. She’d dashed upstairs to their room to collect them. She never made it to their suite, however, because something heavy crashed into her body from behind and everything went black. Having peppered the ghoul at the door with bullets, causing it to run off, she’d though it was safe to check up on the others. This second ghoul had taken her by surprise.

She heard a soft scuffle, and the red dots disappeared. Groaning, she tried to sit up again, probing the darkness. When she turned her head she bit back a scream. The red dots were closer now, and she cringed inwardly when she heard a soft snarl. As she watched, the dots came closer and closer until she could feel the warm breath on her cheek. The growl grew deeper and she closed her eyes tightly. What the hell was a vampire doing up at this early hour of the day anyway?

< Mother, where are you?> she screamed.

The door abruptly slammed open and a ray of light fell onto her. The vampire hissed angrily, but didn’t move away from her. She could still feel its hovering presence nearby.

“Ah, I see you two are getting along just fine,” a deep male voice said. Squinting to see the face of the newcomer, Inger grew frustrated when all she could see was the person’s outline. She slowly rolled away from the lurking vampire and grunted when she fell onto a hard floor. She realized she must’ve been lying on an elevated surface and had rolled over the edge.

The newcomer laughed as Inger struggled to her feet, her head pounding. Just as soon as she’d come to her feet, two cold hands clamped onto her upper arms, and she was dragged backwards into the shadows. She stiffened when she heard the vampire’s ragged breath from behind her.

“I know you are hungry, but the Master wants to see her first. In her human form, that is.”

She heard a light switch being flicked, and light suddenly filled the room. Blinking as her eyes adjusted to the brightness, Inger noted that the room was empty except for a concrete slab in the center. She was still held tightly against the vampire, making it impossible for her to move.

Inger’s gaze narrowed when her eyes fell on the man. Toro! He fitted Marsha’s description to the letter: gleaming bald head, heavy muscles, and big nose ring. She felt the vampire’s hold tighten and bit back a scream at the piercing pain of the creature’s sharp nails. She wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her fear or pain. Renegades thrive on pain and would think nothing of toying with her to exert even more pain before they killed her.

“You heard what I said. Lord Mercredi wants to see the human. Now!” The man’s voice cracked like a whip in the quiet room, but he kept his distance. “You are only to feed when he says so.”

“Then come get her,” the vampire taunted. Inger was shocked by the lilting feminine sound of the voice. “Or better yet, tell Mercredi to come and get her himself.”

The man hesitated before taking a cautious step forward.

“Mercredi was simply testing your resolve when he asked that she be thrown in here with you. He knew that even with the thirst upon you, you wouldn’t take the life of a human. Or so we thought.” He laughed softly. “I stopped you just in time it seems.” He took another step closer, but came to an abrupt halt when the vampiress sucked air through her teeth.

“Would you like to take her place? Knowing Mercredi, he would revel in taking her life himself.” The voice sounded tranquil, but Inger could hear the dark undertone of malice. She wished she could see the vampiress’ face. Could they be one and the same? Genevieve? The woman whose name brought a deep sadness to Pierre's eyes and troubled those who’d known her?

“The girl is very important to him. That’s why you should let her go.”

The vampiress bent her head, and combined with the warm breath on her neck, Inger felt the faint scraping of fangs on her skin. Her heartbeat sped up, and she felt the vampire stiffen against her back. With her greatly enhanced hearing, the vampiress no doubt could hear the blood coursing through her veins. Inger closed her eyes, anticipating the bite.

“I would not do that if I were you, my dear,” said a different voice, deep and grating. Inger pried her eyes open.

She grimaced at the sight of the creature with the deep-set red eyes. Dressed in a long black hooded cloak, the only part of him that was visible was his face. The sight of it made Inger shudder. Thick welts of tough, grayish-looking skin disfigured the features. This must be Mercredi. Father and son seemed to have shared the same repulsive looks. The vampiress slowly lifted her head and chuckled.

“So, you have come. I could smell your approach a mile away, Mercredi. Did I ever tell you that you stink like hell?”

Inger felt reluctant admiration for the vampiress, who showed no fear in the face of this creature.

“I do not have time for your childish bickering now. Hand me the girl, and I will send you someone else to feed on.”

“This one will do just fine.”

The beady red eyes began to smolder, and Inger felt waves of menace coming from the creature.  “She is important to our cause, Genevieve.” He lifted his claw. “Let her go.”

Inwardly, Inger sighed in relief at the confirmation of who her captor was. She wasn’t in completely safe hands, but she was in the hands of somebody her mother and the others trusted.

“I take it you mean ‘she’s important to your cause’, not mine.”

The renegade leader stepped closer. Inger had to stop herself from gagging when she caught a whiff of his putrid odor. “She is the daughter of the Vampire Queen and the mate of the Assassin. You would not be one to hurt one of your own, now would you?”

Inger couldn’t see Genevieve’s reaction to the news, but she felt the vampiress’ body stiffen again. The bruising grip gentled immediately as she was slowly turned around. Inger found herself staring into the most beautiful green eyes she had ever seen. They looked back into hers with gentle curiosity.

Inger hesitated for a second before she allowed her eyes to travel over the face of the woman. She was absolutely stunning. Rich, shoulder length auburn locks framed an oval face, which was enhanced by a well-proportioned nose and a wide mouth. She obviously laughed a lot—or rather—used to laugh a lot. They were about the same height, but being a vampire, Genevieve’s dangerous aura made her seem taller.

“But you are just a baby. I must have a word with that cradle-snatching Paloma,” Genevieve said suddenly, her green eyes studying Inger closely. “Yet you have spunk, just like my own daughter.” The green eyes lifted and focused on the creature standing behind her and Inger was shocked at the cold, murderous look that came into the green eyes. “This child is under the protection of the most powerful vampires on the planet. Before the sun rises this morning, you and your black heart will be languishing in hell—where you and your kind belong.” She looked down into Inger’s eyes. “I am not leaving her alone with you. You take me with her or she stays here with me.”

Centuries of decadent living had taken its toll on the renegade leader. When he tried to use preternatural speed to snatch her from Genevieve’s grasp, he was too slow for the Royal vampiress, who easily pulled Inger with her as she sidestepped Mercredi’s attempt. His beady little eyes hardened and he turned towards Toro.

“Subdue her and bring the girl to me.”

Toro nodded and followed Mercredi out of the room. Once they were alone, Inger turned to the vampiress and found the green eyes focused on her. They held a disturbing look.

Chapter Eighteen

“In hindsight, you probably would have been much safer with Mercredi than locked up in here with me,” Genevieve said suddenly, and Inger felt an acute feeling of unease come over her.

“What do you mean?”

The vampiress slowly stepped away from her. “They have starved me for the past three days and my strength is slowly fading.”

Inger nodded slowly. She got the picture, but she wanted this angelic-looking woman to put her fear into words. “What are you trying to tell me?” she asked softly.

Right in front of her the green eyes changed to a deep glowing red. “I need to feed…now.” The words sounded hollow as the atmosphere in the room turned slightly ominous. Genevieve took a step closer. Inger quickly took two steps back. “I do not mean to hurt you, child, but my nature is that of a predator. I need to feed to survive.”

Turning to look at the closed door, Inger took a shaky breath. How ironic, she thought. She got saved from the monster only to be snacked on by a beautiful soft-spoken vampiress who happened to be married to her uncle.

†

Tahlia was worried about Paloma. The Assassin stood at the window staring out as she had been since she had returned to the mansion. The ghouls had done major damage to their number, having seriously injured five of their seasoned warriors, including Juan. After patching them up as best they could, they had quickly put the injured to ground to heal while the rest of them gathered to devise a plan on how to breach Mercredi’s fortress.

Upon their return, they’d searched the mansion and found everyone accounted for except Inger. Jemima had frantically searched the house twice before collapsing in Tahlia’s arms, sobbing as if her heart was breaking. At that moment, Paloma entered the house, a dangerous gleam in her eyes.

“I followed one of their cars to a building in the city center. There seems to be some kind of an underground safe house there. I believe she is being held there.”

Jemima was up and ready to go immediately, but Tahlia had held her back, making her turn her anger loose on both her and Paloma. “My child is in the clutches of a ruthless killer, and the two of you have time to waste sitting around instead of rescuing her! She might already be dead while you’re sitting here wasting time,” she had screamed, pummeling Tahlia’s chest.

It had taken Pierre’s gentle explanation as to why a soundproof plan was the optimal way to go to finally calm Jemima. Luckily James was nearby to take over for Pierre. That was five hours ago. Tahlia knew she had to keep a level head and not become emotional, even though the thought of her baby scared and alone, and in the clutches of Mercredi, was too much to bear. Mercredi was out for revenge. They had taken his son, and he wouldn’t let the opportunity pass to inflict the same pain on them. Inger was in mortal danger.

“We will get her back, Paloma.”

“Alive?” Paloma’s voice was filled with so much anguish that Tahlia walked over to her friend and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Yes. We will go in there and turn the place upside down until we find her.”

“Good.” The silver eyes had turned to her and the coldness in them was unsettling. “Then come with me and let me go get my mate, Tahlia.”

“I understand how you must be feeling, but I think we need to wait for the Consortium to send more hunters. Mercredi will be well protected, and he would have laid a trap for us by now.”

Paloma turned back to gaze out the window again, her broad shoulder slumped in defeat.

“They will also not expect us to attack during the daylight hours,” Paloma added.

That made perfect sense, too. She had to save her daughter and redeem herself in the eyes of her wife and her friend. She just hoped they hadn’t wasted too much time and that Inger was still alive. Just the thought that Inger might not be was too much to bear. Jemima and Paloma would never forgive her if Inger were hurt—or worse.

“Let’s go.”

†

The door opened again and this time Toro was accompanied by two burly guards, all armed to the teeth. Toro’s eyes swept the room, confused, as they came to rest on her. Inger gave him a shaky smile just as the radio stuck on his left shoulder crackled.

“Get out of there now, Toro! She’s on top of you,” a panicky voice sounded, but it was too late.

Death came from the ceiling and its punishment was swift. Genevieve went for Toro, grabbing him by the neck. She flung him against the granite wall and Inger watched as he slowly crumbled to the floor. She had no idea if he was dead or simply unconscious. She wasn’t particularly worried about his state right now.

She turned her attention back to the fight. One of the guards opened fire and was shooting blindly into the room. Inger dived behind the marble slab as bullets ricocheted dangerously around the room. The shooting ended quickly. She wanted to sneak a peek to see where Genevieve was, but found that she couldn’t move. A dull ache in her chest made her glance down quickly, only to see a bright red stain blossoming on her tan dress. She’d been hit. She slowly lifted her hand to touch the stain, but she was quickly swept up into strong arms.

“You have been shot. Hold on, little one. I will get you to safety.”

As if in slow motion, she saw them dashing down the long corridor, but before they could reach the end, a male voice raised the alarm. With a soft curse, Genevieve changed course and turned back, running back the way they’d come.

†

Shrouded in complete invisibility, they entered the building through the underground parking. There were no guards in sight and even if there had been any they wouldn’t have known of the two vampires slipping past them. Inside the building, Tahlia turned to look at Paloma and was once again shocked by the look of deadly intent in her friend’s eyes.

“Remember, it is a grab and go. We locate Inger and Genevieve and leave. We leave Mercredi and his goons for later, when our women are safe.” As she gave the order, Tahlia knew that even if Paloma answered in the affirmative, she had to prepare herself for whatever could come their way. She came for her daughter, but the flint-eyed woman next to her came for more than just the love of her life. She had come for her survival and possibly for revenge.

“Yes.” There was a deadly undertone to the soft-spoken word.

They came to an abrupt halt when shots rang out. Both groaned simultaneously when they felt the ruthless pain of a bullet piercing skin. Panicked, Tahlia knew exactly what it meant: Inger had been hit.  Before she could react, Paloma was already speeding down the hallway. She quickly caught up with Paloma and just as they turned a corner they were greeted by a hail of bullets. Doubling back, she glanced at Paloma to find her eyes a stormy grey.

“We need to get to Inger, Tahlia.”

A dark shape suddenly blurred past them with guns blazing, and Tahlia heaved a sigh of relief.  The red-haired renegade easily took out four of the six gunmen before she ducked into a doorway further down the hallway. She turned to look back at them.

“I will cover you.”

Tahlia stared at the woman for a few moments before nodding. “I am indebted to you.”

The green eyes that looked back at her were cold. “Just make sure you save Genevieve and we can call it even.” The girl stepped out of her hiding place, firing as she sped towards the remaining gunmen.

†

A few doors down the hall, Mercredi looked up from where he was busy feeding on a teenage boy, his teeth stained with blood. He turned to look at the guards surrounding him. With flaring nostrils, he sniffed the air and growled deeply.

“What are you waiting for? They are here.” He threw the motionless body of the boy away from him as if it were a piece of stained cloth. “The one who can bring me the head of any of the master vampires will be richly rewarded.”

†

Genevieve anxiously looked down at the unconscious girl in her arms. Thick streams of blood seeped from the girl’s wound, soaking her shirt and dripping onto the floor. The girl needed a doctor or she wouldn’t make it. For a second she contemplated an option, but as quickly as it grazed her mind, she discarded it. Only once in her life had she turned a human and that was four hundred years ago. She had promised herself that she would never do it again. Luckily, Trinity turned out to be a pure, caring soul. The sounds of gunshots came closer and she was pulled her out of her reverie.

<Pierre, I need you now. Tahlia’s daughter is dying>

There was silence for a second or two before she heard the deep, calm voice of her husband.

< I am close by, ma cherie.>

Sighing with relief she held the girl closer to her. She would not let her die, even if the odds were against them. Earlier, this young woman had selflessly offered her life’s blood to her. She had been scared but, with grim determination, held out her wrist for her to feed.  Brave child, she thought and placed a tender kiss on the cooling forehead. She was spurred into action by a ricocheting bullet chipping the wall close to her head.

The hallway was dimmed by smoke from the gunfire, but her supernatural sight saw past the dense cloud as she dashed to the closest doorway. There was a lull in the gun battle, and just as she was about to make a move for the next doorframe, a hand on her shoulder stopped her.

Genevieve swirled around, her fangs barred; ready to defend them with all she had. She encountered hard silver eyes. Paloma! The Assassin was already taking the unconscious girl from her. The silver eyes softened considerably, yet she could still see the anguish in their darkening depths.

“Let me take a look at her.”

There against a steel door and with gunshots cracking around her, Genevieve saw what she’d thought she’d never witness. The woman, whose deadly exploits filled volumes upon volumes, tenderly pressed her mouth to the slack lips as a lonely red tear trickled down her cheek. At last Paloma had truly found love. She wouldn’t have believed it if she had not seen it herself…and what a great match for her. No matter who or what they were, all were vulnerable to that one emotion. Genevieve watched as Paloma opened up the girl’s dress and prodded the wound before bringing her wrist to her mouth. A soft tug with her fangs and a vein popped open. Paloma dripped a few drops of blood onto the wound, before pressing the bloodied wrist against her mate’s pale lips.

“Drink, sweetie.” Paloma gently rubbed the girl’s throat to help her swallow. A sip…a cough…a sip…and then a longer sip. A bullet ricocheted nearby and the silver eyes looked up again. This time they held a deadly intent.

“Get her out of here, Genevieve.”

Paloma gently handed Inger’s body to Genevieve, but only after she’d placed a soft kiss on the lips of her lover.

†

The horrendous stench grew stronger the closer Paloma came to the room that Genevieve had directed her to. Two heavily armed men guarded the door. Cloaked in invisibility, Paloma knew that the guards were completely unaware of her presence. Paloma felt the beast rear in anticipation of the kill, pleading with her to be freed, its claws raking at her insides.

She dropped her invisibility cloak and the guards, momentarily stunned by her sudden appearance, moved as one, aiming their weapons at her. The guards’ delay in opening fire cost them their lives. Growling, Paloma placated her beast by letting it loose. Her sword clattered to the ground as she doubled over. The sounds of bones cracking and snapping filled the air as her frame slowly morphed into that of a huge white wolf. With the transformation complete, Paloma quivered at the rush of power she felt as her human form fell away.

Over their initial shock, the guards opened fire. The beast snarled in rage and pain as bullets slammed into its body. It lunged at the guard closest to it. At the first taste of blood the beast continued to tear savagely into its victim. Blood dripping from its mouth, it turned to the next guard as the first guard’s body dropped to the floor. The second man turned and pushed through the doors, triggering the beast’s prey drive. In one great leap, she was on him, dragging him down. Her powerful jaws clamped down on the renegade’s neck and with a loud snap it was over. The beast turned, its red eyes blazing as it focused on the creature standing in the middle of the room. Crouching, the beast cocked its head, lowered it, and growled menacingly.

His claws showing, Mercredi flexed his muscled wings, flapping them and causing the furniture in the room to scatter and shatter against the walls.

“We meet again, Assassin?” Mercredi rasped. “This time, however, we are on equal footing. Beast versus beast.”

The wolf took a step back as Mercredi’s words sunk in. Paloma felt the creature’s shock at her sudden retreat. She wanted to fight him in her human form, savoring each moment as she steered him to the gates of hell. The beast would be too eager to rip and kill. Mercredi deserved to die slowly. His name was written in blood on her list. She felt Tahlia’s presence behind her and began shape shifting, knowing Tahlia would watch over while she was at her most vulnerable.

There was a subtle shift in the air, and a group of armed renegades appeared behind Mercredi. “I knew you would come soon enough, so I arranged a little welcoming party for you,” Mercredi gloated. “Hope you do not mind…too much.”

Paloma came up straight from her crouching position and with a flick of the hand was covered in a black leather suit. Wiping at her bloody mouth, she touched her fingers to her lips, all the while keeping Mercredi in her sights. She reached for the sword Tahlia held out to her.

“You know very little about us if you think a few fledglings with guns will stop us,” Paloma said quietly. “Your son thought so, too, and look where it got him. It was the easiest kill I have ever made.” Paloma pulled her face in disgust. “Though I must say he tasted like sewerage when I ripped out his throat.”

Mercredi’s lips flattened slightly and Paloma knew that her barbs had hit home. The renegade leader’s face contorted in a mask of hatred, further transforming his already unpleasant features.

“You will pay for what you have done to my son.” He looked at his men. “Kill them all, but leave the Assassin for me.”

As if on cue, Jonas, Pierre, and Jemima appeared. Without looking at them, Paloma grinned at Mercredi, who looked slightly put off by the new arrivals.

“We have arranged a small party for you and your men too, as you can see,” Paloma said, “a farewell party.”

Before Mercredi could respond, Tahlia’s sounded the order to attack.

†

Paloma purposefully slashed her way through the renegades, methodically making her way to Mercredi. Although not fatal, the gunshot wounds she’d sustained earlier were still slowly draining her strength. Mercredi wasn’t joking about his welcoming party. It was more like he had prepared for a Royal state visit. The more men they cut down, the more seemed to appear: some brandishing guns, some swinging swords, and some carrying crossbows. The room was quickly becoming too small to maneuver in with bodies littering the floor.

As if they read her thoughts, Juan and Jemima ran for the door, drawing a group of Mercredi’s men out into the hallway. As was her habit, she scanned the room for Tahlia, and found the Vampire Queen fighting off four renegades. Pierre and Jonas fought back-to-back. Satisfied that everyone was still accounted for, Paloma searched for Mercredi. She spotted him just in time as he slipped through a door hidden behind a large tapestry.

Coward, she thought bitterly. If Mercredi was making his exit now, it could mean only one thing. The battle had tilted in their favor. Swinging her sword wildly she hacked her way through the door.

The room she entered was smaller than the first, with a large throne-like chair facing the entrance. Mercredi stood before the throne, facing the door. The beady red eyes of the renegade leader followed her every move.

“I have been dreaming of this moment,” he rasped in a guttural voice, flexing his claws. “You destroyed my son, my heir.” A claw reached out and a sharp-nailed digit was pointed at her. “For that, I will shred you to pieces.”

With a snarl she accepted the challenge and stepped forward. Her senses buzzed, and she came to an abrupt stop. Sniffing the air, she picked up another scent and hissed. Bloody ghouls. She hated them. They were resolute in their pursuit to do the bidding of their masters and that made them very difficult to kill. She looked at Mercredi, who was now seated on his chair like a Roman nobleman watching a battle in an arena. He grinned at her, exposing his stained fangs.

“Do not tell me you thought I would make it easy for you?”

“All you are doing is delaying your own death.”

Mercredi smiled as he lifted his hand and four ghouls stepped out from behind four pillars. Keeping her face expressionless, she watched the creatures close in. Like mindless sheep, they advanced on her, their movements slightly jerky.

Tightening her hold on her sword, Paloma raked her mind for a plan. She was in no shape to take on four ghouls and Mercredi. The only way to walk out of here alive was not to fight harder, but to apply ingenuity. Hurriedly scanning the room for anything she might use, she was disappointed. The room was completely bare, except for the chair Mercredi occupied. That left only one option. Ghouls may do the bidding of their masters, but they are not known to be very bright.

Paloma quickly positioned herself so her back was against a wall and waited patiently for them to come within striking range. As expected, the ghouls boxed her in, closing all avenues for escape. Just as they reached out to grab her, Paloma dropped to her knees and using the wall as a propeller, pushed against it with her feet. Sliding on her stomach between the legs of the ghouls, she jumped to her feet and turned, finding the creatures still with their backs to her. Holding the sword in both hands, she used preternatural speed as she made a long slashing movement. For a few moments time stood still as she stared at the ghouls who appeared frozen. Then slowly their torsos slid sideways and fell to the floor.

She turned to face Mercredi, who now sat up in his chair, his eyes wide in horror. She pointed at him with her blood-stained sword. “Now it is your turn to die.”

Mercredi rose to his feet and walked into the center of the room. “You do know that you will never be able to stop us, Assassin. As we speak, thousands of humans are being recruited to join our cause. We grow stronger each and every day.”

Paloma approached him, her eyes ablaze with vengeance. “And we will fight to the last to rid the world of your renegade scum.”

Paloma’s sword shot out and sliced upward, leaving a long red streak of blood in its wake. Mercredi blinked in surprise at the slash on his arm, but ducked quickly when the sword flashed in his direction again. Side-stepping the sword, he feigned going left just as his right hand claw shot out and slashed at Paloma’s face. Paloma took a step back, ignoring the burning pain on the left side of her face. Studying Mercredi closely she was perplexed by the look of pure rapture on his face.

Wondering what he had up his sleeve, Paloma circled him carefully, her senses on high alert. Were there more ghouls hiding somewhere in the room?

“You call yourself honorable, but you fight an unarmed man with a sword. You should be ashamed of yourself or are you scared of evening the odds, Assassin?”

Without a word, Paloma dropped her sword and flexed her shoulders. She was literally itching to get her hands on Mercredi. The renegade smiled and lunged at her. Paloma stepped out of his path and raked her claw down his back as she danced away from him. She almost gagged at the foul odor that filled the air. Mercredi gasped at the pain and pulled back. His eyes narrowed as he looked at her.

“Have you ever wondered how we, mere humans, overpowered your warriors?” He circled her. He lunged at her again, but this time Paloma darted into his space and slashed across his mid-section. Rivulets of red darkened his robe as Mercredi stared down at his gaping abdomen. When he looked at her, she was once again confused by the victorious look in his eyes. “You never answered my question, Assassin.”

Paloma shook her head. “I never cared to think about it. All I wanted was to find and kill you. I am doing that now.” She watched with grim satisfaction as Mercredi fell to his knees. “Knowing that you are dead is all I need to know.”

Mercredi held up a bloodstained claw. “Maybe if you knew how we outwitted them, you would be able to better protect your warriors. That is, of course, if you survive this battle.”

Was the man mad? He was sitting on his knees, dying, and he still thought he would be victorious. She reached up to her face where it still burned and scowled when she found the wound still open and leaking blood. It was quite deep, but by now it should have mended. She’d had worse wounds that took half the time to heal.

Mercredi’s grating laughter interrupted her thoughts. He spread his hands out wide. “I know you are curious. Maybe if you asked nicely, I might tell you. Or would you rather I take the secret with me in death?”

Tired of the renegade’s mind games, Paloma walked over to him and dragged him to his feet. “Your time is up.” She slammed her hand into his chest and wrapped her hand around his slippery heart, holding her breath at the horrendous stench coming from his gaping wound. Before she could rip his heart out, Mercredi’s lifted his claws. Paloma watched helplessly as he raked them down her chest, severing some of her ribs. The intense pain jerked her out of her stupor, and she pushed him away from her and at the same time tightened her hold on his heart.

Mercredi crumpled like a sack of bones, his eyes blinking rapidly while Paloma looked down at the dark, deformed organ in her hand. An unexpected dizziness stole over her, making her stumble back a few steps as she shook her head to clear up the foggy feeling. She knew she was losing a lot of blood, but still found it strange that it would affect her so quickly.

Aware of the organ she still had clutched in her hand, she tried to visualize a flame, but found that in her befuddled state, it was impossible to focus her powers. Paloma felt panic surge through her. This had never happened to her before.

“You are already feeling it,” Mercredi’s voice sounded distant and hollow to her ears, as she tried to keep herself from losing consciousness. “I have never heard of any vampire surviving it.”

Paloma shook her head again. This time the movement threw her off balance, and she crashed to the floor. She fought against losing consciousness, knowing instinctively that if she gave in to the lethargic sensation, she might never wake up again. With her head swimming wildly, she tried to pull herself into a sitting position. There was something she had to do—something important. The lacerations burned like the fires from hell, but she bit down hard and pulled herself upright. She lifted her hands to her face and that’s when she remembered what she had to do. Mercredi heart had slipped out of her hand when she collapsed. Ignoring the pain that pulsed through her body, she frantically searched the area around her for the organ. With her sight blurred, Paloma knew she was in big trouble.

<I need you, Tahlia. Hurry!>

She blinked to clear her vision, but to no avail. She was doomed if Mercredi got to the heart before she did. As long as it was not destroyed, the creature would continue living. She almost cried with relief when she felt Tahlia's presence hovering over her.

“The heart…,” she gasped. “dropped it….”

She could make out a dark shape walking away from her. “I have found it,” Tahlia said.

A flash of light lit up the room and hideous keening filled the room. Paloma heaved a sigh of relief. Mercredi was gone forever. They’d done it! She might not live long enough to enjoy the victory, but they had put an end to the chapter. Almost immediately, Paloma felt herself being gently scooped up from the floor.

“We need to get you home,” Tahlia said close to her ear. “You look terrible.”

Paloma tried to grin at hearing that, but every muscle in her body was so tense that she couldn’t even manage a small smile.

“Mercredi…poisoned me. Dying…” She closed her eyes and almost cried when two sapphire eyes danced before her. Her eyes welled up. Inger!

“I do…not want…to die, Tahlia.” It was strenuous to form the words, but Paloma wanted to make sure that Tahlia didn’t misunderstand her. “Inger…Inger....”

Tahlia didn’t answer her, but Paloma could feel that they were in motion. She was slowly slipping away when she heard Tahlia’s reply.

“I will not let you die.”

†

She felt as if millions of tiny insects were running through her bloodstream, and Inger shivered at the sensation. What was happening to her? Was she being turned? Was she now a renegade? Her eyes slowly creaked open and she was surprised by the darkness surrounding her. Where was everybody? She groaned when she tried to sit up and deep pain shot through her chest. She fell back and searched her mind for what had happened. It all came back slowly. She remembered her abduction and Genevieve saving her. She tried to sit up again. This time she did so slowly and looked down at the bandage wrapped tightly around her. How did they expect her to breathe with this thing being so tight? Touching the bandage, she groaned. The door opened and she could make out the bulky figure of her grandfather.

“Grandpa,” she called and James rushed over to the bed.

“Hi, honey. You’re not supposed to be out of bed yet.” He gently swung her feet back onto the bed and covered her. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead, before pulling a chair towards the bed.

“What happened, Grandpa?”

“Genevieve and Trinity brought you here.”

She shifted through her mind again. “Trinity?”

“Genevieve’s adopted daughter. You’ve apparently met before. She’s a vampire slayer.”

She slowly shook her head. “I can’t recall having met her.” She turned to look at her grandfather with an unblinking stare. “I feel different inside, Grandpa. Was I bitten by a renegade?”

James shook his head.

“No. You’ve lost a lot of blood after being shot and Genevieve waited for Paloma to make a blood transfusion. She gave you some of her blood to reverse any internal damage. It also sped up the healing process.”

Paloma had saved her life, she thought tenderly. Even while she was locked up in there with a starving Genevieve, she’d known that Paloma would come and that she would be saved.

“Where is Paloma?”

She saw the wariness in James’ blue eyes, before he looked away. Panic slowly rose in her chest.

“Grandpa, what happened? Where is Paloma?”

“She was badly injured during the fight. The others took her to Romania to conduct an ancient healing ceremony.”

She turned away, trying to hide the tears that trickled down her cheeks.

< Oh, Paloma ...>

Fresh tears ran down her cheeks when after a minute there was no reply. She felt a soft presence in her mind and sat up, startling James.

<Paloma?>

<No, honey, it is me. I was just checking up on you.>

At the sound of Tahlia’s voice, Inger almost cried. As much as she loved her mother, she was disappointed that it wasn’t Paloma.

<Where is Paloma, Mother? Is she OK?>

<I will not lie to you, my child. Paloma is not yet out of danger. Mercredi has poisoned her and we are all trying our best to save her life.>

<I want to see her. Can I see her?>

There was a long silence.

<I am not sure. Paloma looks bad.>

<I need to see her, Mother. I need to see her just in case it will be the last time I ever get to.>

This time she heard Tahlia sigh.

<I will be there soon. But be warned, what awaits is not a pretty sight.>

She swung her feet off the bed and before James could say anything, she held her hand up. “My mother is coming to fetch me soon. She will take me to go see Paloma.”

James had a quizzical look on his face. “But she’s in Romania. Are you sure she said she’ll be here soon?”

The shadows in the room shifted and Tahlia materialized. Jemima stepped out of the shadows behind Tahlia and gently gathered Inger in her arms. Her blue eyes were somber as they searched hers, before they came to rest on her father.

“We will be gone a few weeks at the most, Dad. Will you be able to make arrangements at the university for Inger?”

James nodded, still stunned at their sudden appearance. “Do you mean to tell me you came all the way from Romania?”

Jemima nodded.

“But it’s a long flight from here?”

Tahlia shrugged nonchalantly and smiled weakly. “You know…vampires.”

James pulled a face. “I sometimes forget. Please send my regards to Paloma and the others.”

“Will do, Daddy.” Jemima walked to the door. “It will take us a few hours to get there though since we can’t teleport with Inger.”

James nodded again and came to his feet. “Whatever you do, be safe.”

They raced through the house to the elevator and once they were on the first floor, Tahlia shrouded them all under a cloaking spell, giving them the opportunity to use preternatural speed. The blurriness of the landscape passing made Inger dizzy and she closed her eyes.

She must’ve dozed off because when she opened her eyes, they were standing in a big, opulently decorated lobby. Still in Jemima’s arms, she stared at the medieval paintings and tapestries that lined the walls. The room was well lit with numerous candles that basked the room in a soft yellow light. Thick Persian carpets absorbed the sound of their footsteps as they briskly walked past a huge spiraling staircase to a closed door a few meters away.

The door swung open and Jemima easily carried her down a long flight of stairs that led to a huge cave-like room. Inger recognized Pierre and Jonas, but her entire focus was on the woman who leaned over a giant rock slab centered in the room. Hundreds of flickering candles cast light on the still frame lying on the slab.

<Paloma.>

Chapter 19

Jemima carefully placed Inger on her feet and held her steady until she was sure that she could stand on her own without swaying. The woman at the slab turned and Inger looked into Genevieve’s concerned green eyes. They quickly flicked towards Tahlia, who was standing behind her, and Inger read the reproach in them. She didn’t see Tahlia’s reaction because her eyes were focused on the body lying very still on the slab.

“Is that…Is that her?” She jumped slightly when her voice bounced off the cave walls.

“Yes, but remember, I told you that she looks bad,” Tahlia said.

Inger took a step forward. Paloma was lying so still that she wondered if she were alive. A thin blood-stained sheet covered her naked body. Inger gasped as she moved to stand next to her. She quickly turned away to compose herself. She wasn’t there to cry because crying would not help.

Paloma’s injuries were bad. It was nearly impossible to recognize her. Inger swayed slightly, but when Tahlia stepped closer, Inger held up her hand and turned back to look at Paloma. She was shocked to find her lover’s eyes open, a steely look in them.

“What are you doing here, Inger? You should leave now.” For somebody who was so torn up, Paloma’s voice still held authority. But Inger hadn’t come all this way, braving nausea and pain, to be sent away so easily.

“I came because you need me,” she said softly in a broken whisper. “And because I needed to see you.” It hurt to see her beautiful lover like this. Deep, oozing gashes marred her face and blood stained the slab on which she lay. She reached out a shaky hand and lifted the sheet. She quickly closed her eyes at the raw wounds she saw. Oh, Paloma!

“You should not be here. Your parents must take you away from here now.” Even as Paloma uttered those harsh words, Inger heard the underlying sorrow in the husky voice.

She reached out and touched her lover’s uninjured cheek. “I love you, Paloma, and my place is next to you.” Inger swallowed hard. “How can you expect me not to be with my bonded mate? Being apart from you is torture.”

Paloma turned her head away, but not before Inger saw the blood red tear escape the corner of her eye. “I can die knowing that you are far away from me. Having you here makes me fear death. I do not want to leave you.”

Inger leaned closer and turned the scarred face towards her. The silver eyes were so sad that she felt her own eyes well up with tears. Fearlessly, she lowered her lips to the bloodstained lips and brushed them gently with hers.

“I love you with all my heart, Vampire. I would rather be here, knowing I would be with you if something goes wrong.”

Inger smiled at the surprise on Paloma’s face. “If?”

“Yes, sweetie, if. We will talk later about how you got yourself all messed up, but only when you are healed and back on your feet.” Inger turned to the other vampires who were shamelessly eavesdropping on their conversation. “What more can be done?”

She witnessed the proud smiles on Tahlia and Jemima’s faces at her bossy tone. Even somber Jonas was grinning openly as he looked at Pierre and Genevieve.

“I think you got more reaction out of her in one minute than we have over the past four days,” Genevieve said.

“Four days?”

“Yes, my love. You have been under for four days, too,” Jemima said gently.

Inger shook her head and turned back to look at Paloma. “Do you mean to tell me that she’s been courting death for four days? Shame on you, Paloma,” she said staring into the shimmering silver eyes. Without looking up, she said to the others, “I will need a bed brought in here so that I can be nearby to curb this blatant laziness.” She looked deeply into the glowing silver gaze. “You’re not going to die…not on my watch, you won’t. You’ve promised me forever and I won’t settle for less.”

A soft groan sounded from Paloma. “Whose idea was it to bring her here? How did you gain entrance to the village anyway?”

Inger smiled smugly. “My mother is quite powerful, silly. She knows people, who know people, who could arrange permission for me to enter the village.” She turned to Tahlia with a frown, lowering her voice. “What village is she talking about? Or is she delirious?”

Jemima shook her head. “You were asleep when we arrived, but it’s a story for another day.”

†

The earth pulsed as Paloma gathered her strength and rose. It was still early and the sun hadn’t completely set yet, but she wanted to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Since Inger’s arrival a week ago she had risen every night with the fear that her injuries had befuddled her brain and that it had conjured up Inger’s presence here at the castle. But every time for the past six nights, she found the brunette lounging on the big four-poster bed with the drapes pulled away, anxiously waiting for her to surface. Inger impatiently gestured with a flick of her hand, and Paloma smiled.

Inger wanted her to clean up and get out of the soiled clothing. The earth here at the castle was the original rich dark earth that Lecrac himself had shipped from the uncontaminated depths of the Carpathian Mountains. The rich soil in the mountains and its surrounding area had a wealth of healing properties which were, in fact, the lifeblood of their race. However, being a typical human, Inger simply saw it as dirt. Dirt. The others would have a fit if they heard it referred to as such.

“You’re up early again, love. You must be getting stronger.”

With an economical flick of her hand, Paloma was cleaned and dressed. While at the village they all reverted to wearing medieval clothing. The tight-fitting black pants, white linen shirt, and black leather vest she now sported met with Inger’s approval, judging from the appreciative look that came into the blue eyes.

“The daylight serum weakened my system slightly, thus delaying my healing process, but I am getting stronger every day.” Thanks to Tahlia and Inger, Paloma mused.

The past week must’ve been just as tough for Jemima as it had been for Inger. Repeatedly, Tahlia had placed herself at risk by drinking from her until Paloma was almost on the brink of death and then giving her a full blood transfusion. They all were surprised to find that Tahlia was immune to the poison, her body simply expelling it by vomiting. Nobody verbalized it, but after this discovery, they all began to speculate about how many of Tahlia’s powers were still untapped.

In the end Paloma had lived solely off Tahlia’s blood. Inger, on the other hand, kept pushing her to get well soon, rewarding her with the most tantalizing prizes. The first time she managed to get out of bed unaided, Inger had given her an impromptu striptease. This had made all the blood they had painstakingly replaced, rush to one particular destination. A worried Tahlia, who’d remotely been monitoring Paloma's vitals, appeared in their chamber, only to quickly avert her eyes before stomping out of the chamber. After that incident and a stern chiding from Tahlia, Inger had kept her rewards to deep sensual kisses, which in fact caused the same reaction as the striptease. In the end, Tahlia turned a blind eye, as she noticed the rapid improvements to Paloma’s health under Inger's distracting supervision.

“Do you need blood?”

Jerked out of her reverie by the straight-forward question, Paloma blinked a few times. “Why do you ask?

“Fresh human blood also speeds up the healing process…or so I’ve heard.”

Paloma came to sit on the bed. “Are you offering?”

“Yes.” The word was uttered softly.

Paloma leaned closer and placed a soft kiss on Inger’s cheek. Inger smelled nice—warm and alive. The beast inside reared its head and sniffed the air. Yes, blood, warm and thick, was coursing through her lover’s veins. She pulled back and leaned back against the headboard. Her eyes scanned over the room.

The healing chamber had undergone a huge transformation. Before Inger’s arrival, it was simply an underground dig with a flat rock in the center that served as a table. It now had a big four-poster bed, thick carpets on the floor, and lanterns and candles in almost every corner of the room. It looked homey to say the least. She felt Inger moving next to her. She turned seeing the worried look in the blue eyes.

“I appreciate your offer, my love, but I do not like you in the role of a blood cow.” She lifted a finger and traced the shapely mouth. “I will only ask and take from you in the case of an emergency.”

She saw the tender look that crossed Inger’s beautiful features. “But it is an emergency,” she said in a sultry voice.

Raising her brows, Paloma searched the blue eyes which were beginning to smolder the longer she stared into them. “What do you mean?”

Inger sat back, took hold of her t-shirt and pulled it over her head. Paloma gasped when her luscious naked breasts bounced free, the dark large nipples pointed in her direction, as if they were begging for her mouth.

“I have an emergency.”

Inger reached out and cradled one of her own breasts, unintentionally drawing attention to the white surgical patch on her chest. As much as she wanted to pounce on her, the sight of patch made Paloma slowly shake her head.

“But we are both injured, my love.” Paloma protested lamely, her eyes mesmerized by the slow erotic movements of Inger’s hand cupping her breast gently before her thumb and forefinger moved upward to squeeze a ripe dark-tipped nipple.

“Do you want me to put my t-shirt back on?”

There was a long silence. Paloma reluctantly shook her head. She was being manipulated, and she knew it. Being aware of how close her hunger and desire ran, she knew that Inger was trying to trick her into feeding. She never thought of Inger as a food source and never would, but the offer of fresh young blood—the blood of her lover—was too tempting to turn down. Inger’s blood was intoxicating. After the past few days of surviving on Tahlia’s potent life-saving blood, she was excited by Inger’s offer.

“I should say ‘yes,’ but I cannot.” She reached out and her large hand cupped Inger’s smooth cheek.  “Take off your trousers…but slowly.” Paloma’s voice had deepened with desire as her eyes raked down Inger’s firm body. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

Inger giggled as she moved from the bed to stand before Paloma. “Yes, but you can show me again. Now, how about some music for my little show? Maybe you can hum something.”

†

Outside the chamber, Tahlia turned hot eyes on Jemima. They were about to pay a visit to Inger when a sudden heat wave rushed through both their minds. Jemima’s lips formed a shocked ‘O’ before she took a hasty step backwards.

“I guess we will have to revert to plan B.”

“A walk in the mountains it is then,” Tahlia said with a twinkle in her eyes. It made her look so young and carefree that Jemima only stared. “I know of a few unpopulated caves. We could test and see how soundproof they really are.”

Blushing, Jemima pushed past Tahlia. “Well, what are you waiting for? A written invitation perhaps?”

She saw Tahlia make a lunge for her and dissolved quickly, leaving Tahlia grabbing air. Shaking her head, Tahlia followed the teasing giggle that led her out of the castle and towards the ice-capped peaks of the formidable Carpathian range.

EPILOGUE

Fifteen year old Luisa Gonzales stopped and looked over her shoulder. There it was again, a soft pulsing in the air. She wasn’t afraid of walking alone at night, especially not in the Bronx. Her brother was the leader of a feared ex-con gang and the whole borough knew her. Nobody would be so stupid as to try to hurt her. But whoever or whatever was on her trail was a different story. It felt much more dangerous and powerful than even Carlito. She stopped under a streetlight and turned to survey the area. Silence greeted her, but the evil presence was becoming more ominous as it drew closer.

She turned on her heel and pressing the comic book tighter to her chest, ran as fast as she could. The house wasn’t far from here; just one more block and she’d be safe. From nowhere a tall, dark figure stepped out of the shadows, beckoning her to him. Luisa didn’t know why, but her legs felt like they had their own mind. She stopped, then felt herself walking toward him, like a puppet on a string, her eyes riveted on his face. He touched her cheek gently before pulling her to him.

The shadow play against the wall showed a couple in a macabre embrace. The girl’s mouth was slightly open as she gasped for air, while the vampire drank his fill. Her heartbeat grew fainter and fainter, stuttered, and—just before it came to a final stop—he pulled away and growled in satisfaction. He threw his head back to allow the warm blood to trickle down his throat and closed his eyes tightly, savoring the moment. This was his addiction— young, virgin blood.

Drunk on the potent innocent blood, he tossed the lifeless body away from him. With a fancy back-step and a skip, he melted into the shadows. It is great to be alive. With bright eyes he surveyed the world around him. How different it was from the Old World. He wondered if he’d ever be able to adapt to the Old World when he left here again. If he ever left. His thoughts went back to the reason he was here. His informant said he’d followed her here to New York, the insomniac city with an abundance of food. He was going to like it here.

Whistling a cheery tune, he dissolved into fine mist.

THE END

About the Author

Stein Willard

Born and bred in Windhoek, Namibia, Stein has considerable experience in the media field and has worked as a journalist, TV producer, and PR consultant before starting her own small media production company. Her hobbies include writing, reading, cooking, travelling, photography, and watching soccer.

In 2007 she decided to experiment by writing a few short stories in English. By pure accident, she came across platforms on the Internet to publish her work and was encouraged by a friend to try and post some of her stories.

Stein resides in Windhoek.

Connect with Stein online:

Email: steinwillard80@gmail.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/stein.willard

BOOKS IN THE GUARDIAN SERIES

Book One: A Guardian's Touch

For two thousand years Tahlia had lived on the fringes of humanity as one of the most powerful and feared Royal Vampires in existence. The only ray of light in her endless brutal existence is the reincarnation of her human love, Aurora. For the past twenty centuries, the blue-eyed beauty’s love added a gentle touch to the otherwise deadly veneer of the Vampire Queen.

As protector and lover, Tahlia passionately loved her mortal partner and jealously guarded her existence.  But all that changes when her lover’s birth coincides with the resurfacing of a cunning and elusive enemy set on upsetting the Vampire Hierarchy. This time is target is not Tahlia –directly. It does however; threaten the Vampire Queen’s very existence.

Book Three: A Guardian’s Passion

Converted four hundred years ago, Trinity O’Riordan went through the mechanics of life, carrying an extremely painful past with her. Then one night, while hunting renegades, she saved a beautiful girl from a band of vicious vampires and suddenly life didn't look so bleak any more. She wasn't alone any longer and for a while she was blissfully happy. But her past eventually caught up with her and this time Trinity knew she only had this one chance to finally lay it to rest.

Orphaned twice, Gabriella Talos had made the best of a bad situation. She'd risen above all odds to become a well-known and respected expert in her field. She had it made…or so she thought. One night in a dark alley, she was confronted by a past she'd thought she'd successfully buried eighteen years ago