With thrusts of his hand, he slammed werewolves against the wall without touching them, using his telekinesis as he marched purposefully across the room with his eyes locked on Charlotte.Amy pulled me behind her, fighting off a werewolf that had leapt toward us. She fought valiantly, ripping off heads with her sickle and ripping out hearts as blood sprayed across the room.Suddenly, Drake entered the room with his fists doubled at his sides, dressed in a black T-shirt, black jeans with boots. He took off a werewolf's head in one swift movement, and threw another against the wall, then turned to take on more.Lance was halfway across the room from Charlotte, glaring at her menacingly, when a werewolf jumped at him, but Lance hit him effortlessly, sending him flying across the room and crashing into a far wall. Then, Lance looked over at him and squeezed his hands tightly and the werewolf gasped, unable to breathe, until he finally passed out and turned into his human form. Lance the
Immediately, something went around my waist and I was being lifted. I looked over and Lance was holding me up so that Amy could slide a heart monitor around me for the baby. Suddenly, a quick flutter beeped into the air. "Is he okay?" I asked, barely conscious. "Lance the baby is he okay?""Shush he's fine, honey. Hang in there," Lance said, and then held his wrist up to my lips again. "Drink, Leila. God! I'm begging you, drink! You've lost too much blood. You need my blood to heal yourself! Drink!""Aaahhhhaaaa!" I moaned, trying to grip my stomach, but I was too weak to raise my arm. This was different than normal labor, I could tell. Everything was too quick and too painful. "Lance?" I asked, between contractions. "I'm right here, baby! Stay with me," Lance said, still holding his wrist to my lips as tears filled his eyes. "My God, baby, just drink.""Aahhhhhhhaaa!!!!" I yelled as another pain gripped me. "Help him! Help the baby!""We are, hon. I know it hurts," Amy said,
I rocked slowly back and forth with my son in my arms, feeding him a bottle of formula. He was beautiful with dark blonde, soft curls and bright green eyes, a normal six-month-old baby, even though he was only a few weeks old. Amy said that Jase would be full grown within ten years and I planned to enjoy every moment of it. He would also live a long life. Amy was living proof of it. She was technically sixty-two years old, but didn't look a day over twenty-five."Are you ready?" she asked as she walked through the door. She crossed the room and held her arms out to take my son, my Jase. "It's time."I handed him to her with a sigh. "If I must." "Unless you want to give your honeymoon tickets to me," she teased. "I've always wanted to go to Aruba.""Not on your life," I said, smoothing my white dress as I rose from the rocker. It wasn't your typical wedding dress, but it suited me well. It was satin with white spaghetti straps and a white lace overlay in an A-line style, and fitted
VOLUME TWO: CROSSROADSMy name is Lance Steel. I'm the owner of Caprice Casino and Club Moroii, located on the Las Vegas strip. I'm a husband, a damned good father and I'm also a vampire. I've lived many lives over the years, having been turned in the twelfth century the year 1113 AD, to be exact. I've had many loves, but none have touched my heart and very soul like my wife, Leila. Not long ago, I seduced her, a fact I'm not proud of, but not sorry for, either. Her association with me indirectly caused the death of her then husband and wrecked her life. After her life fell apart, I was there to help her pick up the pieces. I've had many regrets over the years, but Leila wasn't one of them. In over nine hundred years of living on this earth, Leila has been the best thing that's ever happened to me well she and our son, Jase. Yes, we have a son. Not long after we met, we discovered that she was pregnant with my child and soon Jase was born. Our son is a dhampier: half vampire an
A broad smile spread across my face as I forced the memories from my head. This was the happiest day of my life, and I intended to enjoy it. "After you," I said, gesturing to him, then I followed him out.Drake was my best man and was also escorting Leila down the aisle, since her own father had passed away from a broken heart after losing her mother to cancer years ago. It was tragic, but very romantic.Kellen smiled and walked through the side door leading into the church, and I followed, taking my place at the altar. Kellen sat beside Crissy, who snuggled into his side. I smiled, glad to see that Kellen had finally found someone. Looking out over the rest of the church, it was filled with our family and friends who had flown here to be with us.The Wedding March started and I adjusted the vest under my tuxedo one last time, more out of habit. I took a deep breath and waited for my bride as I clasped my hands in front of me. This was it; the moment I'd waited my life for.Rosa st
Then, I crushed my lips down onto hers as I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her to my chest. My lips moved passionately with hers, and she took me inside, as my tongue danced with hers before our family and friends. At that moment, there was no one else in the world, just Leila and me."Ahem," the minister discreetly cleared his throat a few minutes later, gaining our attention as everyone laughed. I didn't want this moment to end, but Leila pulled back, and her cheeks filled with a lovely rose as she looked up at me through her long eyelashes, laughing. I pulled back and gave my sweet Leila one last kiss. "This is just the beginning," I promised. "I'm counting on it," she said, nestling her head onto my chest just under my shoulder. "I love you.""Always and forever," I agreed, then turned her around and we faced our family and friends. The whole church erupted into a round of applause and smiles as I wrapped my arm protectively around my lovely bride. I laughed as we walk
As Leila and I played with our son, the bandleader whispered something in Drake's ear and Drake got up and walked over to me. "It's time," he said, touching my arm. Drake stood and raised his hands to silence the crowd as he raised his wine glass. "I'd like to make a toast to my best friends, Leila and Lance Steel. Congratulations on your marriage. May your days be filled with love and happiness. Cheers." He, along with the crowd, raised their wine glasses and drank, and then he added, "And Lance, don't keep Leila away from the hospital too long."The crowd laughed, and I said, "Who says I'm bringing her back?"Everyone laughed again, and Drake laughed as he raised his glass.I nodded and handed our son to Amy, giving him one last sweet kiss. I stood and addressed the crowd. "On behalf of my wife, Leila, and me, I'd like to thank you all for coming and sharing this very special occasion with us. I know that everyone is hungry, but before we indulge, I'd like to make a toast to my
True to my prediction, Leila was asleep within minutes after takeoff from Heathrow International Airport in the United Kingdom. As the sun began to set outside the jet window, I thanked my lucky stars for all of the blessings in my life. I didn't know what I would do without Leila, Jase, or my friends, Drake and Kellen, just to name a few.I dozed off myself until I felt Jase squirm in my arms. I woke with a jolt and he was rubbing his hands lightly on the sides of my cheeks as he looked into my eyes. His eyes were wise beyond his young age. I wondered what he was thinking at that moment, but knew that at this rate, he would be talking soon. As quietly as I could, I took a bottle from the diaper bag and fed him while Leila slept beside me. After Jase had his fill, he drifted off to sleep again. Eight hours later, the rumble of the plane rang loudly in the cabin as it descended and jolted as it touched down lightly on the runway at Miami International Airport. John threw the engines
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