We walked into the hotel and a gentleman dressed in a tuxedo and wearing white gloves handed Lance a key card. He thanked him as we walked straight to the elevator. It was a relief not to have to linger at the front desk. As tired as I was, I would have fallen asleep in the limo if the hotel hadn't been so close. Lance punched a number and the elevator opened on the top floor. A few short steps down the hallway, and we were at the penthouse.We walked into a luxurious living room, adorned with flowers and beautiful furniture. On the farthest side of the room was a door that I assumed led to the bedroom. There was also another door. "What's in that room?" I asked pointing to the door. "It's a mini salon," he said, eyeing me with a mischievous grin. "Wow! You are really trying to spoil me, aren't you?" I teased, too tired to check it out. Suddenly, Lance swooped me up into his arms and headed toward the bedroom. "What are you doing?" I asked, laughing as he carried me down the h
I woke the next morning and the shades on the windows were already drawn in the hotel room. The shades must have been specially made, as there was no light streaming in through the windows at all, although it was clearly morning. Lance was still behind me, spooning me in his sleep as a broad smile spread across his face. I slid out of bed, careful not to wake him, then headed toward the bathroom and quickly showered. Afterward, I slipped into a luxurious white robe that was hanging behind the door, reminding me of the robe in Lance's penthouse. I looked into the mirror and my cheeks were bright and rosy, my blue eyes wild, and my hair knotted, matching the wild look in my eyes. I laughed, deciding to look for a brush. I hadn't packed much. Angela had taken care of the details and I had no idea what she had packed for me.I looked over and on the counter was a small travel bag. I opened it and inside was a complete brush set, blow dryer, my favorite shampoos and conditioner, a razor,
A part of me wanted to rest, but another part of me wanted to take advantage of his offer and shop while I had the chance. "Okay, you talked me into it. I'll go." A broad smile spread across his face. "That's my lady," he said, then crushed his lips down onto mine. "But when I get back, I'm going to rest," I amended, rubbing my tummy, which was slightly bigger. I was already feeling tired and I hadn't even left the hotel."Leila, if you don't feel up to it, I can bring the runway to you," he stated, then gently kissed my forehead. "Also, be sure to get some baby clothes whatever you'd like.""You, my dear, are spoiling me," I said, giving him a light peck on the lips."That's the whole idea," he replied, then added, "but stay with the limo. My driver will stay with you today.""I will." I gave him a quick peck on the cheek, but his arms prevented me from getting up. "Lance, I thought that you wanted me to go shopping," I teased. There was no way I could move him, so I just wai
In the limo, I looked out the window, taking in the sites. It had been a long time since I'd been to New York. Steven had traveled here often on business and I was rarely invited to go with him, but I couldn't blame him entirely. I was married to my work at the time. Looking back, it was a wonder that we had stayed married for as long as we had. Maybe that was why he had taken a mistress. Steven had needed someone that would be there for him.I quickly pushed those thoughts aside as we pulled down Fifth Avenue. My heart leapt with excitement as I spotted high-end stores, such as Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, De Beers, Gianni Versace, Bergdorf Goodman, and much more. Then, I spotted Prada. "Stop here, Clarence," I said, and he quickly obeyed. There were no parking spaces and the street was crowded, so he said, "Dr. Reynolds, I'll circle the block and will be right back. If you finish before I return, wait for me." I nodded and walked into the store. It was lovely, filled with dre
I froze, not quite sure what to do as my hand went instinctively to my stomach. The other man already had his hand around Clarence's throat. It was then I noticed that they were both more than human, but not vampires. Their eyes were bright blue, and vampires' eyes are green and, from the way this man was handling Clarence, they also had super-human strength. I waited, confused. "You, dear sir, are coming with us," he said, looking directly into Clarence's eyes."He was compelled," the man standing before me said in a low voice. Suddenly, he looked familiar."How do you know about compulsion?" I asked, astonished. Obviously, these men weren't human. If they were, they knew much more than normal humans were allowed to know. He gave me a weak smile. "My name is Garrett, and this is Patrick.""Pleasure," I said, leery of my rescuers. I looked over and Patrick was leading Clarence by the throat out of the alley, who was flailing his arms and muttering obscenities all the way out t
Lance took her hand in his and clasped it with both hands, but didn't raise it to his lips. "Yes, thank you for coming so quickly." Then, Lance turned to me. "This is Raven, and she possesses the gift of magic.""She's a witch," I said, nodding my head, wondering what other supernatural creatures might walk through the door next. "Yes," she said, circling me slowly as a cat would size up a mouse. "And you are?""Lance's fiancée," I said flatly. I was in no mood for a catfight or to deal with catty women. "Yes, well," she said, turning her attention back to Lance, "he never mentioned you.""And he never mentioned you," I returned, wondering what her past relationship had been with him. Obviously, she wanted it to be more than it was. Get in line, lady. She suddenly laughed. "Lance and I have been friends for a long time," she said, as if having heard my comment. She ran her long red fingernails over Lance's shoulder.Yeah, too long, I thought to myself. Keep your bloody hands
"Really?" I asked, truly amazed. Suddenly, it felt as if I was getting a crash course in Paranormal 101. "But you're so ""Lovely?" Raven finished. She crossed the room to me, looking into my eyes. "Thank you for that." She smiled and then continued. "So, you see? We have many powers and compulsion is just one of them." She took a step closer to me. "And now do you see why witches are reluctant to do the linking spell?"I nodded, understanding. Lance nodded. "I could not ask that of you."Raven then turned her attention back to me. "Do you really think you can develop a serum so that vampires can walk in the sunlight?"I nodded. "Yes, quite sure. I have an idea, but I need to test it first.""You are with child, are you not?" Raven asked, matter of fact."I think so, but I won't find out for sure until Monday.""May I?" Raven asked, holding up her hand."Yes, of course," I replied.Raven placed both hands gently on my stomach and looked to the side absently. "Yes, you are
"Why don't we go downstairs to dinner while Garrett and Patrick clean up?" Lance said, indicating the crimson pool of blood on the floor where Clarence's body had been. "I'm sorry about Clarence," I said, rubbing his arm. Lance had calmed down considerably. We still didn't know who was after the baby or me, but at least we were a bit closer. We knew that I was pregnant and that someone was after the baby. A shiver went through my body at the thought.Lance took a deep breath. "He was loyal," Lance said, lost in thought. "He definitely had to be compelled. I trusted Clarence with my life." He took a deep breath, shaking his head. "He deserved better than this."I nodded, not quite sure what to say. After all, what was there to say to someone who has lost a friend? Then, a thought occurred to me. "Lance, does this mean that you can go out into the sunlight now?""Yes, while Raven and I are linked." He walked over to the window and pulled back the window shade. Immediately, bright su
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