“So you see, Shaina, if you want to live with me, the judge is willing to agree, but you’ll have to talk to him,” Miah coaxed gently. She was not using her voice to sway the teenager in any way. The judge moved to within a few feet of the bed. Shaina was visibly trembling. Alexander reached automatically for her mind.She was under his protection, a female child with psychic ability, a precious treasure to be guarded at all times. He did not like her agitation, the terrible distress on her face. Miah was also in her mind, bolstering her courage, soothing her, aiding her to face the male strangers invading her room. The terror of her childhood was far too fresh in her mind to be able to handle such an event alone.At once he gathered Shaina into his mental arms, pouring his strength and power into her so that she blinked in amazement. He was surrounding her mind, repeating a healing chant in the ancient language of their people, whispering teasing nonsense so that Shaina could hardly ke
“Of course Miah is the perfect guardian. You think so, too. Is that not correct, Shaina?” His voice was soft and gentle, so beautiful that it made Bert sound harsh in comparison. But it was more than that; it was the way he said Miah’s name that made Bert want to throw things. There was something very intimate and possessive in his tone. The judge turned to look at the young girl. “Is that so, Shaina? Would you like to live with Miah? It’s up to you. If you prefer to answer in private, we can clear the room, and just the two of us will hear what you have to say.” Shaina shook her head, hugging her stuffed wolf close to her.“I know what I want,” she answered softly, but very clearly. “I want to live with Miah.” The judge beamed at her as if she were a brilliant child. “Naturally. I can see you and Miah have already established a close bond. I trust we can see through the proceedings as quickly as possible?” He fixed a stern eye on first the attorney, then Bert. While Miah’s attorney n
She had no idea of her own feelings, how deep, how intense they ran within her, but he could see the truth in her eyes. It looked as if they lived in their own secret world. They seemed to communicate without words. His fingers bunched tightly at his sides, curling until his knuckles were white, and his body shook with anger and disappointment. He had courted Miah for so long and devoted himself to her, yet never once had she looked at him in such a manner. And she was more beautiful than ever, more alluring. Watching her, he realised she was sexy beyond anyone he had ever encountered.He had always thought she was beautiful, the perfect ornament to display in the social circles he intended to travel in. Bert had never thought of her in terms of hot, steamy nights and sex, yet now, looking at her, he could hardly restrain himself. Just then Alexander lifted his head and looked at him—a long, cold look that sent a shiver racing down Bert’s spine. Bert turned on his heel and walked away
She arranged for her purchases to be delivered the next evening and followed him out into the night. Shaina would have a room designed especially for her, with items chosen as much as possible from her memories of things she had seen and liked. The rest they chose for her, wanting her happiness and comfort.The pattern for her quilt and sheets was a design fashioned by Miah to aid healing and promote soothing comfort and a feeling of well-being. The room they had decided to give her was a round turret where the intricate stained glass contained a powerful spell to protect the occupant from outside harm and nightmares. Miah smiled up at Alexander as they settled onto the balcony of her home, once more taking their own shapes. “I had a wonderful night, Alexander. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. It is much more fun experiencing life with another.” “You are growing used to me, despite your intentions not to,” he ventured as he led her down the stairs to the kitchen.“We have t
“The doctors here are quite remarkable,” she said softly. “Don’t you think it is much more likely they healed the child if her cancer is in remission? I go and read to the children often, but I cannot heal them, much as I would like to. Have you seen them on the cancer ward? They are so beautiful and brave. It’s rather heartbreaking. Perhaps you should visit them. The story would have tremendous human interest, don’t you think?”She buried the subtle compulsion in her suggestion carefully. The reporter shook his head as if to clear it. “I have to get the story.” She nodded gently, her long hair moving like a silken curtain around her shoulders. “Yes, the story about the doctors here in the hospital and how remarkable they really are.” Her dark eyes stared directly into his.“You really must write about their work.” Woods caught himself as he was turning toward the cancer ward. He shook his head hard to clear out the cobwebs. For a moment he was disoriented, unable to remember exactly
Shot back to reality with a vengeance by that reminder, Miah slid off the bed as if she had been jabbed by a hot poker. Realising in mortification that, aside of a wispy bra and a pair of torn knickers, she had no clothes to put back on, she snatched at the bedspread and yanked violently at it to haul it from under the big bronzed length of him where he lay in an infuriatingly relaxed post-coital sprawl. Concealing herself within its folds, Miah was furiously aware of Alexander’s unashamedly amused scrutiny.“What is hidden is always more intriguing, sweetheart,” he murmured with silken approbation. “And much more appealing to a man like me than a short skirt and a low neckline—”She rolled her eyes, “Intriguing you is the very last thing on my mind!” Miah almost spat at him, a tempestuous fury building behind her embarrassment.With his brilliant eyes gleaming, his black hair ruffled and blue-black stubble beginning to shadow his strong jaw line and highlight his shapely mouth, he
Intercepting a warm smile from Ysabelle, Miah went over to talk as best she could to Alexander’s grandmother. The grizzled bearded man by her side revealed that he was a retired professor living in Ysabelle’s village and he translated to enable the two women to communicate. Miah was surprised to find that she was confiding in Ysabelle about her parents’ separation.Alexander joined them and spoke at length to his grandmother before closing a hand over Miah ’s and guiding her onto the dance floor. She glanced up at his lean, breathtakingly handsome face and her heart thumped heavily in her eardrums. She felt so vulnerable, so unsure of what to do next, for the passion they had shared had wrecked the framework of their relationship and she had no idea what would replace it.‘We’re leaving,’ Alexander explained only when she questioned why they were leaving the function room and by a side door. ‘Ysabelle’s right. You look exhausted…like a little white ghost, angil moy…’PINK colour swa
‘Whether I like it or not is irrelevant!’ Miah argued wildly.‘How can it be?’ Alexander urged, turning her round to face him. ‘It’s the icing on the cake for both of us. But you should have warned me that I would be your first lover. If I’d known I would have been more patient and I might have hurt you less.’Miah wanted the tiled floor to open up and swallow her. She snatched at her bodice before it could tumble lower and expose her bare breasts. Her hands were trembling, for she was remembering that wild passion when his impatience had only been matched by her eagerness and the pain had drowned in the hot sweet tide of pleasure. Her face burning, she stepped back from him. ‘I’m fine,’ she said flatly.Alexander dealt her a flashing smile of such intrinsic charisma that her gaze stayed glued to him. ‘We’ll eat together in an hour.’Relieved by his departure and wrung out by the day’s events, Miah shed her dress in the bedroom and finally sank into the bath with a heartfelt sigh o
She seemed to be free of all outside forces. He sighed softly, releasing her before his sudden, unexpected surge of anger transmitted itself to Shaina. She had been hideously abused and the raw wounds in her mind would forever leave scars. She was an extraordinary young woman with rare insight and gifts beyond measure.But the man who should have loved and protected her had been the very one to initiate and perpetuate the abuse. Alexander was careful to breathe deeply, wanting to appear completely calm and in control. He knew that Shaina would be terrified by any masculine displays of temper. Luther had already destroyed Shaina’s abusers one by one. He had taken the girl’s enemies as part of his little chess game with Alexander, to show he knew what Alexander knew. “Did you see anything in there that changes your mind about wanting to take me home with you and Miah?” There was a challenge in Shaina’s soft voice but her gaze had slid away from his the instant he released her. Alexan
Luther must not mean her any real harm. That was the only answer. He was baiting a trap to draw Alexander to him. She knew Alexander could read her thoughts, was sharing her mind. She should have realized Luther was sharing Alexander’s mind as well. His laughter came again, that soft musical symphony of beauty. “Now you see the futility of struggling against one such as I. This human child, though she is rare in this world, cannot fool one such as I by pretending to sleep. You cannot protect her from me, not with your safeguards, and not by trying to hide her from me. What Alexander knows, then so do I. When I wish to make her my slave, I will do so. Right now it is tedious to think of such a burden.” “Luther.” Alexander said the name softly, gently. “You grow tired of your existence. There is nothing to hold you to this world. You chose to lose your soul and follow the path of darkness, yet you gained no emotions, no power you had not already wielded. Allow me to aid you in leavin
“Never. There is nothing you can do to make me betray him, not of my own free will. Alexander is a great man and my lifemate. I willingly exchange my life for his.” She waited to be struck down. There was a silence, long and empty. She couldn’t hear him breathing, couldn’t hear his heart beating, if he had a heart. Her long lashes fluttered as she regarded the master demon standing so motionless, looking like the statue of an ancient god. It took a moment to realize there was no entrapment in his voice, just plain black magic. His voice simply made one want to comply with his every wish. “Why aren’t you forcing me to do your bidding?” she asked curiously, sweeping one hand nervously through her long blue-black hair. “I do not need the aid of women in my battle.” She felt a whip of contempt in his words. “I find it rather astonishing that my brother has grown so weak he has allowed this mortal you guard to remain alive. What do you see in this mortal that you would prefer his compan
Miah was screaming, although no sound emerged from her throat. Alexander was engaged in a terrible battle with three ferocious enemies, his very life at stake. She closed herself off from him immediately, not willing to take the chance of distracting him from his duty. He could not help her. “What the hell is going on?” Bert muttered, his voice strangled in his throat. He was terrified, certain someone had slipped him a hallucinogenic. This could not be reality, not with monsters fighting, demons turning into wolves, and winged gargoyles coming to life. Automatically Miah reached out to soothe him, her fingers settling lightly around his wrist so she could manipulate his mind. Her voice was low and compelling, the compulsion embedding itself deep within his brain. She might not be able to save Bert’s life, but she could make the dying easier. He would never feel the teeth in his throat, ripping and tearing while the monster gulped fresh blood. With her head held high, she faced the
When her family had been wiped out in the wars, she had fled the Supernatural Mountains, making her way to Paris, where she learned to hide herself from her people. Tears shimmered unexpectedly in her dark eyes, the memory of that time still raw. She blinked them away and followed Bert along the winding trail. “I wasn’t just anyone, Miah. I was your best friend. But you always held a part of yourself away from me. No matter how hard I tried, I never could get close to you.” She hated that whiney note in his voice and that made her feel guiltier than ever. He had every reason to feel bad about what had happened between them. She had thought about spending her remaining years with him. She ducked her head, her long hair falling in a cascade around her face. “I didn’t mean to lead you on, Bert. I hope you believe that. I tried to be honest with you, but there were times when I seriously thought about becoming involved with you. Because I was considering a relationship with you, I must
He heard the soft shuffle of boots in the dirt, the heavy breathing of the ghoul a demon had created. Dangerous creatures, ghouls lived to serve their masters, feasting on tainted blood and the flesh of humans. They were vicious and without mercy. He waited, his power building and building, gathering until it flowed through him and poured out into the air around him. The ghoul approached from behind, shuffling closer, an evil being, clumsy but very cunning and impossibly strong. A human being would be in grave danger should he meet with a minion of the demon. Alexander was one of the ancients, powerful and far too experienced to give the ghoul much thought. As the grotesque creature closed the distance between them, Alexander whirled around, caught the misshapen head between his hands and jerked hard enough to break the neck. The crack was loud in the silence of the night. The monster wailed loudly, flailing its arms, but Alexander had melted away, his speed far too great for the m
“I will see to it this buffoon does no harm to our girl, but you will not do this thing.” Exasperated, Miah decided against arguing with Alexander’s tyrannical ways. At once she felt Alexander relax, felt his amusement, and she shook her head over the silly idiosyncrasies of men. “Did you have some questions you wanted to ask me?” she queried softly, looking directly into Barry Woods’s eyes. “Or did you have information that you thought was very important to tell me?” He could feel himself falling forward, deeper, deeper still until he was so mesmerized he wanted to stay there for eternity. He cleared his throat, unable, unwilling to break away from the beauty of her eyes. “I have friends who heard things about you. They’re dangerous men. We hunt demons. Real demons, not the make-believe things in the movies. No one believes the creatures exist but us. We’ve been collecting proof over the years. We just need to get one, a body, something tangible to make the world take us seriously
“What stranger entered your room, Shaina?” “A man. He asked me lots of questions about you, but I didn’t answer or look at him. I retreated like I do. Into my own mind.” Shaina continued to look at the wall as if she were slightly ashamed of herself. Her hands were clutching the little stuffed animal until her knuckles turned white. “I don’t know if I can keep from doing it when I’m really afraid.” Miah gently pushed her hair from her forehead. She couldn’t wait to get the child home, where she would be surrounded by love, by feminine things. She couldn’t wait to do something with the wealth of hair that had been neglected for so long. “He’s a reporter, honey, nothing more. Someone told him a story about me and he wants to write about it. It has nothing to do with you, but I’ll make certain there’s a guard posted outside your door at all times. No one else will get in.” She should have posted a guard long before this. A small sound escaped Shaina’s throat, something between a laugh
“You are a woman much sought after by these human males and I am beginning to find it tedious.” Her eyebrow shot up. “Tedious?” she echoed. “Do I hear a veiled threat in there somewhere?” He bent his head to kiss her. “It was not all that veiled.” His grin was boyish and seductive at the same time. “I cannot very well admit I am bothered by those who seek your attention when I am your lifemate. As an ancient I am above such trivial things.” Miah found herself laughing. “You’re above something all right, but I’m not entirely certain what it is.” “Watch yourself tonight, Miah,” Alexander cautioned as he glided through the room toward the door. “You must always remember you are a target now, and so is Shaina.” “I’ll send word to Aidan’s family, asking them not to delay. That way if Shaina is home, she can be protected while we sleep.” Her dark gaze was suddenly anxious. “Alexander, don’t let Luther undermine your confidence in yourself. I really need you and so does our child. Our ch