blood running through her veins, of that he had tasted. His bite would have begun her Awakening, the Druid masking spells only able to hold so long. With every day, every drink of her he stole, their bond grew and her Awakening mounted. He would only be able to conceal her for a time, and if she hadn’t completed her Awakening – or begun to drink – the danger would grow. The Vampire Council would not allow her to live. Cael would not allow her to die.
He dare not stray far, for it was impossible to tell when first thirst would consume her. Her first drink would be of him, and if it be in his power she would drink from no other. Changes were about to take place in Paige’s body and mind, and Cael needed to be near, comforting her, ensuring she made it through unscathed. The Awakening was a brutal process, and Paige lacked the advantage of knowing what was happening to her. He wanted to get her far away. His home in the Highlands was secluded, and once there he could devote his full attention to her, for it was well protected.
Protected.
That bothered him. Danger could come from any direction here in the city. His woven charms would keep out any intruder or lesser vampire, but he could not guarantee protection from another ancient. He had to maintain constant vigil until stealing her away. His dream of the previous night haunted him as well.
He had felt the shadow of her death .
*
Charity slumped back against the chair, cross and pouting. The game wasn’t exciting anymore.
“ What’s wrong, Charity?” Jael asked, her curls bouncing as she hopped on the chair beside her sister.
“ I’m bored with my new game is all.”
“ Here,” Jael smiled, taking a small metal object from her sweater pocket. “Play with this. Games are always better with one of these.”
Charity, taking the miniature figure, smiled at her younger sister in delighted glee.
“ Oh, Jael! It’s perfect!” she clapped. “Will you play again, just like you did last night?”
Jael rubbed the scuff mark from her Mary-Jane.
“ Can I show more this time?” she asked innocently.
“ Of course, silly,” Charity chided with a loving hug. “What fun would it be if we kept all the secrets to ourselves? But you can’t show it all in one dream, Jael,” the older sibling warned. “That will spoil it too soon.”
Jael bounced on the cushion excitedly.
“ Can I show the toy, Charity? A clue.”
“ I don’t know…” Charity thought about it a moment more. “I don’t want him to stop playing. Maybe you’d better.”
Charity would need Harry, too. She set up the board and moved the pieces, Jael showed the players glimpses of what lie ahead, and Harry flipped the cards. The last card read that Charity had to skip her turn. That’s why she was sulking in the first place. But later, Harry would turn a new card, and she would play again.
With renewed interest, Charity could hardly wait.
“ Let’s go find Harry. Maybe he’ll want to play now,” Charity invited.
“ No!” Jael stomped her foot in childish protest. “You promised to come to my tea party. That’s why I came looking for you.”
Charity laughed.
“ I never want to miss one of your tea parties, Jael. We’ll find Harry later. Are there biscuits – and jam?”
The sisters skipped toward the nursery holding hands, lost in the joy of make believe.
*
Polished mahogany gleamed under the green glow of the lawyers’ lights. Council members clad in crimson robes filed into the meeting chamber. In silent order each took their place around the U-shaped table, all facing the podium, large and looming at the table’s open end.
Malcolm of Clan Gaunson, one of the oldest members of the vampire society, took his place. Peculiarly, he was quite confident that the Druid priestess’ enchantments would hold. He wondered if that made him a traitor – or a realist. Quickly, he put her from his mind. He could not draw unwanted attention to himself and thinking of Pilar would
He dare not stray far, for it was impossible to tell when first thirst would consume her. Her first drink would be of him, and if it be in his power she would drink from no other. Changes were about to take place in Paige’s body and mind, and Cael needed to be near, comforting her, ensuring she made it through unscathed. The Awakening was a brutal process, and Paige lacked the advantage of knowing what was happening to her. He wanted to get her far away. His home in the Highlands was secluded, and once there he could devote his full attention to her, for it was well protected.
Protected.
That bothered him. Danger could come from any direction here in the city. His woven charms would keep out any intruder or lesser vampire, but he could not guarantee protection from another ancient. He had to maintain constant vigil until stealing her away. His dream of the previous night haunted him as well.
He had felt the shadow of her death .
*
Charity slumped back against the chair, cross and pouting. The game wasn’t exciting anymore.
“ What’s wrong, Charity?” Jael asked, her curls bouncing as she hopped on the chair beside her sister.
“ I’m bored with my new game is all.”
“ Here,” Jael smiled, taking a small metal object from her sweater pocket. “Play with this. Games are always better with one of these.”
Charity, taking the miniature figure, smiled at her younger sister in delighted glee.
“ Oh, Jael! It’s perfect!” she clapped. “Will you play again, just like you did last night?”
Jael rubbed the scuff mark from her Mary-Jane.
“ Can I show more this time?” she asked innocently.
“ Of course, silly,” Charity chided with a loving hug. “What fun would it be if we kept all the secrets to ourselves? But you can’t show it all in one dream, Jael,” the older sibling warned. “That will spoil it too soon.”
Jael bounced on the cushion excitedly.
“ Can I show the toy, Charity? A clue.”
“ I don’t know…” Charity thought about it a moment more. “I don’t want him to stop playing. Maybe you’d better.”
Charity would need Harry, too. She set up the board and moved the pieces, Jael showed the players glimpses of what lie ahead, and Harry flipped the cards. The last card read that Charity had to skip her turn. That’s why she was sulking in the first place. But later, Harry would turn a new card, and she would play again.
With renewed interest, Charity could hardly wait.
“ Let’s go find Harry. Maybe he’ll want to play now,” Charity invited.
“ No!” Jael stomped her foot in childish protest. “You promised to come to my tea party. That’s why I came looking for you.”
Charity laughed.
“ I never want to miss one of your tea parties, Jael. We’ll find Harry later. Are there biscuits – and jam?”
The sisters skipped toward the nursery holding hands, lost in the joy of make believe.
*
Polished mahogany gleamed under the green glow of the lawyers’ lights. Council members clad in crimson robes filed into the meeting chamber. In silent order each took their place around the U-shaped table, all facing the podium, large and looming at the table’s open end.
Malcolm of Clan Gaunson, one of the oldest members of the vampire society, took his place. Peculiarly, he was quite confident that the Druid priestess’ enchantments would hold. He wondered if that made him a traitor – or a realist. Quickly, he put her from his mind. He could not draw unwanted attention to himself and thinking of Pilar would
Similar Books
