ANNA KYLIN CHESTER "EASY, DRACO," I said in a calm voice. "Take it easy." My Luna aura must have washed out because he was suddenly calm, although his breaths came out in guttural grunts. He sat down on the chair and tapped his thumb against his knee repeatedly in agitation."I had to tell you," I said. "You're the one taking her into your home. You had to know the risks involved."He nodded. "Thank you, Luna." He looked up at me. "But how did you come to this conclusion?""It was Lorna," I said honestly. "Tell me; what has she said since she woke up?"Draco shook his head. "Nothing." He replied and sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I think I heard her mumbling something to your children as we left. That must be the first thing I've heard her say."I nodded. Bringing the children along was a good idea. They would help her come out of the hypnosis. I hope it was nothing like what I experienced. "I tried talking to her when she came out of her unconsciousness," I told him. "She kept on re
IT WAS A starry night and the wind swept the vast expanse of the desert in strong waves. On the warm sand, a total of 405 witches stood in a circle, they all wore black gowns. In the middle of the circle, wood and sticks had been stacked like beds in a dozen places. The dead witches were laid upon the wood like they were sleeping. They looked almost peaceful. The whole environment was serene.Enrique stood a few yards away from the meeting. He heard the small mumbling of the witches as they carried out their final rites. It was an eerie place. He felt goosebumps break out on his neck. "Could do with some warmth now." He growled to himself under his breath, rubbing his hands together. Lorna stood alone in the middle of the dead witches. "We are gathered today," Her voice was soft, but it was like the wind worked for her. It carried her voice so everyone heard it gently. "To mourn and put our sisters to rest." She looked around. She could not make out the faces of the numerous women tha
ANNA KYLIN CHESTER I TRIED TO sleep in Mitch's embrace, but my mind refused to go calm. It felt like I was supposed to be somewhere else, but I didn't know where.After trying fruitlessly for an hour, I slid out of his arms. He was still deep asleep. I adjusted his neck position to prevent pain, then I walked out of the lounge room. It was dark outside, but it got dark very quickly here, so I knew time might not be far gone. I went to the dining room, Liz and Patty were just cleaning up the table."Good evening, Luna," Patty said.I nodded."The children have eaten dinner already," Liz said. "You and the alpha were sleeping. I didn’t want to wake and disturb your rest.""Oh. Thank you, Liz." I told her. "Where are the children now?""They are in the TV room now," she said. I nodded again and started to go out. "What will you have for dinner, Luna?""What's available?" I asked. I was not in the mood to eat. For some reason, I wasn't hungry."Uh... we have pot roast," Patty said. "Sal
TO VORENUS, IT often felt like they were always moving from one bar or club to another. Some centuries ago - no, some months ago - he would have enjoyed it. The thrill. The high and fast life. The blood of new and fresh humans. It was all too enticing, but now, Vorenus wanted nothing more than to just stay alone and stare at the moon."Vladimir wants you," Alice growled from the darkness.Vorenus remained sitting. He did not give any indication that he heard her."Are you listening?" She asked.He cocked his head and dropped from the rooftop of the club they were at that night."Where is he," He asked, brushing past her roughly."The VIP section," she said, walking up to him. "Can you believe that this club is tied to his name?""I can, Alice," Vorenus said, pushing past the dancing humans. "I can because I was there when he acquired all the lands centuries ago.""You might be older than me, Vorenus," Alice hurried up and whispered into his neck."I am older than everyone you know," V
"I DID NOT expect this much," Enrique said. He and Lorna were sitting on the sand a few distance from where the tents were erected."To be honest, neither did I," Lorna said, leaning into Enrique's frame."We didn't bring a tent," Enrique grunted. "We should have.""It is not needed," Lorna said. "Look at the sky. It's so beautiful."Enrique looked up and nodded, but he said, "You can't lie on the sand," he said. "It would be uncomfortable to sleep on."Lorna chuckled dryly. "Who said anything about sleeping?" She asked. "We are all keeping a watch vigil.""You people have a lot of rituals," Enrique muttered under his breath. She nodded. "We are not shapeshifters like werewolves and Lycans; we are not monsters of the night or water like Vampires or Sirens... but what we do have, is our tradition. And it's something we will always relish and follow."Enrique remained silent for a moment, then he scoffed and said, "Sirens." He chuckled. "Those things are not real.""Oh is that so?" Lor
SHE DIDN'T KNOW. Her mind could not imagine the sheer strength of a Lycan, especially one as aged as Enrique. She was overwhelmed by his power and beaten out of her senses.Enrique did not like the thought of hitting a woman, but to protect another whom he loved? Yes, he would.She was a sire vampire, but a new one and she was feeling overconfident, which was what he used to his advantage. "Is everything alright? I felt a slight change in the energy flow a few minutes ago." Lorna's voice floated into his head.He easily parried a strike from the vampire and slashed with his claws. His beast was enjoying this too much. "We had a visitor, but I'm handling it." He replied Lorna.He could still hear the worry in her voice as she said, "We are almost done here.""Take your time, Lorna." He grunted."That's your beast talking, Enrique, are you okay?" She asked."Splendid," He slammed his knee into the ribcage of the woman vamp."Do not kill anyone out there, Enrique," Lorna added. "This is
ONCE THE NECROMANCERS were done doing their business with the ghosts of the departed sisters, the witches dispersed and had time to assess the damage Alice had dealt on them before Enrique intervened. None of the sisters were dead, but many were badly injured. Luckily some of the witches were skilled healers, so they got to working on the injured ones while Lorna, furious, made her way to Enrique. "Who was that?" She snarled. "Who caused all these?""A vampire," Enrique answered. "A high-ranking vampire. She could move with the night shadows.""So that means she was created by Vladimir himself," Lorna said, and Enrique nodded. "You didn't kill her.""I didn't. You told me not to." Enrique said. "But I left her very beaten up.""I would like to have a word with her," Lorna said, frowning as she walked past Enrique. "It was a stupid attempt by Vladimir to try and attack us. He would not stoop so low to attack the witches during burial rites. He wouldn't."Enrique led her to the scene o
MITCH CHESTER MITCH GRUNTED AWAKE and looked down at his arm. Anna was cuddled against his side, her face was resting softly against the crook of his arm. He eased her off and stood up. She was going to wake up with a crick in her neck. He stretched and went to the window. He pulled the curtain aside slightly and looked out, it was still dark out, but he could tell that it was almost dawn.He washed his mouth and grabbed a thick shawl and overcoat, putting them on as he went out of the palace."Mornin', Your Highness," The two guards manning the front doors greeted as soon as Mitch stepped out.He nodded in response. "Cold night, huh," he said."Yes, sir," One of them said. "But it's not anything that we can't handle." He said with slight pride in his voice."I'm sure of that," Mitch commented. "See anything out of usual?" He asked.The second guard shook his head. "No, sir." He said. "We also didn't get any news from the patrol scouts. It was a very peaceful night."Mitch nodded and