Since Jase was still sleeping, we opted to catch up on our sleep, as well. I slept like the dead beside Leila all afternoon. In the middle of the night, she nuzzled onto my shoulder and slid her arm over my chest. And it felt like home. I was amazed that even though I had lived so many years on this earth, it had taken me this long to finally find my soul mate the woman I was meant to spend my eternity with. I pulled her to my chest and we both fell back to sleep, safe in each other's arms. "Aahhh!!!" a little voice cooed from across the room the next morning. "Da, da, da, da, da!"I opened my eyes, the sunlight almost blinding me, but it felt good against my face. For so many years, I wasn't able to go out into the sun, let alone wake to golden sunshine streaming in through the window. But I quickly pushed the thought aside; Jase was saying my name! At that moment, I was so thankful that we hadn't left him at home. His childhood was going to be short and I didn't want to miss any
First, we went to the tidal pools, the natural bridges, and Jase loved the wild sea life. Then, we went sailing. It was a lovely day, with a slight breeze blowing over us, the sky was bright blue with white, puffy clouds, and the water was crystal clear. We looked down into the water and showed Jase the ocean wildlife, even sharks, but the sharks got one whiff of me and took off. Vampires are the ultimate predator, and even sharks know it. I had arranged for a picnic lunch and we ate on the sailboat. Jase hinted at wanting blood, but we quietly told him that he couldn't have any just yet. Even though he was the equivalent of a one-year-old child-or older now-I knew that I was going to have to have a talk with him about appropriate behavior around humans very soon.By the end of the day, Jase was getting tired and fell asleep before we got back to our hut. After he was wrapped snuggly in his blankets, Leila turned to me. "Would you like some wine before dinner?"I shook my head. "No
The monster laughed and shrugged. "Sorry, but I'd rather have hers; she smells too delicious." Then, he bared his fangs. "Now!" I yelled and Leila's body immediately went limp, slipping through the monster's arms to the floor. It happened so abruptly that the monster was startled as I grabbed him by the throat and pushed him outside onto the back porch. "Is there anyone else with you?""No no no one else!" the monster stammered, his green eyes barely visible beneath the milky film covering them."Did you follow us?""Follow you?""To Aruba!" I yelled, seeing red as I held his throat. "Did you follow us here?!""No! No!" he whimpered, cowering, a far cry from his confident attitude a few minutes before. "I live here!""And your friends?""What?""Focus!" I yelled, leaning him back over the railing. "Your friends! Did they live here, too?""No, no " he cowered, "No, they were from somewhere else ""Where?" I pressed, leaning him over the railing so far that his back almos
Once Jase was settled, Leila turned to me. "What did you mean back there when you said 'until we find out who's behind this'?" she asked in a low voice. "You really don't think ""I don't know what to think, Leila." I took the exit headed toward the airstrip, constantly looking in the rearview mirror to make sure that we weren't followed. "What makes you say that?""The one that had you " I began, cringing at the thought of Leila at the mercy of that monster. "He said that he lived here, but the other two were from the United States.""No " Leila said in disbelief. "He also said that they were told that Jase's blood would cure them." I hated to have to tell her this, but she really needed to know. Then, I looked directly into her eyes. "They were after our son.""Oh, my God!" Leila said in disbelief. "If someone knows or even suspects that dhampir blood will cure vampirism, then The Outsiders will be looking for him. They have no other recourse."Then, she turned to me. "We
"Don't worry," I said to Leila, "I'll keep you and Jase safe."When she turned to me, the distraught look in her eyes broke my heart. "How? How can you ever keep us safe from this?" she asked in a low voice, careful not to wake our sleeping son. She reached over and placed her hand atop his. She was scared and obviously needed to reassure herself of his safety.It tore my heart out, seeing her like this. "I'll take you and Jase somewhere safe, secluded, where no one will find you.""Without you?""Hardly.""What are you talking about, Lance?" Leila released Jase's hand and turned her full attention toward me. "We can never escape this." She took a deep breath and turned her attention out the window. "Of course, I knew what I was getting myself into when I agreed to be with you. And it was okay when it was just us. Not just okay. Great is more the word." Leila turned to look into my eyes. "But Jase is too young to defend himself. This is a hard life; hard enough for adults, let alo
"Here is your suite, Mr. Steel." The grand living room was luxuriously furnished with a beige couch and matching chairs, along with glass end tables with gold trim and a matching coffee table. Lavish furnishings greeted us at every turn."Thank you. This is beautiful," I said, offering him a discreet and sizable tip. "Thanks for getting us in on such short notice."He shook his head, declining the tip. "It is indeed my pleasure, Mr. Steel. And if there is anything that you require or that I can do to make your stay more pleasant, please let me know.""Thank you. I will."After he left, we walked into the bedroom and a canopy bed took center stage, draped in beige silk and a matching silk bedspread with fine white linen sheets. I laid Jase down and covered him up in the crib that was placed discreetly against the wall and pulled the covers snuggly around him, tucking him in. Sliding glass doors led to a veranda and a private infinity pool, creating a spectacular view.Leila sat o
"Leila, stop," I said, surprised at her lusty craving, but she didn't stop. I could have pulled away from her easily, but I didn't. She couldn't kill me, after all, but I would have a terrible headache if she took too much before I could power up again. "Leila, stop!" I repeated, and this time, I broke her hold. She looked at me, mortified as her eyes flew open wide. "I'm sorry I don't know what came over me " I smiled, suspecting why. "No worries, my love.""Oh, my God!" she said, not realizing what was happening. "What have I done? Lance, are you all right?"I laughed. "Yes, love. Of course. You cannot kill me from overfeeding the way that I can kill you.""I don't know what came over me unless " she looked at me as her eyes flew open wide again. "You don't think "I laughed, never feeling happier in my life. "Well, Leila, I think I had better start feeding you blood regularly now." "No, no! No way!" Leila said, freaking out, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry. "But I
Soon, Leila walked into the room, towel-drying her hair, wearing only her robe, which accented her every curve. "What, may I ask, are you men up to?""Dada fly!" Jase said, having understood every word. Leila just about dropped her towel. "Did he just say what I think he said?" I laughed. "Yes, my dear, your son is a genius!" Leila sat down on the chair next to mine and watched Jase as I held him up above my head and swayed him back and forth, "flying". "You mean our son is a genius!" she said. "Is it normal for him to start talking now?""Well, look at him," I said, enjoying the moment with our son. "He's the equivalent of an eighteen-month-old child. The growth rate of dhampiers is extraordinary. Remember: he will be fully grown in ten years. I wouldn't doubt it if he's talking in complete sentences and the equivalent of a four-year-old child before we go back home."Leila placed a hand gingerly on my arm, and from her touch, I knew that she was upset. "I'm so glad that we b
Leila reached over and took her from me. "Well, Amy and Angela went through a lot of trouble to organize a surprise anniversary party for us, so you'd better not disappoint them and look surprised."In the last several months since The Outsiders attacked and Leila was turned into a vampire, the cure had been perfected and several vampires were turned successfully back into humans. We had to set up a secret relocation program for them, as well, as they would no longer be able to protect themselves from supernatural creatures. Many of the innocent Outsiders were also turned into humans again, successfully. Once they had the cure, their bodies reverted back to their human form, to our relief. Also, Drake had built a private facility just for vampires going through The Change, headed by Amy and Elias. They both would be busy for a long time.I raised my eyebrows and opened my mouth, over exaggerating mock shock. "How's this?""Silly Daddy!" Sirena said as she laid her head on her mothe
"Something tells me that you won't need to bite your wrist for me anymore," she joked, suddenly sounding more like herself."Leila!" I said, crying openly as I pulled her to my chest. I pulled back and crushed my lips to hers, and she responded with all of the pent up passion that we both felt. "Leila, love. I'm so sorry ""Shush," she cooed, looking into my eyes. "It wasn't your fault.""Yes, it was!" I said, as tears ran down my cheeks. "I should have protected you. I should have been there for you!""Shush," she said, then smiled. "You were." I looked at her, puzzled. "You were with me in my heart. Before I died, you were the last thing I thought of; your face was the last thing I saw in my mind. I love you, Lance.""I love you, too," I cooed, "always and forever."Suddenly, the noise behind us began to die down. I helped Leila to her feet. Drake and Amy were behind us, still protecting us, having never left our sides. Amy was holding her scythe, and Drake held my sword. "Than
"Leila?!" I yelled at the top of my lungs as the screams of dying vampires resonated within the cave behind me. I closed my eyes for a moment and then silently prayed. "Please, help me to find them."I opened my eyes. As I looked at the caves, the one in the center of the humongous cavern stood out. I ran down the narrow path, throwing vampires over my head behind me as I ran, letting my coven tear them apart, and killed several at once, taking their heads off easily with my sword. I threw several against the wall with a wave of my hand, who were ripped apart by shifters. Then, I shoved my hand into the chest of another vampire with milky white eyes when he got too close and listened to his screams as he burst into flames. I jumped over his flaming body when I saw a faint light at the end of the tunnel, running my sword through another vampire that was coming at me. As he lay on the ground, I stomped on his throat and ripped his head from his body. As I rushed down the tunnel toward t
We ran over the rough terrain as the wind blew past us. The sun was high overhead, but the heat didn't affect vampires the way it affected humans. None of the elements did. We ran over mountains and even jumped over a gorge, not losing one vampire. Within minutes, the sound of running water rushing by filled my ears and I knew we were getting close. Soon, the black and red mountain peaks rose up before us. Within minutes, we were on the edge of Promontory Point, on the west side of the Hoover Dam.I looked down at the blue lake and at all of the surrounding igneous rock formations that created mountains, just as Xander came up on my right side. "She could be anywhere."Xander clasped a hand on my shoulder. "We'll find her." Then, he turned to his wolf pack, who had joined us. "Split up! Look for any sign of Leila and the baby!" Xander then began ordering his pack to go in every direction. Immediately, they leapt and turned into werewolves in midair, digging into the sand and pushing
I pulled the phone out of my pocket and dialed Javier's number."Mr. Steel," he answered on the first ring. "Who was standing guard?""Gregory and Cal," he said in clipped tones, knowing that I meant the penthouse"The Outsiders took Leila," I said, headed down the stairwell. "Round up some men. We're going after her. Meet me in the lobby in five.""Yes, sir," he said as I hung up the phone and dialed Ferdinand's number. "Mr. Steel?""How the hell did The Outsiders get into the castle?!" I demanded."The fire alarm sounded and there was smoke," he said, his heels clicking against the hard, tiled floor of the lobby. He was in the casino. "We were busy evacuating the guests ""While they came after my family?!""They must have come in the back way," Ferdinand said. "There was chaos ""Tell me about it later. We're going after Leila." I hung up the phone just as I reached the bottom of the stairwell, flung open the door, and looked around, spotting him walking toward me. The
I pulled out my cell phone and quickly dialed Adeline's number, but there was no answer. I shook my head, realizing how close I had come to becoming human. Just a few minutes later and I wouldn't have been able to save my family. I just hoped that I wasn't too late. I quickly dialed Javier's number as I headed out the front door of Kalyssa's cottage."Lance?" he said, answering on the first ring. Chaos erupted in the background as my heart sank."What happened?""Oh, thank God it's you," he said. "Leila has been ""I know. Xander just told me," I replied. "Where is she?" I was already starting to run, not waiting for Amy, Xander, and Elias."I don't know, but someone had to have taken her." Sirens sounded loudly in the distance.Anger filled my body. "Tell me about it when I get there. I'm on my way."I clicked off my phone and ran at super speed across the desert, faster than a car could travel. My vampire seethed for vengeance, pushing me harder, faster, as memories of the y
I woke in a cold sweat. Moonlight was streaming in through the window, piercing the darkness. Hunger rose within me; a hunger like I'd never known before. I needed blood and I needed it now. I rose from the bed and stalked toward the door.I could smell blood and it smelled luscious.My fangs extended immediately as I skulked down the hallway, closer to the delicious scent, closer to what I wanted, closer to what I craved. The scent grew stronger, more delicious, more tempting as I drew near and it was clearly, fully human. I placed my hands on the wall, beyond all reason, beyond sanity, as I inched closer to my target. I turned the corner, ready, as saliva rushed into my mouth in anticipation of the meal in which I was about to indulge. My heart pounded against my ribcage, as if it wanted this kill just as much as I. My vampire seethed within my chest, inching me closer, but when I turned the next corner it was Leila."My God, Lance! You scared me!" she said as she reached for t
"Have you thought of becoming human for her?" I asked in a low voice.Kellen let out a deep breath and sat back down on the couch. "Yes, I have.""And?" I knew that I was prying, but he had been a vampire for a very long time, and becoming human again was a big step.Kellen bit his lower lip, thinking, and then looked directly into my eyes. "Yes. I would do it. If I could grow old with her, I would do it in a heartbeat," he said without hesitation. "That's why I get it, Lance, between you and Leila. I get why you're doing this. I would do the same thing, if I were in your shoes."I reached out and clasped his hand, giving him a man shake. "What does Crissy say about it?"He shrugged. "She wants to become a vampire for me."I nodded. "And how do you feel about that?"He shook his head. "Man, I love her with all of my heart, but I don't want that for her." He pushed up from the couch, walked across the room, and then turned around abruptly. "I want her to go to college. To have
She smiled. "Well, after tomorrow, it won't be a problem.""Well, after tomorrow, you won't be able to find me.""Not until after the baby's born," Amy corrected. "After Leila's fully recovered, then you can go anywhere you wish.""Sounds good to me." For a moment, I wondered if we had another child and we were both human, would the child be human, too? But I brushed the thought aside. After this baby was born, we would have two children, which was more than I had ever hoped for."Well, I'm off," Elias said as he headed toward the door. "Amy, I hate to leave you alone with him in this state."She smiled. "I'll be fine. Go! Your patients await. I, on the other hand, am off from work for the next few weeks."Elias laughed. "Yeah, yeah! Don't rub it in.""You really need to take some time off, too, though."Elias laughed. "Well, with my staff taking time off ""Okay, don't you have to go?""Why? Trying to get rid of me already?""Yes! How'd you guess?"We all laughed when ther