LanceWhen we landed in Las Vegas, Kellen was waiting for me in the limo. In a way, I wanted the time alone. But then again, I had the whole way home to think.“Have a nice day, Mr. Steel.” Margarite gave me a kind smile, nodding as I walked by.“Thank you, Margarite.” I smiled as I looked into her eyes. “I’ll see you both next weekend.”John shook my hand as I approached. “I’ll have the jet fueled and ready to go.”I patted his arm. “Thanks, John.”Standing at the top of the airstairs, I inhaled the scent of Las Vegas and the desert. It felt like it had been an eternity since I was last here, but it had only been a few days.The sun was still high in the sky, but it was late afternoon, and it would be setting soon. But now, yellow streaks painted the bright blue sky. I smiled as I skipped down the stairs and slid into the limo. Then Kellen slid in beside me and closed the door.“So, how was your trip?”I let out a deep breath. “Good.”“And the kids?”“Good.”He nodded, looking out th
Lance“Wait here,” I said to Charles when we pulled into the parking lot of Maggiano’s Little Italy and walked in the door at exactly six o’clock. I looked around, and Raif and Selestra were already there, waiting at a table.“Hello, Mr. Steel!” the hostess said as I approached. “One for dinner today?”I shook my head, nodding toward Raif and Selestra, draped all over him. “I have a business meeting.” There was no way I was going to tell her that I was meeting old friends. They ceased to be friends long ago.She nodded. “Very well, then. Right this way.” She led me to their table and laid the menu down. “What can I get you to drink?”“Bourbon, neat.” Even though vampires couldn’t get drunk because of our regenerative powers, I needed something strong to get through this conversation.“Make it three,” Raif added. “And put his on my tab.”“Yes, sir.” She smiled, looking between us. “I’ll be right back.” Then she headed off to do our bidding.Selestra’s arm was around Raif, but she smile
LeilaThe week went by slowly in Lance’s absence. I spent my days training with Raven, but I had dinner with the children at night in the main hall. During the day, they were in their classes or in training.I was amazed that they had developed so much of their magical powers in the short time they had been there. We ate with the other children, and on one occasion, a boy scoffed, asking Sirena and Jase if they had brought their mommy with them. But after Sirena threatened to turn him into a toad, he backed away.“From here on out,” Raven had said, “I think all of you should eat with us at the main table or in a private room.”“Maybe a private room would be best,” I agreed. “And will the boy that teased my children be reprimanded?”Raven nodded. “I will speak to him. Sirena, Jase, if the teasing continues, then let me know. But don’t take matters into your own hands.” Her eyes met Sirena’s. “You don’t know the extent of the power you wield.”Sirena nodded once. “Sorry.” But I was prou
Leila“Lance!” I yelled, and a broad smile spread across his face as he walked down the airstairs. I met him at the bottom and jumped into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist. He held me as his lips descended upon mine in a passionate kiss. My heart pounded against my ribcage as he carried me to the limo, never breaking the kiss. “I missed you.”He set me on my feet, and I slid into the limo. “I missed you, too.” He smiled as he slid in beside me. “And I like the greeting I received.” He pulled me onto his lap as he looked into my eyes, and his lips crushed down onto mine. “Are the children still at the coven?” he asked when he came up for air.I nodded. “We’ll pick them up at six,” I breathed. “Raise the partition.”“You read my mind.” He pressed the button and raised the screen and the partition. “I won’t be able to wait until we get to the hotel.”“Umm....” I smiled against his lips. “Sounds good to me.” I reached down and undid his trousers, and his cock sprang free, and h
LeilaIn a hurry to get home, we checked out of the hotel right away and took the kids out for dinner.“Before we leave, we’re having authentic New York Pizza!” Lance said when the limo stopped in front of the best pizza place in all of New York.“Yeah!” Sirena yelled, jumping up and down. Jase high-fived Lance, Addie, and me as a huge smile spread across his face.When we were heading inside, Lance pulled me to the side. “Why don’t you get us a table? I need to call John to make sure he can have the jet fueled and ready to go by the time we finish eating.”“Lance,” I said, shaking my head. “If this is too much, we can stay the night and leave tomorrow. It’s not a problem.”He nodded. “Thank you, but let me see what John says first, or if he needs to take time to rest before going back. I also need to call the realtor and cancel.” He kissed the side of my head. “I won’t be long. I promise.”I nodded, smiling. “We’ll be right inside.”A smile spread across Lance’s face. “I’ll be right
Leila“Mommy?” Crocodile tears welled up in Sirena’s eyes, threatening to spill over. “Are we going home or staying with Aunt Raven?”“You’re coming home with Daddy and me... and so is Jase.”“No, I’m not.”Just then, the pizzas came, but the waitress must have sensed that something was wrong and held them, waiting.“It’s okay.” I nodded to her, smiling even though my heart was breaking. “Let’s table this conversation and enjoy our pizza. Shall we?”Then the conversation became lighter, but Jase brooded most of the time, although he still ate. I glanced over at Lance and held his hand under the table, willing him to tell me what was going to happen. Lance gently squeezed my hand, giving me a reassuring smile. I had no idea what it meant, but I refused to think of any alternative than Jase coming back home with us.During dinner, I looked over at Jase, studying him. He was the equivalent of a teenage boy now. Somehow, while I wasn’t looking, he had grown up, although he wasn’t entirely
Leila“Is everything okay?” Margarite asked me as we boarded the plane with Sirena, after saying goodbye to Jase.I nodded. “It will be. Could I have a glass of White Zinfandel and a glass of apple juice for Sirena, please?” Actually, I wanted something stronger, but I wasn’t going to drink it until after we were in the air and Sirena was asleep.Margarite smiled. “Coming right up.”Sirena sat in the seat beside me and leaned her head against my arm. “I miss Jase.”I nodded, a lump rising in my throat. “So do I.” I leaned my head against hers as we waited. “Did you and Jase see each other much at the coven?”Sirena laughed. “Mom, it’s a castle! Not a coven!”“Shush....” I laughed, not wanting Margarite to hear. Even though this was our world, it was important for Sirena to know that we couldn’t talk about such things openly around humans. I didn’t want to be single-handedly responsible for another witch hunt.Just when I was about to tell her, Margarite walked up carrying two glasses—
LeilaI let out a deep breath. “Lance, there’s something else we need to talk about.”His head snapped up. “Oh? And what’s that?”“Now that Addie is in New York with Jase, we’ll need to hire a protector for Sirena.”Lance nodded. “I was thinking that, too. Before he became my head of security, Kellen had said he would do it. But now, he’s much too busy, and I can’t ask him to do that.”“Well then, we’ll hire someone from within our coven, just like we hired Addie.” I looked out the window and the sun was beginning to set, sending streaks of orange, red, yellow, and pink across the darkening blue sky. “Of course, her protector will have to be a vampire. Strong enough to protect her at all costs.”“Maybe we should be sure to hire a woman and not a man.” Lance smirked. “We don’t need Sirena falling in love with her protector, like what’s happening with Jase.”I laughed. “Well, Sirena’s still young yet, so we don’t have that to worry about. Not yet, anyway.”Lance took a sip of his champa