TableofContents

TitlePage
Copyright
DearReader
ChapterOne
ChapterTwo
ChapterThree
ChapterFour
ChapterFive
ChapterSix
ChapterSeven
ChapterEight
ChapterNine
ChapterTen
AboutTheAuthor

EMBRACETHEMAGIC

TheBloodRoseNovellaSeries#2

CarisRoane

EMBRACETHEMAGIC

ByCarisRoane

Allrightsreserved.NopartofthiseBookmaybereproducedinwholeorinpart,scanned,photocopied,
recorded,distributedinanyprintedorelectronicform,orreproducedinanymannerwhatsoever,orby
any information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without express written
permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and
reviews.

Thisisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,places,andincidentsareproductsoftheauthor'simagination
orareusedfictitiously.Anyresemblancetoactualevents,locales,orpersonslivingordeadisentirely
coincidental.

FormattingandcoverbyBellaMediaManagement.

DearReader,

EMBRACE THE MAGIC is the second installment of my paranormal romance series, called the

BloodRoseseries,basedonthequestion:whatwouldhappenifonlyonewomancouldsatisfytheblood-
starvation needs of a powerful master vampire? From there, I built a world called the Nine Realms,
linked to earth through ‘realm access points’, attached to various North American cities, in this case,
Shreveport,Louisiana.

AmastervampireruleseachoftherealmsandEMBRACETHEMAGICfollowsthepathofMastyr

Ethanashemeetshisbloodrose,intheformofSamanthaFavreau,awomanwhohasnoideashe’shalf-
fae,half-human.

I’veenjoyedexploringandexpandingtheworldoftheNineRealms,andinEMBRACETHEMAGIC

Ialsoaskedthequestion:canguiltmakeitimpossibleforanindividualtoembracelove?BothSamantha
andEthanhavereasonstofeelguilty,butcantheymovebeyondthepastandreachforthefuture?

IhopeyouenjoyEMBRACETHEMAGIC,thesequeltoEMBRACETHEDARK,whichpicksup

three months after events that brought so much happiness to Mastyr Gerrod and Abigail. You’ll meet
VojalieandDavidoagainandofcourse,theirnewbaby,Bernice!Enjoy!

TolearnmoreaboutCarisRoaneandtosignupforhernewslettergoto

http://www.carisroane.com/

ChapterOne

MastyrVampireEthanstareddownintoSweetGorgewheretwoofhisGuardsmenhauledupabodyon

a sling carried between them. They flew side by side, matching their movements by long practice. The
nightair,thoughusuallyfreshinearlyApril,carriedarancidedge,somethinghe’dconnectedwiththis
areaforalongtime.

Buthe’dlostanotherofhisGuardhereatSweetGorge,killedsometimethispastweek,butlocatedby

asearchpatroljustahalfhourago.Andthiswasthefourthmurderinamonth.

Somethingwasonthewind.
“Invictus?”Finnscratchedbehindhisrightear.HewasEthan’ssecond-in-command,hislongredhaira

beaconinanysituation.

Using both hands, Ethan shoved his own unruly hair away from his face. Sweat dripped from his

forehead.Thetempwasn’ttoowarminBergissonRealmthistimeofyear,butwhenhisblood-starvation
reached difficult levels, he’d often perspire like he’d been battling for hours. “What the hell was Paul
doingpatrollinginthisarea?”

Ethandidn’tknowPaulwell,buthefeltresponsibleforhim,ashedidforallhisGuard.He’dbuilthis

forcetothreehundredstrong,butPaul,asanewrecruit,wasn’twell-knowntomanyoftheGuardsmen.

“He didn’t have orders to go out here, not with three other Guardsmen dead in the past few months

alongtheeasternborder.”Ethanlethisgazemovefromoneendofthegorgetotheother,thenalongthe
monolith to the east. A familiar heavy guilt clawed at his chest. This part of his realm was off-limits
havingbeentheplaceofamassacrefortyyearsearlier.

“Maybehisbodywasdumped.”
Ethan’sfrowntightenedhisforehead.“Mostlikely.”
TherewasaconnectionbetweenSweetGorgeandtheInvictus.Hejustdidn’tknowwhatitwas.
SweetGorgeusedtobeaplaceofgreatbeautyandhadoncebeenamodestresort,aplacehisfamily

hadbeentoalotinitsprime.Faeleadershiphadalsomethereoften.

Nowhismother,fatherandsisterweregone,lostintheattack,alongwithmanylovedones,overtwo

hundredrealmkilledallatonetime.

Afterward,thestreamhaddriedup,thesourcecursedbyapowerfulfaeofunknownancestry.Noone

hadseenthefaefemaleorthedeed,onlythatthestreamwasblockedandnoamountofpowerhadever
releasedit.Awallofcrystalsresidedthereandnoneofthefaeheknewwouldgonearit.

Besides,therewasalwaysthestenchtowarnrealm-folkaway,ofsomethingnotright,veryancient,and

deadly.

He glanced over the wooded ridgeline along the north ridge. A breeze picked up sending sharp pine

scentsthroughtheair.

But something else struck his nostrils, the scent of dark fae magic, as though it waited there. His

muscles flexed involuntarily along the insides of his arms. Yet in all these decades not a single fae of
power,inanyoftheNineRealms,hadbeenabletofigureoutwhereallthatpowerwascomingfrom,not
evenVojalie,themostpowerfulfaeheknew.

Heresethislonghairwiththetraditionalwovenclasp.He’dbeenflyingthroughhisrealmforthepast

threehours,huntingtheredwindoftheInvictus,asignthatprecededanattack.Hehadn’tfoundanything
yet,butthenightwasyoung.

He’dusedupalotofpreciousenergy,however,andheneededtofeedagain,thebaneofhisstationas

atruemastyrvampire.Allthemastyrsheknewexperienceddesperatelevelsofblood-needandlately,for
noreasonhecouldfigureout,hisstarvationhadworsened.

Hismouthfilledwithsalivaashedrewhiscellfromthepocketofhisbattleleathers.Hesentaquick

texttooneofhisdoneusesandwasn’tsurprisedatallwhenhegotamessagebacktostopinforaquick
tap.Blessthedozenwomenwhoservicedhim.

Damn,hehurt,deepinhisgut.HeshiftedawayfromFinnandtookdeepbreathsasacoupleofhard

spasmspulledonhisemptystomachoncemore.

As the two Guardsmen, levitating with the sling and the body between them, topped the ridge, Ethan

stepped aside to give them room. Pines lined both sides of the gorge, trees like the ones in nearby
Shreveport,Louisiana,theaccesspointbetweenhisplaneandthehumanworld.

Hisrealmhadseenhardtimesforthepastfortyyearsandforallthattime,he’dfelttheweightofhis

realm on his shoulders, pressing down hard, just as it did on all the mastyrs, those nine vampires in
chargeofaboutamillionssoulseach.

Finn’sphonerang.Helistenedforafewseconds,thenbrushedsweatoffhisforeheadwiththebackof

hissleeve.“Shit.Well,thatdumb-fuck’sbeenwarned.”

Ethanstaredathim.“Tomagain?”
Finnputhisphoneaway.“Yep.He’satClubPrave.”
“Areyoufuckingkiddingme?”EthanknewexactlywhatTomhadbeenupto:ViolatingoneofEthan’s

strictlawsabouthowhumansandrealm-folkinteractatahuman-basedevent.

Finngrimaced.“I’llhandlethis.”
“No.Iwanttothistime.ThatassholehasbeenwarnedlongenoughandnowI’mlockinghimup.”
“Ethan,you’vegotbetterthingstodothantopolicethehumanbars.”
“Notthistime.TomBrignallhidesbehindhiscozyrelationshipwithRy.Timehelearnedwho’smastyr

aroundhere.”

“Heknows.”
“Thenwhythehellishetestingmylawsandmyauthority?”
ButFinn’ssmilewascrookedashesaid,“Becausehe’savampire?”
Atthat,Ethanalmostsmiledaswell.Butthetruthwasharsher.TomhadaloyaltytoRy,andhadcaused

dozensofproblemsinrecentyearsbecauseofit.

ButEthan’sotherproblemsurfacedagain,ashisblood-starvationcrampedhimupagain.Hebreathed

through the pain wondering what the hell was going on with him. He’d never been quite this desperate
wherehisblood-needswereconcerned.Andnow,becauseofTom’sbreakingofthenon-tappinglawat
human clubs, he wouldn’t have time to stop by his donor. But he’d make this quick, afterward get his
bloodcravingslaked,oratleastmovedfromcriticaltojustslightlydesperate,thenjumpbackinthefield.

HeleftordersforPaul’sbodytobetakentothemorguealongwithwordthathe’dcheckintolearn

causeofdeath.

Beforeanyofthemencouldsomuchasexchangeaglance,ortocomplainagainthatheregularlytook

toomuchonhisownshoulders,heheadedsouthtoShreveport,levitatingandflyingquicklyjustafootor
so above the ground. He might have heard Finn grunting his frustration as he took off and he half-
suspectedFinnwouldfindsomeexcusetofollowinhiswake.

Gerrod, the Mastyr of Merhaine Realm, had tried to warn Ethan that he needed to listen to his men

more,totrustthemmore,buthewasusedtodoingthingshisownwayandhiswaywasworkingjustfine.
Sofar,he’dkepttheInvictusincheckinBergisson,andto-date,hehadoneofthelowestoccurrencerates
inalltheNineRealms.

Of course, reducing lost lives to a tolerable statistic, grated his nerves. There shouldn’t be any

Invictuslefttobattle,butfromthetimethefightingpairshadcomeintoexistenceseveralhundredyears
ago,therehadsimplybeennoway,atleastnotyet,forhisworldtogetridofthempermanently.Some
force resided behind the Invictus, maybe the same magic that had blocked the stream at Sweet Gorge.
Mastyr Gerrod believed a vampire, known to the Invictus as the Great Mastyr, and bonded with a

powerfulancientfae,wasexperimentingwiththewraith-fighting-pairs,intentonsomeunknownlong-term
goalforthefutureoftheNineRealms.

Butwhereeitheroftheseentitieshadcomefrom,iftheyevenexisted,Ethandidn’tknow,nordidanyof

the other realm rulers. Maybe this ancient fae had dammed up the waterfall and the stream, maybe she
hadn’t.

Hejusthadaterriblefeelingthatifheloosenedhisholdevenalittle,hisRealmwouldseelosseslike

neverbefore.

*********

ClubPravegaveSamanthaFavreauthecreeps.Fromthetimeshe’darrivedtwohourago,onevampire

afteranotherhadleeredather,askinghertodance,especiallytheslow-dances.

She’drefused,ofcourse,sinceinheropinion,vampireswerejustaboveslugsintermsofrealearthly

value.

Butthatwasthepoint.Theyweren’thuman.Theywerefromadifferentplaneentirely,onesomehow

attachedtoearth.

FromthetimetheworldoftheNineRealmshadmadeitselfknowntothecitizenryofmortalearth,and

started opening up these border clubs, more and more humans had become acquainted with what were
calledgenerallyrealm-folk.

Shewouldn’tbehereatall,buthersociologyprofessorhadsuggestedusingtheclubasabasisforone

of her papers this year. He’d also upped the stakes by giving double points for studying, then writing
aboutanyaspectoftherealm-worldsolongastheresearchincludedatleastthreeinterviewswithanyof
thespeciesofBergissonRealm.

She’dalreadyinterviewedafaefemaleandamaletroll.Shewashopingoneoftheelveswouldshow

up.Shereallydidn’twanttotalktoavampireandtheshiftersinparticularseemedveryaggressive.Two
hadbeenthrownoutalreadythiseveningforimproperdisplayoffuronthepremises.

Atleasttheclubhadrules,whichapparentlyneededenforcingconstantly.Forinstance,therewasno

blood-suckingallowed,butoneofherclassmates,Mary,hadhappilyagreedtodonateandwasdoingso
acrosstheroom.

Samantha could see her seated on a vampire’s lap, just barely visible through the throng of dancers

fromSamantha’svantagepoint.HisnamewasTom.

Sheshookherhead.
Tom,thevampire.
Itjustdidn’tsoundrightsomehow.
Leaningherbackagainstthebar,shesippedhercosmoslowly.Hergazeshiftedfromonespecietothe

next, from the quick-footed trolls who moved like beautiful maniacs, to the lithe elves, taller than most
other realm-folk, who swayed elegantly when most of the dancers jerked, twisted, and bumped, then
finallytothemaleshifterswhoalllookedliketheycouldworkatChippendales.

But mostly, she avoided watching the vampires. She could at least admit she found them strangely

attractiveanditdidn’thelpthatmostofthemaleswereoversixfeetandeachcarriedalethalair.

From her studies, she knew the basic structure of Bergisson, that a Mastyr Vampire ruled the realm,

thougheachofthetownsandhamletswereincorporatedandhadgoverningcouncils.Shealsoknewabout
theenemy,theInvictus,whichnevertravelledpasttheaccesspoints,atleastnotthatshe’deverheardof.

TheMastyr of Bergisson,therefore, had builtup a Guard ofover three hundredvampires and as she

glancedattheseveralinchingclosertoherone-by-oneatthebar,she’dbeteachwasaGuardsman.She
didn’tthinkanyofthemwereundersix-three.

Shecouldfeeltheireyesonherandshecouldsensetheirhungerasthoughtheirwell-knowncraving

forbloodbecameakindofvibrationinherbones.

Shehuffedasigh,scopingoutwhereshecouldgonexttogetawayfromtheleeches.Atleastshedidn’t

feelinanyimmediatedanger.Theowneroftheclubhadastaffofshifterswhowerequitehappytotangle
withthevampiresandthrowthemoutiftheymisbehaved.

For that reason, she knew it was only a matter of time before Tom-the-Vampire and her classmate,

Mary,gotinserioustrouble.

The music blared, couples bounced up and down, strobes flashed. A shifter walked by, his fingers

turningfurrythenreturningtonormalacoupleoftimesashishumandatesquealedherexcitementover
thisabsurdtrick.

Sherolledhereyes.
Onemoremalejustlookingtogetlaid.
SheturnedoncemoretowardthedarkcornerwhereshecouldjustseeMary’swhitethighsaboveher

blackboots,herbuttcheeksalmostshowingbeneathashortredskirt.

Sittingsidewaysonthevampire’slap,Marywasn’texactlyhavingsex,butgivingupaveintoapairof

fangswasaboutascloseasyoucouldget.Herbodymovedinabackandforth,slowseductiverhythm,as
thevampiresuckedsteadily.

Themovement,veryfamiliarinasexualway,remindedherjusthowlongithadbeensinceshe’dbeen

withaman,beeninarelationship,evenbeeninterestedforthatmatter.Sometimesshewonderedifthere
wassomethingwrongwithher,thatshecouldn’tseemtosustainalong-termrelationshipwithaman.

Butasshewatchedthecouplesgettingtoknoweachotherandallthetouching,theexcitementofdating,

sherealizedpartofherwouldbeokaywithaone-nightanything.

Justnotwithavampire.
Shereleasedyetanothersigh.Okay,soshemissedsex,butthiswasn’texactlyherideaofapick-up

bar.Ontheotherhand,maybeshe’dstartmakinganefforttodateagain,ifonlyshewasn’tsoeasilybored
withthemensheusuallywentoutwith.

Samanthascowledintoherdrink.
Themovementsinthecornerbecamemorepronouncedandthistime,morewasshowingthanMary’s

skin.Tom’shandnowpushedintooneofherbutt-cheeks.DonatinginpublicanywhereinShreveportwas
strictlyforbidden.Butwhatelsecouldsheexpectfromrealm-folkatalow-lifeclublikethisone?

“Comehereoften?”Thevampiretoherleftfinallymadehismove.
Samantha’sscowldeepened.Hadshereallyjustheardthosewords?
Shecouldn’thelpherself.Laughing,sheturnedandmetthevampire’sgazestraighton.“Yougottabe

kiddingme?Can’tmen,despitethespecies,inventabetterlinethan,Comehereoften?”

But the vampire wasn’t in the least deterred. He blinked a couple of times and his nostrils flared.

“SweetGoddess,butyousmellgood.”Hischinquivered.

Samantha didn’t like the way a pinkish sheen came over his eyes as he shifted his shoulders in her

direction,lickinghislips.ShethoughtofLittleRedRidingHoodandotherwarningtalesfromchildhood.

Shetriedtomovetoherright,justtogetoutofrange,butshebumpedintoanothervampire,thisonein

jeanswithlotsofchainsattached.Hisnostrilsworkedlikebellows,whichreallyfreakedherout.

Didhumanwomensmelldifferentfromvampirefemales?
Shepushedawayfromthebarandfeltahandoneacharmapparentlyintentonstoppingher,butjustas

quickly,thesamefingersfellaway,whichwasagoodthing,becauseshewouldbealltoohappytostart
shoutingfortheclub’sowner.

She turned to glare at each of the men, but found that neither was looking at her. Something else had

caughttheirattentionandeachnowscannedthecrowdatthefrontentrancetotheclub.

ThemusicstoppedabruptlyandtoSamantha’sgreatsurprisetheentireclubfellsilent.
Shehadnoideawhatwasgoingonuntiladeep,boomingvoicefilledtheair.“Whereareyou,Tom

Brignall.I’llhaveyourheadforthis.”

Samantha stood very still as she watched the crowd part, realm-folk moving back swiftly, dragging

surprisedhumanpartnerswiththem,untilthenewarrivalcameintoview.

Avampire.
A big one, with wild, honey-brown hair, long and somewhat curly, that flowed away from his face,

mostofittrappedbehindinwhatsheknewtobeawovenclaspthatalotoftheBergissonGuardwore.

Thentimeslowedtoahalt.
Sheblinkedasatremorranthroughherhead-to-foot.She’dneverseenamanlikethisbefore.Hehad

tobesix-fiveandbuilt,withshouldersthatwentonandon.HeworeatraditionalGuarduniform,similar
totheoutfitMary’svampirewore,ablackleatherlookthatseemedtoloosenSamantha’sknees.

Ashemovedpasther,shecaughtascent,somethingwildandpungent,almosterotic,yettough,likeit

grew on rocky hillsides. She shook her head, trying to clear her head because the vampire’s scent was
doingsomethingtoher,affectingherabilitytoreason,andwarmingthingsdownlow.

Shefeltaprofoundandquiteirrationalinstincttofollowafterhimandshoveherhairawayfromher

neck.

Sherealizedthatherhearthadstartedtopound,hardandheavyuntilevenherthroatached.
Shereachedbackforthebartosteadyherself.
Thenstrangely,hervisionshiftedasthestrobessoftenedandthelightrosesothatshesawhimasifin

lateafternoonlight,thekindwhentheshadowswerelongandtheairgolden.Buthowwasitpossibleshe
couldseehimlikethis?

Rightnow,though,shedidn’tcare.
Hewasabeautifulman,yesthatwasthewordthatcametoher.Beautiful.
Hehadasoftindentationathischin,highcheekbones,straighteyebrowsthatsatinascowloverhis

brow.Hiseyesweresmokybrown,likegrayandlightbrowncombined.

Theuniform,shedecided,wassexyashellwithleatherbootsthatclimbedhisthighsandsilverbuckles

downthesides.Heworeasoftwovenmaroonshirtbeneathaleather,sleevelesscoat.

Butitwashishairthatstrucksomestrangedeepchordinsideher,alongcurledmass,pulledbackby

theclaspbuthangingalmosttohiswaist.SheknewtheGuardsmeninparticularworetheirhairlong,a
signalmaybetotheirenemiesabouttheirmilitarystatusintheBergissonRealm.

Her gaze slipped past him to the realm-folk who watched him sweep by. What she saw startled her

becausemostofthemappearedtobeinawe,whileafewlow-lifesweredownrightscaredshitless,and
someofthefaewomenhelddeeplustintheireyes.

Samanthaknewshemusthavelookedlikethataswell,hungryfortheman,areminderthatshe’dbeen

alonewaytoolong.

She forced herself to look away from him as he headed to the far wall, setting her cosmo on the bar

behindherwithtremblingfingers.

ShedrewacoupleofdeepbreathsthenheardMarycryingout,“Whatareyoudoingtohim?Stopit.

Oh. Oh, Mastyr Ethan, I’m…I’m sorry, but what did he do wrong?” Mary wasn’t the brightest woman
around.

MastyrEthanhadcometoClubPrave?TherulerofBergissonRealm?Whatdidthismean?
AsquicklyasEthanhaddisappearedintothecrowd,hereturnedhaulinghispreybythethickcollarof

theGuardsman’scoat.Thevampirelookedwobblyfromfeeding,hiseyessunken,hisfangsglisteningred.
“Rywon’tstandforthis.”

“Youknowtherules.”
“Ethan,we’vegothim.”Anothermalevoicesoundedthroughtheclub.
Samanthaturnedtoherright,inthedirectionoftheentrance,andatleastsixGuardsmencreatedanew

flurryofexcitementastheymarchedin.

They were an amazing presence in matching uniforms and had the females in the club panting. The

foremost,withshockingredhair,hurriedforwardandgrabbedtheprisonerbythearm.

“Finn,whatareyoudoinghere?”MastyrEthanasked.
“Justthoughtwe’ddropby,scopethescene.”Hisvoiceheldateasingnote.
Ethandidn’tseempleased,however,butSamanthahadnoideawhy.“Allright.Youcantakecareof

him,butIwanthimlockedupforthis.”HethenflungTomintheredhead’sdirection,theonecalledFinn,
sendingtheoffendersprawling.TheGuardsmanpickedhimupoffthedancefloor.AnotheroftheGuard
grabbedhisotherarmandwithoutmissingabeat,theyhauledhimbacktotheentrance,thenoutside.

Ethan, now opposite Samantha, appeared ready to leave as well. He even stepped forward then

stoppeddeadinhistracks.

Hisnostrilsflared,justasthevampireshaddoneoneithersideofherjustafewmomentsago.
Shefeltuneasysuddenly,likeshewaswalkingtherailroadstracksandshecouldfeelthevibrationsof

atraincomingrightunderherfeetbutshecouldn’tseemtomovetosafety.

ShealsobecamepainfullyawarethatherheartstillpoundedasshewatchedEthan,andnotoutoffear

orevendesire,butoutofaneedtogivehimhermostessentiallife-force.

Whatthehellwashappeningtoher?

*********

Ethan smelled the woman first, a scent like crushed raspberries mixed with wine, like something he

couldlickwithhistongueandsavorforalifetime.

HehadmeanttofollowrightafterFinnandtheothermen,butthescentstoppedhim.Beneaththatfruit-

ladenaphrodisiac,hecaughtanotherlayerofscent:Thewoman’sblood,anditwaslikenothinghe’dever
smelledbefore,likeshehadriversofitanditwasmeantforhim.

Thatonethought,riversofbloodmeantforhim,madehimturntowardherandstarehard.
A recent memory surfaced, of Mastyr Gerrod, a fellow mastyr vampire, who had been ready to tear

Ethantoshredsfortouchingawomanlikethisone,awomanwithriversofblood,awomaninhisrealm-
worldknownasabloodrose.

GerrodhadmetahumannamedAbigail,whohadrelievedhimforeverofhisbloodstarvation.
SweetGoddessofLife,thewomanstandingaloneatthebar,withvampiresmovingawayfromheron

eithersideofher,wasagoddamnbloodrose.

Hisstomachcrampedhardinanticipationoftakingfromher.
She must have registered his desire because she lifted her hand and pressed it against her neck as

thoughtryingtoholdherveinsteady.Hecouldfeelherbloodsingingforhim,asoftvibrationthatforced
anothercrampthroughhisstomach.

Sheshookherheadandhecouldseeshewasbewildered.Shehadnoideawhatshewasorwhyhe,

andeveryothervampireintheplace,leeredather.

Heknewthecrowdwasstillthere,waitingonhim.Themomenthe’denteredtheclub,theownerhad

cutthemusic.Yetforalong,terriblemomentallhecoulddowasstare.

Thewomanwastall.Helikedthat.Shapely.Nicebreasts.Sheworeherthickblackhairstraightandto

the shoulders with a slight upward curve at the ends. Her eyes were the lightest blue he’d ever seen,
almostunearthly.Sheworejeansandashort-sleevedpurpleblouse,nothingfancyorevenwelcoming.He
could smell her sex, though, her desire for him; she couldn’t disguise what she felt, what she was
experiencing.

SweetGoddess,abloodroseinShreveport,rightnextdoortotheBergissonplane.
Hewalkedtowardherbutonlybecausehecouldn’tseemtohelphimselfeventhoughhecouldseefrom

thewayshewrinkledhernosethatshewasn’texactlyhappyaboutwhatwashappening.

Well,hewasn’teither.
MaybeMastyrGerrodofMerhainehadfoundblisswithhisbloodrose,butEthanwasn’tinterestedin

this kind of liaison. He’d watched Gerrod become possessive and lose himself in the woman, the last
thinghewantedtodowithanywoman,humanorotherwise,yetstillhemovedtowardher.

“What’syourname?”hecalledout.
Sheglancedaround,growingmoreuncomfortablebythesecond.Everyoneintheplacestaredatthem

both.Hewasusedtothatkindofattention;beinginchargeofanentirerealmdidthattoaman,butshe
lookedreadytorunaway.

Then she got mad. He saw it in the glint in her eye as she lifted her chin. “Samantha Favreau. And

you’reMastyrEthan.”

“Iam.”
“Whatdoyouwanthere?”
“What do I want?” His voice boomed once more. He glared at her now, angry that her body offered

whathewasunwillingtotake,yetsomethinghehungeredfor.

Hewasabouttoforcehimselftoturnonhisheelandleaveherthehellalone,whenhesawsomething

inhereye,notjustaflashofanger,butthistimeaflashhe’doftenseenintheeyesofpowerfulfaewomen
astheyslippedintoavision.

Holyfuck,thewomanwasn’tjusthuman,shewaspartfae.
Andhe’dbethislastGoddessbe-damnedfarthingthatshedidn’tknow,orhadn’tknownuntilthisvery

second,thatshecarriedrealm-bloodinherhumanveins.

*********

Samantha reached to either side of her and grabbed hold of the bar, anchoring herself. She didn’t

understandthesensationsthatnowpouredoverher,astrangevibrationaccompaniedbyimagesthatbegan
commandinghermind.

Anentirescenecametolifeasthoughshewaswatchingamovie,thecolorsrichandvivid.Anevent

was taking place at night, a kind of fair, she supposed, with tables laden with food, trinkets, musical
instruments,stuffedanimals,theusualkindofcarnival-ware.

At one end of a wide, playing field, lively, round canvas tents lined the grounds. They were painted

withallkindsofpictures,someofwoodlandsettings,someofanimals,someofchildrenplayinggames.

Thevisioncausedhertopantotherightandovertoadistanthillside,upwhichabeech-woodclimbed

to the top. But the trees grew red with what looked like fire at first, but couldn’t have been since the
foliagedidn’tcatchandburn.

No,theredseemedtobeakindofwindandthensherememberedfromherstudiesthatwhentheenemy

attacked,thewraith-pairscalledtheInvictus,akindofredaurawouldappear,followedbythefighting
pairs.

As though she stood in the middle of everything, Guardsmen suddenly flew past her in their strange

levitated-flight,somehighintheair,othersjustafootabovetheground,MastyrEthaninthelead.Onthey
racedinthedirectionofthehill,thetrees,andtheredwind.

ThevisiontookherwithEthan,somethingthatmadesensesincehisappearanceinfrontofheratthe

pravehadsetthestrangevisionoffinthefirstplace.

She watched the men, maybe fifty of them altogether, join in battle though she stayed back, yet found

herselflevitatinghighintheair.HergazewasdrawntowhateverplaceEthanseemedtobeashemoved
upanddowntheline.

Pairsofstrangebeings,joinedinsomemystical,powerfulway,appearedintheredwind.Jolts,likean

electricalforce,movedfromthepairstoeachindividualGuardsman.Alightshowemergedofredand
bluesparksandstreamsofenergy,fromonesidetotheother,backandforth.

Daggersandotherweaponsemergedaswell,thrown,sometimesconnecting.Atintervals,Guardsmen

rushedthepairsandbroughtthemdownscreaming.

TheInvictus.
Sheknewwhatmadeupthebattlingpairs:awraithandsomeotherenslavedrealm-folk.She’deven

heard that sometimes humans could engage in the same way, which made her shudder. Other than being
bittenbyavampire,shecouldn’tthinkofaworsefate.

ThevisionsuddenlytunneleddowntoEthan.ShecouldsensehimfalteringashecalledoutforFinn,

hissecond-in-command.Shecouldfeeltheirbond,thatthey’dbeenbrother-warriorsfordecades.

FinntookchargeasEthanfelltotheground.
Shehoveredoverhimnow,withinthebodyofthevision.Shefelthowweakhewasandthatithadto

dowithalackofblood.Maryhadtoldheraboutthemastyrvampires,thosemenofstatureintheworldof
theNineRealmswhoservedasleaders.Somethingabouttheirnaturalpowerusedupdonatedbloodat
light-speedsothattheyconstantlyneededtheirsuppliesreplenishedbutwereneverreallysatisfied.

Yes,anothershudder.
Shedrewcloserandfeltherselfmovedtoofferuphervein,becauseshecouldfeelthathewascloseto

death.Oncemore,herheartpoundedandshetouchedherneck.

“He’sdying.BytheGoddess,weneedhelphere.MastyrEthanisdying!”Finn’spanickedvoicerose

abovethesoundsofthebattle.

Inthevision,Ethan’seyesclosed.Hisskinpaledout.Somehow,fromdeepwithinhermind,sheheard

himcalltoher,Helpme,Samantha.Onlyyoucansaveme.You’reabloodroseandyoucanhelpme.

Samanthastruggledtoleavetheconfinesofthevision,butEthanwassodesperate.Shefelt,sheknew,

sheheldhislifeinherhandsbecauseshewassomethingcalled‘abloodrose’.

Sheplacedherwristoverhismouth.
Sheheardhimgroan.
Shesawhisfangsandfelthimclutchatherwristholdingherfast.
Maybeitwastheforceofhistouchorthatshecouldfeelthosesharpfangspenetrateherskin,butshe

somehowwrestedherselffromthepowerfulholdofthevision.Sheheldbothhandsupasthoughwarding
somethingorsomeoneoff.

Slowly,theclubcamebackintoview,stillsilent.
Ethanstoodinfrontofher,justafewfeetaway,buthewasblurredasthoughthestrangevisionhad

affectedhereyesight.Shebreathedinheavygulpsanddizzinessthreatenedtopullhertoherknees.

She heard Ethan saying something like ‘back off’ or ‘get back’, she wasn’t sure. Even her hearing

neededtocatchupwiththepresent.

Sheblinkedseveraltimesandfinallyhecameintofocus.Herheartoncemorethuddedandshefoundit

hardtobreathe.Hewastheoneshewanted,hadalwayswanted,woulddesireuntilthedayshedied.

Avampire.
Ethan.
MastyrEthan.
Theremnantsofthevisiondriftedaway.Acalmnesscameoverher.Heheldhergazesteadily,looking

bothworriedandangry,almostoutragedasthoughshe’ddonesomethingwrong.

But what had she done? What the hell had just happened to her? What was it she’d seen? Was this

somethingthatwouldsoonhappenandifitwas,whatresponsibilitydidshehaveinthissituation?

Herchestachedandsheplantedafistagainsthersternumandrubbed.Inthevision,he’dcalledher‘a

bloodrose’.Whatdidthatmeanandwasthiswhyherheartbeatsohardinherchest?Ethan’sgazefellto
thatfistandheshookhisheadbackandforthasthoughhecouldn’thelphimself.

My God, did the vampire actually expect her to donate? Was that what it meant to be a blood rose?

Well,ifitdid,he’dbewaitingareallylongtime.

“Ineedtogohome.”Shepressedherlipsintoaresolutelinemakingsureheunderstoodherintention,

despitethefactthatsomethingsooutrageoushadjusthappened.

His lips parted and he swallowed hard. He dipped his chin and looked away from her. “Yes. You

shoulddefinitelyleaveanditwouldbebestifyoudidn’tcomeback.”

“Wait,Idon’tintendtoreturn,butwhywouldyousaythat?”
Heloweredhischin.“BecauseIwon’tberesponsibleforwhathappenstoyounexttime.”
Hertemperflared.“Youweren’tresponsiblethistime,MastyrEthan.Icantakecareofmyself.”
Hisgazeshiftedbacktoherandanoddlightflittedthroughhiseye,somethingclosetorespect.“Fine.

Thencomebackasoftenasyoulike.”

“Iwill.”
Heglancedaround,hishardgazelandingononemalevampireafteranother.Hewatchedaseachfaded

intothecrowd,neveragainlookingatheryetatthesametimeavoidingEthan’sglare.

Shewasn’tsure,butshesensedawaveofpossessivenessflowinherdirectionfromEthan,asthough

insomerealm-likeway,he’dstakedhisclaimonher,warningothervampirestokeeptheirdistance.

Inonesense,thatwasn’tabadideasincevampiresgaveherthecreepsinthefirstplace.Butinanother

sense,thesamepossessivenessclungtoherlikeavelvetcloak,andagainstallinstinct,shewantedmore.

Ifheglared,shereturnedhisexpressioninfull,whichmadeherthinkthathedidn’tlikethesituation

anymorethanshedid.

She said nothing more, but turned and headed back through the crowd, toward the entrance. Time to

headhome.

But had she actually had some kind of vision, a foreshadowing of the future? How the hell was that

possible?

*********

Ethanwatchedthewomanmoveinthepathwaythatledthroughthecrowdallthewaytothefrontdoor.

Sheheldherheadhigh,buthesensedthedepthofherconfusion.Shedidn’tknowwhatshewasandno
doubtshe’dneverhadavisionbefore.

He’dwantedtodetainher,totalktoher,eventooffersomesortofreassurancethatshewasn’toutof

hermind,butsomeinstinctheldhimback,aseriouswarningthatthewomanwastroubleonallfronts.

SweetGoddess,abloodroseinShreveport.
Despiteknowingthatnoneoftherealm-folkwouldreturntotheirfununtilhe’dgivenpermission,allhe

seemedcapableofdoingwaswatchingherwalkoutofthebuilding.

Then,withthedisappearanceofhisbloodrose,hiscurrentneedforbloodroaredbacktolifeandhe

listedonhisfeet.Nauseasweptoverhimandhegasped.Afemalevampirecameuptohim,oneofhis
doneuses,thanktheGoddess.

“Mastyr?”sheaskedquietly.
Henoddedandtookherbytheelbow.
Sheknewthedrill.Shesteppeduponhisleftfoot,withherleftfoot,slidherarmaroundhisneck,and

thecrowdmadeanevenbiggerpathway.

Heflewherswiftlyfromthebuildingrisinghigherintotheairtobreachthecarsintheparkinglot.
As he did, he felt a call on him, down and to the left. As he flew forward, he glanced into the dark

parkinglotbelow,andashisvampirevisionwarmed,hesawSamanthaturnandlookupathim,hereyes
widewithastonishment.Maybeshedidn’tfrequentthepravesosheprobablyhadn’tseenavampirein
flightbefore,ormaybenotflyingquitethishigh.

At the same time, his personal frequency vibrated and her thoughts were suddenly in his mind. That

shouldbeme.IshouldbefeedingEthan.Oh,whatthehellamIthinking?What’swrongwithme?

So,shewascapableofpathing,oftelepathiccommunication.Sheprobablydidn’tknowthateither,but

itwasonemoreindicationthewomanhadfaeblood.

Heshutdowntheaccompanyingflowoffrustrationanddisbelief.Hispowerwasebbingandthankthe

Goddessthatthetree-linewasn’tfaraway.

Assoonashereachedthefirstrowofpines,hedescendedswiftly,thewomanhoppedoffhisbooted

foot,pulledherhairtothesideandhewasonher,hisfangsnippingquickly,settingthebloodtoflowing.
Ashesuckeddownwhatwassonecessarytohim,butwhichheknewwouldbarelysatisfyhisneeds,his
thoughtsturnedtoSamantha,andhesuckedharder,groaningagainstthewoman’sneck.

Afteraminute,however,ofbeinglostinthedreamofdrinkingfromSamantha,herealizedhisdoneuse

waspushingagainsthim.

Hedrewbackappalledtoseetearsinhereyes.“Anita,I’msosorry.”
“Itwasjust…rough.Mastyr,areyouallright?”
Shit,becausehe’dbeenthinkingaboutthebloodrose,he’dgottencarriedaway.“Whothehellcaresif

I’mallright?Areyouokay?”

“I’mfine.”Sherubbedherneckandashisvisionwarmedagain,hesawthebruising.
“Sweet Goddess, I’m so sorry. A thousand apologies. Do you want me to summon one of the fae

healers?”

Butatthat,shesmiled.“No.I’llbefineinanhourorso,Iwasjustsurprised.You’veneverbeenlike

thatbefore.Wasitthewoman,thehuman?”

He waited for her to say more, to mention that Samantha had fallen into a vision, but she didn’t say

anything.Andhereallydidn’twanttorevealthetruthtoher.“No,Iwasstupid.Iletmybloodstarvation
reachacriticallevel.”

“Stupidisrightwhenyouknowwe’reallheretoserveyou.”
“Iknowthat.”Hisdoneuseswerearealblessinginhislife.Earlyonhe’dusedthemasmuchforsexas

forblood,butthecombinationhadcausedtoomanybondingissuessothatinrecentdecadeshehadanon-
involvementpolicywiththewomenwhodonated.“How’syourmother?”

“She’sfine.Oneofthefaehealersgaveherapoulticeandtheulcersonherlegswentawaywithina

week.”

“Good,I’mgladtohearit.Doyouwanttogobacktotheprave?I’lltakeyoubackifyoulike.”
“No,that’sokay.”Shechuckledsoftlyandoncemorerubbedherneck.“IthinkfornowI’dbetterhead

home.”

“Oh,Goddess,I’msorry.”
“Stuff it, Ethan. You’re a good guy. We all think so and you’re allowed to make a mistake now and

then.”

With that, she headed north, away from Shreveport and toward Bergisson. He turned and glanced

throughthetrees,notingthathisGuardhadreturnedandnowhoveredabovethegroundattheedgeofthe
parkinglot,waitingforhim.

TimetogokicksomeInvictusass.
Butashespedintheirdirection,hewaveredslightlyandalmosttippedintothepavementwhichwould

havesenthimcrashingintoanearbyFordtruck.Atthelastsecond,herightedhimself.

Well,thathadneverhappenedbefore.
AshelandedclosetohisGuard,Finncalledout,“Whatthehellwasthat?”
“IthinkItookthedrawtooquick.”
Achucklewentthroughthemen.Whatvampirehadn’tbeenalittletipsyafterslakingablood-thirsttoo

fast?

Ofcoursethetroublewas,Ethanknewthatwasn’ttherealproblematall.
Therealproblemwasthathisbloodrosehadarrivedinahalf-humanwomanwhodidn’tknowshewas

partfae,andwhosebloodwouldfinallyeasehisstarvation,butformanyreasonsshewasoff-limits.

Whenhe’dhandedoutordersforthenextfewhours,hetookFinnasideandtoldhimaboutSamantha.

Heneededatleastoneotherpersoninonhiscurrentconundrum.

“What do you plan to do?” Finn kept his voice quiet. “I mean, will you take her on since she could

resolvethestarvation?”

“Thatshe could takecare of myblood-needs permanently is theonly part ofthe equation that tempts

me. The rest has the appearance of a nightmare waiting to happen. I felt her power, Finn, she’s on
Vojalie’slevel,orifnothersthensomeofthemorepowerfulfaeintheBergissonGuild.”

Finnwhistled.“Andshehasnoidea.”
“Well,shedoesnow,butsheseemedprettyshockedwhenshelefthere.”
Finn’sphonerang,oneoftheGuardlieutenantsinforminghimofanInvictus-pairsightingnotfarfrom

Caldwellinthenorthwest,aboutthirtymilesfromtherealm’swastelands.“Areyoucomingwith?”

Ethanfrowned.Foroneofthefewtimesinhiscareer,hedidn’thaveaquickanswer.Somethingabout

Samanthaheldhimback.Heshookhishead.“IthinkIneedtosortthingsoutherefirst.YougettheGuard
onthis,butifyouneedme,callrightaway.Inthemeantime,givemeupdates.”

“YouknowIwill.”
AshewatchedFinn,andtherestoftheGuardtaketotheair,hefeltthefamiliarpulltobewiththem,

hisbrothersinarms,tobefightingalongsidethem,whichonlymadehimresentevenmorethatSamantha
existed.

Whatafuckingmess.

ChapterTwo

AsSamanthadrovehome,shekeptshakingherheadlikesheneededtoclearherearsofwater.What

she’dlearnedtonighthadsetheronherheelsandshecouldhardlymakesenseofitall.Onsomelevel,
shefeltlikeshemovedthroughadreamandthatmaybetheeventsatthepravehadneverreallyhappened.

Shehadn’timaginedthevision,though,becauseitexistedinsidehernowlikealiving,breathingthing.

Shecouldfeeltheimagesmovingneartheedgesofhermindandthatifshewanted,shecouldexperience
thewholethingalloveragain.

She knew from her studies of the realm-world that very powerful fae women were known to have

visions.Shestoppedatastoplight,watcheditturngreenbutonlysteppedonthegaswhenthecarbehind
herhonked.

Sheneededtopaybetterattentiontotheroad.
Shekeptherthoughtssimpler.
She’dhadavision;shewouldn’tdenythetruth.
Butsomethingelsebecameclearassheturneddownherstreet:Thevisionwasfae.
She’dhadafaevision.
Whichmeant…
Shewaspartfae.
Andthefaepartofherdominatedthehumanpart.
Pullingintoherdriveway,shesatinhercarforseverallong,astonishedminutes.
Partfae?
Buthowcouldthatbe?
Shegotofthecarandturnedtostareupataclearskywithafullmoon.TheAprilLouisiananightair

wassoftonherskin,notcloyinglikeitwouldbecomeinjustafewmoreweeks.

Thehourhadtobepastmidnight.
Timeevenfeltdifferenttohernow.Sheknewthehourandtheminute:12:11.
Shepulledouthercell:12:11.
Howdidsheknowthetimelikethat?
She shook her head yet again as she made her way to the front door of what was once her beloved

grandmother’s home, now hers. She loved the small old house, built a long time ago. It grew into its
creaking floors and musty smell, all familiar like songs that had been sung but kept echoing down each
hall.

Fae.
Andabloodrose.
Herheartseemedtolumberinherchestnow,andwhenshetouchedherneck,theveinrose.Shecould

feelitbeneathherskin,risingforwhat?Asthoughshedidn’tknow.Risingforasharppairoffangsthat
belongedtoavampire.

Aspecificvampire.
Amastyrvampire,powerful,built,gorgeous,andweigheddownwithresponsibility.
That’swhatshefeltwhenshethoughtofMastyrEthan,thatheboretheweightofBergissonRealmlike

astonestrappedtohisback.

Themomentimagesofhimmovedthroughhermind,however,herheartbegantobeatreallyhard,like

nothingshe’deverknownbefore.Shedismissedthethoughtthatshemightbehavingaheartattacksince
her newly discovered faeness knew better. A need swept over her, to reach out to Ethan, to leave her
house,toenterBergisson,tofindhimandtofeedhim,justlikeinthevision,toofferupherbloodashis

bloodrose.

At the same time, she resented that she had these thoughts at all. She’d grown up knowing about the

NineRealms,andthatoneofthemactuallyhadanaccesspointinherhometownofShreveport.Butthe
mostshe’deverfeltaboutrealm-folkwasasenseofuneasinessshecouldn’texplain.

Nowsheknewwhy.
Shewasoneofthem.
Shemadeherwaytotheworkshopatthebackofherhouse,whereshedesignedherjewelry.Though

shehadabachelor’sinsociologyandshewasworkingtowardhermasters,shemadeherlivingthrough
sellinghercreationsonlineandinthelocalshops.Hergrandmother,partsquirrelbynature,hadlefther
an inheritance large enough to allow her a certain amount of freedom. Despite the fact that she had no
familyleft,sheconsideredherselfblessedbecauseshewasfreetopursueherowndreamswhensomany
otherscouldn’t.

She sat down at the small antique oak desk that had belonged to her mother and which had been her

favorite, something her mother had given her, one of the few keepsakes from a family Samantha knew
littleabout.

Nowsheunderstoodwhyhermotherhadrefused,howevergently,totalkaboutherfamily.Howcould

shehavewhenherparentshadbeenfae?No,thatcouldn’tberight.Herfatherwashuman;hisLouisiana
heritagewentonandon.Thiswasabouthermother,butshedidn’tlookfae.Theyhadsuchpointedchins
andstrangeears.She’dseenhermother’sears.

Thetruthsettledinonherinaterriblewaythathermother’searshadbeenalteredtofithernewhuman

life.

Samantha felt ill. There were too many truths here to digest all at one time, too many new and

frighteningrealities.

As she sat down, the ladder back chair creaked like the floors. This was the place her mother had

writtenherjournals,abunchofthem,alllockedupinablacklacquerbox,whichshepulledinfrontof
her.

“Whatareyouwriting,mama?”Samantharememberedaskingheronce.
Her mother, Andrea Bergisse, had smiled but even then, even when Samantha had been young, she’d

seenandfelthermother’ssadness.

“Oh,child,justmylifestoryincaseyouneedtoreaditoneday.Butwaituntilyoufeelacalltomy

journals,notbefore.”She’dhadsuchaprettyLouisianalilt.

“Whatdoyoumean‘acall’?”
“Somethin’here,child.”She’dputherhandagainstherchestandpattedwithherfingers.“Here.It’ll

belikeasoftvibration—atrainwhistlefromalongwaysaway.You’llknow.Promisemenow.”

“Ipromise.”
Funny,thatinalltheseyears,she’dkepttheboxinitslockedupstate,asthoughshe’dknownallalong

thatwhatlayinsidewasnotsomethingsheeverwantedtoknow.

Yet,thetimehadcometolookatthetruth.Shehadastringofcriticaldecisionstomake,thatmuchshe

understood,soshemightaswellgetstarted.Thesoonershefiguredthingsout,thesoonershecouldput
thisnightbehindher.

Sheplacedherhandontopofthebox,nowsmoothandcoolbeneathherfingers,exceptthistimeshe

feltanewsensation,avibration,verysubtleandasfarawayasthatdistanttrainwhistle.

Thenshegotit.Shewasfeelingfaemagic,thesamekindofvibrationsshe’dfeltatthebarjustbefore

thevisionhadopenedup.

Pullingoutthecenterdrawerofthedesk,sheremovedtheoldandverydullbrasskey,thenfititinto

thebox’sslot.Themomentsheturnedthekey,andthemechanismshifted,thefaevibrationsangupher
arm,likeasoftjoltofelectricity.Forasplitsecond,shecouldalmostfeelhermamabesideher,ahandon

hershoulder,tellinghereverythingwouldbeallright.

Buthowcoulditbe?Samantha’slifehadjustbeentossedhighintotheairandshehadnoideawhatit

wouldlooklikeonceitcrashedbacktoearth.

Sheliftedthecurvedlidandtheretheywere,eachencasedinadullredleather,afullinchthickatthe

binding,fiveinall.

Samanthastaredatthejournals,butsettledherhandsinherlap.Shedidn’twanttodothis.
Shehadallthatshe’deverwantedinherlife,wellalmost.Exceptforamanandmaybechildren,she

had a good life with a job she loved, enough money to live on, an important ongoing education, and a
homethathadbeenbuiltbyherpaternalgrandfather.Shedidn’tneedmorethanthis.Shedidn’tneedthese
journals,orheroverwhelmingdesireforavampire,ortheknowledgethatshewashalf-fae.

Andsheespeciallydidn’tneedtobesomethingcalled‘abloodrose’.
Sheslammedtheliddownontheboxandforoneofthefewtimesinherlifeshegaveherselftothe

suddendespairshefeltandwept,forherfamilylonggone,foravisionthathauntedher,foraworldshe
wisheddidn’tevenexist.

*********

Ethan followed in the wake of Finn and his team as they headed back toward the Bergisson plane to

resumepatrolduty.

Butwhenhearrivedatthecheckpoint,hehesitated.Somethingnaggedathim,refusingtolethimleave

theearth-plane.Hehoveredafootabovetheground,neartheGuardsmenwhocontrolledallthecomings
andgoingsbetweenearthandBergissonRealm,debatingoncemoreexactlywhatheshoulddonext.

Histhoughtswerefixedonthewoman,Samantha,afaeandabloodrose,who’dhadnoideauntilthis

veryeveningthatshewaspartrealm.Hecouldn’timaginewhatshewasgoingthroughrightnow.

Heshookhishead:abloodrose.InShreveport.
HestillrecalledhisfirstmeetingwithMastyrGerrod’sbloodrose,Abigail,andhowwithjustatouch

ofherhand,averyhumanhandshake,thewomanhadconnectedwithhispersonalfrequency,essentially
hisvampirematingfrequency.

Eventhoughhehadn’tactuallytouchedSamanthatonight,somethingsimilarhadhappened;hismating

frequency had come alive like bells pealing in a town square. The vibration still lingered, a physical
sensationhecouldn’tshakeandwhichkepthisdrivetowardherasstrongaswhenhehadfirstseenher.

That’swhenthereasonforhishesitationfellintoplace.
Hewasn’ttheonlymastyrvampireinBergisson.
Rywasoneaswell.
HeknewfromhisoriginalexperiencewithAbigailthatSamanthawouldn’tjustbeattractedtohim,but

toallmastyrs.Herbloodrosepotential,therefore,madeherextremelydesirableinhisworldandinthe
samewaymadeherequallyasvulnerabletoabuse.

Thesethoughtssenthismindintoatailspinofhorror,ofSamanthabeingpursuedbyothermastyrs,and

notjustbyRy,whohedidn’ttrust,butbyanyofthemastyrsoftheNineRealms.Onceitbecameknown
that another blood rose existed, how soon before Samantha became the object of serious pursuit? And
someoftheeasternmastyrswereknowntobereallywild.

Ifhedidn’tbindSamanthatohim,oneoftheothermastyrsprobablywould.Ry,forinstance,wouldn’t

hesitatetotakeherbyforce,especiallyifhethoughtitwouldgivehimdominanceoverEthan.

Forthepastfiftyyears,sinceEthanhadreplacedRyastheMastyrofBergisson,apainfulrivalryhad

ensued.RyhadgrownboldinhisattacksonEthan,whetherpubliclyorprivately.

He’dalwaysresentedthatEthanhadusurpedhiminthegovernanceofBergissonRealm,eventhough

Ethanhadn’tbeentheauthorofRy’sremoval.NineRealmslawsdictatedthatthemostpowerfulvampire
inthelandwouldrulethesociety.Oncehe’dcomeintohismastyr-power,thegoverningSidheCouncil,a

deeply respected and ancient joint-council of the Nine Realms, had tested both Ry and Ethan and had
foundthatEthan’spowersurpassedRy’sbyasignificantdegree.

Ofcoursetherehadbeendownsides,oneofwhichmeantthathispowerasamastyrvampireconstantly

drainedhimofhisresources,puttinghiminaperpetualstateofblood-starvationdespitehowoftenhislist
of doneuses serviced him. The other most significant repercussion, of course, was Ry and his fairly
constantbuckingofEthan’sauthority.

Now,abloodrosehadarrived,withthecapacitytokeepamastyrvampiresatisfied,andifhedidn’t

dosomething,EthanknewinhisgutthatRywouldmakeaplayforSamanthaandhe’ddoittonight.

EthanhadnointentionofbindingSamantha.Buthesureashellwouldn’tletRytakehereither.Atthe

sametime,thethoughtofanymastyrvampiregettingnearSamanthasetoffhisbattlingfrequency.Sowhat
washesupposedtodo?

SweetGoddess,thethoughtofbindingSamantha,gettingthatclosetoheroranyfemale,gavehimthe

shakes.Fromthetimethathe’dburiedhisfamily,he’dpromisedhimselfthatuntilhe’dsecuredBergisson
in permanent peace, essentially eradicating the Invictus, he had no intention of building a long-term
relationshipwithanywoman.Hefoughttheenemyeverynightofhislife,strivingtoprotectthoseinhis
care:amillionrealm-folk.Hesimplydidn’thavetimetobeaboyfriendtoanywoman—human,fae,or
otherwise.

Andthehellifhe’dletthesuddenandunexpectedarrivalofabloodrosechangehiscommitmenttohis

realm.

HeslidhisiPhonefromthepocketofhisbattleleathersanddialeduphissecond-in-command.“Hey,

Finn.I’verethoughttheSamanthasituation.I’mconcernedthatRymightgettoherandyouknowwhathe’s
like,hewon’tbelievethatshewouldhaveanyotherpurposebuttotakecareofhim.”

“Yourwomanneedsprotection.”
Ethan repressed a hostile growl. “She’s not my woman, Finn. Let’s get that clear right now. But she

doesneedprotectionandnotjustfromRy,butfromallthemastyrs.Thepullisstrongandit’sonehellofa
seductiontothinkthatablood-rosecouldputanendtothekindofblood-starvationeachofusendures.”

“Doyouwantmetosendadetailtowatchoverher?”
“No,I’vegotthis.”
“Once Ry gets wind of all that happened at the prave, he’ll be out for your head and he’ll want

Samantha.HemaycomeafteryouandwithwhatIobservedattheparkinglot,youmightwantsomeback
up.”

Ethan’s temper shot through his head that Finn would question his capacity to defend Samantha. But

even as he opened his mouth to argue the point, his stomach balled up into a knot, and that same awful
dizzinessforcedhimtodroptoearth,andplanthisfeetfirm.Heheldhisphonebehindhim,squeezedhis
eyesshutandburneduptheforestwithalongstringofobscenities.

Ofcourseonceheopenedhiseyes,bothaccesspointGuardsweresmiling.
Turninghisbacktothem,hebroughthisphonebackuptohisear.He’dneverreallythoughtofRyas

much more than an annoying mosquito he had to swat now and then. “I’m not worried. Where are you
now?”

“Patrolling near the training camp, but no Invictus sign. We’re going to swing by Sweet Gorge once

more.We’llgivetheareaathoroughreconnaissance,andifnothingsurfaces,I’llbringthepatrolbackto
theGuardHouse.”

“Good.HasthebodybeendeliveredtotheMorgue?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“Death by Invictus, as suspected. But what else is new? And as with the others killed out there, the

physicianfoundalingeringfaemagic.”

“That’snotasurprise,notfromabodyfoundatSweetGorge.”
“Iagree.”
“Allright.I’mheadingbacktoShreveport.”
“Areyousureyoudon’twantateamoutthere?”
“Hell,no.IcanhandleRy.”
AlongpausetoldEthanthatFinndidn’tapproveoftheplan,butthatwasn’tneweither.Finnhadbeen

pressuringhimalotlatelytogiveoversomeofhiscommandtohistopmen.Ethanthoughtthingsworked
justfineastheywere.

“Fine,butifIgetevenawhisperthatRy’sabandonedhispatrolinthenorth,I’mheadingsouth.”
ThoughitirritatedthehelloutofEthan,heknewFinn’splanhadmerit.“Fine.”Buthehungup.
Whenhepocketedhisphone,hetoldthecheckpointGuardsmentoalerthimifMastyrRycrossedinto

thehumanrealm.Afteramoment’shesitation,headded,“AndletFinnknowaswell.”

“Yes,Mastyr.”Theirvoicesblendedtogetherinresponse.
Ethan rose into the air once more, higher and higher, pivoted, then flew in a quick arc back in the

directionofShreveport,justafewmilesbeyondthecheckpoint.

Thespacebetweenrealmsbecameablurredblendofland,water,andskythenthepinetreesemerged

sothatheknewhe’dreachedthedistantoutskirtsoftheNorthAmericancity.Eventhoughtherealmworld
had first opened its doors to earth thirty years ago, crossing between worlds always gave him an odd
thrill,thewayancientexplorersmusthavefeltinagesgoneby.

His first thought involved wondering how the hell he would find Samantha, then he mentally kicked

himselffornotfollowingherhomeinthefirstplace.

He was about to return to the prave to find out if anyone knew where she lived, when another idea,

morerealm-likeinnature,struck.

Heslowedtoastopmidair,hoveringamongthetreetops,andfocusedonSamantha,theshapeofher

face,thebeautyofherlightblueeyes,theshineofherblackhair,andmostlythebloodrosevibeshegave
off.

Whatcamebacktohimwaslikeatetherfarawaythatreachedforhimanddrewcloserandcloseruntil

itconnected with hischest. He stalledout for a moment,sliding down amongthe branches, then caught
himself.

Heliftedbackintotheair,startledbywhathefeltcomingfromher,thestrengthofherrealmfrequency

whichhewasprettysureshehadnoideashepossessed.Butmorecametohim,beatingathissenses:her
distress,hersadness,likeasinglecandleburninginthedark.

Andheknewexactlywheretofindher.
Heflewevenhigherintotheairtoavoidstreetlampsandpower-lines.Hepassedbyquietsuburbsand

industrialbuildings,evenatraintrackandthenhecouldseeherhouse,awhitebungalowwithawhite-
picket fence. Her presence grew stronger within his knowing and once more his desire for her blood
returned,hisbodyfullofhungeralloveragain,asthoughhehadn’tjustfed.

Butheknewonethingforsure,thatifhedidn’tstandguard,Rywouldcomeforherandhewouldn’t

showrestraint.Hecouldfeel,evennow,thelevelofpowerthatwouldcometohimifheboundSamantha,
whichmeantshe’dbeenevenmoreofatemptationtoRy.

He had no doubt that Ry would kidnap her and attempt to bind her without one thought for what she

wanted.Mostrealm-bindingsrequiredanactofwilltocomplete.Samanthawouldhavetoagreeandfrom
whathe’dseen,she’dputupafight.

But Ry was powerful and if he held her captive, he could wear her down by sheer physical torture,

somethinghereallywishedhedidn’tbelieveRywoulddo,buthe’dhadhisdoubtsaboutthevampirefor
alongtime.

AndhehadnointentionoflettingSamanthafindoutpersonallyexactlywhatRywasmadeof.

Whenhearrivedatherhouse,hedroppeddowntoearth,landingquietlyoutsideherfrontdoorwherea

porchlightburned.Hesteppedawayfromthehouseandfromareinforcedpocketofhisbattleleathers,he
withdrewadagger.

Hewalkedtheentirecircumferenceofherhome,settingupacloaktokeephimselfquietandinvisible

fromherneighbors.Despitethisintrinsicallyvampirestate,thathecouldhidehimselffromhumans,he
wasprettysureSamanthawouldsensehewashere.

Whenhereachedthefrontdooragain,shestoodonthethreshold,justbehindthescreendoor,herlips

compressed. “What the hell are you doing here and why are you tramping around like an elephant in a
fieldofverydrygrass?”

Yep,thewomanwasmorerealmthansheknew.

*********

“I’mnot.”
“You’renotwhat?”Samanthastaredatthevampireshe’dtrulyhopednevertoseeagain,butherehe

was, in all his enormous glory, a sheen of perspiration on his forehead because he’d been flying and
marchingaroundherhouseforwhothehellknewwhy.Thetearshadfinallystoppedandshe’djustbeen
working up her courage to start reading the journals, when she heard him moving near her back
workroom.

“I’m not ‘tramping around’ as you put it; your hearing is improving. But let me assure you that right

now,noneofyourneighborscanseeme.”

Sheglancedaround.“Great.ThenIprobablylooklikeI’minsanestandingherespeakingtoyou.But

whatareyoudoingatmyhouse?Idon’tunderstandbecauseIdon’trememberinvitingyoutocomehere
andImustsayIresentyoubeinghere.”

“Iwouldn’thavecome,Samantha,butyou’reindanger.”
Samanthatiltedherhead.Sheknewthemeaningofthewordshe’djustspoken,butbecauseofallthat

she’dbeenthrough,thesenseofwhathewassayingdidn’tregister.“WhatdoyoumeanI’mindanger?
Fromyou?”

Heshookhishead.“No,ofcoursenot.I’dneverinfringeonyourfreedomsoranythingelse.Butthere’s

onewhomight,whoprobablywill.”

“And who might that be?” The words came out drawled and disbelieving, more Louisiana than

nighttimenationalnews,butshewasalittlebitpissedoffrightnow.

“HisnameisRy.MastyrRy.HewasthemastyrofBergissonRealmbeforeme.”
Sheconnectedthedots,especiallysincehislipshadformedagrimline.“Youreplacedhim.”
Hemethergazedeadon,butremainedsilent.
“Oh,Isee.Yousupplantedhim.Hewastheruler,thenyoutookover.”
Heshookhishead.“It’snotdonethatway.TheSidheCounciltestseveryvampirewhoachievesmastyr

status,andthemostpowerfulbornintoeachrealmisobligatedtorule.It’sthatsimple.”

“I’msurethisRyvampireseesitthatway.”
“Let’sjustsaythatyourarrivalinourworldwillbespreadingaroundthegossiptrailslikeaspring

flood.AndRywillwantyou.”

Samanthatookadeepbreath.“AndyoureallythinkI’mindangerfromhim?”
“Yes,becauseyou’reabloodrose.”
She looked away from him. “I saw it in the vision. You were there. You called me a blood rose.”

Lookingbackathim,sheasked,“Butwhydoesthatendangerme?

“This gift you have, it’s incredibly tempting, and Ry will want to possess your blood rose abilities

morethananythingelseintheworld.”

Samanthablinkedacoupleoftimes.“Whydidn’tyoutellmethisbackattheprave?”

“Iwastoocaughtupinyoursuddenarrivalinmyworld.Ididn’tthinkaboutituntilIwashalfwayback

toBergisson.”

“Andyouhonestlythinkhe’llcomehere?”
“Iknowhewill,themomenthehearsaboutyou.Andthatwon’tbelong,gossipbeingasfruitfulinmy

realmasitishereinyours.”

Samanthashookherhead.Morestufftodigest.“But,evenifhedoescomehere,hehasnorights.He

can’tdoanythingtome.”

“IwishIcouldsaythatwastrue,butit’snot.He’dtakeyouillegallyandonlyacomplaintfromyour

worldcouldbringyouback.Doyouhavekinwhocansupportyou?Makesuchademand?”

Andherewasthehardesttruthofall.“Ihavenoone.”
“Shit.”
“Yes.Exactly.Oh,God,andIdidn’tthinkthisnightcouldgetworse.”
“I’msorry,Samantha.Ireallyam.AndI’llseewhatIcandotoensurethathestaysawayfromyou.”
“There’ssomethingelse,though,isn’tthere?”
More grimness. “It’s not just Ry. Your blood rose gift will attract any and all mastyrs, from all the

realms.Oncethewordgetsout…”Heletthewordshang.

Samanthaunderstood,shejustcouldn’tbelievethiswashappeningtoher.“So,I’mabloodrose.What

thehellisthat,anyway?”

“It’s something that’s just emerged in our world. It happened to Mastyr Gerrod of Merhaine not long

agoandhisbloodrosewasahuman.”

“Really,asinone-hundred-percenthuman?”Shewasstunned.
“Yes,butshe’snowone-hundred-percentvampire.”
“So,hechangedher.”
“Morelikesheembracedwhatcouldbehers.”
“DoIactuallyhavethecapacitytobecomeavampire?”
“I have no idea. I’m guessing not because you’re half-fae. In our world, the species, though they

intermarry,generallyfalltoonesideortheother;thegenesjustlineupthatway.”Hepaused,thenadded,
“Andyoudounderstandnow,thatyou’repart-fae?”

Shenodded,butherheadswamwithsomuchinformation.“Thevisionalertedme.I’vebeenstudying

yourworldatuniversitysoIknowaboutfaeandvisions,butit’sstillsohardtotakein.”

“Whenyou’reready,youcanspeakwithoneofourfaeleaders,evenVojalie,whoisthemostpowerful

faeintheNineRealms.Fornow,though,canyoutellmewhoyourmotherwas?Imean,shewasprobably
long-lived.Imightevenhaveknownher.”

“Andrea. My mother’s name was Andrea Bergisse. Oh. I see.” She even laughed, though she wasn’t

amused.“Bergisson.Ijustnevermadetheconnectionbefore.”

ButEthanstaredatherlikehe’dseenaghost.Infact,heseemedangry.
She took a step back from the screen door as she searched his eyes. “Ethan, what is it? What did I

say?”

“Andreawasyourmother?There’sonlyonefaeI’veeverknownbythatname.Didshehavedarkhair,

alittlelighterthanyours?”

“Almostblackandwavy.”
“Sheworeitlongtothewaist.”
“Yes,alltheyearsthatIknewherasmymama.”
Heshookhishead.“SweetGoddess,foryoutobeignorantofwhoyouare,shemustnothavespoken

ofBergissonorherheritageatall.”

“No,notevenalittle.WheneverIaskedaboutyourrealm,shetoldmetolookitupontheInternetifI

wasinterested.Ithoughtshejustdidn’tcareabouttheNineRealms.Itneveroccurredtometoreadher

any other way. Besides, she’s been gone ten years. I was only eighteen, still too young to have pieced
thingstogether.But,whydoyouseemsoupset?Didmymotherdosomethingtoyou,orwhat?”

Hewassilentforamoment,lookingawayfromher,hisgazeglancingroundtheyard,liftingtothedark

nightskiesasthoughsearching,thenbacktoher.“Itwassomethingshedidn’tdo,butithappenedforty
yearsagoforreasonsI’llneverunderstand.”

Samanthafeltdivorcedfromwhateverhermothermighthavefailedtodosomanydecadesago.She

hadn’t even been born and Andrea had been gone for such a long time that she was more ghost than a
factorinherlifenow.

She’d loved her mother, but there had always been something off about Andrea, disconnected maybe

fromlife. Her father’sdeath one yearbefore Andrea’s, had stolenthe last ofher mother’s spirit. She’d
diedthefollowingspringfrompneumonia,whichshe’dleftuntreateduntiltoolate.

Hergrandmotherwasgonenowaswell,whichledherthoughtsinanewdirection.
“Ethan?”He’dturnedawayfromher,hisgazefixedskywardagain,watchingforRy,maybe.
“Yeah?”Buthedidn’tturntolookather.
“DoIhavefamilyinBergisson?”
Atthatheglancedather,aswiftsearchinglookthensethisgazeoncemoreintothenight.“I’mcertain

youdo.”

Some part of her longed to know but more, but for now, she didn’t think she could handle a more

detailedaccounting.

“Ihavenofamilyhere.”Thewordscameoutlikeawhisper.Shewasn’tevensureshe’dspokenthem

aloud.

She half expected Ethan to respond, instead, he shifted to what she could only describe as a fighting

stance,bendinghisknees,loweringhisshoulders,armsheldwide.Alongbladeflashedbeneaththeporch
light.

Hecalledout.“Ry,youmotherfucker,makeyourselfknownandhowthehelldidyougetpasttheaccess

pointGuardsmen?”Ethan’svoiceechoedthroughtheneighborhood,buthemusthavedisguiseditbecause
not a single dog started barking, a sure sign he’d been telling the truth about being invisible to her
neighbors.

Ifafrogsneezed,dogsstartedbarking.
Thenextsecond,Samanthagaveacryasanothervampiredroppedoutofthenightsky,awarrior-type

almost as big as Ethan and wearing the same garb; the leather sleeveless duster over a loosely woven
shirt,blackleatherpants,andheavy,sexyboots.Heheldabladeaswell.

HisgazeslidpastEthan’sshoulderandlandedonher.Theporchlightexposedhimcompletelybutshe

hadafeelingthatevenifthelighthadn’tbeenon,shecouldhavestillseenhim.

Shereachedupandswitcheditoff.
Sureenough,shesawbothmenasinaglow.Faenightvision?Realmvision?
“Icanstillseeyou,SamanthaofShreveport.Don’tthinkyoucanhidefromme.”Ry’svoicehadatinny

edge,almostdesperate,andmaybehewas.

“Youcan’thaveher,Ry.Notnow,notever.”
“Anyonecanhaveher.Shedoesn’tbelongtoyou.You’renotmated.She’sfreegameandasfarasI’m

concerned,Ihaveasmuchrightasyou’lleverhave.More,becauseI’velivedacenturylonger.Haven’t
youstolenenoughfromme?”

“Istolenothing.Youknowthat.AndSamanthaisaU.S.citizen.Bylaw,shebelongstonoone.Taking

heragainstherwill,wouldbekidnappingandBergissonallowsU.S.lawenforcementintoourrealmto
extradite,simpleasthat.”

“She’sabloodrose.ThatcancelsallherU.S.rightswhereshe’sconcerned.”
Samantha’snostrilsflaredandforasuddenpowerfulmoment,Ry’sscentcametoherand,worse,she

likedit.Shesmelledaheavyspicelikeclovesonlymuskier.Hewasahandsomevampire,notinEthan’s
blond,almostflamboyantmoldbutdarker,moredramatic,earthier.

Her body suddenly responded, her heart beating heavily as it did for Ethan, wanting to nourish both

vampires. There could be no doubt that she recognized him as a mastyr, another sure sign that she was
exactlywhatEthanhadcalledherinthevision:abloodrose.

“You’refeelingme,”Rysaid,hisvoicehusky.“Don’thideitfromme,Samantha.Iknowthatyouare.

Youwantme.”

Thesewords,however,broughtaterriblesoundfromEthan’sthroat,somethingbetweenagrowlanda

roar.Beforeshecouldshoutawordofwarning,EthanchargedRy.

Blades flashed in the glow of her vision and a heavy vibration from the battle pulsed through her in

wavesthatkeptherheartbeatinghardinherchest,longingforeitherofthevampires,wantingthemboth,
needingtogiveuphervitalbloodsupply.

Therationalhumanpartwantedthevampirestostopfighting,butthisnewfaeselfrejoicedinthebattle

aseachmanlevitatedandspun,avoidingthestrikeoftheblade,lunginginforakillingblow.Ethanrose
higher,togainanadvantage,andflewdowntowardRyatablurringspeed.

Butatthelastmoment,Ryshiftedaway,hisbodyandleathersformingafan-likeshapeasheescaped

Ethan’s blade. He caught Ethan’s arm and jerked, which sent Ethan into the front walkway with a
terrifyingthud.

Samanthacriedout,butEthanroseupoffthebricksasthoughhe’dbarelyfeltit.Vampireswerestrong.
Movingfastoncemore,heflewalmoststraightupandforasplit-second,shesawfearinRy’seye,as

Ethan plowed into him. Ry’s blade fell to the ground and Ethan tackled Ry to her front lawn where he
pinnedhim.

Thenextmoment,theairwasfullofmorewarriorvampires,Ethan’sGuard,allwearingthetraditional

leathergarb,floatingdowntoherfrontyardtoformahalf-circlearoundEthanandRy.

“Nowlistentome,”EthanshoutedintoRy’sface.“Thiswoman,bloodroseornot,hasrightsbothhere

onearthandinBergisson.Youcan’ttakeheragainstherwill,youpieceofshit.Doweunderstandeach
other?”

Rybreathedhard,probablybecausehehadEthanalmostsittingonhischest,buthenodded.
Ethandrewhimselfupintotheairandbackwardafewfeet,givingRyroom.“You’renolongerpartof

theBergissonGuard.You’reout.”

Ry rose slowly from the ground, levitating to face Ethan an equal distance in the air. Slowly, he

unbuckledtheleathercross-strapthatangledoverhischestandletitdroptotheground.Afterward,helet
thelongsleevelesscoatfallaswell,thetrademarkofallGuardsmen.

Samantha felt the seriousness of the situation like a second skin and each vampire looked like he’d

beendeliveredahardblowtothechest.

“Wemayaswellbeclearaboutonething,Ethan.”Rymovedinafewinches.
Ethan’sgazebecamehoodedanddark.“Byallmeans,let’sbeclear.”
“I’ll have my rule back one day, you’ll see, whatever it takes.” He cast a sly glance in Samantha’s

direction.Hemightevenhavewinked,shewasn’tsure.

Just as Ethan lunged for Ry once more, the latter shot into the air and disappeared north toward

Bergisson.

Tension held the remaining Guard immobile for several long seconds and only the sound of the long

coatsflappinginthebreezedisturbedthenightair.

Finnbrokethesilence.“Whataprick.”
Aroundoflaughterpassedthroughthemen.
Samantha still stood behind the closed screen door. She put a hand to her chest to see if she still

breathed.Herlungsappearedtobeworkingbutherheartstillthumpedinhardbeatsagainstherribcage.

HergazeslidfromtheGuardsmenbacktoEthan.Twomastyrvampires,andshewantedtofeedthem

both.

Whatkindofcursewasthis?
Buttherewasamaterialdifferencebetweenthetwomen:RywouldtakeheratanycostwhileEthan

spokeofherfreedomandherrights.

Ofthetwo,shehadnodoubtwhichcouldbetrusted.
Ethan issued another string of orders, which sent most of the Guard away, leaving two behind. The

remaining Guardsmen rose into the air and made slow sweeps over the roof of her house and the
perimeterofherfront,side,andbackyards.

Ethan once more approached the screen door, but he wore a scowl that brought his straight thick

eyebrowsrestingjustabovehissmokygray-browneyes.“You’renotgoingtowanttohearthis,Samantha,
but I’d like you to come to Bergisson with me. Tonight. To stay in my house.” He held up both hands.
“Nothingfunny,butMastyrRyhasmadehispositionclearandrightnowyouwon’tbesafeinShreveport.
Willyoucomewith?”

Samanthastaredathim,eyeswide,unabletoblink.Nowshewassupposedtouprootherselfandmove

intohishouse?

Shewonderedifthisnightcouldgetanycrazierorifmaybeshe’djustimaginedeverything.Sheneeded

toknowmoreaboutwhatwashappeningtoher.“Stepback.”

Heobeyed.
Shepushedthescreendooropenandmovingontothefrontporch,grabbedhisarm,squeezingtight.A

vibrationrippedthroughher.“Whatisthat?WhatamIfeeling?Ineedtounderstandsomethingshere.”

“Mypersonalfrequency.We’reaworldofvibrationsandfrequencies.”
Thevibrationsebbedandflowed,almostlikeaconversation.Thensherealizedsomeofthevibrations

emanatedfromher.Thewholeexperiencefeltwonderful,extraordinaryandcompletelyunnerving.

Ethanwincedandgroaned.“Oh,God,yousmelllikeheaven,thesweetestfruitandwinetogether.”
Hiseyeswereshutashelickedhislips.
Shecouldn’tbeimaginingthissensation,afeelingofconsecutivewavespassingthroughher,tightening

herabdomenandoncemorecausingherhearttothudandherbloodtoflowthicklyinherveins.

“Andyousmelllikerichearthygrasses,somethingthatgrowswildonahillside.”Hernostrilsflared

asheopenedhiseyes.“Andyou’rereal,aren’tyou?”

“I am.” His deep baritone voice enhanced the vibrations. She released his arm, a necessary act. She

wasfeelingtoomuch.

Sheshudderedasshedrewback.
Turning away from him, she let the screen door slam shut. “You want me to stay in your home in

Bergisson?You,therulerofthatrealm?”Shethoughtitwasakintobeingofferedastayatthegovernor’s
mansion.

Butatthat,Ethansmiled,showingallhisbigbeautifulteeth.“Idon’tbite,exceptonrequest.”
“Nowyou’regoingtoflirtwithme?”
“Onlyifittakessomeofthestingoutofthemoment.Seriously,Samantha.Rymeansbusiness.”
“Icanseethathedoes,butthisisallsonew,sobizarre,toomuchtotakein.”
“You’reright.Ofcourse.”Hefrownedagain,somethinghedidalot.“Letmeputitthisway.Untilwe

get this thing sorted with Ry, you’ll be safer in Bergisson than here and since it appears you’ve just
discoveredtonightthatyouhavefaeblood,IcantrytomakecontactwithMerhaineandbringVojalieto
stayatmyhouseaswell.She’saverywisewomanandourmostpowerfulfae.She’llbeabletoanswer
everyquestion.”

Someofthetensionleftherbody.“Ihavetoadmit,thatsoundsmuchbetter.”
Heleanedforward.“She’llbeabletotellyoueverythingaboutwhoyouare,evenaboutAndrea,things

Iwouldn’tknoworhaveaccessto.ShemightevenbeabletoshowyouaroundtheFaeGuildhall,oneof
themostrevered,historicalbuildingsandorganizationsinourrealm.”

AFaeGuildhall.
“HowlongdoyouthinkI’dbestaying?”
“Ihavenowayofknowing,butatleastuntilIcansecureyoursafety.IfthatmeanshuntingRydownand

puttinghiminprison,thenthat’swhatI’lldo.”

Samanthareleasedalong,deepbreath.“CouldRybindmebyforcepermanentlyifhewantedto?”
“Hecouldwearyoudown,yes.”Ethangroundhisjaw.“ButIsureashellwon’tlethimgetthatclose.”
Ofallthemenshe’deverknown,shewasprettysureEthancouldmakegoodonhiswords.“Letme

justpackafewthings.”

Thetensionrushedoutofhimlikeawindthatpassedthroughthescreen,thesensationwasthatstrong.

“Thankyou.Takeallthetimeyouneed.”

*********

One of the Guardsmen held Samantha’s suitcase as Ethan showed her how to balance herself on his

rightfootfortheflighthome.Hefelthernervousnessassheslidherarmaroundhisneck,arrangingher
gripcarefullybeneaththemassofhislong,thickhair.

Heheldhertightlyagainsthimsothatshecouldperchbothofhermuchsmallerfeetonhisrightboot.
“Wegood?”heasked,hisgazesweepingtheskyoverhead.Hedidn’tthinkhecouldbeartomeether

gazeinsuchcloseproximity.Asitwas,hiscontrolhungbyathread.

“Yes.”Sheevennoddedandhecouldfeelherheartbeatingpowerfullyinherchest,workingtoprovide

whatheneeded.

His mouth watered. Sweet Goddess did his mouth water. Her raspberry-wine scent was thick in his

noseandhecouldsmellherblood,likeanelixirfromheaven.

Andifthatwasn’tenough,herbodypressedagainsthimhadignitedhispersonalfrequencyanddesire

forherflowedoncemore.He’dneverbeenmoregratefulfortheleathercoatandsnugbattleleathersthat
rightnowhidonemajorsin.

Heforcedhimselftobreathe.“I’mgoingtolaunchnow,butIhaveyou.”Hedrewhertightagainsthim.
“Doyourworst.”
Helikedthatsheshowedsomuchcourage.She’dhadtoprocessalifetimeofchangeinonlyonenight.
TohisGuard,hecalledout,“BacktoBergisson.”
Themengaveashoutastheylaunchedintotheair.HefollowedbehindincaseRychosetoattack.
He’dalreadywarnedherthatifthesightoftreescomingatherfreakedherout,tojustturnintohimand

closehereyes.

To the woman’s credit, however, she faced forward, as much as she could with his arm like a vise

aroundher.

“Thisisamazing.”
“Youaren’tafraid?”
“Notyet,butgivemetime.”
Hesmiled.
Atthecheckpoint,henoddedtotheGuardsmenwhoinclinedtheirheadsinresponse.Hepressedon,

flying swiftly through the oak forest that bordered the southern lands of his realm with the northern
Shreveportregions.Ifhecontinuednorth,hisrealmwouldopenontoanexpansivevalleywhereatleasta
thirdofhispopulationlivedinthemajorcityofCameron.

Heshiftedcourse,however,headingeasttowardthewoodedhillsthatheldhismainproperty.Onthe

outskirtsofhislandwastheGuardHouse,ahomebaseforhistroopsaswellasatrainingfacility.

He heard Samantha gasp softly as he crested yet another oak laden hill, then descended toward his

modern,primaryresidencethathousedahuge,crystalembedded,glassconservatory.Largeoaksonthe
hillbehindandthroughoutthegroundsshadedthehouse.

The hour was late for a human, past one in the morning, and the woods dark. “Are you able to see

everything,Samantha,eventhoughit’snight?”

“Yes,there’sasoftgloweverywhere,asthoughtheearthislitup,likeit’searlyevening,withthesun

barelyset.Howisthatpossible?”

“That’srealmvisionsothatthoseofusfatedtoremainindoorsduringthedaycanhavethecompanyof

allrealm-folkwithoutmassiveamountsofcandlesorlamps.You’llfindthatatleasthalfourpeoplehave
adegreeofsensitivitytosunlight.”

“Your home is beautiful. The lines and materials are modern, yet you’ve used wood in big arching

curvestosoftentheeffect.Thebalanceisperfect.”

“Youspeaklikeanartist.”
“Iam.Idesignjewelry.”
“Ah.” As he touched down a few yards from the front door, he released her slowly. “Check your

balance.”

She stepped off his foot. How reluctant he was to remove his hand from her waist, to have her arm

slidefromhisneck.Breakingthephysicalconnectionalmosthurt.

She turned to look up at him, blinking, her lips parted. “That was so strange. The disconnection, I

mean.” She touched his chest, clearly without thinking, and his vibration rose to meet her as though
greetinganold,familiarfriend.

Herhandrestedbetweenhispecs.Hedidn’tsayaword.Hedidn’tmove.Hedidn’tthinkhecould.He

justwantedhertouchinghim.

Hisdesireforhersharpenedalmostpainfullyandagainhewasgratefulforthecoattohidewhathad

becomeverystiffandfullofintention.Goddess,hewasamess.

HisGuardhoveredintheairatleasttwentyfeetaway.Heliftedhisrightarmslowly,raisinghispalm

tokeeptheminplace.Hedidn’twanttobreakthismomentwithSamantha.Heunderstoodthatsheneeded
toexperiencehisfrequencyrightnow,totakeintheenormityofwhataconnectiontoamastyrvampire
wouldbelike,toaddtoherunderstandingaboutthenatureofwhatitwastobeabloodrose.

Hecouldfeelhoweasilyhecouldseduceherrightnow,totravelthroughhisfrequencytohersandto

workherupsexually.Itwouldtakesolittle.Didsheknowthat?Didsheunderstandhowmucheffortit
tookforhimtorestrainhimself?

Slowly,sheliftedhergazetohis.“You’retrembling,”shewhispered.
Henodded,justabriefjerkofhishead.“Itmightbebestifyoutookyourhandawaynow.Iwon’tbe

able to hold back much longer because I’m tempted on every level. Do you understand? The need for
bloodandtheneedforsexoftencometogether.”

Shefrownedslightlyasshestaredatherhand,butshedidn’tpullback.
Hewonderedwhyshehesitated,butifshedidn’tdoitsoon,hesworehewouldn’tbeabletoanswer

forhisconduct.

ChapterThree

Samanthaknewsheneededtowithdrawherhand,butshedidn’twantto.Shefelthisvibrationonthe

tipsofherfingersandshefelthiscallonherineverypulseofhisfrequency;tocometohim,toliedown
withhim,tolethimtakeher.Hisvibrationhadtappedintosomethingdeepinsideherandshelovedthe
wayitfelt,especiallytheintensesexualcomponent.

Butthislastthought,thatshewantedtoclimbintobedwithEthan,finallybroughthertohersenses.
She half-slid, half-pulled her hand away from the soft leather of his coat and the stiffer band of his

cross-strap.Butforalongmoment,shelookedintohiseyesandlettheexperienceflowthroughher,of
whohewasinhisworld,ofhisfrequency,ofthesheersizeofhim.

Abreezeblewdownfromthesurroundinghillsandsheshiveredsuddenly,whichputhiminmotion.

“Let’sgetyouinside.Thenight’scoldforhalf-humans.”

Shechuckledathiswordchoice.
Half-human.
Oh,God,half-fae.
Wasthistrulywhoshewasnow?Whoshealwayshadbeen,butdidn’tknowherselftobe?
Heturnedtothevampireholdinghersuitcasethirtyfeetaboveandheldouthisarms.Hemeanttocatch

it.

Samanthawantedtoprotest:thebagwasheavyandthevampireintheairwassofaraway.Gravityand

accelerationcombinedwouldaddforcetotheweightofthesuitcase.

Butbeforeshecouldsayanything,themanabovedroppedthecase,Ethancaughtiteasily,thenslungit

overhisleftshoulder.

Vampireswerestrong.
Herheartflutteredinherchest.
He called out to his men, ordering them to the Guard House and to check in with Finn. The entire

vampire escort turned east and flew farther down the hill. He explained that he had a large, nearby
trainingcampforhisGuard,whichalsohadarecroomandabarforthewarriorstoletoffsteam.

BergissonRealm.
Vampiresinlevitatedflight.
Glowingnightvision.
Andahugemodernhousethatbelongedtotheruleroftherealm,allsteel,wood,andglass.
Onceinsidethehouse,heswepthisarmtotheleft.“Themainlivingareasareatthisend,includingthe

kitchen,soifyouneedanythingtoeat,dayornight,pleasehelpyourself.Ihavestaffthatcomesinaround
fourinthemorning,whenIusuallyreturnfrommypatrols,sodon’tbesurprisedifyouhearthem,butthey
leaveafewhourslaterwhenIheadforbed.

“Acleaningcrewarriveslateafternoonbecausethat’swhenI’musuallyemergingfrommycave.I’lllet

themknowthatIhaveaguestinresidencesoyouwon’tbedisturbed.”

Hewavedhisarmtotheright,encompassingashortbutbroadstaircase.“Thebedroomsandasecond

living area are this way. You’ll have a suite to yourself, of course, with a sliding glass door to the
conservatorythatyoucanopenandcloseatwill.”

Samanthacouldseethatthehousewasbuilttothecontoursofthelandsinceanothershortstaircaseled

downtowardthelivingroomandamassivestonefireplace.

Atthefarendoftheroom,asetofthreestairsledupwardoncemore,toadiningareawithahugetable

andlargeupholsteredchairs.Thekitchenwashiddenfromviewbyalong,brickwall.

Thefurniture,insubduedbrowns,blacksandgrays,allseemedoversized,butthenEthan,aswellas

theGuardsmenshe’dseen,wereallbigmen.

Beyondtheglasswindows,shesawextensivelandscapingwithshrubs,lawn,flowerbedsallleadingto

thehillsideandashortstonewallwithwide,seatingpaversontop.Theoakspastthewall,hadbeenleft
inanaturalstateoflonggrassesandshrubslefttogrowwild.

Withhercaseinhand,hegesturedforhertoascendthestairstotheright.
At the first landing, rooms off to either side clearly belonged to Ethan’s job as a mastyr. One held a

desk, a computer with two screens, filing cabinets, stacks of papers and folders. The room to her right
lookedmorelikealibrarybuthadamassivetableinthecenterontowhichanoldmapwaslaidoutand
weigheddownwithbeautifulsplit-geodes,theircolorfulcrystalswinkingbeneathasoftoverheadlight.

“Youhavelightson.”
“Byhabit.Myvampirevisionisperfectatnight,butwehaveseveralspeciesintheNineRealmswho

struggleifsomelightingisn’tavailable.”

“Thenit’sacourtesy.”
“No.Anecessity.Ithinkthere’sadifference.”
‘Splitting-hairs’cametomind.
Anothershortflightofstairsledtoasecondsittingareawithanotherstonefireplace,smallerthanthe

oneinthelivingroombutstillimpressiveinsize.

Hetossedhisarminaquicksidemotion.“Thereareseveralbedroomsuiteshereinthesouthwing,but

I’ll want you closer to my rooms for safety.” He then gestured forward. “Beyond the living area is the
suite you’ll be staying in as well as my rooms.” He guided her past a grouping of couches and chairs.
“Andheretotherightistheconservatory.Ithoughtyoumightliketoseeit.MostofthefaeIknowreally
enjoythisspace.”

Hedirectedhertoalargearcheddoorwayoppositethefireplace.
Shestoodattheentranceandgaspedforthebreadthandheightoftheroom,thewelcomefreshairthat

camefromhundredsofplantsandtrees,andthebeautyofthecrystalroofthatpeakedatleastsixtyfeetin
theair,maybehigher.

“Thisishuge.”
“Itis.”
Thenshefeltsomething,akindofsingingvibrationfromtheroom,whichdrewherafewstepsinside.

“Whatisthat?”

“Whatiswhat?”
“I’mfeelinganotherkindofvibrationfromthisroom.”
“Youare?”Hesoundedsurprised.
Sheturnedandmethisgaze.“Don’tyoufeelthat?Hearthat?”
Heseemedtakenabackashenarrowedhisgazeandoncemoreglancedaroundthemassiveroom.“I

don’tfeelanything,justtheaircirculating.”

“It’snotyourairconditioning.I’msureofthat.I’mhearingakindofmusic.”
“Somefae,whentheygetnearcrystals,canhearmelodiesofakind,butit’sveryrare.NowthatIthink

aboutit,Vojaliesaidshelovesthisroom,maybethat’swhy.”

“Butshenevermentionedasingingquality?”
“No,butthenshe’dhavenoreasontosayanythingifsheexperiencedafaereaction,whichremindsme

thatIneedtobringherhere.”

“Youlooktroubled.”
“Ialludedtoitearlier,butwe’vebeenhavingsomekindofbreakdownrealm-to-realminrecentweeks.

Sometimesit’llclearupthencloseagain,likesomeonehasshutadoor.”

“Andthat’snotnormal?”
“No,notatall.”

“Whatdoyouthinkitis?”
Heturnedtoher.“Tosayanythingelserightnowwouldbeirresponsibleonmypart.Let’sjustsaythat

I’lldomybesttogetVojaliehere.Iknowshe’llwanttomeetyouandtalktoyouandshe’llbethebest
persontointroduceyoutoourworld.”

Samanthanoddedandturnedawayfromthedoor.Thesensationofleavingtheconservatory,however,

felt like fingers drifting off her arms slowly and reluctantly. For whatever reason, she didn’t want to
leave.

Whenheshowedhertoherguestsuite,shewasbowledoverbythesheersizeofthespace.Hemoved

intotheroomandturnedthelightonforher,thoughhewincedalittleashelookedaway.

Shecouldhaveputtwoofherbedroomsinthisoneroomandthebeditselfhadtobeking-sized.
Shereleasedadeepsigh.Foralltheweirdnessofthenight,theonethingshefeltrightnow,besidesa

suddenoverwhelmingfatigue,wasthatshefeltsafe.“Thankyou,Ethan.Youdidn’thavetodoanyofthis
forme.”

Hesettledherbagontheupholsteredbenchatthefootofthebed.Buthelookedsosurprised,withhis

browshighonhisforeheadandhislipsparted,thatshesaid,“What?”

“OfcourseIdid.You’remyguest.ButIthinkIknowwhatyoumean.”Hesighed.“AndI’mgrateful

youcamewithme,whenyoudidn’thaveto.”

“Oh,yes,Idid.Ryisonesicknutcake.”
Atthathelaughed,showinghisbeautifulsmileandallthosebigwhiteteethofhis.Hewasagorgeous

man,prettierthanheoughttobe,andhesmelledwonderful,thoserichhillsidegrassesagain.

“Well,atleastweagreeonthat.”Heheldhergazetighttohisandthereitwasalloveragain,aneed

forhimsoprofounditwaslikehavingthewindknockedoutofher,butsheheldsteady.

“Yeah,weagreeonthat.”
Shestoodnearthefootofthebedunabletomoveandherbrainhadstoppedfunctioningbecauseshe

reallycouldn’tthinkofanythingelsetosay.

Heseemedtounderstand.Helookedawayfromherandclearedhisthroat.“CanIgetyouanything?”
Sheshookherhead.“No,thankyou.IthinkallIneedrightnowissomesleep.”
“I’msureyoudo.”
Hemovedpasther,headingtothedoor.Hegesturedtoalongbankoffloor-to-ceilingdrapespatterned

inasoftgrayswirl.“Theconservatoryisrightthere.Feelfreetoopentheslidingdoorifyouwant.”He
smiledagain,softerthistime.“Maybethe‘singing’willsweetenyourdreams.”

“Thanks,Imightjustdothat.”
Henodded.“Anything,Samantha.Really.Justask.”Throughtheopendoorway,heglanceddownthe

hall.“Myroomsarethedoubledoorattheendofthehall.Shout.I’llhearyou.”

Shedippedherchinafewtimes.
“Okay,”hemurmured,slappingthedoorframetwice.Hethenclosedthedoorandsheheardhismuffled

footstepsasheheadedbackthewaythey’dcome.Nodoubthehadmorerealmbusinesstotendto.

Sheputahandtoherchest,however,awareofherlaboringheart.“Yeah,”shewhispered.“Iknow.But

trytocalmdown.He’sjustaman.Imeanavampire.”Thenshelaughed,becauseitwasallsostrange,
andhorrible,yetwonderfulatthesametime.

She hadn’t expected an adventure when she left for the prave earlier that evening, but it looked like

she’dgottenone.

*********

Ethanrubbedhisforeheadashemovedbackdownthefirstsetofstairsthenheadedintohisoffice.He

glanced at some notes he’d made that afternoon about realm details he needed to deal with, especially
issueswithsomeofthetownsandcities.Butnowwasnotthetime.

Instead,hecalledFinn.
“Howwedoin’outthere?”
“Quiet.Veryquiet.”
Ethan could hear the concern in Finn’s voice. Invictus activity made the night hard, but the lack of it

wore on all the Guardsmen’s nerves. A lull never meant good things, usually a serious gearing up for
somethingbig.

“Well,shit.”
“Ethan,youdon’tthinkRywouldjoinforceswiththosebastards,doyou?”
“Idon’tknow.I’veneverreallyknownhim,justhisragebecausetheSidheCouncilvotedhimoutand

mein.”

“You’re the better man and don’t you forget it. There isn’t a vampire on the force who won’t cheer

that’she’sgone.Youcancountonthat.Shouldhavebeendoneacoupleofdecadesago.”

“Ineverfeltrightaboutsteppingin.Thiswashisrealm.”
“I’mnotgoingtowastetimearguingwithyouonthatscoreagain.You’rethevampireforthisjob.”
Ethansatinhisleatherchairandreleasedaheavysigh.“YetIcan’tseemtogetthebetteroftheenemy

that we’ve battled all these years, these decades. We dispatch hundreds of wraith-pairs every year and
burytwiceasmanyrealm-folk.Doesthatmakemethebetterleader?”

“ItwasworseunderRy.Andhe’dbeenrunningthreeillegalgamblingjointsaswell.”
“Smallcomfort.”
“Sohow’syourwoman?”
“Notmywoman,Finn,andifyouwanttokeepyourfrontteethandapairoffangs,you’llkeepyourtrap

shut.”

Finnchuckled.“Justgivingyougrief.”
“Hey,thanksforshowinguptonight.”
“Withinahalfhourofleavingyou,I’dgottenwordthatRyhadabandonedhisnorthernpatrol.”
“Well,IwasgladtohavewitnessesforgivingRytheboot.”
“Itwasaprettysight,buthowarethosepreciousknucklesofyours?”
Ethanlookedathishands.Hewasalreadyhealedup,despitehisblood-starvation.“Content.”
Finnclearedhisthroat.“Justonesuggestion,though.”
“What’sthat?”
“Calladonor.YouwerelookingpalewhenIleft.”
“Youmymamanow?”
“YouknowI’mright.”
Ethandidknow,butthethoughtofbringinginoneofhisdoneuseswithSamanthainhishousefeltlikea

kindofbetrayalhecouldn’teasilyexplain.“Callmeifyouneedme.”

“Yes,mastyr.”
Afterendingthecall,Ethansatforagoodlongwhileinhisoffice.Hetookstockofhisconditionand

hedidn’tlikewhathesaw,whathefelt.

Earlier,Samanthahadsaidhewastrembling.Atthetime,hethoughtherpresencehadbroughtonthe

strangesensation.Butthetruthbitdeeper.Hisblood-starvation,alwaysatadifficultlevel,hadsunkto
criticalandtheearlierdonorhadbarelyscratchedthesurfaceofhisneed.Sure,hismastyrstatuskepthim
in this chronic, undernourished state, but usually a feed would keep him stable for twelve, sometimes
eighteenhours.

Heliftedhishandoffthearmofthechair.
Hisfingersshook.
Thiswasnewandnotgood.
He swiveled, angling back up the hall in the direction of Samantha’s door. What he needed lay just

beyondafewinchesofcarved,finewood.

Buthecouldn’tgothere.Hecouldn’tdothattoherandheknewoncehegotstarted,hewouldn’tbe

abletocontrolhimself,notwithher,notwithabloodrose.

Andsexwouldfollow.
Becausethetremblingincreased,hefinallyunderstoodthatherpresencemadehissymptomsworse,so

hehadnootherchoice,buttocallforhelp.Hearrangedforalaterfeed,justbeforehispatrolsforthe
followingevening.

Fornow,restwouldhelp,soheheadedbackthewayhe’dcome.
MaybefacingoffwithRyhadtakenatoll,andclearlymeetinghisbloodrosehadhithisreserveshard,

butheneededsleep.Hehadhiscellwithhimandinanemergency,hehadasupportcallservicehooked
uptoanintercomsysteminhishouse.

He paused only once, just outside Samantha’s door. He heard a soft humming sound, a single pitch,

somewhathigh.Hesuspectedshewasmatchingthesoundthecrystalceilingmadeforher.

Heshookhishead,asdisbelief,maybeevenshock,stillworkedwithinhismind.
Once inside his rooms, he stripped and showered, then lay down on his bed. He’d fully intended to

haveahardthinkabouthiscurrentsituation,butliketheproverbialhead-hitting-the-pillow,hewasasleep
andsleptuntilhisalarmsoundedatfourthenextafternoon.

He woke up not feeling rested at all, but rather like horses had stomped on him all night. He sat up

dizzyandputhisheadinhishands.Heneededblood.Now.

Naturally,histhoughtsturnedtoSamantha,whichcrampeduphisstomachintoafierceknotofpain.He

sworehecouldsmellherbloodeventhoughatleastfortyfeetofhouseseparatedthem.Heslidfrombed
andfounditwaseasiertotoleratehisconditionsolongashekeptmoving.

Allthatheldhimtogetherwastheknowledgethathisdoneuse,Angela,wouldarrivesoon.
He showered quickly then placed a phone call to the Merhaine Realm. He said a quick prayer that

communicationsbetweenRealmswouldbeopenbecauseheneededhelpwithSamantha,helphecouldn’t
giveher,notevenalittle.Hewasavampire.Herfaenesscouldonlybeinterpretedbyanotherfaeandhis
choiceforservingupallthatinformationlandedonthemostpowerfulintheNineRealms.

The phone rang and rang and just as he’d begun cursing fate, Davido answered. “Hello and good

eventidetoyou.VojalietheWise’sresidence,yourhandsometrollhere.WithwhomdoIhavethegreat
pleasureofspeaking?”

Ethan smiled and shook his head. Warmth spread through his chest. He had great affection for both

VojalieandDavidoandoftenforgotthat,unlikeheandhisGuard,mostrealm-folkledrelativelynormal
lives.

Davidowasold,asinnoonereallyknewhowancienthewas.He’dnever,therefore,fullytakenon

modernspeechpatterns.“Ethanhere.How’sithangin’,myfriend?”

“Ah, Ethan. How uplifting to hear your voice! What nonsense we have these days with the realm-to-

realmaccesspointscomingandgoinglikefogrollingthroughthendisappearingonlytocomeback.Have
youAndrea’sdaughtertherewithyou?”

“Wait,what?Howthehelldidyouknowthat?Hassomeonecalledyoutonight?”
“Nay.Tismybeautifulone.Theceilingdomeofherlivingroomhasbeencloudyandattimesblack.

Imagine,black!Visionsandheadacheshavesettledonherandshe’sbeenweepingforAndreaagain.She
saidAndrea’spreciousdaughterwouldbeinBergissonsoon.So,youhaveher?”

“Yes.”
“Anddidyousayanythingtoher,aboutVojalieImeanandAndrea?”
“No,ofcoursenot.IthoughtVojalieshouldbetheonetotellSamanthaabouthermotherandallthings

fae.Butweneedyourwifehere,Davido.Isthereanychance—”

“She’sbeenpackedandwaitingforyourcallthesefivedays.”

Fivedays. Sometimes he forgot how different the fae were from vampires. “Well, good, that’s good.

Canyoubringhernowandthebaby,ofcourse.She’llwantthebabywithher.”

Vojalie had given birth not long ago and the fae were she-bears when it came to offspring. He

wonderedifSamanthawouldbethesame,athoughtthatledtoasequenceofimagesthatendedwithher
bellyfullofhischildandhowhe’dgottenherthatway.

Hegrippedhisstomachandbentoveratthewaist.Couldavampireperishfromlust?Hebegantothink

itpossible.SweetGoddess,heneededtogetfedandlaid,thesoonerthebetter.

“OfcourseBernicewillbewithherandIshallaccompanythemboth.”
“Iwashopingthatwouldbethecase.I’llhaveVojalie’sfavoriteguestsuitepreparedforthethreeof

you.”

Whenhehungup,hespentthenextfiveminutesjustbreathingthroughthepain.Hecouldn’tputthisoff.

He placed a second call to hurry up the appointment and within a few minutes, his doneuse, Angela,
walkedintohisbedroom,afrownbetweenherbrows.

“Ethan,whydidyouwaitsolong?Youlooklikeyouhaven’tfedinweeks.Isittrueyourbloodrose

hascome?It’sbeenallovertheBergissonblogs.”

Henoddedandwavedherforward.“You’dbetterjustgivemetheinsideofyourelbow.Idon’ttrust

myselfatyourneck.”

“Whatever you need, mastyr, you know that.” Angela had a husband and three children, all in

elementaryschool.She’dbeenservinghimfordecadesandatonetimehadbeenoneofhislovers,but
thatwasyearsago.

Herespectedherchoicesandnever,never,crossedthelinewithanyofhisdoneusesoncetheytooka

husband,regardlessofspecies.Shewasawifetoapowerfulshifter,awolfnamedSmack,adescriptive
nameforexactlywhatwouldhappentoEthanifheeverstrayedfromhisprinciples.

Hebitquicklyandstruggledtokeepfromcollapsingtheveinbysuckingtoohard.Shespokequietlyto

himaboutherchildren,whichhelpedalottokeephimonanevenkeel,especiallytopreventhimfrom
thinkingaboutwhatexistedofftheconservatory,inoneofhisguestsuites,soclose,soclose.

Ah,Samantha.
“Hey,easydoesit,mastyr.Smackwon’twanttoseeabruise.”
HegentledhissucklingandfocusedhardonthehomerunhersecondsonhadmadeinT-ball.
Whenhefinished,hefellbackagainstthebed.Atleasthisstomachhadsettleddown.“Thankyou.”
“Sweet Goddess, Ethan, you don’t look much better than when I came in. I take it your blood rose

hasn’tgivenitupforyou?”

Shesmiledwhenshespoke,teasinghim,buttheimagerymadehimsitupagainwaytoofast.Hishead

swam and he barely kept from throwing up what she’d just given him. “Don’t talk like that about her.”
Nowhewasdefensive.Great.

“IcanseeI’dbettergo.”
“Thanksagain,Angela.”
“Anytime.”
Hewavedahandandheardherleave,thedoorsnappingshutbehindher.
Howthehellwashesupposedtogetthroughthenight’spatrolsinthiscondition?Andwhatwouldhe

doifRychosetochallengehim?

*********

At four-thirty in the afternoon, Samantha sat in Ethan’s conservatory and dined on some of the finest

foodshe’devereaten,madesavorybytheherbsgrowninthemastyr’skitchengarden.

Marta, the housekeeper and a lovely troll, had set up a table in the conservatory, then brought her a

perfectspinachomeletandashallowbowlfullofsucculentmixedberries.

Sheenjoyedtheblacktea,inparticular,sweetenedasitwaswithrawsugarandcream.
ShefeltreallyspoiledexceptforthefactthatshewasnolongerinShreveportandthatherlifehadbeen

turnedupsidedown.

Staringupatthecrystalapex,themusichadneverbeenprettier.She’dawakenedtoitthroughouther

sleepinghours,awarethatthesoundsresonatedwithapartofherdeepinside,thepartthatwasfae.

Justasshesethermugonthewroughtirontableinfrontofher,shefeltastrangevibrationdeepinher

chest,notawarningexactly,morelikeanannouncementorarevelation.

Shestoodupwithahandbetweenherbreasts.Herheartstillthuddedaroundinherchest,ofcourse.

ThatwasagivenbecauseofherproximitytoEthan.

Butthisfeltdifferent.
Again,thisfeltveryfae.
She pivoted toward the arched doorway and there, cast in a glow from the sun still lighting up the

crystalroof,stoodthemostbeautifulwomanshe’deverseen,andshewasfae.

Vojalie.
Samanthafeltthewoman’sidentityinherbones,asifshe’dalwaysknownher.
She was tall, like Samantha, probably close to the same height, though Samantha might have been a

little taller. She had fae features, a thin nose and a chin that came to a strong fae point, though not so
severeasmost.Sheworeanarrowheadbandtoholdbackherdarkbrownhair,whichhungpastherwaist
endinginaseriesofsoftcurls.Herdarkeyes,whichtwinkled,matchedherhair.

“YoumustbeSamanthaeventhoughIconfessyoudon’tlookagreatdeallikeyourmother.”
“IwasalwaystoldIresembledmydaddy.Icouldseeitinthemirror,aswell.NowthatIseeyou,I

realize how fae she really was.” She began walking toward Vojalie as though pulled by an ancient
connection.Shealmostthought‘family’,whichshesupposedcamefromtheirsharedheritageasfae.

Vojalie,standingbeneathalargeficustree,heldoutbothherhandsandsmiled.“I’msogladtomeet

Andrea’sdaughter.”

WhenSamanthareachedthepowerfulfae,shedidn’thesitate,notevenforasecond,toputherhandsin

Vojalie’s.

Shegaspedasasensationlikeaballoonflyingintotheairtookholdofher.Shefeltlight,buoyant,free,

a strange, euphoric experience. “I feel like I’m coming home after a long absence, but how is that
possible?”

Vojalie’swarmbrowneyesfilledwithtears.“Imissedyourmothersomuch.Itookherdeathhard.We

barelyspokeaftershemovedtoShreveportsothatIneverevenknewaboutyou.Shewantedadifferent
life,yousee,andnothingmoretodowithmeorBergissonoranyoftheNineRealms.Ihadtorespecther
wishessoIhopeyou’llunderstandthat.”

“Well, of course.” Samantha withdrew her hands from Vojalie’s soft grasp. “But you must have been

reallygoodfriendsatonetime.Imeanyouspeaklikeyouweresistersorsomething.”Vojaliedidn’tlook
olderthanSamantha,buttheworldoftheNineRealmswasalong-livedworld,somethingshehadtokeep
remembering.

A slight frown appeared between Vojalie’s strong, arched brows as though she was trying to figure

somethingout.

Finally,shesaid,“Wewereboththosethings,friendsandfae-sisters,ifyouwill.Iwasgrief-stricken

when she left our world. But she had a terrible time when her fae husband, Patrick, died. He’d been a
rockinherlifeandthatyearfollowinghisdeath,nearlyforty-one-yearsagonow,sentherspiralingintoa
darkplace.Iknowthat’swhenshestartedthinkingaboutleavingBergisson.”

SamanthastaredatVojalieassheprocessedthisnewrevelation,oneofsomany.Atsomepoint,when

shewasreadytoreadAndrea’sjournals,thefiveredleathertomeswouldundoubtedlybeabletofillina
lotofthemissingblanks.She’devenpackedthejournalsinhersuitcase,butdidn’tfeelthetimewasright

todigin.

NowVojaliewashere,adifferentsourceofinformation.
“So,mymotherhadanotherhusband.Ineverknew,butshenevertoldmemuchaboutherlife,andnow

I can see why since she’d had to lie about most of it. She said she’d come from New Mexico but had
livedinLouisianaforthepastthirtyyearsbeforeshedied.”

“Isee.”Vojalieseemedverydistressed,herbrowpuckered,herexpressiongrim.“WhenIspokewith

Ethanearlier,IguessIforgottoaskhowmuchyouknew.Allthathetoldmewasthatlastnightwasthe
first you’d learned about being part-fae. I suppose I should have guessed that Andrea would have kept
silentaboutherformerlife.”

Marta appeared in the doorway with a fresh pot of tea and a second mug. Samantha turned and led

Vojaliebacktothesmallwroughtirontable.

The lovely troll housekeeper arranged things quickly, setting out the teapot and the second mug. She

broughtforwardanadditionalchairaswell.

SamanthagesturedforVojalietositdown,thenresumedherseat.
Vojaliesippedhertea,thefrownshowingagain.“Soyouknownothingabouttherealm-world.”
“Only what I learned from school-ground gossip growing up, then later through university and the

Internet,andlastnight,ofcourse,ImetEthanattheprave.”

“Doyouoftengotopraves?”
Samanthaheldhermugcradledinherhands.“Never.Iwantednothingtodowithyourrealm-world.Or

I suppose I should say ‘our’ realm-world now, but it still feels so wrong.” She glanced around the
conservatory.ThesoftmusicofthecrystalseasedherandshealmostaskedVojalieifshecouldhearthem
aswell,butdecidedagainstit.“Ijustwantedaquietlifeinmygrandmother’shome,makingmyjewelry,
studyingformymasters.”

“And is that your dream then? Living in your grandmother’s house, making jewelry, exploring your

education?”

“Yesandno.I’mcontentwithmylifeinShreveport,butIguessyoucouldsaymyrealdreamwasto

haveacottagebyalake,surroundedbyweepingwillowsandmorelawnthanIcouldmanagebymyself.
Andthecottagewouldbemadeofriver-rock,youknowtumbledboulders.”

Onceagain,Vojalietearedup,butshebroughthermugtoherlips.
“IsitsomethingIsaid?”
Vojalieshookherhead.“Igavebirththreemonthsago,I’mnursing,andyouremindmehowmuchIlost

whenAndrealeft.I’mjustsoovercome.Shewasveryimportanttome.”

“Icanseethatshewas.”
Shefeltdizzysuddenlyasanewthoughtsurfaced.“HowoldwasmymotherwhensheleftBergisson?

Theyearshedied,whenIwaseighteen,Iaskedherage,butshelaughedandsaid,‘twenty-nine’.Itwas
herjokeaboutneverwantingtogrowold.”

“Partofthatstatementwastrue.Shewouldhavebeentwo-hundred-and-twenty-nineatthattime.Ifshe

werealivetoday,she’dbetenyearsmore.”

Samanthaputahandtoherforeheadandsqueezedhereyesshut.Therewasjustsomuchtotakeinand

withVojalie’sarrival,everythingshe’dbeenhearinghadbecomeaverylongstreamofjolts.

“Soshewasthatold?”
“We’relong-lived.”
“Soyouare.”
“Samantha,I’msogratefulthatEthanthoughttocallme.YoumusthaveathousandquestionsandIwant

you to know that I’m here for you, whatever you might need from me, anytime, anyplace. For your
mother’ssakealone,Iwouldmakethisoffer,butI’dalsoextendittoanyoneinyourcircumstances,who’s
justfoundoutshe’spartfae.So,howdidyoufindout?Itakeitsomethingspecifichappened.”

Samantha drew in a deep breath and told her everything, from arriving at the prave, of seeing her

classmate with Tom-the-Vampire, of the way the other vampires seemed to hover around her, then of
Ethan’sdramaticarrival.

“SoTomwasthere?”
“Yes.He’sinjailforviolatingoneofEthan’slawsaboutfeedinginpublicinthehumanworld.”
Vojaliesippedherteaagain.“Oh,Tom,yes,he’sahopelesssort.”GlancingatSamanthaovertherim

ofhermug,sheadded,“ButEthan’sformidable-looking,isn’the?”

Samantha’sthoughtsshiftedsidewaysassherecalledseeingEthanforthefirsttime.He’dmovedwith

lethalgrace,thestrideofanathlete,ofamanmadeforwar,heavilymuscled,hisbodytonedforbattle.

She’dneverseenanyonelikehimbefore,vampireorhuman.“He’sverytall,”shesaidquietly.
“Andwaytoohandsomeforhisowngood.Mostofthemastyrvampiresseemtobeblessedinthatway,

butEthan’sgotthatgorgeoussmileofhis.Iswearheradiatessunlightwhenhe’strulyamused.”

“That’s it.” Samantha laughed as she turned to Vojalie. “I’ve seen that expression. I know what you

mean.Hesortoflightsup.”

She then related the events at Club Prave, how Ethan had caught her scent or felt her vibration or

something,howhe’dlookedather,thewayshe’dfeltabouthimthoughsheknewhimonlybyreputation,
thatshe’dconnectedwithwhathecalledhispersonalfrequency,thatherhearthadbecomesluggishand
he’dcalledherabloodrose.

Shetoldhertherestaswell,howEthanhadessentiallyprotectedherfromRy,insistingshehaveher

freedom.“HeaskedmetocomewithhimandI’msureifIhadn’theardthethingsRysaid,Iwouldhave
stayedbehindatmyhouse.Butitseemedfoolishnottocome.Besides,Iknewhe’dstayoutsidemyhouse
allnightifIdidn’t.Rywasdeterminedtohaveme.”

“IcanunderstandwhyMastyrRymighthavefeltthatway,thoughofcourseIdon’tapprove.Personal

freedom is very important here in Bergisson just as it is in your world. But the mastyrs truly suffer.”
Vojaliethenspokeoftheblood-starvationthatallthemastyrsexperienced.“Ithassomethingtodowith
thenaturallevelofpowereachmastyrcarries,includingRy,thatitmustuseupsomeessentialelement
that the average woman can’t replace. I saw the change in Gerrod immediately, once he began feeding
fromAbigail,likehe’dbeentakingvitaminshotsroundtheclock.”

Samanthadrewinalong,deepbreath.“ButIdidn’taskforthis.”
Atthat,Vojaliechuckled.“Getinline.Mostofthetime,I’mcontentwithmylotbuttherearedaysIjust

wishsomeoneelsecoulddowhatIdo.”

“Andwhatdoyoudo?”
“I’mleaderofthefaecommunityinallNineRealmsandIsitontheSidheCouncil.Everysignificant

problemrelatingtoourfae-folkcomestomeforbothjudgmentandresolution.Someoftheproblemsare
simple and relate to an improper balance of spells, potions, and herbal concoctions. Others are much
more difficult, like the interpretation of visions that relate to the Invictus. You do know about the
Invictus.”

“Alittle.”
Vojalie sipped again. “Well, that’s a conversation for another time. Ah, here is my husband, Davido,

andournewestaddition,babyBernice.”Smiling,shecalledout,“Davido,comemeetAndrea’sdaughter,
Samantha.”

“Ah,mylove,nothingwouldpleasememore.Dear,sweet,troubledAndrea.”Hedrewclose,thetroll

infantslumberinginhisarms,averysmallbundleagainsthischest.Heworeblueplaidflannel.“Howdo
you do, Samantha of Shreveport. I see you’re admiring my shirt. I must look like an undersized
lumberjack.”

“Yes,maybe.”Samanthagrinned.TherewassomethinginDavido’sexpressionthatputheratease.He

wasn’tahandsometroll,notevenalittle,thoughsheknewthateveryrealmspecieshadafullrangeof

whatwasconsideredhandsomeorbeautifulallthewaytohomely.Butsomethinginthegleaminhiseye
drewhertohim,acertaincharisma.

Shestoodup,andbentherheadtogetagoodlookatthebaby,justthree-months-old.
“Wouldyouliketoholdher?”
Samantha drew in a sharp breath and held out her arms. Davido transferred the swaddled infant as

thoughgivingherthegreatestgiftonearth,orintherealm.Maybehewas.Nothingwasmoreprecious
thannewlife,allthepromiseencasedinonebeing,humanorotherwise.

Shegotlostinthejoyofholdingthechildandtotheircredit,bothparentsletherbe.

*********

Sinceitwasalmosttimetoheadoutforpatrols,Ethanknewhewoulddobetteroncehelefthishouse

and Samantha behind. But as he walked through the sitting room, he could hear his guests cooing over
babyBernice,presumablyfromwithintheconservatory.Hecouldhardlyrefusetogreetthem.

Theproblemwas,hesawfaintspotsattheedgesofhisvision.SweetGoddess,therecentfeedinghad

accomplishedlittlemorethantoreducethesizeandfrequencyofhisstomachcramps.

Hewasfuckinglight-headed.
Butashereachedthearchedpassagetotheconservatory,hestoodonthethresholdandsomethingin

hisheartstartedtoache.VojalieandDavidobothstoodtoeithersideofSamantha,butveryclose,staring
downintotheirnewbaby’sface.

Samantha,holdingBernice,lookedhappy,muchhappierthanatanytimelastnight,buthe’dnoticedthat

infantsoftenhadthataffectonfemales.

Rightnow,however,asawaveofnauseawashedthroughhimyetagain,hewantedthattobehischild,

forSamanthatobewipingtearsfromhercheeksbecauseoftheirinfant,whichofcoursemadenosense
atall.Hehardlyknewthewoman,thedaughterofAndreawhohadbetrayedhim,aswellasherkind,who
could have prevented the tragedy at Sweet Gorge if she’d wanted to. Andrea had long-served Ethan’s
GuardwithvisionsofimminentInvictusattacksandshewouldhavehadavisionoftheattackatSweet
Gorge.Butinsteadofcontactinghim,oranyofhismen,she’dabandonedBergissonforgood.

Andhisfamilyhaddied.
Thesethoughtsatleastservedtoanchorhim,toremindhimwhyitwouldbebesttoletSamanthareturn

as quickly as possible to Shreveport. His history with Andrea alone, was enough warning to keep the
connectiontoSamanthaatbay.

AndallheneededtodowasgainsomecontroloverRyandshecouldleavehishouseandgowhere

shewantedwithoutdangerofbeingkidnappedbyarealmmadman.

“Hey,”hecalledout,straighteninghisshoulders.“I’mheadingout.Justwantedtosaygoodevening.”
Hethoughthe’dpulleditoff,lacedhiswordsandmovementswithacasualair.Butallthreeturnedto

stareathim,thetendernessofeachexpressiongivingwaytowide-eyedshock.

Davidoapparentlyspokeforthemall.“Ethan,mygoodman,whatthehellhashappenedtoyou?You’re

theshadeofthatInfidel,Dracula.BytheGoddess’spinknipples,whenwasthelasttimeyoufed?”

“Justanhourago,maybeless.Angelastoppedby.”
“Angela?”Samanthathistime.ShepassedtheinfanttoVojalie.“Ethan,youhadadoneusehere? Why

didn’tyoucometome?IthinkIhaveenoughbloodrightnowtofeedanarmy.”

Ethan didn’t know which was worse, that she would have willingly fed him but he’d missed the

opportunityortheimageofseeingherofferupherveintoanentirehoardofvampires.

He lost it. “Because it wasn’t fucking appropriate, that’s why?” His voice boomed through the

conservatory.“You’remyguest,notadonor.And,itdoesn’tmatter.I’mfine.”

Asthescentofherdriftedovertohim,hismouthfilledwithsalivaanditwasallhecoulddonotto

groanlongandloud.Atthesametime,probablybecausehe’dbeenshouting,thebabystartedtocry.

Vojaliemusthavesaidsomething,becauseDavidoputhisfeetinmotion,hurriedinhisquicktroll-like

way, and caught Ethan’s arm. He tugged him in the direction of the doorway. “Of course you’re right. I
spokefoolishly.Let’sleavethewomen-folkwiththebaby.You’refine.You’refine.Icanseethatnow.I
takeityou’reoffonpatrol?”

“Yes.”He wanted toturn back andapologize but Davido wasdoing for himwhat the social niceties

wouldnotallowhimtodoonhisown;tomakeamuchneededexit.

Helethisfriendusherhimfromtheconservatoryandoutintothehall.
“Now that we’re out of earshot of the ladies, let me be frank. You look bad, Ethan. I didn’t want to

alarmmywifeorthelovelySamantha,butyou’reblack-and-bluebeneathyoureyesandyourskinisthe
colorofgoat’smilk.Areyousureyou’reokay?”

“I’mfineorIwillbeonceIgetawayfromthislatestnightmare.Shit,abloodrose.Iwasholdingmy

ownbutherpresencehasmadeeverythingworse.”

“Right, right. I’m sure you’ll feel more fit when you leave the house. I can see how she must be the

problem.”

Davidotookhimallthewaytothefoyerandevenopenedthemassivefrontdoorforhim.“Goddess

speed.”

“Andyou.”ThenEthanflewstraightupintotheairanddidn’tlookback.Thefartherhegotawayfrom

hishouse,andSamantha,thebetterhefelt.Thenauseapassedandhisstomacheasedup.Sortof.

He met up with Finn near the Erishold Grotto, not far from the Fae Guildhall, but the look on his

second-in-command’sfacetoldhimthesamestorythatDavido’shad.

“I’mfine,damnit,nowgivemeyourreport.”

ChapterFour

“The Guildhall is very beautiful.” Samantha lifted her gaze the entire height of the round, domed

building.Anarrowerdomeontopoftheroofsupportedagoldenminaret,onthepinnacleofwhichwas
thestatueofawingedwoman,anancientmythicalfaery.“Thelinesofthisbuildingareunlikeanything
I’veseeninmyworld,Imeanthehumanworld,exceptmaybeCatalanarchitecture.”

Vojalie had brought her to the fairgrounds and had already introduced her to a number of fae. What

surprisedSamanthathemostwashoweveryoneknewhermother,orofher,andwassorrytohearofher
passing.

Sweeping a hand to encompass the front door, Vojalie said, “I think generally we prefer the arc,

whetherthecircle,domeorarchway.It’severywhereinourfaesociety.There’ssomethingverycomplete
aboutitandIespeciallyliketheterm‘fullcircle’.”

“You’rethinkingofmeandmymother.”
“Maybe.I’malsohopingthatnowthatyou’rehereyou’llbeabletosolvetheriddleaboutwhysheleft.

I’venevercompletelyunderstood.”

“I’mhopingsoaswell.”Sheturnedtosurveythegroundsandwasastonishedalloveragainthatthey

lookedjustastheyhadinherearliervision.Dozensofcolorfultentsbearingflagsontoprippledinthe
light,coolbreeze,realm-folkmovedabout,hagglingenthusiasticallyoverprices,inthedistanceafiddle
and a flute played, and of course the smell of food was everywhere, constantly changing from booth to
booth.

Becausethevisionlookedjustlikethis,shehadeveryreasontobelievethatatsomepointtherestof

theimageswouldstartunfoldingaswell,whichkeptSamantha’snervesonedge.Whenshe’dsharedher
fears with Vojalie, that she was now living out the vision she’d foreseen, the woman had patted her
shoulderreassuringlyandsaid,“Trustmeinthisonething:Whenthetimecomes,youwillknowexactly
whatneedstobedone.It’sthetruegiftofthevision,thattheforeknowledgepreparesthesoulforfuture
action.Trustinthat.”

The words comforted Samantha, because they gave her a logical solution to what was essentially a

mysticalsituation.Shejusthadtorelaxandleteventsunfold.

Vojalie had fed Bernice in a secluded corner of the park, a blanket draped over her shoulder, then

DavidohadtakenherbacktoEthan’shouse,inataxi,whereshewouldsleepforacoupleofhours.Not
allrealm-folkcouldmakeuseoflevitatedflightlikeEthanandhispowerfulGuard.

A fae family approached Vojalie shyly, each bowing just a little, a very old, very formal greeting.

Vojalietookthedeferenceinstridethenputherhandonthetopofthechildren’sheads,oneaftertheother,
whichmadethemsmile.

ItoccurredtoSamanthathatVojaliemightactuallybedoingsomethingtothem,sosheasked.
Vojalielaughed.“It’salittletrick,asoftjoltofvibrationthatsortoftickles.Wecallitablessingand

thechildrenseemtoloveit.”

“I’llbettheyfeelspecial.”
Vojalie met and held her gaze. “I think so. I hope so. I don’t think there’s anything so important to a

childasfeelingspecial.Andwhatofyou?Didyoufeelthatwaygrowingup?”

Samanthawonderedatthenatureofthequestion.Itseemedoddlypersonal,probing.“Yes,Idid.Both

myparentsaswellasmygrandmother,gavemealotofattentionandlove,butitwashardlosingthemall
inthespaceofthepastfewyears.Attimes,impossible.”

“Youhavenootherfamily?”
“No.”

“So,inthatsense,youcouldmakealifeforyourselfhere,inBergisson,ifyouwantedto?”
She couldn’t take the question in because the implications were so vast: Bergisson, realm-folk, her

faeness,andalways,Ethanandbeingabloodrose.“Therearenoimpediments,justwhat’sinmyheart.”

Atthat,Vojaliechuckled.
“What?”
“Thereisnoimpedimentsogreataswhatisinone’sheart.”Shelaughedagain.
Samanthamighthavebeenirritatedbythewoman’samusement,butshehadgainedasenseofVojalie

thatshecarriednomalicewithinherspirit,nojealousy,nomean-spiritedness.Andwhatshe’dsaidwas
true because if it wasn’t in Samantha’s heart to make a place for herself in Ethan’s world, then nothing
couldmoveherhere,notadozenmastyrs,notapowerfulfae,nothing.

Thebreezepickedup,comingfromthesouth,drivingtowardthedistanthillsinthenorth,coveredin

largebeechtreesthatshimmeredagainstthedarknightsky.Sherealizedthatherfaevisionhadcontinued
toimproveexceptforonesmallthing.“AmIseeingsomethingredinthewoodstothenorth?”

“What?” The sharpness of Vojalie’s tone filled Samantha with sudden dread. “Oh, God, you’re right.

TheInvictusarecoming.”

Amomentlater,thealarmssoundedandrealm-folkbegangatheringupchildrenandheadingstraightfor

theGuildhall.“Come.Wehaveanextensiveundergroundsystemforjustsuchanemergency.”

Samantharealizedthiswasjustmoreofhervisionunfoldingasshecontinuedtostaretowardthetrees.
Vojalie’sphonerang.“No,mylove.We’reattheGuildhall.I’llbeperfectlysafeasyouwellknowand

yes,Samanthaiswithme.”Shetappedherphone,thenreturnedittothepocketofhertunic.“Weshould
go.”

ButSamanthafeltitnow,orratherhim.Thiswaswherehervisionhadpickedupandshecouldfeelthe

MastyrofBergisson’sblood-hungerandthedireextentofhisweakness.

Whichmeantthatshehadaverydifficultdecisiontomake.
“Ihavetostay.”
“Dowhatyoumust.”ThenVojaliewasgone.

*********

Because of Samantha’s vision, Ethan already had a large portion of his Guard at the fairgrounds,

waiting near the eastern ridge, keeping a low profile among the trees, but he was in bad shape. Spots
continuedtomoveinandoutofhisvisionandhefoughtanalmostconstantdizzinessnow.Heknewhe
shouldturnthebattleovertoFinn,butthesightoftheredwindhadboostedhispowerandhe’dflown
downtheeasternslopesatthefrontofhistroops,hishandraisedhigh,awar-cryinhisthroat.

He loathed the Invictus, those terrible, powerful wraith-based pairs that forged fighting units to

challengehismenlikenothingelsecould.

Through decades of practice, his men spread out in a long line across the grassy portion of the

fairgrounds,settingupadefensebetweenthebeech-woodandallthecolorfultents.TogetherhisGuard
wouldconstructasharedwallofbattleenergythatwouldkeeptheInvictusfromcrossing.Butthey’dfight
each Guardsmen with weapons of steel as well as streams of energy. If they could break through the
powerfulshield,theycouldattacktheinnocentattheGuildhall.

SomethinghadtochangeinthewayhisGuardfoughttheInvictus.Ethanknewheneededanewmode

of attack, maybe even a secondary attack strategy, something with grit, that personal touch lost with the
developmentofthefrequencysupportshields.

ThoughtheshieldsservedtokeeptheInvictusawayfromwhateverpopulationwasnearby,something

hadbeenlostoverthecenturiesincomingtotermswithanenemythatsimplyneverwentaway.

ThesethoughtsshotthroughhisheadrepeatedlyastheInvictuspairsfinallyemergedfromthewoods,

the horrible wraiths who had perverted themselves to take on a symbiotic mate, essentially enslaving

anotherrealminhabitant.Wraithsoftenkidnappedrealm-folk,ofvaryingspecies,toforgeabondedpair
andinthatbonding,powersurged.Aweaponofwarresulted,buttowhatarmydidthisweaponbelong?

He recalled Gerrod speaking of the Great Mastyr Vampire and an ancient fae force, but did these

entitiesexistorhadtheybeentheimaginingsreportedbyawraithinthethroesofdeath?

ButthenatureoftheInvictus,aswellastheirconsistentreappearanceineachoftheNineRealmsyear

afteryear,hadlong-convincedEthanthatsomegreaterforcelaybehindtheconstantInvictusthreat.The
recent Merhaine attacks, with dramatically increased Invictus numbers, as well as the escalation in his
ownBergissonRealm,showedorganizedstrategyandtactics,theworkofamaster-mind.

“Steady!”Hisvoiceboomeddowntheranksandanansweringshoutreturned,echoingagainstthefront

lineoftheforest.TheywerefiftyGuardsmenstrongtonight,withrestofhisGuardoutpatrollinginevery
sectorofhisrealm.

Butthispartofthebattleheloved,theunityofhisGuard,thebrotherhoodofwarriors,fightingfortheir

landandfortheirpeople,whomtheyserved.Heshoutedwithhismen,greatcriesintothenight,daring
theenemytotesttheirmettle.

Anewfigureroseabovetheredwind,however,highintotheair,crestingthetopsofthetrees.Hefelt

Finnreachforhimalonghistelepathicfrequencyandheopenedup.

Areyouseeingthis?Finn’svoiceslidintohismind.
Ry.Thatbastard.
Whatthefuckdoesthismean?Hecan’thavegoneovertotheInvictus?
Ethan had a hard time believing it as well. And yet, I’m not surprised. I wonder how long this has

beengoingon?HashebeenbetrayingBergissonalltheseyears?

Iwouldn’tputitpasthim.
Since the Invictus advanced, there was nothing more to be said and Ethan closed down the

communication.Hepreparedhimselfforbattleasthewraithscameintoview.

Wraiths wore loose clothing, often made up of simple strips of fabric sewn together, to allow for

movementinflight.Theyrarelywalkedonsolidground,butratherflew,levitated,orfloated.Theywere
almostalwaysbarefootwithspindlylegsnotmeantforsupportingtheirweightonland.

Rydidn’tcomedownfromthetreetops,however,butremainedlevitatingandsmirking,armsoverhis

chest.Heworeleatherpantsandablacktee,hisGuarduniformclearlyathingofthepast.TheInvictus
pairswoulddohisbiddingtonight,thatmuchEthansensed,butwhy?Whatpowerdidhehaveoverthem
andhowhadhegainedthatlevelofcommand?

TheInvictusadvanced,afiercelineofwraith-pairs,ahundredstrongtonight,whichmeanttwohundred

innumber.Theirmatescamefromallspeciesbuttransformedsothateventrollsheldafiercelookand
reddened eyes that indicated a bonding with a wraith. Steel weapons of all kinds appeared in ready
hands.

Ethangatheredhisremainingpower,butevenashepreparedtodobattle,thespotsattheedgesofhis

visionincreasedandhisdizzinessswelled.Whenhisstomachtwistedintoaknot,somethinghe’dnever
feltbefore,heknewhewasinrealtrouble.

HeopenedhistelepathyandpathedFinnoncemore.Finn!
I’mhere,mastyr.
I’vegotasituation.
We’vegotabattle.
Closemygap,now.You’reincharge.
Finnglancedathim.Shit.Okay.Noproblem.Don’tworry;I’vegotthis.
EthanwasfallingbackwardatthesamemomentFinnclosedupthebattleshield.HeheardFinn’svoice

ashestartedcallingoutorders.

Butoncemore,hisvoiceintruded.Fuck,Ethan.We’reintrouble.We’vegotatleastahundredpairs

comingoutoftheforestandRyissmiling.Thiswasaplannedattackandheknewthemajorityofyour
forcewouldbeoutontheirpatrols.

Ethan’s consciousness wavered but he felt the decision come together in his mind like a powerful

magnet pulling the pieces to each other. He hadn’t wanted to do this, but he knew now that without
Samantha’s help, his force would perish tonight, the Guildhall would be overrun, and hundreds of
innocentswoulddie.

Heopenedhistelepathicfrequencyagain,onlythistimehefocusedonSamantha.Canyouhearme?
Apause,then,Ihearyou,Ethan.
Ineedyou.Ineedyoutoserveme.Ididn’twanttoinfringeonyourfreedom,butcanyoucometo

me?It’llbedangerous,butcanyoucome?

Alreadyheadinginyourdirection.
Thank the Goddess. The spots grew larger and he closed his eyes. He couldn’t even hear the battle

anymore.

*********

The moment Samantha had seen Ethan fall, she’d started running. She hadn’t joined Vojalie and the

othersintheshelter,notwhenshewaswatchingthevisionfromthepraveplayoutinfrontofhereyes,not
whensheknewwhatwouldhappen,notwhenshesawEthanfall.

Vojalie,tohercredit,hadleftSamanthaalonetofollowherownpath.
Thefieldfeltlikeanunlimiteddistance,however,thatkeptincreasingasthebattleraged.Blueandred

streams of light flashed everywhere and she kept hearing the wraiths shriek, a sound that sent chills
throughher.

One of the end Guardsmen suddenly broke away from the battle and headed in her direction. She

understoodandshiftedcoursetomeethim,herarmspumpinghard.Herhearthadneverfeltsoweighed
down,soreadytoburst.

WhentheGuardsmandrewclose,sheliftedherarmswhilestillrunning.Hecaughthereasily,flewher

thedistancetoEthaninamatterofseconds,thendroppedhertothegrassbesidehim.Hetookoffalmost
inthesamemoment,headingbacktohispositionintheranks.

ButtheBergissonmastyrwasaspaleasdeath.
“Ethan,”shecalledout,kneelingnexttohim.
Hisheadmovedslightly,buthewouldn’topenhiseyes,wouldn’twakeup.Shecouldn’tfeedhimby

herself;he’dneedtoparticipate.Shestruckhimacrossthefacewithherhandoncethentwice.

Whenhiseyesopenedandhesawher,shelaydownbesidehimandplacedherwristoverhismouth.

Hemetandheldhergazeashisfangsstruck.

Astingthenheavypullsonherarm.Hegroanedatthesametime.
Thebattleragedbeyondsothatshedidn’tthinkaboutwhatEthanwasdoing,butwatchedinhorroras

wraiths screamed high-pitched battle sounds and threw weapons in precise patterns at each of the
Guardsmen. But when caught by an answering stream of Guard battle-energy, chests smoked and
imploded,bloodflewinhorrifyingarcsandtheirmatescriedoutasifinterriblepain,maybedyingwith
thewraiths.

She’dneverseensomuchviolenceorgoreinherlife.
Lookatme.
Ethan’svoicecutthroughtheagonyaroundher.Sheturnedherheadandmethisgaze.
Hecontinued,Lookonlyatme.Don’tthinkaboutwhat’shappeningoutthere.Closeyoureyesifyou

needto.

Sheblockedthesoundsofthebattle,thenclosedhereyes.Shepicturedthecottagebythelake,theone

she’d envisioned since childhood although in those visions she always saw her mother waving to her,

beckoninghertocometoher.Howprettyhermotherlookedinthisfantasy,withabluedressthatwent
cleartotheground,anold-fashionedgownfromahundredyearsago,almostpeasant-like.

No,morelikeVojalie’stunic.Morefae-like.
Howmuchshemissedher.
Thecottagehadsmoothriver-rockallaroundthebase,thendarkbeamsandplasterabove,andwood-

shingleroof.Agardengatewithaclimbingroseoveratrellisheraldedthevegetablegardenatthesideof
thehouse.Weepingwillowsgracedavastlawnonbothsidesoftheproperty.Adockwentoutseveral
yardsintothelake.

She’dlovetolivetheresomeday.
Armssuddenlyscoopedherup,butnotEthan’s.ThesameGuardsmanwho’dbroughthertohim,now

carriedheraway.

Shetwistedinhisarms,toglancebackatEthan.Hestoodtallandclear-eyed;strong.Hewavedtoher

with a short lift of his hand then turned back once more to engage the enemy. He’d been completely
restored.

She’ddonethat.She’dbeenofservice.She’dhelped.
She’dalsoopenedadoor,crossingfromspectatortoparticipant.Shedoubtedshe’dbeabletoshutthat

door.

AstheGuardsmandroppedherbytheGuildhall,sheturnedoncemoretowatchhimlevitateandshoot

intotheair.Shehadn’twantedthis,buthereshewas,inBergisson,havingjustfedamastyrvampireand
she’dneverfeltbetterinherlife.

She had no idea what the future held, but Shreveport somehow seemed like a faraway place and

definitelyaworldapart.

*********

Ethan’srenewedstrengthsentshockwavesdownbothsidesoftheGuard’sjointshield,whichresulted

inaseriesofwhoops.

LikemusictoEthan’sears.
He’dneverfeltmorealive,morepowerful.
Beamsofenergyflewfromthetipsofhisfingersinlightningflashes,strongerandmorelethalthanever

before.Manyofthepairsbegantodropwheretheystood,andafterafewminutesmore,theInvictusline
begantoretreatinstages.

TheGuardsmantohisrightgaveaheavygroan.He’dtakenabladetohisupperchest,highenoughto

haveescapedlungsorheart.Ethanretaliated,andsentastrongstreamofpowerstraightfortheoffending
wraith’srighteye.Thewraithscreamedashefellfromlevitatedflight,hisbodyhittingtheearthwitha
thudandtwitching.Hismate,afemaletrolldroppedtotheearthaswell,hereyesrollinginherhead.

Ethan saw her shudder and thought she might have murmured, ‘I’m free’ as she died, but couldn’t be

certain.

He continued battling, his strength never wavering, a phenomenal circumstance alone given the acute

sufferingofthepastseveralweeks.Hadhisbodysomehowknownthathisbloodroseexistedoutthere,
hadbeencallingtoherallthistime?

Hecaughtonelastglimpseofthetraitor,Ry,hiseyesnarrowedandhardashemetandheldEthan’s

gaze.ThepromiseofvengeanceradiatedfromRy’sexpression,thesetofhisjaw,andthereddeningofhis
darkeyes.Hemovedfast,andsoondisappearedbeyondthecanopyofthebeech-wood.

A horn sounded in the distance, a sound Ethan had never heard before. The Invictus had, however.

Those remaining wraith-pairs, at least fifty in number, and as if trained to respond instantly, turned and
shotbackintothedepthsofthewoodland,leavingtheirdeadandwoundedbehind.

Hissuspicionsthatsomething,orsomeone,hadbroughtanincreaseddegreeofordertothewraith-pair

ranks,hadjustbeenprovedhereonthefield.Clearly,Rywasinvolved,butknowingRyashedid,Ethan
doubtedthatthetraitorhadachievedthisleveloforganizationalone.

So,whowerethemastyrsoftheNineRealmsreallybattlinginwhatappearedtobeanescalatingwar

againstagrowingInvictusoffensive?

He turned to Finn, stationed beside him, and despite the horror of those lives lost, his second-in-

commandsmiledthenpathed,Youlookahelluvalotbetter,myfriend.

Ethannodded.Tomerelysayhefeltbetterseemedlikesomuchlessthanwhatneededtobesaid,what

shouldbehonored.Hisbloodrose,awomanhe’dmetjustovertwenty-fourhoursago,hadcrossedtothe
frontlines of a battlefield and fed him, not only saving his life but providing Ethan with enough added
powertoalterandundoubtedlyshortenthedurationofthefairgroundbattle.

It’sover,wasallhecouldthinktosay.Hisgazedriftedtothewraith-corpses,totheirmatesofvarying

species who’d been harnessed to a wraith against his or her will. Yes, there were women on the field,
evenlessablethanthementohavewithstoodawraithsubjugation.

Hewenttothetrollhe’dobservedfallandmurmursomething,butwhenhereachedher,shewasgone.

Sometimestheseparationoccurringfromthedeathofthewraithsetinmotionthedemiseofthemate.The
trollwasverythinandcoveredinbruises.Aroundherneckwasalocket.

Heopeneditandsawthepicturesofaboyandgirl,thesmilingphotostakenatelementaryschool.But

thepictureslookedold,whichmeantthewomanhadbeenboundtoawraithforalongtime.

Hepickedherupinhisarmsandheldher.Hedidn’tcareaboutthewhyofthistragedy,onlythatitstill

existedinhisrealmandhewantedthiskindofenslavementtoend.

Many of those fae with healing gifts were already running or engaging in levitated flight to cross the

expanse of lawn, that stretch near the Guildhall where soccer was played every weekend through the
inter-speciesleague.

His might be a kingdom with a warring enemy, but his people pitched in as dozens, no hundreds of

realm-folkcametocareforhisinjuredGuardsmenandthewoundedamongthewraith-pairs.

FinnandanotherofhisGuard,Kyle,wentfromfallenInvictuspairtothenextinordertodetermineif

eitherwraithsorthematessurvived.Thewoundedwraithswouldbetakentoaprisonhospitalaswould
anymatesfoundtobehostileorbeyondreach.

Thosemateswhohadbeenobviouslysubjugatedagainsttheirwillandwhosurvivedthedeathofthe

wraith,weregivenpriorityandrushedfirsttothefaewiththegreatesthealinggiftsaswellastherealm-
surgeonsasneeded.

SeveralofhisGuardpatrolledtheedgeofthebeech-woodtomakesuretheenemyhadtrulyquitthe

field.Ethanonlyhadtolearnoncethehardwaythatsometimestheretreatwasafeint.

Thecorpsesweregatheredandtakentovariousmorgues.
Whenthebattlefieldsawthelastbitofdebrishauledaway,includingthegrasswashedfreeofblood

and any other battle-related detritus, like pieces of burnt clothing and scattered weapons, only then did
Ethan finally levitate into the air and begin a slow progression in the direction of the Guildhall and
Samantha.

AsinglethoughtofSamantha,however,puthisheartinhighgear.Havingtakenherbloodhadchanged

everythingandnowthatthebattlewasover,hisbodyseemedlitupandreadyjustforher.

Hetookdeepbreathsbecausewhatheneededfromhernowhadnothingtodowithadeepdrawather

neck.ButGoddesshelphim,howcouldheaskevenmoreofher?

*********

Samanthawantedtogohome,backtoShreveport.
Thiswasalltoomuch.
ShestoodintheshadowsoftheGuildhall,havingwatchedthelastofthefaehealers,thephysicians,

andthesupportvolunteersdepartthefieldsothatnowonlyEthanandhisGuardremained.

AndEthanmovedslowlyinherdirection.
Shefelthimcomingforherlikeaslow-movingoceanwave,somethingshecouldn’tstopevenifshe’d

wantedto.

She’dfedEthanandhe’dbattledhisenemy,maybeevensavingtheday,orthenight,sotospeak.But

thiswasn’therfightorherwar.Shewashuman,too,notjustfae,notjustabloodrose.Whyshouldthisbe
herfate?

Earlier,familieswithchildrenandtheagedhadgonehome

assoonasamemberoftheGuardtoldthem

itwassafe,scatteringquicklytoeithercarsintheparkinglotortakingoffinlevitated-flight.Manyofthe
realm-folkcouldfly,butagoodnumberreliedonmoretraditionalformsoftransportation.Thosewhohad
arrived at the fairgrounds on bicycles arranged to travel in cars with supportive friends and family
members.

Thegrasslookedpristineintheglowofhernewrealm-vision.
What had taken place, once the battle ended, had been accomplished by the local realm-folk by long

habit,astoryallinitself.

TheInvictushadtormentedtheNineRealmsforcenturiesandnomatterhowmanywraith-pairswere

killed,morearrivedtoreplaceeachlostunit.Vojalie’sinsightsintoBergisson’sdailylifeflowedthrough
her mind, of how hard the community of a million souls strived to live each day as normal as possible
despitetheconstantthreatofanunpredictableenemy.

AsEthandrewnear,shecouldn’tbelievehowmuchbetterhelooked.Thebluebeneathhiseyeshad

vanishedandhiscomplexionnowhadagolden,tannedappearanceinsteadofthechalkshe’dwitnessed
evenattheprave.

“You’rebetter.”Shewishedhewasn’t,wishedherbloodhadn’tbeengoodforhim,buttheevidenceof

whatshewasstoodrightinfrontofher.

Becauseofthebattle,hislonghairhadcomeloosefromthewovenclaspthathelditinplace.Curls

andstrandsflowedawayfromhisfaceandherheartthrummedalloveragain,gettingreadyforhimifhe
needed her. He shouldn’t be so beautiful. He should be thin, pale and evil-looking instead of towering
overherlikeagodfrommythology.

“You’realone?”Ethanscowled.
“IsentVojaliebacktoyourhouseassoonastheInvictusleft.Thebabyneededher.”
“Butthere’snooneelsehere.”HeglancedbeyondhertotheGuildhall.
“IfeltsecureenoughbecauseyourGuardsmenarestillpatrolling.”
“Idon’tlikethatyou’realone.YoushouldhavegonewithVojalie.”
Didhehavetobesoworriedforhersafety?
Tearsfilledhereyesandshewasreadytolaunchintoallherreasonsforwhyshewantedhim,rightthis

minute, to take her back to Shreveport. But he stepped close and took her arm gently in his hand and
squeezed.“Thankyou.”

Herbreathcaughtandheld.“Youdon’thavetosaythat,nottome,notforthis.”
“Yes,Ido.Ididn’thavetimetotellyoubefore.Thankyouforsavingmylife.Infact,becauseofwhat

youdid,yousavedhundredsoflivestonight,notjustmine.”

Shewastakenaback.“IsthatwhatIdid?”
Henodded.“Idon’tknowwhy,butIwasn’tfarfromdeath.Ididn’trealizeituntilyoucametome,until

Istartedtofeed.I’mstubborninthatway.Idon’talwaysunderstandthemostbasicthings.”

Atthetimethatshe’dcrossedthefieldtohim,she’dfeltsoconfidentaboutdoingwhatwasneededto

bedone,justasVojaliehadsaidshewouldfeel.Butwhydiditallhavetobeaboutlife-and-death?

“Iwantyoutofindsomeoneelse.”Thereshe’dsaidit.
“Iknow.Icanfeelitinyou,thatyou’reunhappyaboutwhathappened,thatyoufeeltrapped,andI’lldo

whateveryousaybecauseIbelieveinyourrighttowhateverpathyouwanttofollow.

“ButIalsobelieveinmyheartthatyou’vecomeintomyrealmforareason.IthinkBergissonneeds

youbutIdon’tknowinwhatway.Irealizewehavethisissuebetweenus,ormaybeitwouldbebetterto
saythatIhavethiscriticalneedforyourightnow,butthatdoesn’thavetodefinethefuture.

“However,justforthetimebeing,I’maskingyoutostay,untilIcangetthisallfiguredout,especially

Ry.He’sthethreatthatmostconcernsmeandthathisdrivetowardyou,nowthathe’sseenwhatyoucan
do,isprobablystrongerthanever.Doyouunderstand?Rywashereatthebattle.He’sjoinedtheInvictus
andhewatchedyoufeedme.”

Shenodded,butsomethinginsidehercollapsed,afeelingthatherlibertywasbeingeroded.Wasthis

howhermotherhadfeltallthoseyears,maybeenslavedinservicetoBergissonbecauseofherinherent
faepower,somethingshe’dbeenbornwithbutneverchosen?

Hisvoicewassofternowasherubbedherarm.“Pleasestay.”Becauseofherfaeabilities,shecould

sensehisdesperation.“Ihaven’tfeltwelllikethisinfiftyyears.”

“Okay,thatdoesn’thelpatall.Areyoutryingtoguiltmeintothis?”
“No, dear Goddess, no. I’m just trying to explain all the reasons why, if I can find some way to

duplicatewhatyou’vegivenme,Ineedtodothat.”

“Sonowyouwanttoduplicatemyblood?”
“Look,it’scleartomethatyoudon’twanttobehere.Igetit.Youareyourmother’sdaughter.I’mjust

askingforyoutostickaroundforafewdays.”

“Whatifitturnsintoweeksormonths?”
Heseemedstartled,likehehadn’tconsideredthatasapossibility,thensheunderstoodtheflipsideof

thiscoin.“Oh,myGod,youdon’treallywantmetostay,either?”

Hefellsilentandhishanddroppedaway.Hisgazeshiftedofftothesideandhisscowldeepened.“I

have a duty to perform here in my realm that makes it impossible for me to become involved with any
woman.WhenIfirstsawyou,andfeltyouconnectwithmypersonalfrequency,Iknewyouweregoingto
beaproblem.”

“Idon’tfitintoyourplans.”Sheshouldhavebeenmiffed,insteadshefeltrelieved.“That’sgood.”
Hisgazeshiftedbacktoher.“Howisthatgood?”
“BecausenowIknowwehavethesamegoal,togetmebacktoShreveportwhenallthisisover.”
Henoddedandthenhesmiled.“Yes,wehavethesamegoal.”
Samanthatookadeepbreath,thefirstonesinceshe’dfedEthanandwatchedherbloodfirehimuplike

she’dputcaffeinestraightintohisveins.Butitwashissmilethatshiftedthedirectionoftheexchange,
likeatrainbeingreroutedbyasimpleswitchofthetracks.

Ethanhadagreatsmile.Heprobablyknewitaswell,butrightnowallshesawwasthereflectionof

herownsenseofrelief,thateachhadstatedasimpledesirenottoengage,andsoshecouldbreatheand
Ethancouldsmile.

Hisgazecaughtandheld,however,andshefelthispersonalfrequencystreamingtowardherbegging

foraconnection.Thefaepartofherreceivedthatfrequencyandherbodylitup.Hishillsidegrassyscent
thickened in the air and tightened her abdomen. Her lips parted like she needed to say something, but
nothingcameout.

“Samantha,”hewhispered,hisvoicehoarseanddeep.
“Ifwedidthis,itchangesnothing,right?”
He nodded, brisk hopeful jerks of his head. “Right. Nothing. Just mutual enjoyment, fulfillment of

need.”

Herturntonod.Sheclearedherthroat.“Butyouneedtogetbacktothepatrols.”
“Yes.I’llbehomeatdawn.”
Sunriseseemedaboutamillionhoursawaywhenwhatshewantedwasrightinfrontofher.

“Ethan?”TheGuardsman,Finn,calledout,headingintheirdirection.
Ethan’snostrilsflaredandalookofirritationthenamusementcrossedhisface.Toher,hesaid,“I’llget

youhomethenmeetyoulater?”

“I’llbewaiting.”
EthanturnedtoFinnjustashetoucheddownafewfeetaway.“IhavetogetSamanthahome.”
“LetoneoftheGuarddoit.”
ThoughshewaslookingatEthan’sback,shefelthissuddentensionlikemultiplewavesbeatingather

chestallatonce.“No,Finn.Ihavetodothis.”

Samantha stepped around Ethan and inclined her head to Finn. He returned the gesture but he was

scowling.Heseemedtodisapprove,butshewasn’tsurewhy.Hesaidnothingmore,butturnedandflew
backinthedirectionofthewoodland,hisleathercoatflappingbehindhim.“Whatwasthatabout?”

“Whatwaswhat?”
“Whydidn’tyouletoneoftheotherGuardsmenseemehome?Imean,maybeFinnfeltyouwouldbe

morevaluablehere.”

Ethanlookeddownatherandopenedonearm,extendinghisrightbootedfootjustalittle.Sheknewthe

drill.Assheslidherarmaroundhisneck,shebalancedbothfeetonthetopofhisfoot.Lefttoherself,she
wassureshe’dfall,buthisarmclampedaroundherwaistlikeavise.

Heleanedcloseandstraightintoherear,whispered,“Wanttoknowwhy?BecauseI’dkillanymanfor

gettingthisclosetoyourightnow.Understand?”

Hiswarmbreathandtheresonanceofhisvoicefilledherearandsentaseriesofshiverscascading

overherneckandshouldersanddownherback.Desirefloodedher,sothatshecoulddonothingelsebut
turntowardhismouthandcatchhislipswithherown.

Agrowlfilledhisthroatashedrovehistongueinsidehermouth.She’dbeenlongingforthiskiss,and

muchmore,fromthemomentshe’dfirstseenhimstormintoClubPrave.Shehadn’tbeenwithamaninso
long.

Iwantyounow.Evenhisvoiceinherheadfilledherwithstrange,realmvibrations,oneaftertheother,

heighteningthepassionthatflowedthroughherlikemusic.

You’dbetterjusttakemehome.
But his mouth moved over hers like he had no intention of stopping, his tongue plunging in and out,

makingallsortsofpromises.

Shecouldn’thelpwhathappenednextassheturnedintohim,slidingherotherarmaroundhisneck.
Hepulledherhardagainsthimanddippedlowtocaressherbottom,pressingherhipsintowhatwas

hardandreadyforher.Ifshe’dbeenindoubtabouthissize,shefelteverythingrightnow,thathewould
fillherupandthensome,whichweakenedherkneesevenmore,thenfloodedhermindwithnewdoubts
abouthoweasyitwouldeverbeforhertoleaveBergisson.

Hedrewback,hiseyesglitteringinthedark.“Let’sgo.”
Shedidn’tremembertheride,onlythathernosekeptsniffingtheleatherofhisuniformandthetangy

male scent of his neck. By the time he touched down in front of his house, she’d started sucking on his
neckandhe’dpulledheragainsthimoncemore.

*********

Ethan didn’t know how he was going to separate from Samantha, but Finn’s voice asked telepathic

admittance.

Hedrewbackfromherabouttwofullinches,unwillingtoreleaseher,whenFinnpathed,I followed

youjusttomakesureRydidn’thaveasecondaryplaninplace.Takeherinside.We’vegotthis.

Maybe it was the amusement in Finn’s voice, or the trace of masculine sympathy for Ethan’s current

plight,butEthanfinallyrelented.I’llcheckinlater.

No.Checkintomorrowevening.I’mtellingyou,I’vegotthis.YourGuardiswell-trained,thebestin

theNineRealms.Wecandowithoutyouforonenight,youlove-starvedbastard.

Didanyoneevertellyouthatyoucanbearealdick?
Justmywife,atleastonceanight.
EthanwasstillundecideduntilSamanthafoundhisneckagainandoncemorestartedtosuckjustover

hisvein.Didsheknowhowthatmadehimfeel?Maybe.Probably.

Oh,hell.Callmeifyouneedme,nomatterhowsmalltheproblemGotit?
Yes,Mastyr.
Ethanchuckledandendedthepathingcall.
He lifted Samantha’s chin and she left his neck with a small smacking sound. He kissed her, then

scoopedherupinhisarms.“I’mtakingyoutobed.Now.”

Hereyesopenedwide.“Yousure?Now?Whataboutyourmen?”
“IjustcleareditwithFinn.”
Shedrewinasoftbreath.“Well,then.”

ChapterFive

EthancarriedSamanthaupbothshortflightsofstairs,throughthesittingroomanddownthelonghallin

thedirectionofhissuite.Fortunately,Vojalieandherfamilyweresettledinoneofthesouthsuitesoffthe
familyroom,agooddistancefromhiswest-facingbedroom.

Hetrembled,asmuchfromwhatwasabouttohappenasbytherealitythathe’dneverwantedawoman

inhisroomsbeforethewayhewantedher.

She’ddrawncloseagainandhadherlipsonhisneck,tonguinghisskin,thensucking.Hewantedthose

samelipsdownlowanddoingthesamething.

Heshuddered.
She’d feed him again. He knew it without having to really think about it. He could feel her heart

poundingheavily,herveinsfullofwhatheneeded.Hewantedtobemovingintoherslowlythistimeas
hepinnedhershoulderstothebedanddrankfromher,hishipscurlingwitheachthrusttokeepthewhole
actperfectandcoordinated.Hewantedtocomewithhismouthdrinkingdownheressence.

Hispersonalfrequencyvibratedheavilynowandthepartofherthatwasfaerespondedsothatinthe

centerofhisbeing,anotherlayerofsensationkepthimhard,workedup,andonfire.

Heshovedopenthedoortohissuite,thenkickeditclosedbehindhim.
The room opened up to either side, but he headed for the open shower, in a large alcove between,

flanked on one side by an indoor garden. The cool, humid air brought Samantha away from him and
turninginhisarms.

“Thisisyourbathroom?Yourshower?”Sheturnedtostareathim.“Youhaveagardeninhere?”
“I do.” He started stripping out of his Guard uniform, dropping the coat on the hardwood floor, then

easingoutofhisshirt.

Her eyes flared. Her frequency stroked him first then her hands followed as she splayed her fingers

overhisabsthenslowlymovedup,coveringhispecstoriseandfondlehisshoulders.Leaningintohim,
she sucked his left nipple, then his right, then back and forth until his eyes rolled in his head and he
groaned.

Ifjusthertouch,andherlipsflickingeachtip,sentthismuchdesirethroughhim,whatwouldtherest

belike?Sheleanedintohim,suckingharder.Youtastelikewar,shepathedthroughhismind.

Hegroanedalloveragain.
Hereachedoverherbackandfoundthebottomofhershirtandstartedtopullupward.Shedrewback

andliftedherarmsoverhead.Notwaiting,shegotridofhershoesandjeans,therestofherfemalegear.

Forasplit-second,hedebatedwhethertoattackherortakethetimetolosehisbootsandleathers.Like

thesmartmanhewas,hegotridofthelasthindrancetoboththeshowerandherbody.

He cranked up the jets and as he got the temperature just right, he turned to find her eyes wide once

moreashergazedriftedupanddownhisass.

“Ethan,you’remagnificent.”Shemovedtowardhimandhestayedrightwherehewas.Again,another

signofhisbasicintelligence.

Shedroppeddownbehindhimandstartedkissedhisleftass-cheek,thenshiftedtohisright,thenwent

loweruntilshewaskissingthebacksofhisthighs.Hespreadhislegs,waterpouringdownhischest.Her
fingersdriftedoverhisballsandinfronttostrokeupwardasshefondledwhatwasgettingwaytoohard.

Thewholetime,avibrationworkedoverhisskinfromhertouch,somethingveryrealm,butwhichhe’d

neverexperiencedbefore.ThiswassomethinguniquelySamantha.

Hisbloodrose.Ahalf-faewithmorepowerthanmostofthefull-faeheknew.
Awomanwhohadwithonefeeding,endeddecadesofsuffering.Hisstomachnolongercrampedand

hefeltwholeandstrong.

Butheneededtocalmdown.
“Let’schangethingsup.”
As he turned, she rose up off her knees, her light blue eyes darkening with passion. Her fingertips

grazedthefrontofthisthighs.Heputhishandsonhershoulders.“Willyouscrubsomeofthebattlesweat
offme?”

She nodded, found a bar of French-milled soap in the tile inset, and set to work. She foamed up her

hands, handed him the bar and began to rub in circles over his neck and chest, his shoulders and arms.
Downshewent.Heclosedhiseyesasherhandscoveredeveryinchofhisskin,evendowntohistoes.

“Turn,”shecommanded.“Andgivemethesoapagain.”
Heobeyed,andhadthepleasureoffeelingtherestofhimlatheredup,fromanklestoasstothebreadth

ofhisback,andbeneaththelonglengthofhisheavy,wethair,untilshewasdone.

Heturnedinthesprayoftheshowertofaceher.
Withacrookedsmileandthesoapinherhandheldpalmup,shesaid,“Dome.”
Hesmiled,hecouldn’thelpit.“Withpleasure.”

*********

Samanthahadslippedintoaplaceshe’dneverbeenbefore,apartofherselfundiscovereduntilnow.

Foronething,herbodysang,thatwastheonlywayshecouldexplainit.Sheknewtherealm-worldwasa
world of frequency and vibration, but now she experienced a part of that reality. His frequency flowed
over her in waves, like the softest touch caressing her skin with continual erotic pulses, while deep
within, she felt the response of her own fae frequency, reaching for his vibration, entwining at times,
engaging.

Buttherewasanotherpartthathadmoretodowithherhumanexperiencesinthatrightnowshefelt

irrationallyfreeofinhibitionswithamanwhowasjustshyofbeingastrangertoher.

She’dhadsexwithmorethanoneofherboyfriends,butithadneverbeenlikethis.Ofcourse,Ethan

wasbeyondthenorm,sofarbeyondwhatshe’dknownthatshewassureonlytherealm-worldcouldhave
producedsuchaman.

Hesmiled,thatextraordinarysmileofhis,madeevenbroaderbecausehisthickcurlyhairlaywetand

flatagainsthishead,settinghisfeaturesinbeautifulrelief;hischeekbonespowerful,hisjawfirm,andthe
indentationofhischininvitinghertongue.

Shealmostleaneduptotakeaswipe,butsuddenlyEthan’shands,fulloflather,wereplantedonher

breasts. Her back arched, which thrust her chest forward. Ethan leaned in, his big hands covering and
fondling her, his fingers rising to peaks and tugging on her now-firm nipples. The lubricant of the soap
madethesensationsoft,fiery,andsensualallatthesametime.

She closed her eyes, her hands balanced on his hips so she wouldn’t fall. He massaged harder and

harderandshepressedintohim,untilherhipsundulatedandherinternalwellpulledonwhatsheneeded
tobethere,thesoonerthebetter.

Heslidonehandlowandhesoapedherbetweenherlegs,rubbingslowlyandcarefully.Hetookpains

torinseheroffaswell.“Iwantyouinmybed.”

Thewordscameoutlikeacommand,whichtightenedherabdomenandherbreathinghitched.Hedried

thembothoffcarefullywithathicktower,thencuppedherfaceandkissedheronce,afterwardsearching
hereyes.“AmIpleasingyou?”

She gave a soft cry, stunned that he would be concerned, then threw her arms around his neck,

plasteringherselfagainsthim.

Heresponded,surroundingherwithallthatmuscleandstrength,hisarmsoverlappingherback.
Foraheadysecondshesworeshecouldstaylikethisforever,inthecircleofhiscaringembraceand

thestrengthofhiswarrior’sbody.

Hechuckled,whichbecameajarringmotionagainsthischest.“Itakethatasayes.”
Yes,shepathed,slidingherthoughtsoverhis.
Hemethergazeagain.Ilovethatyoucanpenetratemymindlikethis.
Shenodded,stillclingingtohim.AllthisfaenessthatI’mdiscovering.It’samazing.
Heliftedheroffherfeetandinthatodddanglingpositionhekissedherrepeatedlyashecarriedher

intohissleepingareathatalsoopeneduptothelargeenclosedgarden.Whilestillholdingher,hepulled
backthecomforterandlaidherdowneasilyonhisbed,asthoughshewasafeather,anothersignthathe
wasn’thuman,thathehadmorephysicalstrengththanshecouldimagine.

She thought he would stretch out on top of her, instead, he caught her calves, one in each hand, and

pulledhertothesideofthebed.Herbodywentlaxknowingfullwellwhathemeanttodo.

Iloveyourlandingstrip,penetratedhermind,ashedroppedtohisknees,blacklikeyourhair.Then

hewenttowork.SheclosedhereyesandgaveherselftothesensationofEthan’ssoft,moisttongueashe
lavedherfolds,teasedherlips,andflickedthecenterofher,wherethepleasurewasmostintense.

Softcoosandmoansleftherthroatandasheincreasedthepressureandspeed,herhipsroseandfell,

over and over, her well clenching with need. He worked her slow, then fast, then slow, prolonging the
momentandtheexperience,butusheringhersteadilytowardthepinnacle.

His left hand held her in place as he supported her bottom, but his right hand began a lengthy

exploration of her thighs and mound, her abdomen and upward to fondle her breasts. All the while his
tonguelickedandpleasuredher.

Atthesametime,hisvibrationsrolled,anotherlayerofsensationsothathermindbecamelost,falling

deeperanddeeperasecstasyhurtledtowardher,sharpeningthepleasurewherehistonguetouchedand
flickeduntiltheorgasmrolledthroughher.

Shecriedout,buthedidn’tstop.Hekeptflickinguntilthewavesofpleasureroserepeatedly,taking

hertotheheightsagainandagain.Afterthelastofhercriesleftherthroat,shesettleddownandherhips
relaxedbackintothebed.

Helookedupather,hissmilecrooked.“Good?”
Herbackarchedasshereacheddownforhim.“Unbelievable.Thewavesyousentthroughme,reached

deep inside here…” She pressed her lower abdomen. “And here…” She drifted her fingers up to her
heart.Shelaughedsoftlyandheldherhandsuptohim.“More?”

Heroseupfromhiskneelingpositionandwithhishandsaroundherwaisthetoldhertoholdontohis

arms.Doingasshewasinstructed,heliftedhereasilyfartheruponthebed.

Whenhemovedupwardtojoinher,shespreadherlegssothathiskneescouldgobetween.Hemade

an approving grunting sound, which made her laugh. And this was something she hadn’t expected with
Ethan,thegoodwillandlaughter,thathefoundthingsamusinganddidn’tmindwhenshedidaswell.

Plantinghiselbowsoneithersideofher,hesaid,“Yousmelllikeraspberriesandwine,didItellyou

that?”

She shook her head. “Yes and your scent is wonderful as well, like something wild that grows on a

mountainside;earthy,grassy,tangy.Yoursweatwaslikethat,whenyouflewmehere.”

“Youdidn’tmind?YousaidItastedlikewar.”
“Uh-huh,likeamanwho’djustfoughtandsavedhundredsoflives.”
Hischestroseandfell,hisgazeslidingaroundtolandoncemoreonhers.“Andyouwerepartofthat.”
“Iwas.Butitseemedlikesuchasmallservice,toofferupavein.”
Heshiftedtostaredownatherneck.“IneedmoreandIcanfeelyou’reripeagain.”
“Iam.”
Heranhisthumbdownherthroatthenlickedtheskininalonglinestraightuptoherear.
“Icansmellyourblood,aneroticelixirnow,becauseyou’veknownpleasure.”Hetrembled.“Iwant

tobeinsideyouwhenIdrink.”

“Yes.”Hervoicewasbreathy,hardlythere.Herhipsrolled,seeking.
Heloweredhimselfontoher,usingahandtopositionhimselfatherentrance.“You’rewet.”
“Iwantyou,Ethan.Allofyou,everyinch.Now.”Wherehadallthisboldnesscomefrom?
“You’vegotme.”

*********

Ethan pushed, slowly at first. She was tight, but then he was big and not every woman could handle

whathehadtogive.Buthergroans,andthewayshecaughthisassandpulledhimintoher,encouraged
himtopushharder.

A hoarse moan helped him to know he was good. With his gaze fixed on the pulse in her throat, his

chesttightenedandhismouthwatered.Herwristhadbeenonething,butthiswouldbebetter,muchbetter.

Slowlyhishipsmoved,drivingfarthereachtime,deeper.
Usinghisfingers,hepushedthelongstrandsofherblackhairawayfromherpaleneck.Shehadafae’s

complexion,verylightandcreamy.

Samanthawasbeautiful.
Heleaneddownandkissedthelineofherjawthenherlipsasheprogressedinsideher.
She pulled on him, her hands gripping his shoulders. “You feel so good, Ethan. So good.” Her neck

archedandherheadslidupintothepillow,thenback,apurereflectionofhowhismovementskepther
bodyundulatingslowly.

Her fingers squeezed his biceps, which caused his muscles to flex then relax. His vibration pulsed

heavilynow,swarmingthroughherandtouchingherfaeness.Thesensationtightenedhisstomachandhis
ass.

Ethan.Hervoicesoundedsoftinsidehismind.
Hemethergazeandthumbedhercheek.I’mhere.
She smiled. This is beautiful. Whatever our lives become, this moment is beautiful. I love being

connectedtoyoulikethisandyourvibrationhasmeworkedup.It’samazing.

Herwordsinhismindswelledhisheartandignitedhispersonalfrequencyfurthersothatnewwaves

pouredfromhim.

Oh,myGod.Whatareyoudoingtome?
I’m not sure. He kissed her again. Waves pulsed from his chest and reached inside. Focus on your

faeness,yourfaefrequencyandletitflowtowardme.Ithinkwecandosomethinghere,thetwoofus.

Shenodded.
Didthebedjusttremble?
Sheclosedhereyes,herlipspartingwideasthoughcaughtinsupremeecstasy.Thenhefeltitashis

frequency returned to him, but this time joined to hers. Pleasure, like he’d never known, spread fire
throughhischest,hisstomach,andintohisgroin.

Hishipsmovedfaster,glidingeasilywithinherbecausesherainedonhimnow.
Ineedtodrink.
Yes,drink.Ethan,please.Iwantyouto.Ineedyouto.Shearchedherneck,exposingaveinthatrose

fromhim.

Heplacedanarmoverherleftshouldertokeepherpinned.Atthesametime,bylongpractice,hiships

movedsothatheplungedinandout.

Turninghisheadandangling,hemadeasharpjabwithhisfangsandsurroundedthewoundswithhis

lips.Thefirstdrawofraspberry-and-winenectarexplodedonhistongue.Hegroanedagainstherthroat.
Hesuckedhardandplungedfasterandfaster.

Thesensationoftheirsharedfrequencieskepthischestonfireandhisgroinwickedwithsensationand

drive.

Hermoansfilledhisears.
So,close.I’mcloseagain.Thevibrations,myGod.Ethan,myGod.
Letitgo.
Shecriedoutandherwelltuggedonhimasheworkedherwithhiscock,ashedrankfromher,ashe

senthisfrequencyvibratingthroughherbody,ashefelthersreturnandstrokehim.

Hercriesrepeated,asthoughtheorgasmrolledonandonandmaybeitdid.Hewassohard,soready.
Ineedtocome.
Ethan,come.Yes,come,whileyou’redrinkingmedown.
Thosewordsdidhimin.Hisbacktensed,hisbuttocksflexedandhisballsreleased.Hepumpedfaster

while still sucking at her neck. Pleasure rode his cock and because she cried out, her hips meeting his
with answering grinds, he knew another orgasm carried her along, which intensified what he felt, the
nerveendingssingingandshoutingecstasy.

Buthewasn’tdoneandtheirsharedfrequencyrosetointensifyeverysensation.
Hekeptrockingintoher.
Hervoicewasinhisheadoncemore.I’llcomeagainifyoukeepdoingthat.
Andyou’llbringmeagain.
Yes,please.Dothat,onlycanyoulookatmethistime?
He left her neck, his body now full of her life-blood, his veins whirring in response, their joined

frequenciesfiringhimup.

Heplantedhishandsoneithersideofher,liftingupsohecouldseeherandfocusedondrivinginto

her.Shetouchedhisface,hischeeks,hislips.Shebreathedinquickgasps,herbodyundulatingbeneath
his.

“Ourfrequencies,asthoughmybodyistremblinghead-to-foot--”
“Iknow.”
He went faster, his vampire ability surpassing what a human could do. Her mouth remained open as

thoughshestruggledforair.Shebecameverystillbeneathhim,justfeelinghim.Herlightblueeyesshone
inthedarkroom.

Shegasped.
Areyoucoming.
Yes.
Howhelovedtelepathyinmomentslikethisandshewaspowerfulenoughtomakeiteasy.
Asecondorgasmshotthroughhim.Hearchedawayfromherroaringthistimebecausethesensation,

doubling over the earlier one, felt like pleasurable fire through his cock as he released into her. She
gripped his arms, crying out again and again. Ecstasy streamed a conversation between them, of
pleasuringrisingtotheheightsrepeatedly.

Sexhadneverbeenlikethisbefore,notinhislong-livedlife,notever.Shecriedoutoverandover,

whimpering,andgraspinghimfromwithin.

Finally,thesensationssliddowntheothersideofthehillandherhipssettledintothebed.Herestedon

topofher,stillholdinghimselfup.Hewasbreathinghard,sowasshe.

Shethumbedhislips.“Youhavemyblood.”
Henoddedasakindoflethargyovertookhim.Hewantedtorolloverandlieonhisback,maybejust

fallasleep.Butatthesametime,hedidn’twanttoleaveherbody.

Instinctively, he knew that the moment he did, everything would change as it always did after sex,

sometimesbetter,sometimesworse.Butmostly,hedidn’twanttosevertheconnectionhefelttoher.

Thenherealizedthathisfrequencywasstillcommuningwithhers.
“Whatisit?”sheasked.

“We’restillconnected?Canyoufeelthevibration?”
“Yes,butIthoughtitwasakindofafterglow.”
Hesmiled.“Maybeitis,butwe’restilljoined,mymatingfrequencytoyourfaevibration.”
Shegrabbedbothass-cheeksandpushedagainsthim.“Andwe’rejoinedhere,aswell.”
Hechuckled.Shemadehimlaugh.Hetriedtorememberthelasttimeawomanhaddonethatforhim.
Shetiltedherhead.“Iwanttoexplorethevibrationconnection.Isthatokay?”
Hedippedhischin.“Anythingyouwant.”
Sheclosedhereyesandhefeltherfocusontheirsharedfrequency.Itfeelsreallysolid,that‘joined’is

therightword.

Iagree.
Canitcomeapart?Imeanhow?You’vedonethisbefore,right?
No,Ihaven’t.
Atthat,hereyespoppedwide.“Somehow,Ihadtheimpressionthiswasthewaythingsweredone.”
“Everycoupleisdifferentandsomeofthatdifferencecomeswithspecie;myvampiretoyourfaeand

toyourhumanness.”

“Isee,sortof.WouldyoumindifItriedtodisconnect?Idon’twantto,butI’msointrigued.”
Hedidn’twantiteither,buthelikedthesparkleinhereyealot.“Goforit.”
Sheclosedhereyesoncemoreandtookdeepbreaths.Slowlyshereleasedhisfrequencyanditfeltlike

fingersunclaspingandpullingaway,likethey’dbeenholdinghandsbuthadtoletgo.

Hisfirstimpulsewastostopher.Hedidn’twanthertogoandyetshecouldn’tremainattachedlike

this.Hetriedsomethingsimilar,justafocusedreleaseandthesamethinghappened,akindofunfurlingof
hisfrequencyandaslow,peaceful,almostsatisfied,separation.

Itseemedappropriatetowithdrawfromherbodyatthesametime.
Ofcourse,thisleftadifferentkindofissuetoresolveandheleftthebedtogetawashclothandbringit

backtoher.

“Doitforme,”shesaid,smiling,hereyessleepy.
Heopeneduptheclothandpresseditbetweenherlegs.Heleaneddownandbecausehewasgrateful

forsomuchofwhathadtranspiredbetweenthem,hekissedhermound.

Shepettedhishead,stilldampfromtheshower.
Hecrawledbeneaththecovers,thenslidtoliedownbesideher,coveringheratthesametime.
“Thankyou,thatfeelsgood.Igotchilledsofastonceyouweren’tnearme.”
“Icouldsenseyouwerecold.”
“Youcould?”
“Yeah.”Hesettledhiselbowonthepillowandplantedhisheadinhishandsohecouldlookdownat

her.Helikedtheview.“Icansenseyoursatisfactionrightnow.Mustbeafrequencything,yourfaeness,
maybe.”

“Yousatisfiedme.”Sheheldupherlefthand,splayingherfingersslightly.Hemetherhand,withhis

own,joininghisfingerswithhers.

Glancingattheirhands,shewrinkleduphernose.“Thisiswhatourfrequenciesfeltliketome.”
“Me,too,exactly,entwined.Thisisastrongwaytoholdanotherperson’shand.”
Shechuckledsoftly,thenmethisgazeoncemore.“Foramomentthere,Iwasn’tsurewe’dbeableto

separate.”

Thestatementcaughthimupshortandmadehimthinkofhisworld,hisrealm,hisdutiesasMastyrof

Bergisson. He had to admit that what he’d just experienced with Samantha existed outside of anything
he’d ever known before. He feared exactly what she’d just stated, an implication that if they continued
makinglovelikethis,ifhekeptdrinkingfromher,feelingsopossessiveabouther,wouldheonlymake
theinevitablepartinganimpossibilitylaterdowntheroad?

“Icanalmosthearyourthoughts.”Shepulledherhandawayandhisfingersrelaxed,lettingherslide

fromhisgrasp.“Wecan’treallygoonlikethis.It’stoomuch.”

“Iknow.”
Sheheavedasighassheturnedawayfromhimtolieonherside.
Butheputhishandonhershoulder,slidingdownherarm,thenmovedintospoonher.“Iknow.You’re

absolutelyright.”

Shecoveredhisforearmwithherhandandsighedoncemore.

*********

Samanthahadmixedfeelings.Ontheonehand,she’dturnedawayfromhimknowingthatsheneededto

keepthingslightbetweenthem.Butmaybeshe’ddoneittooquickly,becauseitfeltlikeadoorshutting
toofast,notquiteaslam,butnearenough.

ThoughEthannowspoonedher,shecouldtellhe’dshutdownaswell.Butthiskindofintensecoupling

reminded her of the descriptions her girlfriends would give of honeymoon experiences, but she barely
knewEthanandhewasadifferentspecies,neitherhumannorfae.

And she was just getting used to being something that she’d never known about in her twenty-eight

yearsoflivingontheplanet.

Heclearedhisthroat.“Hey,Ilovedwhatwejustdid.”
“Iknow.Me,too.”Sheyawnedandpattedhisarm.“It’sokay.Wehavealottofigureoutinthenext

fewdays,butrightnow,IthinkIneedsomesleep.”

“Goodidea.”
ThoughSamanthafeltunsettledbytheawkwardnessofthemoment,thefatigueofthenightfellonher

andshedriftedintoadeepsleep.

*********

Thenextafternoon,Ethanawoketoanemptybedandhisfirstthoughtwassomethingclosetopanic.

HisconcernforSamantha’ssafetyrodehisnervesconstantly,fromthetimeRyhadshownupoutsideher
Shreveporthouse.

He sat up and looked around, listening intently into the depths of the house, but everything sounded

normal.Hereleasedadeepsighandslidhislegsoverthesideofthebed.

Heknewhishouseholdwell,thathisstaffwouldhavealreadymadeSamantha,aswellasVojalieand

Davido, feel welcome. Because he had a state-of-the-art security system, and all vampires were still
indoorsatthishour,helethisfearsslideaway.Evenwraithshadacertainsensitivitytosunlight.Atleast
fornow,Samanthawassafe.

Hisclothesstilllaywherehe’ddroppedthemandhesmiled.Hecrossedtohisleathersandfoundhis

phone.CallingFinn,hegotanupdateonthenight’spatrolsandfoundthatthebattleattheGuildhallhad
quieted the Invictus, at least for the present, and only two patrols reported skirmishes, each squad
dispatchingtheenemy,nosurvivors.

“Good.That’sgood.I’llbejoiningyouatfulldark,asusual.”
“Youcouldtakethenightoff.”
“Noreasonto.”
Finndidn’trespond.
The Guardsman’s silence ticked Ethan off, because he could feel his lieutenant frowning his

disapproval yet again. Damn Finn. For the past two years he’d been riding Ethan hard about letting his
mendomore.ButhowcouldEthanrelinquishwhathadbeensosolemnlygivenintohiscare?Theone
thing Finn would never understand was what it felt like to be a mastyr vampire, what level of

responsibilitycamewiththattitle.

So,he’djusthavetosuckitup.“Seeyouatnightfall.”
He hung up and set his mind to what items of realm business he needed to attend to. The mayor of

Cameron,hisrealm’slargestcity,wantedaconferencesometimenextweekaboutsettingupafederation
ofsister-citiesoftheNineRealms.Ethanmightbeinchargeofbordersecurity,butthemayorsheldthe
citiesandtownstogether,whichstilldidn’teliminatetheneedforEthantohavehishandintheday-to-day
politicalmachineryofrealm-life.

Showering,herecalledwhathe’ddonewithSamanthajustafewhoursago,howshe’dlatheredhim

and he’d returned the favor, the intense love-making, the unexpected depth of connection because of
sharedfrequencies.

SweetGoddess,he’dliketodothatagain.
Butashetoweledoffandstartedblowingthemassofhishairdry,hescowledathisreflection.What

the hell was he doing with Samantha, anyway? Yes, her blood had stopped what had been decades of
blood-starvationandhewouldalwaysbegrateful,butbeyondthat,shewasahalf-humanwhodidn’twant
tobehereandhehadnointerestinalong-termanything.

Healsoknewthatifhedidn’ttakestepstocreatesomekindoftolerabledistancefromher,thingscould

getmessy.Shemightgetattachedtohiminawayhecouldn’treciprocate.

Hehadtofiguresomewaytokeephersafeandgetridofheratthesametime.
Itdawnedonhimthathisotherfaeguest,Vojalie,mightholdthekeyforhimandhischestexpandedas

afull-blownconceptcametohimthatwouldanswerallhisproblemsandbeagoodthingforSamanthaat
thesametime.

*********

Samantha held the fresh, sliced strawberries to her lips, carried there by a fork, and stared at Ethan.

“Say, what?” Had she heard him right. She let the strawberries slide into her mouth then chewed, but
she’dlosttheabilitytotastewhathadbegunasapromisingbowlofripefruit.

“Itwouldonlybetemporary.”Hescowled,thencrossedhisarmsoverhischest.Hestoodnexttothe

tableoppositeher,havingarrivedwithaclearpurposeinmind.

Davido sat beside Samantha, holding baby Bernice over his left shoulder, rubbing her back in slow

circles.

Vojaliewasatthelongtableaswell.She’dbeennursingthebabyandwaswaitingforaburpbefore

continuing.Shehadaflannelshawl,inasoftshadeoflavender,drapedoverhershouldertoherwaist.
Shewasamotherwithpractice.SheglancedslowlyfromSamanthatoEthan,herlargebrowneyeswide.

Samantha drew a deep breath and addressed the subject straight out. “Ethan, I don’t know what bug

crawledupyourbutt,butthelastthingI’mgoingtodoisleavingBergissonforMerhaineRealm.EvenI,
injusttheinfancyofmypowers,knowIbelonghere.”

“You’regoing.TheMastyrofMerhaine,Gerrod,isalreadybondedtohiswoman,Abigail,soIwon’t

havetoworryabouthimgoingafteryou.Vojaliecanteachyoufromherhomeaswellasanyotherplace.
Andrightnow,IneedtofocusonRyandhiscurrentleadershipoftheInvictus.Wecouldbeattackedat
anymomentandIneedyousafe.”

“Youneedmeoutoftheway.”Shesetherforkdownandleanedbackinherchair.She’dfinishedhalf

herbreakfast,buthadsuddenlylostherappetitefortherest.

She watched Ethan beneath hooded lids, his aggressive stance, the set of his chin, his biceps flexing

thenreleasing.

She’dfeltthosearmslastnight,samereflexes,differentsituation.
Whenshe’dawakenedandseenjusthowdeeplyheslept,she’dlefthisbed,returnedtoherroom,and

dressedfortheday.Buttheentiretime,butterflieshadflittedaroundherstomachasshewonderedwhat

Ethanwouldthinkofthenightthey’dspenttogether,whetherhe’dinanywayfeltasalteredthismorning
asshedid,andsomehowhopingthathisfirstwordswouldbeasfullofaweasshefelt.

Shecouldn’thavebeenmoremistaken,sinceafteraninitialgreetinguponapproachingthetable,he’d

said,‘I’msendingyoutoMerhaine.’

“I’mnotgoing.I’mstayinghere.Ibelonghere.Ifeelitineveryfae-ishvibrationthroughmybodyright

now.”

EthanshiftedtoVojalie.“Backmeuponthis,wouldyou?”
Vojalieheldhisgazesteadily.“Irefusetosupporteitherofyou.There’sanawfullotofbelligerenceon

bothsides.No,you’llhavetoresolvethisoneyourselves.”

Ethan’s scowl deepened as he turned the force of his gaze back on Samantha. “Look. I have a lot of

responsibilitiesandgoingtoMerhainemakesthingssimpler.”

“Foryou,yes,butIhaveastakeinwhathappenshereaswellandIinsistonstayinginBergisson.In

fact,I’llgobacktoShreveportbeforeIgetpackedofftoanotherrealm.”

“Shreveport,”heallbutshouted.“Thehellyouwill.”
“Don’tyouseethatthisisn’tasimplesituation?”
“IseeclearlyenoughtoknowthatMerhaineistherightcourseandIwon’tbemovedonthispoint.”
Samantha glanced at Vojalie who merely shrugged as if to say ‘good luck’. But Samantha actually

agreedwithher,thatsheandEthanneededtoworkthisoneout.

Asifoncue,Bernicebelched.
Davido laughed and murmured against the baby’s cheek. “I was thinking the same thing, my most

beautifuldarling.”Bernicekickedherlegsandcooed.

For a moment, Ethan’s scowl eased and his lips quirked but soon enough he had his ‘mastyr’s’

demeanorundercontroloncemore.

Samantha glanced at Davido, who winked at her. He kissed Bernice’s sweet baby-curls but said

nothing.Therewashoweverasenseofgoodnessandwisdom,veryancientwisdominhiseyes.Though
shehadnowayofknowingorprovingthesuddenintuitionthatcametoher,butshefeltcertainDavido
wasovertwothousandyearsold.

Shefeltsomethingelseaswell,asoftvibrationdeepinthecenterofherfaenessandthevibrationwent

onandon.HadDavidorungthatbell?

She glanced back at Ethan. He had his warrior’s face on and arguing would be pointless. Typical

stubbornmale.

But she had her own profound level of obstinacy, something that had more than once ended a fairly

decentrelationship.Maybesheshouldtryadifferenttack,somethingmorecenteredontherealm-world
thanherhumanexperience.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Focusing on the fae part of her still vibrating softly,

perhapsthankstoDavido,sheletallthatpowerflowtothesurfaceofherbeing.

Herneckarchedasshegrabbedalung-fullofair.Theresultingflowofenergysurprisedhersinceit

wassomuchstrongerthanthepreviousnight,asthoughwhilesheslept,she’dbeengrowingherpower.

Andsheknewwhatwouldfollowasimagesbegantocreepthroughhermind.
When the vision arrived in full, she opened her eyes, but she no longer saw Ethan’s dining room, or

anyonewithher.

Instead,amastyrvampireappeared,withblackhairthatflowedawayfromhisfaceinthickwaves,yet

verydifferentfromRy.Hiseyeswerelargeandfiercebeneaththickblackbrows.Hisnosehadastrange
curve.Maybeithadbeenbrokenatonetimeandnothealedproperly.Hislipswerethickandsensual.He
wasgorgeousandwild-looking,almostmaniacal.

He flew over a tall rise of rock, almost a monolith. She felt something from the rock, something that

wasn’t rock, but had the properties of minerals, which seemed to call to her. Crystals. Lots of blue

crystals.

Butthe vampire caughther attention sincehe flew directly ather, wielding ashort sword, a weapon

largerthanadagger.

Sherealizedshehoveredintheairandwhenshelookeddown,shesawagullyofsomekind,though

verydeepandequallywide.Agorge,maybe.Adrystreambedranthroughthemiddleandshehadtwo
impressions: That something wonderful had happened here and something horrible, a great tragedy, in
fact.

Thevisionpulledherofftotheside,tothetree-ladenridgesabovethegorgewhereInvictuswraith-

pairsandGuardsmenbattledfiercely.

Ry was there as well, and something else, something that grew instantly blurred and suddenly the

imagesstartedtoslipawayandthevisionfaded.

Shetriedtocallitback,tolearnwhathappenedtothedarkwarrior,toEthan,tohisGuard,eventoRy,

butnothingcametoher.

SheblinkedseveraltimesandfoundeveryonestaringatherincludingBernicewholookedsurprised.A

surprisedbaby.Shestretched,orseemedtostretch,ahandouttoSamantha,whotookthethree-month-old
easilyinherarms.Shewasincrediblylightandfeltlikeheaveninherarms.ShemetVojalie’sgaze.The
womanhadtearsinhereyes.

“Anothervision?”Vojalieasked.
“Yes,butwhatdoesthathavetodowithBernice?”Samanthastareddownintotheinfant’scontented

face.

“She’ssensitivetofaeness.”
DavidopattedSamantha’sshoulder.
“Of course she would be.” And the strangest sense of family moved through her, that in some

inexplicableway,Bernicebelongedtoher.She’dfeltsomethingsimilarwithVojalieattheGuildhall,that
whatshe’dcometoinBergissonhadbeenbuiltintohergeneticcode,anotherindication,nodoubt,ofher
faeness.

Her gaze traveled to Ethan who stared at her with something like amazement. I felt what you

experienced, even though I couldn’t see anything. I felt your shock, your wonder, and your sudden
concernandfear.

She nodded. “Should I tell everyone about the vision? It involves you and a place that looks like a

gorge.”

Hisbrowsrose.“Agorge?”Hereleasedaheavybreath.“Yes,ItrustDavidoandVojalieimplicitly.

Whatdidyousee?”

Sheretoldthevisioningreatdetail,addingasmuchascametoherincludingthepinesonthefacing

ridges,theshrubs,thedrystreambed,themonolithtotheeast,thewaythegorgefelttragic.

Shedidn’tlookatanyofthemuntilshefinishedrecountingwhatshe’dseen.So,itcameasashockto

her that both Davido and Vojalie were looking at Ethan, who in turn pulled the chair out across from
Samanthaandsatdown.

Becauseshecouldsensehisfrequency,shecouldalsofeelwhathewasfeeling.Whatreturnedtoher

thoughwasmoreasenseofgriefthananythingelse.

Hestaredatthetable,hisleftforearmsettledinfrontofhim.
She’dmadesomekindofmistake,butshehadnoideawhatitwas.“Ethan,what’swrong?”
Hemethergaze,buthiseyeshadahollowedoutlooklikehe’dbeenbatteredbyherwords.“Ihaveno

doubt, not one, that you’ve described Sweet Gorge, where my family died forty years ago. And now
you’vehadavisionofaforthcomingbattleatthesamelocation.”

“Oh,God,I’msosorry.IfI’dhadeventhesmallestidea,Iwouldn’thavejustbarreledintoitlikethat.

Iapologize.”

“You don’t need to, yet somehow knowing that the future will take me back there, against Ry, has

broughttheformermemoriesreturning.”

“Youmeanwhatyouexperiencedallthoseyearsago?”
Henodded.
Shefeltthedepthofhisgriefthen,likeaburdenthatlivedinhissoul,aconstantweightofguiltthathe

couldneverquiterelease.“Youbelieveyoucouldhavedonesomethingtopreventthemassacre.”

“Ishouldhavebeenthere.”Helaughedbitterly.“ButIwenttothebeachinGrochaireRealm,partying

withQuinlan,whoismastyrthere,theoneyoujustdescribed,bytheway.Ishouldhavebeenatthegorge
withmysisterandmyparents.Icouldhavesavedthem.”

“Andthatisthelieyoutellyourselfthatmustchange.”Davido’svoicerangthroughtheroom,startling

BernicewhohadfallenasleeponSamantha’sshoulder.

Samanthagentledthebabywithherhandonherbackandthechildreleasedasighandfellbackasleep.
“It’snotalie.”Ethanstated,morequietly,forthebaby’ssake.
“TherewereahundredInvictusthatnightandyouwouldhavebeentheonlyGuardsmanontheground.

Youwouldhavediedwithalltheothers.”

“IfI’dstayedhere,whereIbelonged,thentherewouldhavebeennosuchattack.”
“You can’t know that, Ethan, and you torture yourself with unknowns. You’ve robbed yourself of a

meaningful life trying to make certain something bad doesn’t happen again. But you’ve curtailed the
growthofothersaswellbynotexpandingyourruleproperlybecauseofit.”

“Bullshit.I’vesavedlives.”
“Of course you have. That’s not the point. I’m talking about you and your life, about increasing the

responsibilities of those around you who are worthy of greater command. Then, you could enjoy a
broadersortofexistence.Maybeevenhaveagirlfriend.”

Samantha wanted Davido to back off. She didn’t know why he was biting at Ethan’s heels, so she

decidedtointrude.“Easyforyoutosay,Davido.You’renotawarrior.”

Heturnedtoher,hisbrowsliftedinsurprisejustashisbaby’shadbeenearlier.“Thereyouhaveme.”
“Exactly. I’m a jewelry designer, but even I know better than to try to discipline an accountant or a

waitressonhowtoimprovejobperformance.”

“Well, well,” his light eyes twinkled. “You have some serious chops, don’t you?” Before she could

respond, he turned to Ethan. “Do you agree with Samantha? Has a mere mortal troll been trying to
disciplineawarrior?”

Ethanshookhishead,buthechuckled.“I’mbeginningtothinkthatourSamanthawillleavenoneofus

alone.”

“That’snotabadthingandmaybeshe’sarrivedinyourlifetoopenyourpathup.Butunlikemywife,

I’mgoingtotakesides.I’mwithSamantha.SheneedstostayinBergissonandyouneedtokeepguard
overher.LetFinntaketheleadforafewnights.You’vebeentraininghimfordecades.He’sacapable
leaderandheknowswhattodo.”

Ethanlookedthoughtful.Samanthaknewhewasprocessingthevision,Davido’sadvice,andherown

refusaltobudge.

Finally,hemethergaze.“So,youwanttostayhere?”
“Yes,andhopefullyVojaliewillremainaswell.”Sheturnedtowardher.“IneedtolearnfromyousoI

canmakethebestdecisions.Areyouwillingtoteachmeaboutmyheritageandmygifts?”

Vojaliesmiledandnodded.“I’llstayhereaslongasyouneedme.”
Ethan leaned back in his chair, addressing Vojalie. “And do you truly think this is the best course as

well?”

“I think the Guildhall will have as many advantages as my own studio in Merhaine. And should

Samanthadecideatsomepointtomakeherhomeintherealm-world,IwouldlikehertoknowtheFae

Guildinsideandout.

“However, I do agree with my husband on one point: You should stick close to her, Ethan, at least

tonight.Samanthaisjustgainingherpowerandwillneedyourprotection,especiallyfromRy,butnotjust
fromhim.

“There is an ancient fae power at large, something that I’ve avoided addressing for the past several

yearsbecauseIhaven’tknownwhattodoaboutthisentity.Buttherecentintermittentdifficultywiththe
realm-to-realm communications, as well as the increased Invictus activity and unusual organized
strategies,haveledmetobelievethatwehavearoguefaeofpoweratwork,morethanIcanmeasure,
operatingagainsttheNineRealms.

“Thisperson,whofeelstomelikeawoman,wouldhavereasontowantSamanthaeitheroutoftheway

or aligned with her. Ry has made his allegiances and his purposes clear. You would do well to be
Samantha’sbodyguardforthetimebeing.”

“Youtrulybelieveallthesethings?”Ethan’seyesnarrowedashedrewadeepbreath.
“Yes,Ido.”
“Why haven’t you spoken sooner? Gerrod mentioned her shortly after Abigail emerged as his blood

rose,yetyousaidnothing.”

“Thetimingdidn’tfeelright.”
“Andnowitdoes?”
Vojalienodded.
EthanturnedtoSamantha.“Ididn’tconsideryourpoint-of-viewhere,andIapologizeforthat.Iwanted

you safe so I could pursue Ry, but I can see now that the situation isn’t simple. I’ll do as Vojalie has
suggested,I’llstickcloseandbeyourbodyguard.So,whatwouldyouliketodotonight?”

Samanthasmiled.“IwanttoexploretheGuildhall.”
“Thenwe’lldothat.Inthemeantime,I’llgiveMastyrQuinlanashout.Apparentlyheneedstogethis

assoverheresincewehaveabattlebuildingatSweetGorge.”

ChapterSix

EthanwatchedSamanthagentlyhandbabyBernicebacktoDavido.Shethenexcusedherselftochange

herclothes.Vojaliehadrecommendedlooseclothing,somethingallthefaewomenwore.Heknewitwas
morethanafashionstatement,thatsomethingaboutfae-nessanditsrelatedpowersfunctionedbetterwhen
thewomenwereunrestricted,say,byatightpairofjeans.

For himself, he liked the jeans Samantha wore and his gaze followed her as she left the room. He

couldn’tdenytheattractionhefelttowardher,analmostconstantcallonhisbody.

“Sheisquitebeautiful,almostaslovelyasmydearestone.”David’svoiceheldahintofamusement.
Ethanshookhisheadasherosefromthetable.“I’mtryingnottothinkaboutit.”
Davidomerelychuckledinresponse.
Thanking Vojalie again for her willingness to stay, he then headed to his office and made the call to

GrochaireRealm.Fortunately,thistime,realm-to-realmcommunicationworked.

Quinlan’sbassvoicehithisear.“Ethan.Whatthefuckdoyouwant?”
“You’restillsuchacompleteass.”
“Andyou’restillapaininmine.Iseeyou’vestayedalivesomehow.”
“Stillkicking.”
“Can’ttalkrightnow.I’vegotadoneusewithmeandwe’realittlebusy.”
“Youdon’tsoundbusy.”Hesmiledthough.
Ethanheardadragonacigarette.“Justtakingabreak.Inthatsenseyourtimingwasgood.I’vegota

greatviewandI’menjoyingit.”AfaintmoaninginthebackgroundconfirmedEthan’ssuspicion.Quinlan
stilltookhisdonorstobedandbynowEthanknewexactlywhatwasgoingon.

AvibrationwentstraightthroughhimasthoughtsofSamanthaslippedthroughhishead.
Herubbedthebackofhisneck,squeezedhiseyesshutandforcedhimselftofocus.“Iwon’tkeepyou

long.Oneofthefaehadavisionofyou,inabattleoverSweetGorge.Howsooncanyougetyourass
overhere?”

“Holdon.”
Ethanheardmurmursinthebackground,asQuinlantalkedthingsoverwithhisdoneuse. Ethan could

haveextendedhishearingtolistentotheconversation,butherespectedQuinlan’sprivacy.

Backonthephone,Quinlansaid.“Sorryaboutthat.Justneededtofigureacoupleofthingsout.Tellme

therest,moreaboutthisfae.Doyoutrustthevision?”

Ethanthoughtheshouldjustcomeoutwithit.“Thisone’shalf-faeandhalf-human.”
“That’salotofpowerforapartial-faetohave.”
Hetookadeepbreathbeforehesaid,“HernameisSamanthaandshe’sAndrea’sdaughter.”
“Noshit.”Quinlanhadadeepvoice,andithadgonedeeperstill.
“There’ssomethingelse.Somethingyouneedtoknow.She’sabloodrose.”
Aslightpause,then,“Areyoufuckingkiddingme?Asecondoneinonlyafewmonths?Whatthehell’s

goingon?”

“Soyoudidn’tknow.Apparently,it’sallovertheBergissonblogs.”
Quinlanlaughedlow.“Again,I’vebeenalittlebusy.”
Ethanstroveoncemoretoclearhismindofthesuggestiveimages.Hechosetopresson.“I’mthinking

herarrivalmightbeareactiontotheInvictus,thatwe’vegotsomekindofroguefaepowerontheloose
oftremendousability,who’sbeenworkingtoincreaseInvictuscohesion.”

“Action,reaction.”
“Somethinglikethat.AndRy’sjoinedupwiththem.Heledaconcertedattackatthefairgroundslast

night.”

Asofthisssoundedandafterwardanotherdrag.“Thatprick.ButthehellifI’msurprised.”
“HewentafterSamanthalastnight.Ifhe’dgottentoherbeforeme,hewouldhaveenslavedher.”
“SweetGoddess.”
“Yousaidit.”
“Okay,sowhatamIdoinginthisvision?”
“Fightingforthecause.You’reinflightandcarryingashort-sword.LotsofInvictus.”
“Okay.That’sallIneedtoknow.I’llcometoyouassoonasIseemylieutenants.Justonequestion:

Have you taken from this blood rose? Gerrod said the result is incredible. How’s the starvation, right
now,Imean?”

Ethan took in a long, slow breath. He searched for even the smallest sensation, a trickle of blood

hunger,butfoundnothing.“It’slikeitneverexisted.”

“Fuck.Me.”
The thought streaked through Ethan’s head that he shouldn’t let Quinlan get anywhere near Samantha.

Heknewhowhe’dreactedtoAbigailsohesharedwithQuinlanwhatthathadbeenlikeforhim.“You’ll
wantthisbloodrosereallybad.Butfornow,she’smine.Keepyourfuckinghandsoff.”

He’d meant to say the whole thing in more diplomatic terms, but even the thought of another mastyr

gettingnearSamantha,causedhisfiststoballupandhisbicepstotwitch.“Ineedyoutounderstand.”

Quinlanchuckled,alowdeepsound.“I’mfeelingyou,Ethan.I’llkeepmydistance.”
“Thankyou.Sowhencanyoucome?”
“Ihavesomethingstostraightenoutwithmylieutenants.Three,fourhourstops.AndifI’mgoingto

stayafewnights,you’llprobablywanttoalertacoupleofyourdoneusesthatImightneedthem.”

“Yougotit.”
“Aroundeleven,then?”
“Soundsgood.”
EthanendedthecallandreachedFinnthroughhistelepathicfrequencyandaskedhimtostayonpoint.

Finn was all too happy to take charge, eager even, which made Ethan wonder if Davido might be right
afterall.Maybeheshouldletgoofsomeofhisleadershiproles.

But the thought of it, of relinquishing even a small part of his committed rule over Bergisson, sent a

flashofguiltthroughhisbrain.He’dletdownjustonce,topartywithQuinlan,andhisfamilyhaddied.

No, the present circumstances with Samantha were temporary. As soon as he figured out what to do

withher,he’dtakebackthereins.

WhenSamanthareturned,however,wearingaloose,red-flowereddresstomid-calf,hisheartpaused

in his chest. She was so beautiful and walked with willowy ease. Hell, even beyond her blood rose
qualities,hewasdrawntoher.

Soexactlyhoweasywasitgoingtobetolethergo?

*********

Samantha’sheartpoundedandnotjustbecauseshewasinflight,orbecauseEthan’sheavilymuscled

arms surrounded her, or his tough, wild, grassy scent teased her senses. Nor was it a blood rose thing,
althoughthatexistedaswell,anacuteawarenessofEthan’sfeedingrequirementslikeatemperatureshe
couldtakebyjustthinkingthethought.

No,theexcitementshefeltwasallaboutherheritage,herfaeness,anddiscoveringwhatpowersshe

possessedbeyondhervisionsofthefuture.

She’dseenVojalie’sexpressionwhenSamanthahadcomeoutofthevision,somethingapproachinga

deepsenseofhope.Therealm-worldneededSamantha;shefeltitinherbones.

She sighed as Ethan moved swiftly along the deep oak wood path that would eventually lead to the

Guildhall. This middle portion of his realm appeared to be mostly wooded with numerous lakes and
streams. She’d already learned that Sweet Gorge, the place in her vision, had once had a good-sized
streamrunningthroughthatmetupwithBergissonRiver,themainwatersourcefortherealm.

But after the terrible Invictus massacre that had stripped Ethan of his family, the stream had

mysteriouslydriedup.Noone,inanyoftheNineRealms,understoodthecause,thoughthemostpowerful
ofthefae,likeVojalie,haddetectedanancientfaemagicatthetopofthenow-non-existentwaterfall,near
theeasternmonolithofthegorge.

Vojalie had shared some of her thoughts before leaving Ethan’s house, that she had for a long time

believed that an unknown, but very powerful fae had magically dammed up the stream and turned what
usedtobealushresortintoanabandoned,overgrown,weedyhollow.

AsSamanthamulledthisover,somethingwithinherfaenessknewVojaliewasrightandnowitwould

seem that the increase in Invictus pairs and the strange disappearance of the stream might just be
connected.

Each time Samantha thought of the recent vision that involved Sweet Gorge, she had a strong

presciencethatsomethingcriticalwouldsoontakeplacethereandthatshewouldhavearoletoplayas
well.

SheshiveredslightlyassheconsideredthepossibilityofbeingmoreandmoreinvolvedinBergisson.
Youokay?Ethanpathed.
Youcouldsensethat?
Shefelthimsighasheshiftedtoflyaroundanoldtreestump.Myfrequencyistunedintoyounow.It’s

hardnottoknowwhatyou’refeelingoneminuteoutoftwo.

Shecouldfeelhisdistressaswell,hisconcernforherandhisever-presentanxietyaboutBergisson.I

knowwhatyoumean.I’lltrytocalmmythoughtsfornow.

Probablyagoodidea.
She did just that, and gave herself to the phenomenal experience of flying through his realm, held so

firmlywithinhisarms,andmovingataswiftpacethroughavarietyofterrainfromwoodland,topasture,
fromhamlettotown.CrossingBergissonriversentacoolsweepofmoistairflowingoverher,whichfelt
wonderful.

Finally,theGuildhallgrounds,fromthedaybefore,cameintoview.Today,allthetentsweregoneand

onlyahandfulofcarsdottedtheparkinglot.

Hemovedslowerondescent.
Thefemalefigure,ontopofthehighestbuildingdome,movedslightlywiththebreeze,themetalwings

freetoswingbackandforth.

Asheflewhertothedouble-archeddoors,standingwidewithlightsmountedoneitherside,several

womenenteredthebuilding.

I’mgladyou’rewithme,shepathed.
Iam,too.I’mfeelingwhatyou’refeeling,thattheGuildhallhasmeaningtoyouandthatIshould

bewithyouaswell.Thiswastherightchoice.Ididn’tmeantoseemsoharshearlier.

Well,I’msurethatwon’tbethefirstbumpweencounter.
Hechuckledsoftly,agoodsign,ashetoucheddownandbroughtherontothelight-coloredpaversin

frontofthedoorway.

Though she’d been in the building briefly the night before, she hadn’t explored the depths of the

building,whichsheunderstoodcontainedavarietyofroomsmeantonlyforfaeuse.

WhentheInvictushadattacked,therealm-folkhadfiledquicklyandquietly,bylonghabit,intoavast

undergroundsystemthathadseveralsecret,guardedexitswelloverahalfmiledistantinsomeplaces.
Vojaliehadtoldherthatifnecessary,sheandseveralofthefae,couldhavegotteneveryonetosafety.But
theywerereluctanttoexposethesetunnelsbecauseoftheInvictusandthepossibilityoftraitorslikeRy.

Vojalie, who had gone on ahead by just a few minutes to arrange the use of the central domed room,

wavedagreetingatthetopofashortflightofcarpetedstairs.Thebuildingwasveryquiet.

As Samantha mounted the stairs, she became acutely aware of Ethan, that he stood right behind her,

veryclose,onehandonherhip.Shefelthispossessiveneedofherlikewavesofheatpouringoffsun-
drenchedrocks.

Shelookedupathimandhemetandheldhergaze.It’salwaysthere,thisdesirebetweenus,thisneed.
Hesmiledruefully.Yeah,itis.
Hispersonalfrequencyreachedforherandsentfingerstouchingplaceswithinherownfaefrequency

thatignitedasuddendesireofherown.Hedidn’ttrytocommunicatetelepathicallyandinthismoment
anythingverbalwasn’tnecessaryatall.

Insomanyways,hersituationwithEthan,withbeingabloodroseandapowerfulfae,hadcomplicated

herlifeinwaysshewasjustbeginningtounderstand.

*********

Ethanhadbeeninthefae-guildmanytimes,especiallythemainbanquetinghallfortheirannualdinners.

But he could count on one hand the times he’d been upstairs, the place the powerful fae of his realm
gatheredtorestorethemselves,torefreshtheirpower,todiscovernewabilities.

As Mastyr of Bergisson, he could go anywhere he liked. No door was closed to him, including the

centralmeetingroom,whichthefaetreatedwithdeeprespect.BothheandSamanthamovedaroundthe
space,thoughinoppositedirections.

The holiest of holies traveled in a circle around a central domed ceiling. In the center of that dome

another portion of the ceiling rose an additional twenty feet, which made up the minaret, visible from
outside.

Whatcouldn’tbeseenclearly,unlessapersonflewdirectlyoverhead,wastheroofoftheminaret,on

whichthewingedwomanstood.Thick,clearcrystal,inanintricatepattern,constructedthisportionofthe
Guildhall,visibleonlyfrominsidetheroom.

Vojalie had once told him that great power could come from the right fae standing beneath all that

crystal.Butevenshedidn’tpossessthatkindofpower.WhetherAndrea,withabilitiesacknowledgedto
matchVojalie’s,couldhaveaccessedthepowerofthecrystalwouldneverbeknownsinceAndreahad
refusedtestingrepeatedly.

Vojaliesaidthatduringthedaythesunlightshoneinakaleidoscopepattern,shiftingasthesunmoved

overhead.Atnight,giventhelitwallsconcesthatsurroundedthelargecirculararea,nopatternsemerged.
Heimaginedonlyduringaverybrightmoon,atexactlytherightangle,significantdesignswouldemerge,
andonlythenifallthelightswereout.

“Ethan?”Shecalledtohimfromacrosstheroom.Vojaliestoodnearthecentralcircle.
He turned toward Samantha, who smiled as she held her hand out to him. He moved toward her as

thoughbyafamiliarpaththathisfeethadknownforcenturies.Hetookherextendedhand.“Whatisit?
Everythingokay?”

“Yes,ofcourse.Vojaliesaidyoucoulddothiswithme.SheeventhoughtImightneedyourhelp.”
Heglancedupatthecrystalceiling.“Shewantsyoutested?Rightnow?”
“Yes.Doyouhaveaproblemwiththat?”
Heshookhisheadslowly.“No,Isupposenot.”Vojaliewasinchargeofthispartoftheshow,buthis

reticencecamefromthesignificanceofthetest.

Hecrossedwithher,headingtowardVojalieandsteppingdownintoasecondcirculartiledareainthe

centeroftheroom,sunkenbyaboutahalffoot.

Vojalie’s eyes were bright, expectant. He realized suddenly that the fae leader held high hopes for

Samantha,buthewasn’tsuresheunderstoodthelevelofSamantha’sresistancetoremainingintheNine

Realms.

The area was about fifteen feet in diameter, not a large space, and laid out in two shades of tile, all

sustainingthecircularpattern.Intheverycenter,wasasmallercircleofredtileaboutthreefeetacross.A
rough,graystonepillarsatofftothesideandheldsomesortofshallowstonebowl.

Atfirst,hethoughtVojaliewouldaddwater,asortofpurificationceremony.Instead,sheaddedseveral

twigsandusingalongmatch,struckonthesideofthestone,litthem.

Abitterscent,likeoakleavesburning,permeatedthespace.
Samantha,apparentlysensingsomething,movedcloseandusinghercuppedhands,broughtthesmoke

towardher.Slowlyherneckarched.VojalieappearedsolemnandgesturedforEthantogetclosetothe
stonebowlaswell.

Thefragranceeasedhim,butasheglancedatSamantha,hesawecstasyonherfaceasshebreathedin

theancientscent.

“How could my mother have ever left Bergisson and all these experiences? I feel connected to the

Guildhallas though thecommunity pulses inevery beat of myheart.” She openedher eyes and glanced
fromhimtoVojalie,thenback.“Icanfeelyouboth,yourstrength,yourconfidence,yourboldness.You’re
verymuchalike.”

HemetVojalie’ssmilingeyes.“Ialwayssuspectedasmuch,”hesaid.“You’vegotawarrior’sheart.”
Vojalienodded.“Ifightfortherealm-world,justlikeyou,butnotwithabladeorthepalm-energyyou

cancreate.”

Samantha addressed Vojalie. “Why did my mother leave? I mean, what did you see from your

perspective?”

Vojalieappearedsuddenlyverysad.“Thedeathofherhusbandtookatollandshebecameincreasingly

unsettled, beyond the effects of her grief. There were times I even thought…” but she broke off, her
fingerspressedtoherlips.

“What?”Ethanasked.
Vojalietookseveralshallowbreathsasthoughstrugglingwithwhatshewantedtosay.“I’veneversaid

thistoanyone,butrecentlyI’vebeguntowonderifsomeforceinterferedwithher.”

“Youmeanlikethisroguefaeentitythatseemstobepresent,butwhichwecan’tpindown?”
VojaliemetandheldEthan’sgaze.“Yes,that’swhatI’vethought,foraverylongtime.Whatifthesame

magicthathasruinedSweetGorgealsogottoAndrea,pushingheroutofBergisson?”

Ethanfeltasthoughhe’dbeenstruckhard.Hischinevenlifted,archinghisneck,asthoughhe’dtakena

blow. “But that would mean she wouldn’t have been responsible for what happened at the gorge forty
yearsago?”

Vojalie’scomplexionturnedpinkasherangerrushedathimlikeahotwind.“Afaewhohasavision

cannotbeheldresponsibleforwhathappensinthefuture.You’veblamedAndreathesepastfourdecades,
andyouwerewrongtodoso.”

Ethan scowled. “She saw a vision of the massacre at the gorge, but instead of letting me know, or

anyoneelsewhocouldhavemadeadifference,shepackedherbagsandstoleoffillegallytoShreveport.
MyfamilydiedthatnightandonewordofwarningfromAndreacouldhavesavedthem.”Acold,bitter
sensation worked within his heart, burrowing deep. If Andrea were here today, he’d accuse her of
misconductandhe’dseehertriedinoneofthefae-courts.

Ofcourse,hewouldhavefoughttheFaeGuildtheentireway,butheneverhadachancetobringherto

justice. She was gone for ten years before anyone knew she’d settled in Shreveport and remarried. By
thenitwastoolatetobringherback;shewasundertheprotectionofaforeigngovernment,marriedtoa
human.

“Youdon’tknowwhethershehadavisionofthemassacreornot.Noneofusdo.”
“She communicated with my Guard all the time. We always had warnings from her if something big

wasgoingdown.Whywouldthishavebeenanydifferent?”

“Youreallydoblamemymother.”
Ethan met her gaze, her unusual, light blue eyes. For just a moment, she wasn’t his blood rose, but

somethingelse,thedaughterofthewomanheblamedforthedeathofhisfamily.Andherewasanother
reasonwhyhedidn’twanttodolong-termwithher.“I’veneversaidthistoVojalie,butI’mgoingtosayit
tobothofyounow.QuinlansawAndreaabouttwentyyearsago,whenyouwouldhavebeenachild,but
bywhichtimeitwaslegalforrealm-folktotravelintotheaccesstowns,likeShreveport.

“He’dsoughtherout,havingknownherevenlongerthanIhad.They’dsharedmeal,andacoupleof

bottles of wine. She’d broken down and confessed that she could have prevented the attack at Sweet
Gorge,thatshe’dhadavisionearlierthatday.”

Samantha’sheadshiftedbackandforth.Hefeltherdisbelief.“But,whydidn’tsheletsomeoneknow?

Whatpreventedher?”

“Noonereallyknows.Quinlansaidshewaswrackedwithguilt,sothereyouare.”
NowAndrea’sdaughterstoodstaringathim,adeepfrownbetweenherbrows,herintenselighteyes

cloakedwithconcernandmaybeeventhedespairthathermotherhadbeenatfault.“WhatifI’mthesame
way?WhatifIcan’ttakethevisionseither?Willyoublamemeifsomethinggoeswrong,ifsomevision
ofminemisfiresorifIdon’treportitintime?”

“She’saskingtherightquestions,Ethan.”Vojaliehadthesameworriedcreasebetweenherbrows.
“Ialreadyknowtheanswer.”HeshiftedhisgazetoSamantha.“Nomatterwhat,youhavetodoyour

duty,dowhat’sright.”

“You’resayingmymotherdidn’t.”
“Exactly.”
“Harshwords,Ethan.”Vojaliespokestridently.“Yousawherthatlastyear.She’dlostsomuchweight.

Somethingwaswrong,somethingbeyondourunderstanding.”

“So,you’reholdingtoyourtheory?”
“All I know is that the woman who left Shreveport didn’t resemble the woman I’d known her entire

life.”

Ethanturnedawayfrombothwomen.Fortyyearshadpassedandstillthewoundbled.Heneededtoget

beyond it, beyond what he’d witnessed that day, but how? And how the hell was he supposed to work
withthedaughterofthewomanheblamedforthedeathsofhismother,fatherandyoungersister?

He felt a hand on his shoulder as Samantha’s voice entered his mind. Ethan, I’m sorry for what

happenedallthoseyearsago,butIcan’tanswerformymother’ssins.However,IcanpromisethatI’ll
domybestnottoletanypersonalfailingsIhavecomebetweenthisgiftthat’semerginginmeandthe
attendingdutytohelpBergisson.Fornow,let’sfocusonmyissuesbecauseIthinkthere’ssomething
here,somethingthatcanbeofusetoyou.

Atthat,heturnedtowardher,catchingherhandandholdingit.“Whatareyousaying?Anothervision?”
“Maybe.Rykeepscomingtomind,repeatedly,asthoughknockingonadoor.AndIdon’tmeanhim, I

meanthoughtsofhim.IthinkI’msupposedtohaveavisionabouthim.”

“Rightnow?Andwhatdoyoumean,you’resupposedtohaveavision?”
“Ican’texplainit.IjusthavethissensethatifIweretoreallyletgo,I’dbeabletoseesomethingabout

him,orabouthiscurrentactivities,maybeevenwherehe’slocated.”

“Issomethingstoppingyou?”
“Ifeelblockedsomehow.”SheturnedtoVojalie.“Wouldthisbenormal?”
“Ineverypossibleway.First,you’rejustlearningtoaccessyourvision-basedpowerandsecond,next

toEthan,RyisthemostpowerfulvampireinBergissonRealm.Hewouldhavesomeabilitytoconceal
hisactivitiesfromthefae,especiallyifhe’sabletoenlistthehelpofoneofourspecie.”

“I have a sense of urgency, like I need to find out what’s going on. Is there anything we can do to

enhancewhat’shappeningtome?”Shesmiled.“IsthereanincantationIcoulduse?”

Ethan saw the teasing light in her eye and something within his chest released, a tension he’d been

holding.SamanthawouldneedasenseofhumorifshechosetostayinBergisson.

Vojaliechuckled.“No,nothinglikethat,butdoyouremembertheconversationwehadearlier,about

theconservatoryandhearingsoundslikesoft,angelicsinging?”

“Yes,thefirstnightIsleptwiththedooropen.Ihadsuchapeacefulnight’ssleep.”
Sheglancedupatthecrystalceiling.“Ithinkyoumightbetheonetoembracethisenergy,toharnessit.

Areyouwillingtotry?”

“Yes.”
Therewasnodoubt,nowaveringinherresponse.EthanvaluedthisaboutSamantha;thewomanhad

courage.

Vojalie’sexpressiongrewseriousoncemore.“I’vebeenwaitingalongtimetofindafaewhocould

create a connection with the crystal alignments in the ceiling design of the minaret. So let’s see what
you’vegot.”

Vojalieheldoutherhand.

*********

SamanthaglancedatVojalie’ssmoothpinkpalm.Thefaewomanhaddelicatehandsandlongfingers,

beautifulnails.Butshe’dalsojustissuedachallengetoSamantha,somethingshecouldn’tresist.

Samanthamightbeanartisticjewelrydesigner,generallyconsiderateofothers,andbasicallydisposed

to let life take its own sweet time, but she was also a trifle competitive by nature. So, she slapped her
handinVojalie’s.“Hell,yeah.”

Ethanchuckledandputhishandovertheirjoinedfingersandgaveasqueeze.“Ilikethis.Ido.Very

warrior-like.”

Samanthanodded.“AndfromwhatI’veseenofRy,besidesthemerefactthathe’salignedhimselfwith

the Invictus, the bastard deserves to be brought to earth, the sooner the better.” She glanced up at the
crystalconfiguration.“So,whatdoIdo?”ShethenshiftedhergazetoVojalie.

Butthefae,aspowerfulasshewas,merelyshrugged.“Ihavenoidea.We’veallstoodinthecentral

redcircle,beneaththeminaretroof,butnothingmuchcameofit,notforanyofus.

“However,you’reabloodroseandconnectedtoapowerfulmastyrvampire.Maybethiswillmakethe

difference.AllIcansuggesttoyouistogowithyourinstincts,followyourcallonyourfaeness.”

Samantha turned toward the central circle of tile. As she glanced at the floor, she realized she was

looking at blood red pavers made up of crystals. She took a deep breath and moved forward quickly,
pulling her hand from Ethan’s. This first part of the process she had to do herself, but the moment she
steppedontotheroundgarnettiles,piecesofthepuzzleclickedintoplace.Herfaevibrationbecamea
suddensolidstreamwithinher,alinethatranfromherfeetthroughherentirebody,flowingupandup.

Shegasped,shoulderstensing.
Abrilliantflashoflightfollowed.
Thennothing.
She awoke staring into Ethan’s concerned, smoky, light brown eyes. He held her hand. “What

happened?”

“Youpassedout.”
She blinked, trying to make sense of why she lay off to the side of the crystal pathway. “I felt my

faenesslikeariverthroughmybody.”

SheturnedherheadslightlymeetingVojalie’sconcernedgaze,butalightshoneinhereyesaswell.
“DidIexperiencewhatyou’vebeenlookingfor?”
Vojalienodded.“Ithinkso,butthepowerthatflowedoverwhelmedyou.”

“Yes,itdid.ThelastthingIrememberwasaburstoflight.”Shesatupexpectingtofeeldizzy.Instead,

shefeltgood,reallygood.Alive.

ShegainedherfeetwiththehelpofbothEthanandVojalieandbeforetheycouldstopher,shestepped

ontotheruby-reddiskagain.Shewantedmoreandopenedherfaenessquickly.

Anotherexplosionoflight.
Whensheopenedhereyesthistime,Ethan’sjawworked.“Don’tdothatagain.”
“Ihaveto.And,it’snotbad.Itdoesn’thurt.Infact,thesensationiswonderfulbutI’mmeanttodothis,

toconnectwithmypowerthroughthecrystalceiling.”

“Weknowthat,”Vojaliestated.“Butit’scleartomeyouneedsupport.Thistime,letEthanholdyou,be

asortofanchorwhilethepowerflows.Attheveryleasthecancatchyouifyoupassoutagain.”

SamanthaletEthanlifthertoherfeetandshenodded.“Areyouwilling?”
Heliftedabrow.“Ofcourse.”
Samantha’s breath caught and held. She had so many questions about her place in Bergisson and she

hadquestionsaboutwheresheshouldland,whethertheNineRealmsorShreveport.Butinthismoment,
sheknewonethingforcertain:ShecouldrelyonEthanbecausehesaid‘ofcourse’withoutbattinganeye,
withoutthesmallesthesitation.

Thisvampirecouldgothedistance.Athismostessential,thiswashistruth.
Movingtotheedgeofthecircleoncemore,shestaredathim,herlipsparted.
Whatisit?Hisvoiceinherheadstartledher,asensationthatsoongavewaytopleasure.
Youamazeme,Ethan.I’veneverknownanyonelikeyou.Iknowyou’dratherbewithFinnandyour

Guardrightnow,butinsteadyou’rehere.Andnotjusthere:You’refullypresent.You’rewithme.

His brows drew together and he shook his head. Where else would I be? You need my help, so of

courseI’dsupportyou.

Thattheconceptseemedasnaturalasbreathingtohim,tightenedtheverybottomofSamantha’sheart.

Again,‘gothedistance’cametomind.

Sheturnedtofacethecircleoncemore.
Howwouldyoulikemetoholdyou?
Thequestionmadehersmile.Tight, both arms wrapped around me, front-to-front, my arms sliding

aroundyourneckasyoukissme.

Hechuckled.EnoughofthatorI’llembarrassmyselfinfrontofVojalieandyouknowexactlywhatI

mean.

Yes.AndI’mhopingwegettodothatagainsoon.
Aslightpause,thenhisvoiceseemedsofterwithinhermindasheresponded,Me,too.
Hemetandheldhergazebutnowords,telepathicallyorotherwise,followed.Hejustlookedather.
Samanthalookedback,savoringhissmokygray-browneyes,thehungrylookcomingfromthedepthsof

him.Shecouldevenfeelthatshewouldneedtodonateagain.Shenodded,wantinghimtoknowthatshe
understood.

Hedippedhischininreturn.
“Putyourarmaroundmywaist,walkmebeneaththeminaretroof,thenholdon.Ihaveafeelingthat

whatwillhappenwillbeassuddenasbefore,maybeevenmoresobecauseyou’llbewithme.”

“Understood.”
Heslidhisarmquicklyaroundherandwithouthesitation,sheresumedherplace.Heshiftedtostand

behindherbutenfoldedherinhisarms.She’dneverfeltmoresecure.

As before, her faeness formed a quick river of energy through her body and she connected with the

crystals overhead. She waited for the light to consume her, to take her consciousness yet again, but
instead,Ethanactedasagroundandthelightmovedthroughherandthroughhim.

Power.Thatwaswhatshefelt.Awonderfulstreamoffaepowerthatshecouldaccess,atleastsolong

asEthananchoredher.

Extraordinary.Hissinglethoughtslippedthroughhermind.
Icouldstayhereforever.Andherewashertruth,thatbeingheldinEthan’smusculararmsandatthe

sametimehavingthispowerflow,madeherwanttostayinBergissonforever.

She couldn’t imagine though, to what purpose such power could be put, but right now that wasn’t

important.TheonlythingthatseemedtomatterwasfeelingEthan,knowinghim,embracingwhohewasin
hisworld.

Wasthisjustthebloodrosepartofhertalking?Wasitherfaenessinresponsetohisrealm-ness?Or

was it him, that he could go the distance, that she’d already made love with him and it had been
incredible?

She didn’t have answers, none that made any real sense. She’d lived long enough to know that this

moment,asamazingasitwas,wouldpassandthecoldrealityofday-to-daylifewouldreturn,ofwaking
upgrumpy,ofPMS,ofhavingabadhairday.HewouldbecomeirritablewithFinnorhisrealm-ruleand
she’darguewithhimaboutwhyhelefthisdeodorantsittingonthebathroomsink,allthoselittlethings
thatrobbedarelationshipofitsmagicandmysteryinthatthingcalledlife,whetherlong-livedornot.

So a kind of war waged in her mind, between just enjoying the moment or holding it up for swift

examination.Maybethetricktolifewasknowingwhentodowhichofthetwo.

So,shechoseinthatmomenttoletthefuturegoandtojustsavor.
Ethanseemedtoknowwhenthathappenedbecausehisarmstightened.Ineedyou,Samantha.
AndIneedyou.Morehardtruths.Sheneededhiminherlife,amanwhocouldgothedistance.Butwe

shouldstepoutofthisstream.Vojaliewillwantareport.

He moved her easily, side-stepping them both off the red disk, but once the flow of crystal-energy

stopped, he didn’t let her go. Instead, he turned her in his arms and kissed her, a full-blown, tongue-
invadingkissthatsentherhandsslidingoverhisback,overthebutteryleatherofhisGuardsmancoatand
beneathhislongmassofgoldenhair.Shekissedhimback,notcaringthatVojaliestoodnearby.

ShewantedEthantoknowthathewasn’taloneinhowhefelt.
Afteramoment,hepulledbackandlookedather,smoothingahandoverherface,searchinghereyes.

Whatthehellisthisbetweenus?

I don’t know. And she didn’t, though it felt like love. But how could she possibly be in love with a

vampire,andoneshe’donlyknownforacoupleofnights?Yetlovewaswhatshefelt,flowingthrough
herrightnow,justasthepowerofthecrystalshadpouredalongherfaepathway.

Vojalieclearedherthroat.
Samantha drew back and blinked several times. Only then did she discover that at least a dozen

powerfulfaewomenstoodinvariousplacesthroughoutthespace.

She might have been embarrassed, but the sisterly spirit of the fae rushed toward her, a sensation of

communion and excitement. Ethan must have felt it as well, because he stepped back several feet, then
yards,asallthewomendrewnearSamantha,Vojalieaswell.

Questionsflew:‘Whatdiditfeellike?’‘Doesthepowerstaywithyou?’‘Whatdoesitmean?’
Vojaliemethergaze.“DidyouhavethevisionofRy?”
Samanthashookherhead.“No,Ididn’tgetthere.ButIwanttotryagain.”
MorequestionsflowedandSamanthatooktimetoanswereachoneasbestshecouldbutmostlyshe

kept saying, ‘I don’t know’. All the while, her gaze sought Ethan’s, but he rarely made eye contact. He
seemeddistressed,ormaybeitwasjusthisoverpoweringdesireforherthatshefelt.

Asshefocusedforamomentonhersuddenlypoundingheart,sherealizedhervampireneededtobe

fedagain.

Shewasabouttosuggesttheytakeabreakandtakecareofbusiness,whenanothervampire,amale,

appeared in the doorway opposite from Ethan. The fae all turned and Samantha’s heart now pounded

heavierthanbefore,recognizingthevampireforwhohewas:Anotherstarvedbutpowerfulmastyr.

Quinlanhadarrived.
Herfeetwereinmotion,headingtowardhim,beforesherealizedshewasmoving.Thisnewvampire

needed her as well, needed to feed. She could sense his blood-starvation like a metallic flavor on her
tongue,starvationthatneededeasing.Now.

Hemovedinherdirectionaswell,adarkforce;darkhair,blackeyes,loweredchin,biggerthanEthan,

theoneinhervision,andcomingatherlikeafreighttrain.

Thenawindblewpasther,butitwasn’tawind.
ItwasEthan.

ChapterSeven

Ethansawred,lotsofit,abrighthazeoverhisvision.
HerammedintoQuinlanwhichsentbothofthemintotheair,thenintothewallopposite.Thebuilding

mighthaveshook,hewasn’tsure.

He came up lunging and battling, striking Quinlan with his fists then gathering his power into his

shouldersandhisarms,untilhishandssangwithkillingenergy.

Quinlandidthesame.
EthanreleasedbyspreadinghisfingerswideandmetQuinlan’sbattlingenergy,bothstreamsengaging

inthemiddlesothatsparksflewineverydirection.

“Ethan,whatthefuckareyoudoing?”Quinlan’sdeepvoicebrokethroughthefireworks,butEthan’s

mindhadbecomelockedontothenecessityofkillingthevampirewho’dgoneafterhiswoman.

“Youneedtodie,”lefthismouth.
“Fuck.SweetGoddess.Vojalie,dosomething.GetSamanthatointervene.”
Ethan,calmdown.
Samantha’ssuddenvoiceinhisheadstartledEthan,jarringhimforamomentfromtheenergyhekept

focusedattheenemy.

YouneedtofeedandI’mready.Ethancometome.Takefrommyvein.Takewhatyouneed.Iwantmy

handsonyou,strokingyouuntilyou’rereadyforme.Letmeliedownforyou,pullyoudownonme.
Myveinisready.

Theeroticimagesbeganhavinganeffect.Hefeltconfusedandhisbattleenergybegantofade.Atthe

sametime,theenemy’seasedbackaswell.

That’sit.Cometome.I’mhere,toyourright.
ThenhefeltSamantha’stouch,herhandonhisarm,andheshiftedhisattentiontoher.Hehadtogether

outofthisplace,hehadtotakehertosafety,andhehadtoletherknowshewashis.

Withoutlookingback,hegatheredherinhisarmsandflewherataspeedhe’dneverusedbefore.He

sawwomenscatterashespedthroughthehallsanddownthestairs.Oncehereachedtheopendoorsthat
ledtothefairgrounds,heshotintothenightair,Samanthatightinhisarms.

Hecouldn’ttakeherbacktohismainhouse.Heneededsomeplacesafer,wherehecouldbealonewith

her.Hehadasecurecave-dwellingnotfarfromhere.

He flew west, Samantha’s raspberry wine scent pouring over him. She wrapped her legs around his

waistandherarmsaroundhisneck.Ethan,Ineedyou.Herhipsrockedevenwhileheflew.

Oaksgavewaytoaforestofbeechtrees.
Skimming over the top, he searched for the opening in the canopy, the only overhead signal to his

fortress home. He flew almost straight down, one arm holding Samantha over her back, the other
supportingherbottom.

Shewashis,andQuinlancouldn’thaveher.NoothermastyrwouldeverhaveSamantha.Shebelonged

tohim.He’dbeeninsideher,brandedherwithhisseed,madeherhiseveniftheyhadn’tcompletedthe
joiningthatwouldmarkherpermanently.

Once below the canopy, he flew along a narrow path, one he’d flown thousands of times before. He

kneweverytwistandturn.Finally,hereachedthehillsideandthehousehe’dbuiltofmoresteelandglass
thatfrontedacavernandgrottohe’dcreatedforhisownuse.Ofhisseveralhomes,thisonewasthemost
secure.

He touched down in front of the door, but never let go of Samantha. He unlocked using a keypad,

passedoverthethreshold,thensealeduphishidingplace.

Ifhe’deverwonderedathispurposeincreatingaretreatlikethisforhimself,henowunderstoodwhy.
The chemicals that still raced through his blood, fogged his mind, telling him his woman was in

supremedanger.Hisrationalthoughtshungback,shoutingathim,buthecouldn’thearthewords.

Nothingmadesenseexceptthewomaninhisarms.
Shelookedupathim,strokinghischeekwiththebacksofherfingers,turningintohimandbitinghis

shoulderthroughhiswovenshirt.Hemusthavelosthiscoatwhenhe’dgoneafterQuinlan.

Hecarriedherdownasetofstairs,shiftingintolevitatedflightsothathefloated.
Ihearawaterfall.
Yes,we’reinmygrotto.Ineedyourblood.
Asoftgroanleftherlipsandthistimeshebithismuscledarm,thenmovedupwardtosinkherteethinto

hisshoulderoncemore.

Whenhereachedthewaterfall,atthefarendofthecavern,hesettledheronherfeetthenstrippedher

outofherflowereddress.Hemighthaverippedherbraintotwopieces,hewasn’tsure.

Shestuckcloseashegotridofhisshirt.Shehelpedhimremovehisbootsandbattleleathers.Hedrew

herbackward,towardthewaterfallandsatdownonthestonebenchsothatthewarmspringwaterstruck
hisback.Hespreadhislegsanddrewherbetweenthem,pullingherclosetotakeabreastinhismouth.

In this position, he plundered both breasts, sucking on her nipples, working each with his hands,

pluckingwithhisfingers,ridinghistongueovereachmoundandrigidtip.Sheheldontohisshoulders,
herbodyundulatingassheflexedthebreastinhismouth,pushing,wantingmore.Hesuckedharder.She
cuppedthebackofhisneck.

Takewhatyouneed,Ethan.Takeallthatyouneed.Everything.Myheartpoundsforyounow,laden

withthesupplyyou’reafter.Letmefeedyou.

Samantha,he’snotforyou.
He’snotforme.You’reforme.
You’remine.
I’myours.
Heleftherbreastsandrosetohisfeet,takingherinhisarms.Hekissedherhard,drivinghistongue

betweenpartedlips.

She encircled his neck, dropping her arms to embrace his shoulders, then sinking her nails. The

sensationworkedhim,likeeverythingelseworkedhimrightnow,whetherhervoiceinhishead,herbody
plasteredagainsthis,orthesoftrecessesofhermouththathedroveintoagainandagain.

Howdoyouwantmyblood?Atmyneck?Orhowaboutatmygroin,ormyarmwhileInurseonyou

low?

Hegroanedhard.Holdyourbreath.IwantyoutoexperiencethiswhileImakeyoucome.
Experiencewhat?
Thewater.
Sheglancedatthewaterfall,thenatthestonebench.Heturnedandpivotedthebenchtolieunderneath

theflowofwater.

Oh,Isee.Genius.
Ready?Hedidn’tneedananswer,notreally,notwhenthescentofhersexnowpermeatedthemoist,

coolair.

Hepulledherbackward,beneaththewaterfall,protectingherfromthefullforceofthewater.Hethen

stretchedoutonhisbackandbeckonedforhertolieontopofhim.

Sheglancedaroundfirst.Fernsgrewinabundancebecauseofanaturalcreviceoflighthighoverhead.
Paradise,shemurmured.
Becauseyou’rehere,yes.Hemetandheldhergazeandtookherhand,pullingherclose.Now,mount

me.Takemeinsideyou.

Sheshiftedalegoverhishipsandlookingdown,usedoneofherhandstoguidehimtoheropening.

Herbackarchedasshesankdownonhiscock.

I’veneededthis.Hervoiceinhisheadrockedhishipsandshemoanedheavily.
Heheldherwaist,hishipsmovingtoseathimselfdeep.Nowleanoverme,I’mgoingtoshiftbeneath

thewaterfallsothatithitsyoujustright.

Sheobeyed,agoodthingrightnowgivenhismood.
Heenfoldedherinhisarmsandwonderedifanythingcouldfeelbetterthanhiswoman,pressedagainst

him,lockedinhisembrace.

Heshifteddownthebench,positioningthembothbeneaththeflowofwater,untilthewaterfallhither

mid-buttocks,whichwouldgiveherthebestfeeling.

“Oh,Iseewhatyouweregettingat.”Shemoanedsoftly.“Thatfeelssogood.”
She looked down at him and her hips began to rise and fall. Her mouth opened wider and wider.

“That’sincredible.Allthatsensation.Andyourfrequencyispoundingmeaswell.”

She was right. His frequency had opened to its fullest breadth, needing to brand her in this way, to

reaffirm that while he was with her, she wasn’t to service another vampire and definitely not another
mastyrvampire.Heaimedhisfrequency,rapidpulsesofvibrationfromhisabdomen,directlyintoher.

Shemoanedheavilyasherownfaefrequencyresponded,meetinghisandentwiningastheyhadbefore,

locking into place, pulsing together rhythmically. He gave a cry as pleasure spiked low, tugging at his
balls,strokinghiscock.He’dneverknownsomuchintensesensationbefore,orneed,ordesire.

Butthevariousreactionscreatedanewdemand.Givemeyourneck.Hestilldidn’tspeakoutloud.He

wasn’tsurehecould.Hefelttrappedwithinhispossessivenature.

Shepushedherhairtooneside.Hesawherveinpoundingandevenabovetherushingwaterandthe

scentoftheferns,herraspberry-winebloodcalledtohim.

Withonearmaroundhershouldersandpinningherinplace,whilehishipsworkedherlow,heangled

hisheadandstruckherneck.Shecriedout,herwellpullingonhiscockatthesametime.Shewasclose.
Hecouldfeelit.

Heclampedhismouthoverherthroatwherethepuncturemarksreleasedtheelixirhecravedandhe

begantosuck.

*********

Samantha felt caught up in something enormous as Ethan used his warrior strength to drive his cock

deep and keep her upper body still at the same time so that he could drink from her. Where his mouth
suckled,sparksofpleasurekeptsendingshiversandchillsdownherneck,overherbreasts,anddownher
backandsides.

Thewholetime,thewateraddedasensualforce,pushingherhipsconstantlyagainstwhatwassohard

insideher,likehandsmassagingandkneading.

Pleasure upon pleasure rose over her body. From deep in her faeness, she felt his vampire energy

poundingagainsther,notpolitethistime,notwantingasimplebonding,butastatementofhardfact,that
whileshewaswithhim,shewashis.

Sheheldbackthough,justassheheldherorgasmatbay,wantingallthesensationstolast;neck,cock,

thewaterfall,hisenergyandhers.

Shewassureshemoaned,longdeepcries,butthewaterfallwasloud,andhisgruntswereanimal-like.

Didheevenknownhemadethosenoises?Probablynot.

Herbodywrithedoverhisnow.Hemayhavekeptheruppertorsoanchored,butherhipswerefreeto

ridehim.Sheroseupandplungeddown.Thewatergrazingherbottomwasnodoubthittinghimonhis
upperthighs.

Hegroanedandgrowled,stillsuckingfiercely.Mine,cametoher,penetratingherthoughts.Mine.

Yours,shereturned.
Shebreathedhard.I’msoclose.
Butheletgoofherneckanddrewbacktoholdhergazeinhisvampire-maddenedstare.
She planted her hands on either side of his head, still riding him, more fully now, plunging up and

down.

You’remine,Samantha.Sayit.Say,‘I’myours,Ethan.’Sayit.
He looked maniacal and yet her body responded, loving that he was more vampire-beast than man,

growingtighterforhim,slidingupanddownhiscolumnfasterandfaster.“I’myours,Ethan.Yours.All
yours.”

Henodded,asingleswiftjerk,buthedidn’tspeak.Insteadhistelepathyoncemorepunchedinsideher

head.Sayitagain.Iwanttohearyousayitagain,thatyoubelongtome,thatyourbodybelongsto
me.Sayit.

“Mybody belongs toyou, Ethan.” Anddid it ever. Shefelt the releasebarreling toward her, moving

fast in the same way his personal frequency battered her faeness. She knew once he broke through,
pleasurewouldflow,butsheheldtight.

Letmein,heallbutshoutedinsidehermind.Letmein.
No.Sheshookherhair,madedampbythewaterbouncingoffherass.Shesmiledassheliftedherchin,

herhipsrocking.Never,shechallengedhim.Shewantedtoseemoreofhisbeast.

Heroseupjustalittle,liftinghisshouldersupoffthestonebench.Hecaughtherarmsandheldher

fast. He was so damn strong. His hips took over the ride. He thrust into her hard, using his vampire
strengthtopistonintoher,lettingherknowheintendedtohavehisway.

At the same time, she felt his frequency power ramping up. She panted, her face no more than a few

inchesfromhim,hiseyesboringintoher.Comeforme,Samantha.Comenow…

Atthesamemoment,hisfrequencybrokethroughand,likeatidalwave,swampedherfaeness.
The orgasm that followed rocketed her into a place she’d never been before. She screamed, but

couldn’tquitehearherself.Pleasureflowedbetweenherlegs,butalsodeepinsidetherealm-partofher,
washingecstasythroughherentirebodyinsharpwavesthroughhermind,downtoherfingertipssothat
herhandsclenchedandreleasedthewayherbodygaveovertotheorgasm,allthewaytoherfeet.

Hekeptworkingher,andmaybebecauseofthewayhe’dovertakenherfaefrequency,thepleasurekept

rolling.Shecouldhardlybreatheandhewassohard,rubbingthepartofherthatclenchedwithinfinite
sensation.

Her screams turned to punctuated cries as he thrust in deep hard plunges, then he sped up and more

pleasure followed, a second orgasm that overtook the first. When had her eyes closed? How could a
womanbearsomuchsensation?Whothefuckcared,givehermore!

Lookatme.
Sheopenedhereyesandmethisgaze.He’dheldbackuntiljustthismoment.Shesmiled,maybealittle

smuglyasshesaid,“Fuckme,Ethan.Fuckmehardanddoitnow.”

Thewaterfall became awhirling wave ofwater that went everywhereas Ethan tookher into the air,

flippedher,thencaughtherbeforeshelandedhardonherback.

Helaidheroutflatonthebench,thenpumpedfast,vampirefast,withaspeedthatstunnedher,faster

than even the first time. He held court in her fae energy. He watched her and that’s when she let her
faenesssurroundhimverydeepwithin.Shestrokedhisvampire-nessandhiseyeslitup.Hisbreathing
grewlabored,hishipspummelinghers.Everythingslowedashespedup,asthoughtimewarped.

Sensationsdrovetoanotherpinnacle,differentthistimeasshefocusedonhisrelease.Shedippedher

chin, holding his gaze tight. She slid her hand up his neck and touched his mouth, her fingers seeking
entrance.Hepartedhislipsandsheslidtwofingersinside,mirroringhiscock.

Oh,shit,Samantha.

Hereleased,aseriesofpowerfulthrustsbringingheragain.Shescreamedherfinalorgasm,watching

himashisbackarched,ashisbodywrithed,aspleasureovertookhisface.Hegrowledandgroaned,his
hips slowing down yet wringing the last bit of ecstasy from the shared experience, with several deep,
hardthrusts.

Shebreathedheavilyashefellonherchest,wornoutandsatisfied.Shewrappedhimupinherarms,

oratleastasmuchofthevampireasshecouldreach,savoringhismuscled,warrior’sbodyandletting
herselfenjoytheextraordinarythingthathadjusthappened.

Shesmiledupatthecraggyriseofrockthatledtoaslitintheearthabove.Shecouldseeastarortwo

winking.Shewinkedback,sodeeplysatisfied,shedidn’twanttomove.Ever.

Hervampirehadgonecavemanandshe’dlovedit.
And here was something she’d definitely never get to experience in the human world, this level of

lovemaking combined with power and an internal, inexplicable fae-vampire frequency exchange.
Shreveportlookedfartherandfartheraway.

She stroked his hair with her hand. The strands were thick, wet and tangled. He had incredible hair,

curly in parts, wavy in others, brown overall but with long golden tendrils and curls that gave him a
super-sexyappearance.

Wordssheshouldn’tspeakcametomindaftersuchanintensecoupling:Shelovedhim.
But that was impossible, wasn’t it? She hardly knew him. They’d never even sat and exchanged

histories or food preferences or whether he liked foreign films or not, although she suspected not. She
evensmiled.No,Ethanwasnotaforeignfilmkindofguy.

Heliftedupoffher,hislidsathalf-mast.“Ifeltyouchuckling.”
“Sowhichdoyouprefer,FrenchfilmsorDanish?”
“What?DoeitherofthosecountriesmakeseriousCGIfilms?”
Shesmiled.“JustasIthought.I’llhavetofindafae-friendtogotothemovieswithme,oratleastto

shareaNetflixevening.”

“Where’dthatcomefrom?”
“Oh, I don’t know, that I’m feeling so much right now, but don’t really have a basis for all the

tendernessandgoodwillpouringoutofme.”

Heplantedanelbowonthebench,andstillburiedinsideherherestedhisheadonhisfistsohecould

seeher.“Idon’tknowanythingaboutyou,butIlovebeinginsideyouhere,”hetouchedherlow,glidinga
finger down his cock and onto her mons. “But also here.” He touched her sternum with the heel of his
palm.

“Yes,that’swherewe’realsoconnected.Youforcedmedeepintomyfaeness.”
Hissmilewascrooked.“Youresistedonpurpose,justtoworkmeup,didn’tyou?”
Shebreathedandsighed.“Idid.Itwassomuchfun.”
Hefrowned.“Iwassofuckingoutofcontrol.”
“Thatwaspartlymyfault.AssoonasIsawQuinlan,andfelthisblood-starvation,Imovedtowardhim

becausethatwasmyjob.”

“Don’t remind me.” He groaned and rubbed a hand possessively over both breasts. He then leaned

downandpluckedateachnipplewithhislips.Afteramoment,hesaid,“You’vegrownsolemn.Why?”

“Whereisthisgoing?IfeellikeI’monarunawaytrainbutthetrackisallovertheplace.”
“That’saprettyaccuratedescriptionbutlet’stakethisonenightatatime.We’vejustbeenthroughtwo

astonishingthings,firstbeneaththeminaretcrystalandnowthis.”

Shesmoothedherhandslowlydownhischeek.“Iwanttoshareyourbedagain.Imean,IknowthatI

could easily return to the guest suite, but I want to stick close, at least for now. I know that what’s
happened, just as you said, is pretty astonishing, but I also know that we each have issues to resolve,
heavyones.Like,IhavenoideaifIshouldmakemyhomehere.

“And as for you, I’m the daughter of the woman you hold responsible for the deaths of your mother,

fatherandsister.Doyouhonestlybelievewecouldchartapathtogether?”

Heshookhishead.“Idon’tknow.Ifeellostfromoneminutetothenext.ButIdoknowweshouldbe

gettingback.I’llneedtoapologizetoQuinlan.”

“Thenweshouldgo.”
Shecaressedhisfaceagain,whichledtohislipsfindinghers.Hekissedherforalongtimeandshelet

him.Shedidn’tprotestorsuggesthehadobligationstofulfill.Healreadyknewthat.

Butshefelthisdesiretostayjustasshedidn’twanttoleave,becauseoncetheyreturnedtohishome,

toQuinlanandtheongoingwar,toVojalieandherexpectations,thismomentwouldslipintothepast.The
amazing sensations she’d experienced would be forgotten, sliding away bit by bit, replaced by duties,
decisions,andnewobstaclestoovercome.

Soshelethimkissheruntiloncemorehewasfirminsideherandhetookhertothepinnacleallover

again.

*********

EthanwatchedSamanthadryherhair.She’dgottendressed,ashadhe,buthestaredatherasthough

never seeing her before. Trying to mesh his recent Neanderthal behavior with a woman using his blow
dryer in a secret grotto cave he’d built for security purposes, proved a hard exercise for his vampire
mind.

He didn’t like complications and he especially disliked the disruption of his routine, which for fifty

yearsofhislifehadmeantkeepingBergissonRealmsafefromthedepredationsoftheInvictus.

And how the hell was he going to face Quinlan, who he’d asked to come to his realm because of

Samantha’svision?

SweetGoddess,hewasn’tsurehecouldmakeabiggermessofhislifethanwhatexistedrightnow,in

thismoment.

Worstofall,hisdeepmatingfrequency,theonehe’dneverallowedanotherwomantotouch,hadcome

alivewithSamanthaandstillvibratedwithhisrecentinvasionofherfaeness.Peelbackonemorelayer,
andallhecouldreallythinkaboutwasgettinginsideheragain,anywayhecould.

Heturnedaway,tighteningthewovenclaspthatheldhishairback.
“I’mready.”Hefeltherapproach,thenherhandonthebackofhisarm.“You’resoseriousrightnow?

What’sgoingon?”

“Reality.”Hewalkedbrisklybacktowardthefrontdoor.Hemovedfastsothatshehadtohurrytokeep

up.

“You’rebeingrude.”
“I’mbeingpractical.Thisshouldn’thavehappened.”
“Ethan,giveitarest,willyou?We’renotmarried.”Sheevenlaughed.
Heturnedonher.“Howcanyoumakelightofthis?Everythingthatjusthappenedchangesthefuture,

don’tyouseethat?”

“ButIknewthiswouldhappen.Italwaysdoes.It’sthewayoflife.Youstartedthinkingaboutwork,

didn’tyou?”

Heshrugged.“Ofcourse.”
“Thenlet’sfocusonthat.AfterIsteppedintoyourshower--andyouhavethebestshowers,bytheway

--IgottothinkingaboutRyandhisinvolvementwiththeInvictus.”

Ethan let out a long deep breath. For some reason he’d been so sure that Samantha would want to

deepentheirrelationship,‘takeittothenextlevel’,somethinghe’dheardmoretimesthanhewantedto
remember in the last decade. He didn’t have another level, just his dedication to Bergisson and not
bringingawomanonboardwhocouldgethurtbecauseofwhohewasasmastyrofhisrealm.Soiteased

himthatshespokeofRyandnotaboutloveorcommitmentoranythingelse.

Ry was also on Ethan’s mind; finding him and imprisoning his ass for the next millennium. He also

needed to figure out what lay behind the growing organization of the Invictus. They’d never been so
disciplinedbefore,fightingastheywerenowinlargerranks,arrayedlikesoldiers,trainedlikefighters.
Had Ry done this secretly over the decades, with perhaps the help of this mysterious ancient fae? Or
maybetheonecalled‘theGreatMastyr’wasinvolvedaswell.

Morethananything,hewantedtopulltheveilbackandhavealookatwhatwasthere.
Whenwraithshadfirstlearnedtobondwithotherrealm-folk,theensuingpowerthenewly-createdpair

could forge, sent them primarily on crime sprees, usually involving draining and killing innocent realm
inhabitants. But the last few decades, and especially the last several months, the typical Invictus
depredationshadturnedtoobjective-basedforays,liketheoneattheGuildhallfair.Theyseemedtobe
testingtheirmettleandimprovingtheirbattleskills.

Samantha squeezed his arm. “Earlier, before we began exploring the crystal ceiling of the Guildhall,

I’dfeltavisionwantingtoforminvolvingRy.”Shesmiledandwavedahandtoencompassthegrotto.
“Butallthishappened.NowI’mthinkingmaybeweshouldreturntotheGuildhallandtryitagain.”

“ButIthoughtyoumightbetootired.”
“Well,Iamtiredandalittlesoreinthebestway,butexhilarated,too.”
“Wait,didIhurtyou?”
Shepurredandmovedherhandtorubhischest.“Diditseemlikeyouwerehurtingme?”
“Well,no,butIwassortofoutofcontrol.”
“Isthatwhat’sreallybuggingyouhere?”
Hepausedforalongmoment,searchingherlightblueeyes,tryingtothink,tounderstand.“Yes.Ican’t

affordtobelikethis.IneedyoutounderstandthatBergissondependsonme.”

“Okay.Sowhatdoyouneedtodorightnowthen?”
“Contactmymen.Finn.”
“Then do that. Please, don’t wait on me. I’m not a delicate flower that needs to be tended to every

secondoftheday,orrathernight.”Shemadeaslightgaggingsoundthatforcedasmileoverhislips.

Heleanedintoherandtakingherfaceinonehandhekissedher.“Thankyouforthat.Thisisnewtome

andIguessIneededpermission.”

Hefeltforhisphonethendecidedontelepathy,partlybecauseofthenoiseofthewaterfall.Heopened

hispathingfrequency,anddirectedittowardFinn.

Here,Mastyr.EthancouldalwayscountonFinn.
What’sitlikeoutthere?
Quiet.Tooquiet.Ihavethepatrolsintheusualplaces,butthere’savibrationintheair.
Ethanshadedhisfacewithhishand.Hefeltitaswellandhadeversincetheattackatthefairgrounds.

Rywouldbecomingforhim,orforSamantha,andifhetrulydidhavecommandofanewInvictusarmy,
thenthewholethingcouldexplodeatanymoment.

Fine.I’mworkingthingsfromthisendaswell,withSamantha.She’sgotsomeseriousvision-based

power.Quinlan’shere,too.

Thatbastard?Buteventelepathicallytherewasamusementinhisvoice.What’sheupto?
ThesightofQuinlangoingstraightforSamanthaattheGuildhallflashedthroughEthan’smind.Fora

fewpainfulseconds,hewasbackthereandtheNeanderthalneedbegantoriseoncemore.

Ethan,youthere?
Finn’svoicesnappedhimoutofthemomentandheforcedthepossessivefeelingsdownasfarashe

couldstuffthem.I’llletyouknowaboutQuinlan.Imightsendhimtoyou.

Thatwouldwork.Youokay?Ah,shit,Ijustrealizedhe’samastyraswell.Didhemakeaplayfor

yourwoman?

She’snotmywomanandyeshedid.
Okay,Igetit.Stayintouch.Kyle’scheckingin.
HethencalledVojalieandfoundthatshe’dreturned,asexpected,tohisprimaryresidence.Shewas

neverfarfromBernice.

When he mentioned their intention of returning to the Guildhall, Vojalie suggested they try using the

conservatoryofhisprimaryresidence.SinceitwasclearSamanthahadsomekindofconnectiontothe
crystalpatternsintheapexoftheroof,heagreed.

“We’reheadingbacktomymainhouse.Vojalieistherenow.”
“AndQuinlan?”
Ethanshudderedasheshookhishead.“Ineedtospeakwithhim,tofacehimaboutwhathappened,but

I’llprobablybesendinghimtoFinn.”

“Soundsgood.Readywhenyouare.”
Heflewherswiftlybacktohishomeinthesouthernpartofhisrealm,touchingdownjustoutsidethe

door.Hetookherhandashewalkedin,butkeptheronhisright,placinghimselfbetweenSamanthaand
whoevermightbeinhishouse.

Asithappened,Quinlansatontheraisedfireplacehearth,thebabyinhisarms.
“Ooooh,”Samanthacooedquietly.“Howsweetisthat?Andshelookssotinyinhisarms.”
EthanturnedhisheadslowlyandglaredatSamantha,butherlipsquirkedwhichtoldhimshe’dbeen

tauntinghimonpurpose.Henarrowedhisgaze.“Willyoubehaveyourself?”

Shecaughthiswovenshirtinherfistandpulledhimtowardherassheleanedupandplantedafullkiss

onhislips.“No.”Shethenwavedtotheinhabitantsofthelivingroom.

Panic set in as he followed her. He didn’t want another fight, but if she got anywhere near Quinlan,

Ethanwasprettysurehe’dripthedark-haired,handsomebastardtoshreds.

But when Samantha reached the short set of stairs to the right, she turned back, winked at him, then

calledout,“Hey,everyone.I’mheadedtotheconservatory.”

Quinlanmurmuredagreetingbutstayedput.
DavidowavedatherandsaidVojaliewascookinguponeofherpastarecipes.“Dinnerinahalfhour.”
“Okay.”Shedisappearedintothehallway.
As Ethan moved the opposite direction, stepping down into the living room, Davido crossed to take

Bernice from Quinlan’s arms. “I’ll just go check on the linguine.” He moved swiftly so that within a
coupleofseconds,Ethanwasalonewiththevampirewho’dtrainedhimbothasaGuardsmanandhowto
governhisrealm.

Quinlanjustshookhishead,hishandsplantedonhiships.“Fuck.So,thisiswhatabloodrosedoesto

amastyr.”Hisdeepvoiceresonatedthroughtheroom.

“Welcometomynightmare.Youfeltitthough,whatshewas?”
“ThemomentIsawher,itwasasthoughIrecognizedherandbelievemethatwasatornadothatdrew

me in. I didn’t have time to think especially when she headed in my direction. Ethan, a thousand
apologies.”

“Thiswasn’tyourfaultorhers.Nobody’s,exceptthatI’mdamnsorryfortacklingyou.”
Quinlan grinned, a rare thing for him. “We’ll both have to pay, though, for the damage done to the

building.Youdidn’tseeit,butwebustedawallupprettygood.Theremightevenbeaproblemwiththe
joists.”

“Well,that’sbecauseyou’reonebigmotherfucker.”
Quinlan laughed but soon grew somber. “I won’t be able to stay here. I’ve dreaded seeing her walk

throughthedoor.SweetGoddess,thesmellofherblood!Butdoyoulikeher,thiswomanofyours?”

“She’snotmywoman.Whydoeseveryonehavetokeepsayingthat?”Ofcourserememberingthethings

he’d said to Samantha in the middle of all the recent outrageous sex sort of belied his own constant

protestations.

“Youdidn’tanswermyquestion:Doyoulikeher?Issheadecentkindofwoman?”Hefrownedashe

asked.

“She…she’snottypical.Butthetruthis,Idon’tknow.Ibarelyknowher.”
“Yet,youtrusther.EvenIcanseethatmuch.”
Ethannodded.HesearchedaroundtryingtofigureouthowbesttoexplainwhathefeltaboutSamantha,

whathisdeepestfrequenciestoldhimabouther.

“YouknowwhatDavidosaid?”
EthanshiftedhisgazebacktoQuinlan.“What?”
“Thatwhenshelooksatyou,sheseesyou,notjustthetrappings,butyou.”
“Yeah,Ithinkshedoes.”
Quinlanelaborated.“It’sasthoughyou’resuddenlythemostimportantpersonintheworld.Shedidit

justnow,tome,whenshelookedatme.”

Ethanbristled,hisfistsclenching,themusclesofhisarmsflexing.
But Quinlan laughed. “I’m just jerking your chain, but I will apologize since I can see you’re about

readytostroke-outalloveragain.”

Ethanmetandheldhisgaze.“Thethingis,ifyou’rearoundher…”
Quinlan nodded. “I know. So long as you haven’t permanently bound her, something Vojalie told me

about,thenI’llbedriventowardheraswell.

“So,putmeinthefieldfornow.LetmeworkpatrolswithFinn,foranightortwo.Iwon’tbeableto

stayawayfromGrochairelongerthanthat,butIthinkIshouldbeheretohelpsettlethisthingwithRyand
theInvictusheseemstohaveunderhiscommand.”

Ethan’s first instinct was to send Quinlan back to Grochaire Realm on the double. But that was all

about Samantha and not about what was best for Bergisson Realm. He wasn’t kidding when he told
Samanthathathisrealmcamefirst.

He nodded. “I agree that I need you here. Work with Finn. He’ll know where to fit you in with the

currentpatrolschedule.”

*********

BythetimeSamanthareturnedtothemainlivingarea,Quinlanhadleftthehouse.Withoutmeaningto,

shebreathedadeepsighofrelief.Sheheldnoanimositytowardtheoversized,handsomevampire,but
shewasasdrawntohimasshewastoEthan,thepullofthemastyr’sneedhardonher.

Ethanmetheratthestairsandexplainedthesituation.“Areyouokay?”heasked,hisbrowwrinkled.
“I’mfine,justtryingtofindmysealegs.”
Heturnedandgesturedwithawaveofhishandtothediningarea,offthekitchen.“Vojaliehasdinner

ready.Anasparaguscreampasta.”

“Soundswonderful.”
“Itis.WithaniceGermanwine.”
Sheglancedathim,tryingtoblendtheconceptsofvampire,pasta,andwine.Ofcourseshe’dgrownup

knowingaboutvampires,butshe’dalwayssupposedthemtobelesscivilizedthanthis.

Ababy-monitoronthetablekepttheparentsrelaxedasbabyBernicedidhersleepingwork.
Theconversationwaslesssatisfactory,however,sinceRycameupmorethanonce,hisdefection,and

eventhepossibilitythathe’dbeenworkingwiththeInvictusforalongtime.

Samantha tried not to think about Ry too much, or any of it really, but focused instead on what she

neededtodonext.Theconservatorypulledather.Thesongshadspokentoherfromthebeginning.

“You keep glancing in the direction of the upper quarters?” Vojalie smiled as she spoke, her warm

browneyesglinting.“Areyouthinkingofthecrystalapex?”

“Yes.”
“I’mnotsurprised.I’veoftenthoughtthatwiththerightfae,theconfigurationhadpossibilities.”
SamanthaturnedtowardEthan.“Whatmadeyoudesignitthatway?”
“Ididn’t.Itwasyourmother’sidea,herdesign.”
“Younevertoldmethat?”
Ethansmiled,thatbigsmileofhis.“Sorry.ButeversinceI’vemetyou,I’vehadalotofotherthings

occupyingmythoughts.”

Imagesoftheirrecentcouplinginthegrottoflashedthroughhermind.Whenhereachedforherhand

beneaththetable,herfingersmethisreadilyandherheartthumpedinherchest.“Iguesswebothhave.”

Heclearedhisthroatandaftergivingherfingersasqueeze,hewithdrewhishand.“Yes,yourmother

designedmostoftheinteriorofthishouse.OfcoursethatwasbeforePatrickdied.Wewereverygood
friendsonce,evenbeforeIbecamemastyrofBergisson.”

“UntilsheleftandthedisasterhappenedatSweetGorge.”
Henoddedandsethisforkandspoondown.Hesatbackinhischair.“Iwishitwereotherwise.”
“IwishIunderstood.”
“Understanding will come in its own time,” Davido said brightly. “And I want another glass of this

excellentwine.”Hepickedthebottleupandrefilledhisgoblet,toppingothersonrequest.

Afterdinner,VojalieandDavidoretiredtotheirsuitetotendtoBernice,whileSamanthadrewEthanto

theconservatory.

Shewalkedinbeforehim,movingslowlyandlettingthespacespeaktoher.Themusiccamefirst,a

softhummingofthecrystals.Ethanhadalreadytoldherhedidn’thearanything,soshefeltparticularly
blessedbythesound.

“Ididn’twanttotrythisalone,incaseIhadareactionsimilartotheoneattheGuildhall.”Shereached

ahandbackforEthan.

Hemovedinandtookit.“I’mhere.”
Shenoddedasshemovedtowardthecenter,wherethepavershadmadeaslow,swirlingprogressto

anothercentraldisk,directlybeneaththeapex.

Shelookedbackathim.“Ready?”
Henodded,buttherewassuchtendernessinhiseyesthatforamoment,herbreathcaught.Thiswas

Ethan,MastyrofBergisson,apowerfulvampirewhocouldbreakherwithathought,buthesmiledand
watchedherlikeshe’dbecomeprecioustohim.

Shetriednottomaketoomuchofit,buthewassohandsomeandmakinglovewithhimhadbecome

thisincredible,miraculousjourneyofsensation.Shehadafaefrequencythathecouldtapandplunderand
whichhedidwillingly.

WhatareyouthinkingbecauseI’mreadingallsortsofthingsrightnowthathavenothingtodowith

faevisions?

Her lips parted and she took a couple of steps backward, reaching the disk then drawing him to her

withapullofherhand.Hedidn’tmistaketheinvitation,buttookherinhisarmsandkissedher,pressing
hisbodythefulllengthofhers,lettingherfeelallthathewasinthestrengthofhisthighs,hisarms,and
whatgrewveryfirmbetweenthem.

She sighed as he kissed her and like magic, her fae power blossomed flowing in a stream upward

toward the apex of the crystal ceiling, lighting up, making her feel alive in ways she could never have
imagined in her simple student-jewelry-making life in Shreveport. Was this really her new life, all this
power, all this man, and the thundering of her heart that demanded she feed the one holding her in his
arms?

Hedrewbackandlookedup.“Theenergyyoucreatefeelsextraordinary.”
“And what amazes me is that I’m not struggling at all, with you holding me, here in your home. That

mustmeansomething.”

She didn’t want to say it, that she belonged here. But Ethan met her gaze and now his smoky gray-

browneyeslookedtroubled.“Partofmeknows,inmygut,weshouldcompletethebonding,toendany
chancethatRycangettoyou,butIjustcan’t.”

“Ethan,whatwoulditinvolveexactly?”
“What has been explained to me is that when our frequencies are joined, a further act of will is

required,adecisiontobondbybothparties.”

“Butthat’sgoodbecausethenIcouldneverbeforcedintoabondthatIdidn’tagreeto.”
His expression grew grim. “You could be forced, you could be worn down, and Ry is just deviant

enoughtoattemptit,onemorereasonthatIneedtokeephimawayfromyou.”

Shenodded,theweightofthesubjectsettlingin.“Butifwewerebonded,whatthen?”
“No one else could get to you. It just wouldn’t be physically possible for you to be bonded to two

vampiresatonce,whichreturnsustotheoriginalsituation,thatIwishIcouldofferyoutheprotectionofa
bondrightnow,butIcan’t.”

Sheputahandonhischest.“Don’tgothere.Icouldn’ttakeyouuponitevenifyouoffered.I’mnot

readyandI’mnotsureIeverwillbe.”

Henodded,buthelookedweigheddownagain,thatsenseshehadofhim,thathe’dcarriedtheburden

ofhisworldforfiftyyears,sincehe’dbecomemastyrofBergisson.

Hey,shepathed,givinghimasmallshake.RememberwhatDavidosaid.
Henodded,Understandingcomesinitsowntime.
Thishasbeenlikeacrash-courseinrelationships,andIadmit,I’veneverbeenverygoodatit.
Well,ifyou’renotverygood,thenIjustplainsuck.
Shelaughedandhuggedhim.Hehuggedherbackandrockedherasthestreamoffaeenergyflowed

withthem.

She drew back just enough to hold his forearms, returning to her original purpose in testing out the

crystalapexinthefirstplace.

Shetookadeepbreath.“IwanttofocusonRy.He’sbeentheproblemhere,andmaybeavisionwill

cometogiveussomedirectionrightnow.”

“Soundsgood.Goforit.”
Still facing him and holding his arms, she closed her eyes and focused on her faeness as the power

continuedtostreamthroughher.Avisionunfolded,quicklythistime,andinascatteringofsuddenimages
tellingherallsheneededtoknow.

Whensheopenedhereyes,Ethanstaredhardather.“Whathaveyouseen?”
“Ryplansonattackingallthepatrolstonight,allataboutthesametime,acoordinatedeffort.”Atthe

samemoment,herheadbegantohurtandshefeltstrange,likeadifferentkindofwavehadbegunpulsing
throughhermind,somethingoutsideherthathadnothingtodowithherownpower.

Shelookedaroundandfeltasthoughshewerebeingwatched,spiedon.
“Whatisit?”
“Idon’tknow.ButIthinkitmightbetheancientfae,thesameoneatSweetGorge.”
“Okay.”Henoddedseveraltimes.“Justholdontome.”
“Right.”Shedippedherchininresponseaswell.“Whatwillyoudo?”
“PathFinn.”
“Ethan, wait. Before you do, I have this feeling I need to shield you while you do it, to protect your

communication.”

“Okay.”

ChapterEight

WithSamantha’sfaepowerstillstreaming,Ethandrewherclosetohissideandnoddedtoher.Hefelt

hersurroundhimwithwhathecouldonlydescribeasakindofshieldorblockingcapacity.Shewasmore
powerfulthanhecouldhaveeversuspectedandhehadastrongimpulseforthatreasonalonetokeepher
withhimforever.

Butheforcedhimselftofocusinsteadonthemoment,andnotonhisimpulses.Witharoguefaeactive,

even in his own house, even affecting Samantha, and with a disaffected Guardsman who was also a
mastyrvampireinleaguewiththeInvictus,heknewhewasinforit.ThatSamantha’smostrecentvision
hadgivenhimaportaltothefutureenablinghimtowarnhisbattlingforce,wasahugeadvantage.

HehuggedherasheopeneduphistelepathyandreachedforFinn.
When Ethan told him what was going on, he felt Finn’s exasperation. And that bastard knows our

routines,allofthem.

Butwe’vebeenforewarned.Puteveryoneonalert,half-swordsdrawn,attackatwill.
Wherewillyoube?
HeglancedatSamanthaandasked,“Areyousureyousawmeinthefield?Ihatetheideaofleaving

yourightnow.”

“Youwerethere.Ihavenodoubtaboutthat.Youwereflyingnearatree-lineofoaks,Ithink,maybenot

evenfarfromhere.But,yes,youwereinthefield.”

Henodded,thentoFinn,hepathed,I’llbewiththeGuardhere.
Ending the communication, he drew Samantha away from the apex and like water sliding off a slick

surface,thepowerdrainedawayfromher.Hemarveledatallofit.

Hetookherbytheshoulders.“Idon’twanttogobutIwon’tbefar.Theoaksareaclue.Therearea

fewgrovesscatteredaroundmyrealm,butIcan’tbefarfromyourightnow.”

Hersmilefaltered.“Good.I’mnervous,too.”Butshedrewinadeepbreathandadded,“I’llwalkyou

tothefrontdoor.”

By the time Ethan said good-bye, he felt in his bones that leaving Samantha right now was a big

mistake.Buthehadajobtodoandthevisionhadbeenclear;he’dbeenwithhismen,whereheshould
be.

Yetevenashe,andsixadditionalGuardsmen,beganmeasuredsweepshighintheairovertheimmense

oak grove, his house, and the nearby Guard House training camp, a red wind arrived coming from the
east.HealertedoneofhisGuardsmentokeepwatchonallotherfrontsandtheremainingfivetoforma
frontbattlegridwithhimagainsttheapproachingInvictuswraith-pairs.Atthesametime,hepathedFinn
whosaidhe’dsendreinforcementsonthedouble.

Ashelinedupwithhismen,heopenedhisbattlefrequencyandfelthispowerfulwarvibrationsattach

toeachmanbesidehimanddowntheranks.Electricalcurrentspulsedheavilyastogethertheycreatedthe
fortifiedenergy-shield.

Ahigh-shriekingsoundarrivedastheInvictusattacked.
Andthebattlewason.
Energyreleasedfrompalms,flippedupfromwrists.Blueandredstreamsfleweverywhere,striking

theenergyfieldandcreatingsmallburstsoffireworks,resultingintearsinthefield.

Atthesametime,theInvictusthrewbladesofdifferentkinds,whichhittheweboftenandsometimes

increasedthosetears,whichmadesustainingthefieldevenmoredifficult.

Ethan, as a mastyr vampire, however, had the ability to seal up the breaches and worked his power

downtheline,bothdirections.Enoughtears,andtheInvictuscouldpassthrough,whichwaswhy,without

hissupportinabattle,onedayandwiththisleveloforganizationanddiscipline,theInvictuswouldbreak
apartthefieldandgetthroughtotheirgoal.Alotofrealm-folkwoulddie,includingGuardsmen.

The Invictus wraith-pairs could overtake a Guardsman caught alone, the attack savage with physical

weapons of all kinds; short-swords, daggers, hatches, spiked ball-and-chains and each pair tended to
favoradifferentkindofweapon.

Ethan’strainingofhismenhadbecomeincreasinglyvariedthroughtheyears,andespeciallyinrecent

months.

So basically, before Samantha, he’d worked seven nights a week in order to make sure he was

availabletosustainthelinkedbattle-shield.

Hesenthispowernow,bothdirections,mendingtearsandattimescoveringawoundedGuardsmanto

protecthimfromfurtherinjuryuntilhecouldrecoverfromaquickblow.

But an axe whirred by his head and as he sent another flow of power to seal the resulting breach,

somethingnewintruded.Fromnearbyhefeltthepresenceofthedarkfaeforce.Samanthahadindicated
shewasnear,butnowEthanfelthervibrationaswell.

HeneededtogetthisbattleoveranddonewithandbacktoSamanthaassoonaspossible.
Shewasindanger.

*********

Samanthastoodattheedgeoftheconservatory,butdidn’tquiteknowhowshe’dgottenthere.Shefelt

oddlydizzy.

AlltheGuardsmenwereoutsideengagedinabattleshecouldhearatadistance,sosheknewshewas

safe.

Several lanterns, placed around the lush, crystal enclosed gardens, kept the space in a soft glow,

althoughSamantha’sfaevisioncouldhavemanagedthedarkeasily.

Herlegsfeltalmostfatiguedasshemovedintotheroom.Ofcourse,itdidn’thelpthatshe’dbasically

switchedfromdaystonights.Nowondershewastired.Andherheartwassluggishagain.Ethanwould
requireanothersupplysoon,especiallybecausehewasbattling.

She just felt tired and another wave of dizziness assailed her. Then she felt it, the presence of the

ancient fae entity, not far from her now. And as she turned to scan the conservatory, the room began to
spin.Shedidn’tunderstandwhatwashappeningtoher.Shefeltveryconfused.

Suddenly,unexpectedimagesofthepreviousbattleattheGuildhallfairgroundssuddenlyburstthrough

hermind,playingoneaftertheother.

She pushed her hands to either side of her head, trying to make the images stop, of Ethan falling, of

Guardsmengettinghurt,oftheInvictusshriekingastheyattacked,oftheblueandredstreamsoflight,ofa
certainacrid,smokyscentintheair.

“Stop,”shecalledout.
“She’shadenough.”Sheheardaman’svoice,whichseemedfamiliar,butshecouldn’tquiteplaceit.
Justasquickly,theimagesslippedawayandhermindwasonceagainfree.
Samanthaopenedhereyes.Theroomnolongerspun,butshecouldseestrangewavesallaroundthe

perimeter.Somethingwaswrong.

Reallywrong.
“Samantha?”
Sheturnedslowly,herheadmuddledandthick.Amanstoodinfrontofhernow,avampire,amastyr

vampire.

“Rememberme?”
Shelookedupathim.“MastyrRy?”Shesmelledhisbloodneedandherheartpoundedinherchest.
Hisnostrilsflaredandhislidsloweredtohalf-mast.“Goddess,yourbloodsmellslikeheaven.”

Sheknewsheshouldn’tdoit,butshefeltcompelledassheopenedherarmsandeasedherheadtothe

side,exposingherthroat.Thesewerenotherarms,herthroat,herdesires.Sheknewthedarkfaeforce
manipulatedher,butshecouldn’tdoanythingelse.

Ry’sfangsemerged,pullingbackfromhislips.Hisjawtrembled,thenhestruck.Shefeltblissfulashe

pulled on her vein, drawing sustenance into his starved body. She was fulfilling her most profound
purposeinlife.Butthiswasn’tEthan.

NotEthan.Thewordslefthermindbutwentnowhere.
Shedidn’twanttofeedRybutshecouldn’thelpherself.
ShehadtocontactEthan,hadtofindhim.
Ry opened his personal frequency and began pummeling her chest and abdomen trying to get to her

faeness.Itwouldtakesolittletocompletethebonding.Sheunderstandthatnow,thatitwasjustamatter
ofherwill,ofacquiescing,ofsaying‘yes’,andshe’dbelongtoRy.

WherewasEthan?
Hermindfeltsolooseanddisjointed.TheimagesofthepreviousbattleattheGuildhallhoveredatthe

edgesofhermind,butsheforcedthemaway.

Shejustfeltsoconfused.
Yet she had to do something, she just couldn’t remember what? She loved that she was feeding a

starvedmastyr.ButthiswasRy,notEthan.

Ethan.Shesentthecallouttohimashardasshecould,butthecommunicationfailed.Shefeltthatthe

darkfaeforcehadblockedit.

Sogoodtogiveherblood.Moreimages,though,oftheGuildhallbattle.
Oncemoresheforcedthemaway.
Shehadtofocus,butonwhat?
Ethan.
Yetshecouldn’treachhim.
Sherelaxedandstoppedstruggling.Ry’sarmstightenedaroundher.Attheveryleast,shewishedshe

wasfeedingQuinlaninsteadofRy.

Quinlan.
Yes,maybeshecouldreachQuinlan.
Usingwhatwasleftofherstrengthaswellaswhatlittleclarityofmindshehadleft,shepathedtothe

MastyrofGrochaireRealmandfoundhim.Quinlan,areyouthere?

Samantha?
Ineedhelp.Ryishere.Can’treachEthan.
ThenhermindoncemorefilledwiththehorrificvisionsofthebattleattheGuildhall,forcedintoher

mindbytheancientfae.

Ry’svoiceintruded.“Icanstopalltheseimagesifyou’lljustbondwithme.Say‘yes’,Samantha.Just

say‘yes’.”

She wanted to. With all her heart, Samantha wanted the terrible images to stop and Ry sounded so

sweet.Hewasamastyrandheneededher.

ButwhataboutEthan?
She held on to thoughts of Ethan, then the images looped again, of shrieking and body parts being

severed,ofenslavedrealm-folkdyingontheground.

*********

Ethan,getovertoSamanthanow.She’sintroubleandshecan’treachyou.
Quinlan? What the hell’s going on? Ethan was in the middle of the battle, sending energy flying in

everydirection.

Justgo!ShesaidsomethingaboutRybeingthere.
Gotit!HecontactedhisGuardsmen,andbecausetheywereawell-trainedteam,themenclosedranks,

releasinghimfromthefield.

Hefeltitnow,thesameawfulpresencethathefeltatSweetGorge,butstrongernow,almostthickwith

energy.Andshewasinhishome.

SweetGoddess.
Heflewstraightforhishouse,goingasfastashecould,whichmeantitonlytooksecondstoreachthe

frontdoor.

Throwingthedoorwide,hecouldsenseSamanthanowandhowcloseshewastogivingherselftoRy.

ThefaepowerwasintenseandwherethehellwastheGuardhe’dlefttowatchthehouse?

He found him sunk in stupor just outside the archway to the conservatory, probably enthralled by the

ancientfae.

When he moved quickly inside, he saw red all over again. Ry had Samantha in his arms, feeding

brutallyfromherneck,hisbodyhunchedoverhers.

“Get off my woman!” His voice bellowed through the space, shaking some of the crystal panes but

having the good effect of forcing Ry to release Samantha. She was pasty white as she slid to the floor,
weakatbest,unconsciousatworst.

Hegatheredpowerintohispalms,energyradiatingdownbotharms.
ButRyhadjustfedonabloodrose,soheturneduphisownjuice,andwithbloodiedfangslaunched

strikesfrombothpalmsthenthrewhimselfatEthan.

PowerroiledaroundEthan,throughhim,punchingathim.ButhereturnedthefavorandheardRygrunt.
Apairoffangsrippedintohisleftshoulder.HegatheredhisenergyoncemoreandaimedatRy’sback.

Assoonashereleased,Ryshoutedhispain,butsentanansweringshotatthebaseofEthan’sspine.He
archedawayfromRy,rollinginagony,buthisenemyhadjustfed,morepowerfulthaneverbefore.

Damn,heneededhelphere.
He was on his hands and knees, glaring at Ry who walked around him sneering, gloating. “Feeling

weak,mastyr?”Helaughedlongandlow.

Andthat’swhenhefeltit,thedarkfaeenergy,muddlinghismind.
Ethan,Samanthawasinhishead.Cometome.Together.Wecandothis.
Shesoundedsoweak.
Heunderstood.Fromhisperipheral,hewatchedhercrawlingtowardthecentraldisk.
Hehadtogettohersothatshecouldlaunchherfaepower.
He gathered one last bolt of energy and flung it at Ry. At the exact same moment, he levitated in his

half-kneelingstate,caughtSamanthaupandslidhertherestoftheway.Hecouldfeelthemomentshelet
herfaeenergyflowanditwaslikeahealingsalvethroughhiswreckedbody.

Hetookinalongdeepbreath.
HeheardRycursingasafaintfemalevoicecalledout,Wemustgo.Youfool!Youfailedtocomplete

thebonding!

HesawRyflythroughthearcheddoorwayandknewwhenbothheandthefaeentityhadlefthishouse.
HeliftedSamanthatoherfeet,herenergy,supportedbythecrystalapex,stillflowing.
Helookeddownatherandcuppedherchin,kissingheronthelips,asoftexpressionofhisgratitude

forwhathadjusthappened.Youjustsavedmylife.

Shekissedhimback.And you saved mine, again. He almost had me, Ethan. He was drinking from

me,andbecausethebloodrosepartofmedoesn’tdifferentiate,Iwassohappytomeetthatterrible
starvationthatallofyousufferfrom.

Butheplayedintothat,andtriedtobondwithme.Allthewhile,Iforcedmyselftofocusonyou,but

thedarkfaebeing,orwhateveritis,startedconfusingmymind.Shekeptshowingmebattleimages

fromtheGuildhallfairgrounds,tormentingme.

He drew her into his arms. It’s over and you’ve been through hell, again. Guilt swamped him. He

should have been here. He should have gone with his gut. When was he going to learn? And yet, she’d
beensocertainaboutthevision,nothesitatingatallwhenshetoldhimwhereshe’dseenhim.

Canyoumoveusoutofthisstream,Samantha?Ineedtocontactmymen.
She nodded and eased away from the disk. He sidestepped with her and as before, the energy slid

away,nostressorstrain.Hefeltcompletelyrestored.EventhewoundthatRyhadinflictedatthebaseof
hisspinenolongerhurt.

Sheplantedherhandonhischest.“Callyourmen.”
He nodded and pathed to Finn who gave him an update. The Invictus had attacked every patrol and

manywerestillbattling.ButFinnsaidthenumbersofwraith-pairscapturedwashigh,allbeingheldin
prisonforlatertrials.

EthankeptSamanthaclose,butthepulltogobackoutinthefieldalmostoverwhelmedhim.Because

together Ry and the fae entity had been able to enter his house despite the presence of his Guard, he
wasn’twillingtojeopardizeSamanthaagaintonight.Ineedyouonthis,Finn.

He outlined what had happened and Finn responded, I’ve got this. I’m in touch with Quinlan. He

replacedyouatthebattlenearyourhouse,wheretheInvictushitthehardest.I’lllethimknowwhat’s
goingon.

I’llbeheretonight.
Asitshouldbe.
Ethanforcedhimselftoletthewholethinggo,theterriblesensationofanxietythatheshouldbeoutin

thefieldhimself.He’dleftSamanthaoncetonightandhewasn’tdoingitagain.

AftercontactingVojalieandmakingsureherfamilywassafe,heturnedSamanthainthedirectionofhis

suiteofrooms,whichhe’dbuiltwithextrasecurity.Onceinside,hemadesurethewindowswerelocked
downthenheboltedthedoor.

Samanthaadmittedherfatigueandhegaveheroneofhisteestosleepinwhichwentallthewaytoher

knees.Shelookedfragileandsexyandherespondedtobothimages.Butheheldhimselfback.

Sheneededrest.
She fell asleep almost immediately, so he moved into the living area nearest the bedroom door and

fromwhichhehadaviewoftheoakgrovebeyondathickpaneofbulletproofglass.Hisvampirevision
shifted subtly as it moved through the dark of night, through the trees, the black shadows of trunks and
branches,buthesawnothing.NordidhefeeleitherRy’spresenceorthefaeentity,ashe’dcometothink
ofthisancientwoman,asanentity,somethingdifferentfromnormalrealm-folk.

Hestoodwithhiskneesapartandhisarmslockedbehindhisback,restrainingtheragehefeltthatRy

hadalmosttakenwhatEthanhadcometobelievebelongedtohim.Itwasarealmthing,avampirething,
and a very male thing that he wanted Samantha in that way, like something his cave-residing ancestors
mighthavedoneonprinciple,haulingawomantohisvampirelair,keepingher,makingherhisrepeatedly
untilherstomachwasswollenwithhischild.

HisbodytrembledwithexactlythatkindofneedandamatchingragethatRyhadattemptedtoforceand

totrickSamanthaintobondingwithhim.

SweetGoddess,afewsecondsmoreandhewouldhavelosther,that’swhatheunderstoodashestared

outintothenight,abreezewhippingtheleavesandshadowsaround.Thefaeentitywouldhaveseentoit,
wouldhaveconfusedher,andshewouldhaveacquiesced.

He’dalmostlosther.
Theideaofitsickenedhim.Buthowwashegoingtokeeponinthisway,withoutbindinghimselfto

her?Yetneitherwasreadytomakethatlevelofcommitment.They’dbarelyknowneachothertwonights.

Hedidn’tknowwhatelsehecoulddoexceptstickcloseuntilhefoundawaytoconfrontRyandeither

arrestandimprisonhimordefeathiminbattleforgood.

*********

WhenSamanthaawokelatethenextevening,sheputahandtoherchest,awarefirstandforemostof

herheavilybeatingheart.

Ethan.
Ethan?Shecalledtohim,knowingheneededtobefed.
I’mcoming.
Shesatupinbed.Sheworehist-shirt,theblackfabricsoftagainstherskin,hisgrassy,hillsidescent

sweetinhernose.Sheliftedthebottomoftheshirttoherfaceandbreatheddeeplyasdesireswirled.

Butrightontheheelswastheneedtoofferupavein,sothatwhenheopenedthedoortothesuite,she

heldoutherarms.“Comeandtakewhatyouneed.”

Thelookonhisface,ofsuddendesireandreliefmingled,madeitaneasydecisiontotaketheshirtoff

andthrowthecoversback,baringherselftohim.

Hecriedout,closingthedoorwithhisfootoncemore.Hegotridofhisjeansandlong-sleevedteeina

flurryofmovement,arrivingbesidethebedwithhisgazefixedtohers.

Thankyou,slidfromhismindtohers.
Shenoddedandglanceddownatwhatwasfirm.It’sokay.I’mready.Iwantthis.Takeitallandtake

itnow.

Ihadn’tthought…Ihadn’texpected…
Thewordsdriftedawaybecausehekissedherandpositionedhimselfbetweenherknees.
Butshepathed,YoukeepforgettingthatI’mabloodrose.
Hegroanedheavily,plunginghistongueinandoutofhermouth.
Thiscouplingwouldbeswift,onlyaslongasittookforhimtoplunderhervein,butherbodyached

forhimaswell,fromdeepinsidetothetipsofherfingersandtoes.Herfaefrequencyignitedatthesame
timereachingforhisfrequency.

Asheslidhiscockinsideandbegantopush,hereleasedhisfrequencyandmethers,entwining.
Shecriedout.Passionflowedandshewrithedbeneathhisbody,pullingatthewovenclasptorelease

hislonghair,thenlosingherfingersinthethickcurlystrands.

Sheshiftedherheadonthepillowtoexposeherneck.Heleaneddownandwithfangsfullyemergedhe

strucktojusttherightdepthandbeganlongpulls.

His hips moved into her then drew back, only to return with heavy thrusts, arching and pushing each

time.

Samantha slid from one extraordinary sensation to the next, to the feel of a warrior’s muscled body

pulsingoverhers,hisscentinhernose,hisfrequencystrokinghers,workingherup,hiscockhittingher
justrightandsettingpleasureonpleasure,tohislipssuckingherneckandhervein,drawingfromherthe
supplymeantforhim,meantforamastyr,meantforEthan.

Onlyforyou.
Yes,onlyforme.Mine,Samanthamine.
Yes.Shedidn’twantanyoneelsetotakeherlikethis,todrinkfromherasRyhad,poweringhimtohurt

themanshe…

Samanthadrewinabreathandhisdrinkingslowed.
Whatisit?
I…thatis…nothing.Shecaressedhisback,hisshoulders,hisarms.Keeptakingfromme.Ilovethis

somuch.She’dalmostsaidshelovedhim,buthowimpossiblewasthat?She’donlyknownhimahandful
ofdays.

Yetwithallthey’dbeenthrough,itseemedsomuchlonger.Andbecauseshefelthisfrequency,thatshe

touched what was so intimate in him, in his realm-world, she felt she knew him better than she’d ever
knownherhumanboyfriendsinthepast.

But what did it mean to ‘love’ Ethan? What could it mean? She would have to give up her life in

Shreveportandshewasn’treadytodothat.She’dhavetobecomefully‘realm’andshewasn’treadyto
dothateither.

Heleftherveinandwithbloodonhislipshelookeddownatherandcaressedherfacewithhishands.

“Wheredidyougo?Youwererightwithme.Iwantyouback.”

Shenodded.“Iwanttobeback.”Themovementofhishipshadslowedbuthestillpushedintoherand

pulledback,inandout.Hefeltsogoodandtheconnectionwasextraordinary.Shewantedmore,moreof
him,moreofallthattheycouldbetogether.Shewantedhimentangledashewasrightthisminutewithher
faefrequency.

Sheleanedupandgrabbedhisneckpullinghimdowntoher.“Fuckme,Ethan.You’rewhatIwantright

now,rightthisminute.I’mhere.”

Hegrowledsoftlyandheldhergazeashebegantopushinsideher,heavythrustsoncemorehittingher

justrightsothatshebegantoclench.Shecouldhardlybreathe.

“That’sit.That’swhatIwanted.Toseeyoulikethis,yourlipsparted.”
Hedrewcloseandrimmedherlipswithhistonguethenpistonedhishipsandkissedherhardatthe

sametime.

Crying out against his mouth, she came, pleasure rising to a sharp crescendo, streaking through her

body, up her abdomen and tightening her fae frequency to join in more pleasure so that she arched her
neckandshescreamed.

He pistoned hard, his cock ready. He shouted as he came, which brought her again, another flare of

sensation that caused her body to writhe beneath his, her hands gripping his muscled arms, her well
tighteningaroundhim,makinghimtwistoverherasthelastofhispleasureflowed.

Shebreathedhardasheeaseddownonherandasherownbodyletgoandrelaxedintothebed.
Perfection.
Couldn’tagreemore.
Hewasbreathinghardaswell.
Shesurroundedhimwithherarms.Eventheirjoinedfrequencieshadrelaxedbutremainedconnected.

Shelovedthis,allofit,thegivingofherblood,theirfrequenciesjoined,andsexwithEthan.

Shedidn’twanttogivethisup,buthowfarwouldsheneedtogofromallherpreviousheartfeltplans

anddreams,tostayherewithhim?Shedidn’tknowifshecoulddoit,notdeepinherheart.

The superficial part, the simple desire to keep making love with him, understood exactly what she

shoulddo.

But she was old enough to understand that relationships were anything if not complicated, that pure

desire,ofanykind,couldn’tcutitforthelonghaul.Andbyeverythingshe’dseenintheworldoftheNine
Realms,lifewouldbecomeincreasinglycomplex,notlesssowereshetofullyembraceherfae-self.

“You’re thinking hard.” His voice came out muffled, pressed as he was against the side of her head.

Shefelthislipskissingherhair.

“Iwokeupwithalotonmymind.SotellmeaboutBergisson,whyyouloveithere.”
Hetookheronajourneyofhischildhoodandhowforthefirstfifteenyearsofhislife,he’dexplored

every cranny of his world, every mountain and vale, every river, even the oceans between the realm, a
worldapartfromearth,justsomehowconjoined.

He spoke of traveling the next fifteen years from realm-to-realm, of meeting each of the mastyrs and

knowingfromanearlyagethathewouldonedaybeamastyrandpossiblyrulearealm,buthe’dnever
reallybelievedit.RyhadruledBergissonforalongtime.NoonecouldbemorepowerfulthanRy,butso
Ethanhadproved.

Hestayedwithherinbedforalongtime,naked,sharinghislifewithher,histhoughts,hismemories.

Later,hebroughtthemaplatteroffood,andabottleofwine.Hiseveningpatrolswouldn’tbeginfora
littlewhilelonger,thoughhewasn’tsurehe’dbeleavingherbecauseofwhathappenedthenightbefore.

SamanthatreasuredthistimeasEthansharedwithher.He’dneverexchangedhistorieswithanywoman

before,thatmuchhetoldher.Astrangekindofmagicsurroundedthesharing,andtheentiretime,hekept
his personal frequency open so that though their bodies had disconnected, even when he’d gone to the
kitchen,she’dremainedjoinedtohim.

So,thiswaswhatitwouldbelike,shethought,asshepushedastrandawayfromhisface,tuckingit

behind his ear. Juice from a ripe peach he was eating, dripped down his chin. She leaned close and
quicklycaughtitwithhertongueandthemomentseemedrightagain.

Hepulledherontopofhimandsherodehimtothepinnacle,asoncemorehetookfromhervein.
Whenshelayinhisarms,shelaughedatthesiteofallthedisturbedfruitandcheeseandthoughtshe

couldstaythiswayforever.

*********

EthanheldSamanthainhisarms,hiscockstillinsideherthoughonlyhalf-erectnow.He’dcomeagain

and again. He was fired up because of her blood, and eased at the same time. His stomach no longer
cramped;hewassatisfied.

He didn’t want to let her go, not now, not ever. He wished he understood the mystery of what was

happeningbetweenthem.Thelogicalpartofhimkeptcallinghimawayfromhishouse.Bynow,hewould
have been down at the training camp with his Guard, going over the terrain of Bergisson once more,
devisingnewstrategies,takingcharge,orderingthepatrolsout,watchinghismenfly.

Itwasalmostfull-darkandstillhedidn’tleave.Hejustheldthewoman,half-fae,half-human,tightin

hisarms,almostunabletoreleaseher.Definitely,unwilling.

He’dneverexperiencedaconnectionlikethisbeforeinhisentirelife,althoughshadesofitfeltvery

muchlikehisbirthfamily,theclosenesshe’dknownwithhissisterandwithhismotherandfather,now
longgone.

WasthatwhatSamanthahadbecometohiminonlyafewshorthours,hisfamily?
That’swhatshefeltlike,somethinghemustprotectwitheverythinginhisbodyandsoul,tohisdying

breath.

Heloved…
SweetGoddess,didheloveher?
Helaywithherquietlyforalongtime,evenashewatcheddaygivewaycompletelytonight.
Finally,hiscompulsiontobewithhisGuard,toprotectBergissonbecameapulsingweightinhischest

andhesighedheavily.

*********

“YouneedtocontactFinn.Icanfeelitinyou,likeaboundlessdrive,strongerthananyotherpartof

you.”

“Yep.Exactly.I’msorry,Samantha.”
Sheroseupandsmileddownathimthenkissedhimonceonthelips.“Neverapologizeforthat.It’s

yourfinestquality,yourloyaltyandservice.Ivaluethataboutyou.Rememberthat,Ethan.”

Henodded.
Shegrabbedforawashclothhe’dprovidedandcaughttheirsharedwetnessassherolledoffhim,away

fromtheplatteroffood.Butshestayedinbed,lettinghimgoabouthisbusiness,takingthefoodawayand
puttingitinthelivingareaofhissuitethenheadingintotheshower.

Thesightofhimwasbeautifulandforthatreasonalone,togettowatchsuchmasculineperfectionwalk

aroundnakedinaroomshesharedwithhim,wassufficientreasontostay.

Shelayonhersideenjoyingtheshowasheshowered,latheringup,hisbrowgrowingmorefurrowed

bythesecond.

The connection of frequencies grew thinner and thinner until at last they dissolved, almost naturally,

whichwasniceexceptnowshedidn’thavethewarmthofhisspiritcaressingherabdomen,becausethat
wastheonlywayshecouldexplainwhatnowfeltcoldandalmostemptywithinherbody.

Shepressedahandthere,wonderingifEthanfeltitaswell.
Ithoughtitforthebest.
Hisvoiceinhermindstartledher.Wereyoureadingmythoughts?
No. But I was feeling the loss of your fae frequency and figured you might be experiencing

somethingsimilar.Wereyou?

Yes.Suchastrangeemptiness.
Hepausedandshewatchedhimturnintothespraysothatthewaterhitthebackofhisneck.Heparted

hislonghairandshehadthebestview.

IlovewhatI’mlookingat.
Heshiftedtolookatheroverhisshoulder,tomeethergazeandforherbenefithesmiledandflexedhis

butt-musclesacoupleoftimes.

Shelaughed,herfingersnowpressedtoherlips.Andforsomereason,tearstouchedhereyes.How

couldsheeverletamanlikethisgo?Buthowcouldshestay?

*********

AsEthantoweledoff,hetriednottothinkabouthowallhewantedtodowasclimbbackinbedwith

Samanthaandstaythereforadecadejustenjoyingher.

ButFinntappedathispathingfrequencyandheresponded.I’llbeonmywayinafew.Arewegood

outthere?

We’vehadared-windsightingatacommunitydanceoveratCaldwell.I’msendingtwopatrolsover

therenow.I’mgoingwith.

I’lljoinyou.
Yousurethat’sagoodidea?
Ethan’s gaze shifted to Samantha, whose eyes were closed. She looked so peaceful. I have no idea

anymore.

Thensittightandletmetakealook.I’llbethereinfiveminutes,thenI’llreportback.
Okay.Fiveminutes.
Yougotit.
Ethanendedthecommunication,thenmovedintohisdressingareaandputonhisusualnightlybattle-

gear.Whenheopenedhiscloset,hefelttheneedtothankhishousekeeper,again,forhowmuchshekept
his gear in excellent shape. Several rows of leathers and woven shirts, even the a choice of long,
sleevelesscoats,rangeddownthelongmetalrod.Hisleatherbootsgleamedwithpolish.

Hetendedtolikeextrametalonhisleatherpantsandboots,medallionsandwhatnot.Gerrodhadlifted

abrowbutQuinlansaidheneededtobemorewreckedinhischoices;theyweretoomildforGrochaire’s
mastyr.

Ashedressed,heheardSamanthahopintheshowerandevenstarthumming.Hiswomanwascontent.

Helikedthat.He’ddonethatforher.Heunderstoodthatthesweetreleaseofsexsentalotofgoodthings
movingthroughtheveins.

Using the hair dryer, he worked his hair to a state of half-dry knowing that a few minutes of flight

wouldfinishthejob.

ButheleftthebathroomassoonasSamanthaemergedfromhershower.Shewastoodamnappealingto

betoleratedeasilyrightnow.

He waited for her but when she was dressed in jeans and a loose green blouse, tied at her hips, he

thoughtthatclothesornoclothes,hewantedherbad.Healmostopenedhisarms,buthesawthatshehad
afrownonherbrow.

“Whatisit?”
“Myfaenessseemstobereallyaliverightnow,butIdon’t

knowwhy.Idon’tknowwhatitmeans.”

Hewenttoherandtookholdofherarm.“Justgowithit,gowithyourinstincts.”
She looked up at him still frowning, her light blue eyes full of concern. “Would you go back to the

conservatory with me? I think I should open up my fae-power with the crystal right now. I just sense
somethingneedstobelookedat.”

“Then that’s exactly what we’ll do and don’t worry about what’s going on out there. I’ve been in

contactwithFinn.”

“Okay.Let’sdoit.”
Heledherbacktotheconservatory,tothedisk,andshewalkedstraightbeneathit.Hemovedinclose

behindher,hischesttoherback.Heslidhisarmsaroundherandhefeltherengageherfaepowerandthe
latent igniting effect of the crystal as if by long habit. He knew she didn’t understand how easily she’d
takentoherfaenessorevenhowpowerfulshereallywas.

The vibrations of her realm-energy passed through him like a warm wave of healing sensation.

Whatevershefelt,hewasgivenatremendoussenseofpeace,evenofpurpose,asheanchoredherinthe
streamoflight.

Sheleanedherheadbackagainsthischest,whichcausedhimtobreathedeeplyashethoughtyetagain

thatheneverwantedtolethergo.

Ethan,I’mhavingavisionofthedanceinCaldwell.
Whatdoyousee?Hisheart-rateincreased,thumpingheavilyinhischest.
TheInvictus,Finn,yourguard.
DoyouseeRy?
No,notyet,butEthan,Idon’tthinkyou’regoingtolikethis.
Hisheartmighthavestoppedforamoment,thenpressedonwithdullthuds.What?
I’mthere,I’minthisvision.I’msupposedtobethere.
Without thinking, he stepped off the disk, pulling Samantha with him. Of course the resulting abrupt

severingofpower,causedhertolist.Thenshegrabbedherhead.“Oh,thathurts.”Shelookedupathim.
“Hey,don’teverdothatagain.”

Buthismindhadonlyone-track.“I’llstayherewithyouorI’llleaveaguardherewithyou,butyou’re

notgoinganywheretheInvictusare,noworever,doyouhearme?”

He almost didn’t believe that these words had come out of his mouth and Samantha couldn’t have

lookedmoresurprised.

“ThisisnotimetogoNeanderthalonme.Saveallthatgoodnessforlater.”
Herwordssplithismindintwodirectionsatonce,thefirsttakinghimstraightbacktothebedroom,but

theotherremindedhimofhismostimportantpurpose.“Myjobistokeepyoualive.”

Sheopenedhermouththenclosedit.Hergazeflittedovertheroomforamoment.Heknewshewas

choosingherwordscarefullyandthenhefeltit,acertainoddexcitementemanatingfromher.

“Waitaminute.Whatelsedidyousee?What’sgoingon?”
“Ethan.” She shook out her hands in the air. “Listen, I think . . . I mean, if what I saw can actually

happen, I might have the power to break apart the Invictus pairs, and to save the enslaved realm-folk,
thosebondedtowraithswhowereforcedunderduresstojointhem.”

Ethantookbothherarmsinhishands.Heshookhisheadbackandforth.“Butnoonecandothat.And

you’renotevenfullyrealm,sohowcanyou?”

“It’snotme,Ethan.You’rewithme.It’sus.Wecandothisthing.Together.”
“Holyshit.”Heletgoofherarmsandmovedinaquickcircle.“Whatthiswouldmeanforourworld.

Oh,Samantha.Andthat’swhatyousaw?”Hefacedheragainandheldherclose.

“That’swhatIsaw.Sogetmethereandlet’sseewhatwecando.”
Ethanhadsuchconfidenceinherinthismomentthathedidn’thesitatetocontactFinnandrearrangethe

patrols.

Oncetheplanswerelaid,hetookhertothefrontdoor,thenstraightintotheair,headingtoCaldwell.

ChapterNine

Samantha held tight to Ethan as he flew her in a northwesterly direction, higher in the air than she’d

flownbeforebecausethey’dbepassingatall,rollingsetofhillsandcoveringmorecountrythanshe’dyet
seen.EightGuardsmenrangedoneithersideofthem,theirlongcoatsflappingbehind,asoundthatgave
Samanthasomecomfort.

Caldwell, an ancient place and built primarily of stone, was the largest town in the northwestern

portionofBergissonrealm,andhadapopulationofsixtythousandmixedrealmresidents.Ashighasthey
were, Samantha could see the central town square all lit up, but directly north of the city, a dozen
GuardsmenbattledtheInvictus,atleasttwentybondedpairs.

I’llbetakingyoutothesquare.Kyle’sinchargeofon-the-groundsecurityrightnow.You’llbesafe

withhimifIneedtodobattle.

He dropped into the square, landing at the far east edge, where the lights were dim and deserted of

party-goers.

Ahandsometroll,withthreebeautifulforeheadridgeshurrieduptohim.“MastyrEthan,wearesoglad

to see you and how well you look. Guardsman Finn has left several imprisoned wraith-pairs as you
requested.We’veneverhadaproblemwiththeInvictusatoneofourassembliesbefore.”

Hiswife,anelvenwithstrongfeaturesandherblondhairwrappedinaseriesofuniquebraidsontop

ofherhead,nodded.“They’veneverattackedthisfarnorth.”Hertrollhusbandslidhisarmaroundher
waist.

SamanthasteppedoffEthan’sbootashesaid,“Mr.Mayor,Icanseethatyouhaveyourpeoplewellin

hand.”

Samanthaglancedatthethinningcrowdontheoppositesideofthesquare.
Thetrollcluckedhistongue.“Therearealwaysafewyouthsdecryingthemistreatmentofwraith-pairs

and who made it almost impossible for the band to leave, but all that is settled. The square will be
clearedinjustafewmoreminutes.”HeshiftedhisgazepointedlytoSamantha.

Ethanintroducedherandsheofferedherhand.Thetrolltookit,smilingbroadly.“Andwhatalovely

faeresonanceyouhave,mydear.WelcometoCaldwellandIhopeatsometimeyou’llbeabletoreturn
andenjoyourfairtownunderbettercircumstances.”

“Idoaswell.”Shetookamomenttocasthergazearoundthesquare.Thereweremanysmallshops

andmosthadpottedevergreensoutfront,awnings,tablesandchairs,evendecorativelights.

SheglancedatEthan,willinghimtounderstandthatshewantedtobeabouttheirbusiness.
Henoddedtoher.“Takeustothewraith-pairs,please.”
The troll and the elf walked with great dignity toward the southeastern corner of the square, just

oppositetheircurrentposition.SamanthasawtheGuardsman,Kyle,andseveralmorestandinginfrontof
amunicipalbuilding.

EthanleaneddowntoSamantha.“Thepolicestationisoverthere,whereKyleiswaitingforus.He’s

probablyholdingthepairsinside.”

Astheyreachedthecorner,nearKyle,shesawthatthecrowd,insteadofcontinuingtheirdeparturehad

beguntoreturn.Shealsoheardmanywhisper,‘themastyrishere’whileothersweresaying,‘shemustbe
thenewbloodrose’.

Samantha felt her cheeks grow warm. She’d always lived her life quietly and the most public she’d

evergreetedwasstilljustasmatteringofone-on-oneencounterswhenshewouldsellherjewelryduring
astreetfair.

Ethan turned toward her, but his gaze scanned the square. He had one hand on her arm, very gently.

“Wherewereyouinthevisionwhenweseparatedthebondedpairs?”

Glancingaroundthesquare,shesawthatinthemiddleofapedestrian-onlytrack,linedbyplantersof

flowers,benches,andanoccasionalwell-litstreetlamp,acentraldiskformedacross-path.“There,”she
pointed.“Thecentralcircle.”

“Ofcourse,”Ethanmurmured.
As she moved in that direction, Ethan shouted orders to his Guard. “Bring all the wraith-pairs here.

Now.”Hisvoiceboomedabovethemurmuringcrowdsandthenumerousflagsflappinginthesoftnight
breeze.

Finn suddenly called down from above. “Incoming friendlies, mastyr, but we have another pair here.

TherestoftheInvictushaveretreated.”Helanded,sweatyfrombattleandplacedhisshort-sword,inhis
scabbardattachedtotheleathercross-strap.

HeofferedSamanthaasmileandanod.“Howyoudoin’?”
“Good.I’mgood.”Andshewas.ForthefirsttimesincearrivinginBergissonshefeltasthoughshe

hadapurposelargerthanjustfeedingavampire.

The crowd began moving in. She almost said something to Ethan, but the mayor found a microphone

andencouragedhispeopletoremainwellbeyondthecircle.Thecrowdshifted,movingawayafewfeet,
whichgavehersomerelief.

Whenthebondedpairsbeganarriving,thecrowdbooedheavily.Samantharememberedthisfromher

visionaswell,soshedidn’ttrytostopit,nordidEthan.Forthedestructionandthedeathsthewraiths
hadcaused,theleasttheydeservedwasameasureofpubliccensure.

Ethantookherhandandheldhergazeashepathed,Howdoyouwanttodothis?
Ineedtobestandinginthecenterofthecircle.Ithinkitmustbeafae-thing.
Nodoubt.Heevensmiled.
Heledherthereandshetookherplace,butherhearthadsetuparacket.Wasshereallygoingtodo

this,infrontofGodandeveryone,somethingshestilldidn’tunderstand?

But as Ethan gestured for the first pair to be brought to her, she knew what had to be done and her

faenessrushedforward,removingherdoubts.Somethingexternalmusthaveshownaswell,becausethe
crowdalmostasone,calledoutabig,surprised,‘Oh!’

Whatisit?SheglancedupatEthan.
Hesmiledather.Youhaveanincredibleaurarightnow,silverandviolet.Beautiful.
Samanthacouldonlytakehiswordforit.
Assheturnedherattentiononcemoretothewraithpairwhonowstoodfivefeetinfrontofthem.She

workednottoberevoltedbytheopaqueskinofthewraith,theyellowfangsanddarklips,orevenwhen
the creature let out a shriek, which made the crowd jump. The wraith was bonded to a male troll, a
muscularmanwithlargedulleyes,notsurprisingsincethebondrobbedtheboundindividualofwilland
rationalthought.

Samanthawavedanarminthewraith’sdirection,inalargearc,which,muchtoSamantha’ssurprise,

releasedaflowofsilver-violetenergy.Whenthatarcreachedthewraith-pair,theyfelltogetherontheir
knees.

ToEthan,shepathed,Putyourarmaroundmeandholdmesteady.Somethingbigiscoming.
I’vegotyou.
Shelovedthathe’dspokenjustthosewords,butherfaepowerfeltlikeabrutalforcebeneathhernow

andshetrembledassheliftedherleftarmaloftandbroughtitdowninaquick,heavystrikebetweenthe
shouldersofthepair.

Power released and not hers alone, but she felt Ethan’s vampire power attach to her faeness and

togethertheresultingenergyforgedanarcoflightthatsplitthebondintwo.

Thewraithfellsidewaysthrashingontheground,butthetrollstoodthereblinkingseveraltimes.

Anumberoftrollsmovedinclose.“Jonas?IthinkthisisJonas,fromoutatEvangelineLake.Hehada

farmthereahundredyearsago.Jonas,isthatyou?”

Ethan,havesomeoftheserealm-folkbeenboundforoverahundredyears.
Yes,somelonger.
MyGod.
Thecrowdsmurmuringsgrewlouderandlouder.
Thetrolllookedaroundandtookastepbackasthoughastonished.“WherethehellamI?”
“ItisJonas.Healwayshadamouthonhim,thatone.”
Someofthecrowdlaughed,butothertrollsapproachedhimandtookhimbythehand.Ethancalledout.

“Finn,takechargeofhim.We’llneedtointerrogatethemall.”

“Yes,mastyr.”
Several more Guardsmen grabbed the wraith, but the creature didn’t put up a fight, which surprised

Samantha.“Isshephysicallyhurt,demoralized,orwhat?”sheaskedquietly.

“Theygaintheirpowerthroughthebond.”
“That’shorrible.”
“Itis.It’sbeenascourgeforcenturies.I’mhopingournewmillenniumwillseethelastofthem.”
“Ido,too.”
Butthenextbondedpairwashauledforwardonlythiswraithfoughtlongandhardagainstwhathehad

seenhappentothefirstcouple.Hehissedandshrieked.

Ethanstoodslightlyinfrontofher,aprotectiveposition,asSamanthacreatedtheoriginalarcoffae-

power,sheddingasilver-violetwaveacrossthewraith’sback.Oncemorethepairfelltotheirknees,this
timethebondedmatewasatallfaewomanwhoborealotofbruisesonherarms.

WithEthanjoininghispowertohersoncemore,sherepeatedtheprocess,andthebondwasoncemore

severed. The wraith fell forward prone and didn’t move. He lay there twitching, his power completely
gone.

Likethetroll,however,thefaeappearedstunnedatfirst,herdulleyeseventuallyfindingclarityasshe

begantofocusoneverythingaroundher.Finally,shesaid,“Caldwell.ThisisCaldwell.AndI’mfree.”

Herwordsbroughtahugecheerrisingfromtheresidents.Huzzasfollowed,along,triumphantstringof

them.

SamanthasmiledasEthanslidhisarmaroundherwaistandgaveherasqueeze.Shelookedupathim.

We’redoingsomegoodhere,aren’twe?

Yes,weare.
Samantha performed the service repeatedly until twelve wraith-pairs had been completely dissolved

andtheoutlawwraithsimprisoned.Therecentlyliberatedrealm-folkwereturnedovertoateamoffae
whospecializedinbondagecrimeswithanetworkofservicesthatsupportedvictimsofallspecies.

AsforCaldwell,sincetheInvictusforcehadnotonlybeenturnedbackwellbeforethecity’soutskirts,

andthosewraith-pairscapturedwerenowdissolved,itwasparty-timeoncemoreintheoldstonesquare.

ThemayorbeggedforEthanandSamanthatoparticipateinthefestivities,butotherthanofferingafew

wordsatthemicrophonetowisheveryoneGoddess-speed,heexcusedhimselfforthesakeofhisGuard
andhisneedtostayonpatrol.

AstheGuardtooktotheair,adeafeningroundofcheersandshoutsfollowed.
Someevencalledouthername.
The sight of so many well-wishers in the stone-built town of Caldwell, added another layer to

Samantha’sconfusionaboutjustwhereshebelonged.

*********

EthanflewSamanthabacktohisprimaryresidence.He’dcometolovethefeelofhernexttohimlike

this,herfeetbalancedononefootashedriftedthroughtheair.

FiveGuardsmenaccompaniedthemandFinnhadtherestonpatrolssearchingformoreInvictussign.
Hemightevenhavefeltlikehecouldletdownalittle,butsomethingrestlessmovedthroughhisranks,

liketheyeachcaughtadistantjarringvibrationthatkepthistroopsonedge.

Ineedtobewithmytroops.
Now?Tonight?
Yes.Something’sgoingon.
ButIthought…
Whatdidyouthink?Becausewe’dworkedtogether?
Yes, because we’d saved a number of your people, bringing them out of years, even decades of

captivity,thatyoumightbeabletostop,totakealittletimewithme.Thiswasn’teasyyouknow.

She’dgrownstiffinhisarms.
Nowthisfeltfamiliar,thefewtimeshe’dallowedawomantogettooclose;shewantedmorefromhim

thanhecouldgive.

Heneededtosetherstraight,sohepathed,Bergissoncomesfirst,italwayswill.
Igetthat,orthoughtIdid.ButFinncantakechargenowandthen.He’smorethancapable.
ThefactthatFinnhadbeentellinghimsomethingsimilarforthepastdecadedidn’teasehismindorhis

temper.Heshotback,Andnowyou’reanexpertonbattlingtheInvictus?

Notexactly.ButIamanexpertwhenamanisbeingadick,whichyouarerightnow,bytheway.
Healmostsmiled,buthewastooedgytobethatamusedandwhydidhehavetolikeitwhenshecalled

himadick?

Whetherornotyou’rerightaboutthis,Ihavetogoout.
Doyouwanttoatleastchecktoseeifthere’sanothervisionyoucanuse?SeemstomeIdidsome

goodjustnow.

Hewasn’tsurewhyhewasbeingsopricklish,butherelentedalittle.Yes,youdidalotofgoodand

I’m proud of you. But, Samantha, whatever the future holds, Bergisson comes first. I have a million
realm-soulsonmyshouldersandIfeelthemeverylivingdayoftheyear.

Iknowyoudo.
Hedidn’tlikethatshefellsuddenlyquiet,thenheknewwhy.Hefeltherdoubtslikeawavewashing

overhim,tighteninghisgutalittlemore,makinghisedginessreachthatjumpingoffpoint.

Andittickedhimoffthatevenafterallshe’djustexperiencedandaccomplishedinCaldwell,thatshe

wouldthinkforevenasecondthatshedidn’tbelonghere.

You’rethinkingaboutShreveport.
Andmygrandmother’shome.
Shit.Hispersonalfrequencytightenedupintoaknot.Hecouldn’tbearthethoughtthatshemightchoose

toreturntoShreveport.Butwhycouldn’tsheseethevalueofstaying,evenstayingwithhim?

Thenhe’dhardlymadeiteasyforher.Ifanything,hisrealmhadbeenonelongnightmare,includinghis

ownNeanderthalconductthatgotsprungattheslightesthintofanothermalegettingclosetoher.

Still, it irritated him that she didn’t see that she belonged here. But then maybe she was more like

Andreathanhewantedtoadmit.

Whenhetoucheddownoutsidehisprimaryresidence,he’dneverbeenmoregratefulthantoseeVojalie

and Davido. They sat in chairs near the fireplace, the baby monitor between them, Bernice probably
tuckedawayinhercrib.

TheirpresencegavehimsomethingelsetofocusonbesideshisdesiretohaulSamanthatohisbedroom

andeithergiveheragoodtalkingtoabouthowsheneedtoshapeupandmakeadecisiontostay,orto
throwheronthebackandprovewhoshebelongedtoonceandforall.

Instead,heletherprecedehimwhileheremainednearthefrontdoorhopingforhistempertocool.At

thesametime,hefeltthatsamevibrationintheair,thatsomethingwasn’tright,thatsomethingbigwas
goingon.

VojaliegavehimonelonglookthenfocusedallherattentiononSamanthaasthelattersharedtheevents

oftheevening.

EthanturnedawayfromherandcontactedFinn.Howdoesitlookoutthere?
Something’s on the wind. Hell, I thought with the Invictus retreating at Caldwell, we’d be settling

downforthenight.Instead,Idon’tknow.

Ifeltit,too,allthewaybacktomyhouse,whichiswhereIam,bytheway.
Andyou’dratherbehere.
Intheair,yes,patrolling.I’maboutreadytocrawloutofmyskin.
Samanthaokay?
Yeah,she’sfine.ChattingwithVojalie.
Well,that’sgood.She’ssafe.OddthatRydidn’tshowup.
Yeah,Ithoughthewould.
Holdon.Oneofmymenissignalingme.I’moutnearSweetGorge.Lookslikewe’vegotInvictus

sign,justasmallparty.

Checkinlater.
Willdo.
Whentheconversationended,Ethanrubbedthebackofhisneck.Damn,butdidn’thehatethis,standing

aroundlikeafool,waitingforabombtodrop.

Samantha,whohadsatdownonacouchoppositeVojalieglancedupathim.“What’swrong?”
Hepacednowandcouldn’tseemtostophimself.“Idon’tknow.InvictusoutatSweetGorge,forone

thing.”

“Youwanttogooutthere,don’tyou?”
Hestoppedandfacedher.“Ido.Finn’stherenow.”
“Thenyoushouldgo.”
Vojaliesaid,“Butshouldn’tyoumaybeuseSamantha’sfaenessandcheckforavision?”
Samantha’sbrowroseandsheheldherhandsapartasshemethisgaze,thenhergazegrewcloudyand

sherosefromherchair.“Iseesomething.”

Hemovedtowardher,hurryingdownthestairs.“Okaytellme.”
When he caught her hands, her eyesight seemed to clear and she said, “I saw a number of dead out

there,atSweetGorge.”

“WasIthere?”
“Youwerelookingdownatthem.”
“Andyou?”
Sheshookherhead.“No,Iwasn’tthere.”
“I’vegottogo.”
“Go.”Sheevengavehimalittleshove.
“I’llleavefiveGuardsmenheretowatchoverthehouse.”
Shenodded.
Hehurriedbacktothedoorandcloseditbehindhim.HeleftinstructionsforhisGuardsmentostayon

alertandpatrolonlytheimmediatevicinityandtoletnoonein,thenheflewhardinaneasterlydirection
towardtheplacehisfamilyhaddiedfortyyearsago.

*********

Samanthafeltthatsomethingwaswrong,butshecouldn’tputherfingeronit.Foronething,she’dnever

quiteseenEthanlikethisbefore,asthougheverynerveinhisbodyhadbeenlitonfire.Healwayshadan

edge,butthiswassomethingmore.

SheturnedtoVojaliewhosatforwardinherchairwatchingherclosely.“Whatisit?”
Samanthashookherhead.“Idon’tknowwhat’sgoingon,butIdon’tlikethestatehe’sin.Itdidn’tseem

naturaltohim.Didittoyou?”

“Ethanwasalwaysquicktomove.”
ButSamanthahadbeenwithhimveryintimatelyforthepastseveraldaysandshe’dtappedhispersonal

frequency.Thiswasn’tjusthisusualenergy,hisdrivetowardhiscareofBergisson.No,somethingwas
wrong.

Her mind slid over all the events that had happened, about Ethan and their connection, the recent

salvationofwraith-bondedrealm-folk,andearlierintheconservatorywhenRyhadalmosthadher.

Whatwasitshe’dfeltthen,thatdarkfaeforce?
Images rushed through her mind again, of the massacre at Sweet Gorge. She could see it all now, as

Ethanmusthaveseenitsolongago.

She willed herself to grow very still. She blocked the images, setting them aside. She needed to

understandsomethingveryclearlyrightnowandithadtodowithhermotherandwhathappenedthenight
Ethan’sfamilywaskilled.

SheturnedtoVojalie.“I’llbeintheconservatoryreadingmymother’sjournals.”
“AtleasttakeoneoftheGuardsmenwithyou.”
“Goodidea.”
Once Samantha had a vampire in tow, she returned to the bedroom she’d been given when she first

arrived at Ethan’s house. She sorted through her mother’s journals and chose the last one written about
Bergisson,beforesheleftforgood.

TakingittotheconservatorywheretheGuardsmanpatrolledtheedgesofthevast,plant-filledspace,

shesatdownonthebenchnearestherdoorandscannedthelastseveralentries.

Andreahadexperiencedconfusion.Horrificimageshadrolledrelentlesslythroughhermind,dayand

night,pastvisionsthathadtransformedintorealevents,disastersimprintedforeveronhermemory.

AndSamanthacouldrelateexceptforonething:Andreaneverspokeofanancientfaeentityinterfering

withher,ormuddlinghermind.Shedidhoweversaymorethanoncethatshedidn’tknowhowmuchmore
shecouldtake.

The final entry was now familiar to Samantha, because Andrea had been inundated with images of a

terriblemassacreatSweetGorge,imagesthatAndreahadbeensurehadoccurredahundredyearsprior.
Moreconfusion,dizziness.

ButAndreahadlaidthestateofherminddowntogrief,theimagesshebelievedbelongedtothepast,

her confusion of mind. So, she’d made her decision. She’d needed a change. She’d needed to leave
Bergisson.

Samanthastoodup,thejournalfallingfromherlaptothepaversatherfeet.
She got it. She finally understood exactly what had happened to her mother. The fae of unknown but

ancientanddarkoriginhadbeenafflictingherformonths,butAndreahadn’tunderstoodwhathadbeen
goingon,whathadbeenhappeningtoher.

She reached her hand toward the Guardsman, but only then did she realize that once more the

conservatory was full of strange waves and movement. The Guardsman lay prone on the floor, still
breathing,butclearlyunconscious.

She smelled the ancient fae now, a terrible stench like something that had rotted at the bottom of a

garbagebin.

ThenRyappeared,holdingouthishandtoher.“Come,Samantha.It’stimetofulfillthebestpartofmy

plansforyou.We’regoingtoSweetGorgeandfinishwhatshouldhaveendedtherefortyyearsago.You
and I can do this together because my fae friend will help us. She’s promised untold riches and power

oncewebond.Butcome.LetmeflyyoutoEthansoyoucansaygood-bye.”

Samanthatookinhiswords,buthermindalreadyfeltfullofblacksmoke,soshedidn’tquitegetwhat

hewastryingtosay.

ButsheheardEthan’snameandshewantedtobewithhim.RycouldtakehertoEthan.
ShestumbledmorethanonceasshemadeherwaytoRy,whostoodonthecentraldisk.Whenshesaw

theglitterinhiseye,sheknewitwouldbeamistaketogowithhim,buthowcouldsherefusehim?She
couldfeelhisneed.

Once she reached him, the crystal apex lit up her fae power and strengthened her, which in turn

apparently gave Ry a rush because he cried out, “Sweet Goddess, I could live in this stream of energy
forever.”

Afemalevoiceintruded,verysoftly.“Ry,takeyourprizetoSweetGorgeandcompletethebond.Doit

now.”

“Yes,Mistress.”
LeavingthehouseprovedasimplethingsinceVojalieandDavidohadretiredtotheirrooms.
Rytookherinhisarms,flewhertothefrontdoor,andstraightupintotheairpastEthan’sGuardsmen.
Samantha wasn’t surprised that the powerful vampires hadn’t seen her. The ancient fae clearly had

manytricks,butwhatwouldshefindatSweetGorge?

*********

With Finn nearby, and fifty of his Guard spread along the southern ridge, Ethan stared down into the

gorge.

He’dbeenright.Somethingbigwasonthewind,afulfillmentofthevisionSamanthahadseen,theone

thatQuinlanwouldsoontakepartin.

OneofhisGuardsmenhadalreadybeenkilledandlaydeepinthegorgewhiletwoothersweretrapped

insomesortofstrangewebbingthatneitherhe,noranyofhismencouldexplain.

HepacednearFinn.TherestofhisentireBergissonforcewasontheway,comingfromeverypartof

hisrealm.

EvenQuinlanhadsentfortwohundredofhisGuardfromGrochaireandwaswaitingforthemtoarrive

atthefareasternrealm-to-realmaccesspointinordertobringthemovertoSweetGorge.

Heshovedhishandsthroughhishair,whileimagesofwhatthegorgehadlookedlikefortyyearsago

keptflashingthroughhisbrain,unbidden,asthoughplacedtheretotorturehim.

Hegrewedgierbythesecond.Heneededtoact,butFinnkeptwarninghimtowait.
Anotherrollofimagesasthepastroseuptotormenthim:Bodieseverywhere,beyondthewebholding

the two warriors. Sweet Goddess, he could see women and children bloodied, drained, dead. Men as
well.Realm-folkofallkind.Awomanheldhertroll-babeinherarms,bothdead.

Heshoutedintotheair.
Ahandclappedhimhardontheshoulder.“Ethan!”Finncalledsharply.
Ethanwhirled,hismindencasedwithtoomuchgoreandhisheartweigheddownwithguiltandpain.

“Theydiedhere.”

“Whodiedhere?Yourfamily,youmean?Fuck,Ethan.What’sgoingon?”
“Ihavetohelpthem.”
“Help,who?”
“Mymotherandfather.”
Finngrabbedbothhisshouldersinhishands.“Lookatme!”
EthanstaredhardatFinn.Hefocusedharder.Finally,theimagesleftandhepressedfingersagainsthis

eyes.“SweetGoddess,I’mbeingtormentedbythepast.”

“Don’tthinkaboutit.”

Heshookhishead.Hefeltbetter.“Where’sQuinlan?”
“ETA10minutes.HisGuardjustreachedtheaccesspoint.Hetoldustohangtough.”
Ethannodded.Movementfromthewebbelowdrewhisattention.Oneofhismenstruggledtoescape,

butthewebtightenedandhecalledoutinanguishasthetendrilscuthim.

Ethanmadehisdecision.“AtleastIcandothis.Icangetthemthehelloutofthere.”
HelaunchedwithFinncallingout.“No.It’satrap.Ethan!”
He stopped before he reached the web. He knew enough not to touch the webbing, but that’s when a

second layer released and the next thing he knew he was spun midair then pinned on his back, held in
placebyatopweb.

Hecouldn’tmove.Eventhesmallestshiftofhisbody,senttendrilsupfromthenettinghookinghimin

tighter.

He’d never felt so helpless, which pissed him off. He balled his hands into fists, but now his hands

werecoveredwithtendrilsthatpulledandclawedathim,breakingskinandcausinghimtobleed.

Hehadtoliestill,maybethehardestthingintheworldforhim,tojuststop.Anddonothing.
Worse followed as he stared up at the ridge, where Finn stood with at least fifty of his Guardsmen

because suddenly Ry appeared. But he wasn’t alone; he held Samantha in his arms. And if that wasn’t
strangeenough,somehowhewascloakedfromview.

Astenchreachedhim,offilthanddecayedmatter,athickodorlacedwithfaemagic.
Thenheunderstood:enthrallment.Faeenthrallmentpower,likenothinghe’deverknownbefore.
Shewashere.Thedarkfaeentity,thecauseofallthetroubleatthegorge.Heunderstoodseveralthings

atonce,thatshe’dsomehowgottenpastallfiveofhisGuardsandthatshewasusingRyandintendedto
useSamanthatotakecontrolofBergisson.

HewatchedFinnweaveonhisfeet,thencoverhisfacewithhishands.Thesamethinghappenedtohis

entireGuardupanddowntheridge.

RypiercedEthan’smindtelepathically.Itwon’tbelongnowandI’lltakebackwhatismine.
Ethantriedtorespond,toyellatRy,totalksensetohim,butRycutthecommunicationquickly.
HealsoattemptedtoreachSamantha,buthecouldn’tpathtoher,couldn’taccesshertelepathy.
Atthesametime,imagesofthemassacrereturnedandoncemoreslammedthroughhismind.Heknew

hewasbeingmessedwith,whichhelpedhimtounderstandatlastwhatmusthavehappenedtoAndrea,
that the ancient fae had tormented her as well. Because what else could have prompted such a faithful
womantoleaveherhomeforever?

Ethanwentverystillinsideandtheimagesoffortyyearsagomeltedaway,asthoughhisownturmoil

andbitternesshadkeptthemthere.

He was left with the difficult reality that he could have been wrong all this time about Samantha’s

motherandwhathadreallyhappenedatSweetGorgethatnight.Untilrecently,he’dthoughtithadsimply
beenalarge,randomInvictusattackthatAndreahadseeninadreambutrefusedtoreport.She’ddeserted
Bergissonthatnight,leavinghimtocleanuptheworstdisasterhisrealmhadeverexperienced.

Guilthadcoveredhimfordecades,thesureknowledgethatifhe’dbeenmoreresponsible,hisfamily

wouldn’thavedied.

Now,tonight,inthismoment,thetruthrosetohithimharderstillthatRy,alongwithapowerfulenemy

just barely making itself known to the Nine Realms, had planned and executed the massacre that night.
Davidohadbeenrightafterall:Thesheernumberswouldhaveoverpoweredhimandhewouldhavedied
aswell.

Whyfortyyearshadelapsedbeforeasecondattempt,hedidn’tknow,buthehadastrongsensethatthis

dayhadbeendevelopingfordecades,waitingforthearrivalofSamanthatogiveRysufficientpowerto
taketheprizehesought,withthehelpofcourseofthedarkfaeforce.

Samantha.

Histhoughtsturnedtoher,asRyoncemoresmileddownathim,holdingherclose.Whathewaitedfor,

Ethandidn’tknow,buthefeltsuresometimingwasatwork,maybeanInvictusforcethatneededtobe
movedintoplace.

But Samantha, Andrea’s very own daughter, had been the biggest surprise of all. He’d spent barely

threenightswithher,yetsomehowhislifehadbeentransformedcompletelyintosomethinghehadn’teven
realizeduntilthismoment.Atlonglastlovehadpiercedthehardshellofhisguiltandopenedupahope
that he could have a better life, one in which a woman slept in his bed, listened to his thoughts as he
listenedtohers,workedthroughdifficultissues,andintheendbecamesomethingmoretogetherthaneach
wouldhavebeenseparately.

How changed Samantha was as well, though maybe she didn’t see realize it. But from the first, he’d

caughtaglimpseofhersolitarylife,notmuchdifferentfromhis,thougheachenjoyedtheirlabors.She’d
beenaloneandnowshehadanewheritage,newgifts,evenanewfamilyifshecouldembraceit.

Hedidn’twantthistobetheend,forSamanthatobeboundandenslavedtoRyforwhatwouldamount

tocenturiesandhedidn’twanttodie,butherehewascaughtinakindofnettingthatcutathimifheso
muchashalf-flexedhispinkie-muscle.

Newimagesrushedthroughhismind,ofmeetingSamanthaforthefirsttime,ofmakinglovetoherin

hisbedandfeedingfromhervein--SweetGoddess,allthetimeshe’dfedfromher!--thenofanchoring
herwhileshegatheredstrengthfromthecrystalswhetheratthefaeGuildhallorwithinhisconservatory.
He recalled how he’d experienced such a pure, healing energy flow through him as she accessed her
faeness in a beautiful stream of violet-silver light. And she’d healed him of five decades of blood-
starvation, of a curse he’d accepted when his mastyr-power had arrived all those years ago. Suffering,
pain,andtheweightofrealm-responsibilityhadallbeeneasedbySamantha.

NowRyhadher.
She’dslippedthroughEthan’sgrasplikewaterpouringthroughhisfingers.
Andashisranksstruggledbeneaththemind-controlofthedarkfaepresence.
But to add to the present horrors, suddenly Invictus wraith-pairs moved in from behind, hundreds of

them,surroundinghismen.

AndEthancouldn’tliftafingertodoanythingaboutit.
He tried to reach either Finn or Samantha telepathically, but somehow Ry blocked these

communications.

Thereseemedtobenowayout.
And Ry threw his head back and laughed, a hateful victorious sound that forged a fire of revenge in

Ethan’sveins.

*********

Samantha knew Ry would begin the bonding process soon and that he would do whatever it took to

bindhertohimrightnow,ontheridgeofSweetGorge,withEthantrappedbelowbesidetwoofhismen
insomekindofstrangenetting.Thestenchofthedarkfaepresencereekednow,allalongtheridgeand
downintothegorge.

Shewashere,thatwhichhadthepowerrightnowtoendSamantha’sfreedomforever,totakeEthan’s

life,todestroytheBergissonGuardandtocontrolRyandthereforethefutureoftherealm,maybeevenof
allNineRealms.

Howfoolishshe’dbeentothinkthatonlyherchoicebetweenShreveportandBergissonwasatstake,

whenrightnowherfreedomforwhatwouldbecomecenturieswouldsoonbelostaswellasEthan’slife.

Ry had wanted him dead for a long, long time. She could smell that stench on him as well, that he

intendedEthan’sdeath,hopefullyexecutingbothherbondageandEthan’sdemiseatthesametime.

He’ddrinkfromherwhileheboundherandbecausethefaeentitystillmuddledSamantha’smind,it

seemed an impossible situation to her, that there was no way out. She would succumb to Ry, he would
growinsufficientpower,andhe’dslayEthan.

Ethan.
Acalmnesscameoverherwhenshethoughtabouthim,allthatthey’dbeenthrough.Unlesssomething

miraculous happened, the life as she’d known it and the extraordinary experiences she’d shared with
Ethanwouldendinthenextfewminutes.

DespairranthroughherasadeepawarenessrosethatwhathadarrivedinClubPraveinShreveport

wasn’t just a mastyr vampire looking to uphold the law of his realm, but a man she could love. How
surprising,sudden,unexpectedandunbelievable,butyes,lovehadcometoherintheformofavampire.

Yes,shewaspart-realm,thatmuchwastrue,butsomehowherheritagedidn’tfactorinatall.Sheloved

Ethan,thathemadeherlaugh,thathemadelovetoherlikeagod,thathewaskindandconsiderate,that
helovedBergisson,somethingRywouldneverunderstandandneverbeabletodo.

Rywantedpowerandhewantedtorule,asadictatorwould,withfullcontrol.
Ethanwantedhisrealm-folksafe.Thatwasall.Hewantedhispeoplesafetomaketheirlivings,tofall

inlove,tocreatefamiliesandtobuildfuturegenerationsforcenturiestocome.

Ry didn’t care if he brought all Nine Realms down to nothing, just so long as he was Mastyr of

Bergisson.

Inthatmoment,shemadeherdecision,theonethathadseemedsoimpossibleafewhoursago,whether

toremaininBergissonornot,whethertotakeupalifeasEthan’sbloodrose,ornot,whethertoengage
withthepowerfulfaecommunityornot.

She wanted to stay, in part because she now understood that the dark fae presence had ruined her

mother’slife,hadsotroubledhermind,forcingimagesthroughher,thatshe’dbeenunabletocopewith
thevisions,thebloodandgore,thepainandanguish,soshehadleftherworldbehindandmadeanew
lifeinShreveport.

NowSamanthahadcomehome,totakeupwhatwasrightfullyhersifshewantedit.
Andyetwhatstoodinherwayrightnowseemedunconquerable:Avampirewithoutaconsciencewho

hadcompletephysicalpoweroverher.

Butwasthereawayout,awaytopossiblyconnectwithEthan?
After all they’d been through, surely, she could establish a connection and break the control that the

darkfaeentityhadoverSweetGorge.

Buthow?
Onethingshedidunderstand,thecalmersheremained,thelessmuddledhermindwas.Ifshestruggled

ortriedtobreakfree,itwasasthoughtheseactionsalonebroughtthedarkforceoncemoreinvadingher
mindandremovingherabilitytoreason.

Shethereforetookdeepbreathsandwaited.
Shewouldn’tbeabletodothisalone.Ascalmlyasshecould,sheopenedhertelepathicfrequencyto

Ethan,butRyenteredhermind.Can’tletyoudothat,sweetheart.You’reminenow.

Shesaidnothinginresponse.
Shewaited.
Afemalevoiceintruded.“Nowisthetime,Ry.TakeyourprizeandBergissonwillbeyours.”
Rypushedherhairawayfromherthroat.I’mgoingtomakeyoumine,Samantha,righthereonthe

ridge,infrontofEthan,theGoddess,andeveryoneelse.

Unwilling to give him the satisfaction of her fear or to alert the fae entity to her clear mind, she

remainedverystill,buteveryounceofherspiritbecamefocusedsolelyonEthan.

Nomoreholdingbackwithhim.
Whateverheneededfromherrightnow,washisforthetaking.Shemetandheldhisgaze,hopinghe

could somehow intuit her intentions, her love, her willingness to do anything that was needed in this

situation.

Shemouthedthewords,‘ForBergisson’.
Hisbrowsliftedslightly,thenaslightcurvetouchedhislips.

ChapterTen

Ethan’sheartswelled,aphysicalmovementthatthewebbingcouldn’ttouch.
He loved Samantha, with all his heart. He knew that now, deep in his spirit, in the combined

frequenciesthatmadeuphisvampirenature.Ifhe’dhadanydoubtbeforeaboutherworth,orwhetherhe
shouldgivehimselftoherfully,shehadjustwashedthemawayasshemouthed‘forBergisson’.

Shegothim,shegothisworld,andshegotherpurposeinhisrealmandwhathefeltwasjoy,pureand

simple.

He felt her calmness as well, a mirror of his own, that their current circumstances, each bound so

heavilyandunabletomove,hadquietedtheirrespectivethoughtsandmovements,giveneachtimetothink
andtoreassess.

Mostly,heknewshewaswithhim,alltheway.
Hopebeganapowerfuljourneybackthroughhisveins,rebuildinghisdeterminationtosomehowfinda

wayoutofthisdeadlysituation,butwithnewinsights,primarilythathewasn’taloneinhiscommand.

HeshiftedhisgazebacktoRy,nowholdingSamanthacloser.
Ry pathed Ethan again. This is for you, Ethan, for taking what belonged to me. So now I’m taking

whatyoudesireandreturningBergissontoherrightfulowneratthesametime.

ButEthandidn’trespond.Heremainedverystill,turninghisattentionsolelytoSamantha.
Rydrewhislipsback,lettinghisfangsemergefully,twowet,powerfulpoints.
Ethanwatchedthefangsstrike.Hisbodyreactedoninstinct,asharpjerkwhichmuchtohissurprise

causedtheweb,justforasplit-second,togiveway.

Startled,helookedaround.Whyhadn’tthewebtightenedinstead?Cuthimup?
Whathadchanged?
Only one thing: Ry had pierced Samantha’s neck, which must have meant that once he shifted his

attentiontoher,itbrokeaconnectionelsewhere.

Hisfirstinstinctwastobreakfree,rightnow,anddobattlewithRy.Buthisimpulseshadputhimhere

inthewebinthefirstplace,soheremainedstill.

Again,whathadchanged?
Then,exactlyhowmuchhadchanged?
He ignored his rage at watching Ry drink from Samantha though even at that distance, he felt Ry’s

personal frequency pounding against her faeness, demanding entrance and submission. If Ry wore her
downandboundhertohim,she’dbelostforever.

SowouldBergissonbecauseRywouldhavethepowerhe’dbeenseeking,intandemwiththeancient

faeforce,todowhateverheliked.

Except something wasn’t right, wasn’t working, and the shift had occurred the moment Ry began to

feed. He suspected it meant that the ancient fae force had to work with a minion in order to hold her
poweroversomanyrealmatonce.AndRywasherminion,inservitudetoher,andthevesselsheusedto
carryoutherexpansiveenthrallment.

But if he could move in the web, then what else could he do right now, while Ry’s attention was

focusedonSamantha?

HeglancedattheInvictusandanotherquestionrose:WithhisentireGuardenthralled,whyhadn’tthe

Invictus attacked them, unless they couldn’t. And that was the other part of the answer, that the
enthrallmentwasuniversalandhadencompassedtheInvictusasmuchashisGuard.

There were limits, therefore, to the ancient fae’s power and apparently, in order to function at top

levels,sheneededherminion’sfullattention.

Shedidn’thavethatnow,notwithRylostinthesublimetasteofSamantha’sblood,whichmeanthehad

ahandfulofminutestoorganizeacounteroffensive.Thefae’senthrallmentstilloperated,justnotatfull
force.

HeshiftedhisattentiontoFinnandattemptedtelepathy.Finn?
Hissecond-in-commandliftedhischinslowlyandmethisgaze.Youfeelit,aswell,thereleaseofthe

thrall,atleasttoadegree?

Enoughforustotalkandtostrategize.IknowIcouldleavethiswebrightnow,forinstance,but

that would alert Ry and he’s the key. The fae force that has control of Sweet Gorge right now, must
havehisfocustodowhatshedoes.

IalertedtheGuardtoremainstilluntilfurtherordered.
Goodmove.Smart.
IalsogotthroughtoQuinlan.Hearrivesinthreeminutes.Wheredoyouwanthimwhenhecomes

in?He’sgotpartofhisGrochaireGuardwithhim.

LetmecontactSamantha.Holdsteadyandkeeppretendingthatyou’reenthralled.Telleveryone.
Ethan shifted his focus back to his blood rose, ignoring his ever-present need to tear Ry apart. He

remainedcalmandapproachedhermind.Samantha,canyoureceivethis?

Yes. Thank God. Ethan, ever since he started drinking a lot of my confusion has lessened, but I

wasn’tsurewhattodo,whethercontactingyouwouldalerthim,buteverythinghaschanged,hasn’tit?

Yes,forthemoment,solongashefeedsfromyou.
Whichmeanswehaveashot.Ethan,justtellmewhattodo.
Canyouaccessyourfaevisionagain?Canyouseethefuture?
Absolutely.
Hetookamomenttotestthebindingtendrilsandwhenhemovedhislefthandthewebbinggaveway.

Hecouldstillfreehimselfifhewanted.

He closed his eyes forcing himself to hold back. How many times had he screwed up in the past

becausehewasinsuchahurrytotakecharge,nottoletotherslead?

So,hecalmedhimselfoncemoreandwaitedforSamantha,focusingonher.
He felt her settle into herself more deeply and after a moment she pathed, On the other side of the

gorge is a stretch of land that the ancient fae has kept hidden from view. I see barracks, maybe a
training camp. But there are two hundred wraith-pairs ready to do battle, ready to slaughter your
guard.NowIseeQuinlanandhismenattackingthatgroup.

Ethanmurmured,Good,that’sgood.Nowwhataboutthegorgeitself,me,myGuard?
Shetellshimtherestofwhatshe’sseeninthevisionandhe’sdumbfoundedbuthe’llalsohavetotrust

herandhe’llhavetoleavemostofthefightingtoothers.

Canyoudothis,Ethan?You’llhavetoleavethebattlingtoeveryoneelse?Canyoudothat?
That’swhenheunderstoodthefullbreadthofwhatSamantha’spresenceinhislifehadcometomean,

that now he could do what had before been impossible. Yes, I can turn the battle over to Finn and
Quinlan:Itrusteachwithmylife.

Good.Butshesoundedstrained,hervoicefaintinhismind.Becausethetimehasalmostcome.I’m

veryweakrightnowandhispersonalfrequencyispoundinghard,demandingadmittance.

Samantha,justtellme,whatisthesignalforourforcestobeginbattling?
WhenIfalltotheground.
Oh,sweetGoddess.Hedidn’tknowifhecouldbearthesightwithoutreactingbeforeheshould.
You can do this, Ethan. Now, let everyone else know. It won’t be long. Maybe half-a-minute from

now.

Ethan closed down the communication and sought Finn and Quinlan. He outlined what Samantha had

related to him. Each was ready. Quinlan had brought a hundred-and-twenty-five of his Guard from

Grochaire.Thismightjustwork.

Hecouldonlywatchnowandwaitforthesignal.
Butnothinghappened.Instead,Rykeptdrinkinglikehecouldn’tstop.
EthanpathedtoSamantha.Hewon’tstop.Samantha,wehavetodosomethingtogethertobreakhim

rightnow.

Soweak.
I’m going to send my personal frequency straight at you. Just turn and embrace me with your

faeness,that’llgiveyousomestrength.Oncethathappens,I’llhitRywithajoltofmyown.Myguess
is,hisragewillflyoffthechartsandinsteadofreconnectingwiththeancientfae,he’llwanttobattle
me.Whenhebreaksfreeofyouandturnsinmydirection,justdroptothegroundasplanned.

Okay.
Using all the power he could muster, he focused on his personal frequency and sent it straight at

Samantha.Sherespondedandthemomentherfaenesstouchedhim,hesentastreamofpowerthroughthe
pathway,foundRy’sfrequencyandsentajoltstraighttowardhim.

Aspredicted,RycameoffSamantha’sneckroaringhisrageandturningatthesametimetowardEthan,

hiseyesbloodred.

Samanthadroppedtotheground.
Andallhellbrokeloose.
Finn and Kyle attacked Ry with short-swords so that he had to shift his attention away from Ethan,

awayfromthedarkfae,andtowardtofellowGuardsmenholdingnothingback.

Atthesametime,Ethan’sGuardturnedontheInvictusandthebattlewason,morevisceralthanusual

sincetheydidn’thavetimetoformthebattleshield.Thesoundofmetalweaponsclashedinthenightair.

Ethan used his dagger to release himself from the now powerless web-trap, doing the same for the

Guardsmennexttohim.Heorderedbothtoengageinbattle.

Heheardawailingsoundandthestenchoftheancientfaegrewstrongaroundhim.She’dlostcontrol.

Hetriedtoseeher,tofindher,butshehadtremendousshieldingcapacity.

ButapparentlywithoutRy,shewasincapableofaction.
Ethan shot up the gorge, but instead of engaging in the fight, he picked Samantha up in his arms, and

carriedherawayfromthefighting.

Shewasveryweak,butshepathed,Flymetothemonolith.I’vefeltthecrystalscallingtomeforthe

pastfewminutes.Icanfindstrengththere.

Hetookhertotheeasternridgeandtherockoutcroppingthathadonceheldthewaterfall.Hecarried

hertotheledgefromwhichthewaterhadoncespilledandfedSweetGorgeStream.

Buttheancientfaemagicclungtothespaceandatthesametimeherstenchgrewstronger.
Thefaeishere.
Henodded.Justignoreher.Shecan’tactapartfromRy,notinthisform.
Icansensethataswell.
Shebreatheddeeplyandsmiled.Hefeltherstrengthreturnjustasherblood-supplybeganrenewingat

light-speed.

Ethanlookedatthecave-likeopeningfromwhichthewaterhadatonetimeemerged.“Samantha,did

youseethisinyourvision?”

Sheshookherhead,staringintothecave.
“Butyoucanfeelthecrystals?”
“Yes,absolutely.”Shestoodstraighternow,stronger.
Ethanturnedhertofacehim.“Whatdoyouthinkwouldhappenifyouengagedthesecrystalsrightnow,

withme,withourjointpower?”

Herlipsparted.“Doyouthinkwecouldbreakthisapart?Removethedam?”

“Maybe.Maybethat’swhatwe’remeanttodo,butthere’ssomethingIneedtosayfirst.”
“What?”Shelookedstartled.
“Iloveyou.Justwantedtosayit.ButIloveyou,Samantha.”
Tearsfilledhereyes.“Iloveyou,too.”Shethrewherselfintohisarmsandheheldhertight.
Hewantedtoprolongthemoment,buttheyhadajobtodofirst.
Henoddedinthreequickdipsofhischin.“Good.Wecantalklater.”
She smiled, she even chuckled. Then she leaned her head against his chest, and he felt her open her

faenesstothewealthofbluecrystalsinsidetheupperbirthofthemonoliththatflattenedtoalongplainto
theeast,aplacepartiallyhiddenalltheseyears.

Hefelttheflowofherpowerbeginandsawthattheairsurroundinghernowfilledwithviolet-silver

light.

Butnothinghappened.
Shelookedupathim,aquestioninhereyes.Thenshedrewback.
“Weneedtobebonded,”hesaid.“Isthatwhatyou’resensing?Inorderforthistohappen?”
“Yes.”Shesmiled.“I’mready,butI’llonlydothisifyouareaswell.”
Peace flowed through him like nothing he’d ever known before. “I want to bond with you more than

I’ve wanted anything in my long-lived life. Will you have me, Samantha, as deeply flawed as I am,
impulsiveandstubborn,willyouhaveme?”

“Iwill.Butwillyouhaveme?I’venotbeentheeasiestpersontobearoundoverthelastfewdaysand

I’mstubborn,too.”

Hestaredintolightblueeyesandknewhe’dneverforgetthismoment,oflovepassingbackandforth

betweenthem,thesweetestvibrationhe’deverknown.“Withoutquestion.”

“Iloveyou,Ethanwithallmyheart.”
Henoddedandpulledherintohisarms.Heletherfeelhisansweringloveasheopenedhispersonal

frequencytoher.Atthesametime,herfaenessbecameavastworldforhimtoexploreassheheldnothing
back.Hisfrequencypassedinsideandsheembracedhimfully.

Iwillinglybindmyselftoyou,MastyrEthanofBergisson.
AndIwithyou,SamanthaofShreveportandnowmyrealm.
Thebondclickedinplace,andsentarespondingvibrationbackthroughhisfrequencyandupandout.

ThesamehappenedforSamanthaasshedrewbackandarchedherneck.

Theircombinedenergyflowedaroundthemexpandedmoreandmore.
Suddenlytheancientfaecriedoutalong,shrill,‘no’,aplaintivecrythatfadedasdidhersmell.
Atthesametime,heheardrumblingsfromdeepintheearth.
Ihavetopathyouintotheair.Thingsareabouttoexplode.
Doit!
Ethanwhippedherofftheledgeandupintothenightair.Hekeptrising,whichwasadamngoodthing

because a wall of blue crystals suddenly shot out of the opening, a beautiful spray that would have cut
bothofthemtoribbons.Followingclosebehindthecrystal,arushofwaterplummeteddownthesteep
stonefaceoftheridge,fallingsixtyfeettothebottomofthegorgebelow.

AndSweetGorgeStreamwasreborn.
Ethankeptrising,however,holdingSamanthaclose,turninginaslowhalf-circle.Hisforcesalongthe

south ridge had overcome the Invictus during that time, while Kyle and Finn, fighting shoulder-to-
shoulder,forcedRydownthesideofthegorge,half-levitatingaseachstruck,half-stumblingontheearth.

Ry might have gained more power from Samantha’s blood, and as a mastyr he was more powerful

generally,butFinnandKylewerebothpowerfulGuardsmenandtogethertheywereabletokeeppushing
himbackuntilhefinallytookoffflyingwest,aswaterbeganpouringdownthestream.

Ethanneededtogoafterhim,butnotuntilSamanthawassafe.

“IseeQuinlan,”shecalledout.“There,flyingabovetheeastridge,justlikeinthevision.Hehashis

Guardwithhim.”

He pivoted and sure enough, Quinlan flew, his dark eyes on fire, his fangs half-emerged, a sure sign

he’dbeeninbattle.Heheldhisshort-swordaloftandletoutabattlecry.

WhenhereachedEthan,helevitatednexttohim,abreezewhippinghislongblackhairinstrandsover

hisface.“We’vegotthem,allofthem.Thereweretwo-hundredpairsbutwesubduedthemandsavedas
manyaswecould.”HeglancedatSamantha.“I’mhopingyou’llbeabletorescuemoreofourenslaved
realm-folk.”

“Ofcourse.”
Ethanfeltdifferent,changed.He’dcrossedafinalbridgeandhewouldn’tgoback.He’dbondedwith

SamanthaandmaybeforthatreasonalonehewasabletoaddressQuinlan,anothermastyrvampire,ashe
said,“Wouldyoulookafterher?Ican’tletRygetawaythistime.”

“Absolutely.”
Whileinmidair,hepassedoverher,andthoughaquiverofpossessivenesssweptthroughhimatthe

sightofSamantha’sarmaroundQuinlan’sneck,heignoredthesensationandwhippedaroundtofly,ashe
hadneverflownbefore,west,afterRy.Hecouldn’tletRyreconnectwiththeancientfaeagain.

ButbecauseofthenewbondwithSamantha,hehadspeednow,greaterthanbefore.Heflewfasterand

fasterandsoonfoundRyflyingoverLaFourcheLake.

Afewsecondsmore,hegrabbedforRy,catchinghisshoulderstrapandgivingasharptug,whichsent

himintoadownwardspintowardthewater.

ButRycaughthimselfandwhenheflewupwardtowardEthan,hehadhisshort-swordinhislefthand

andinhisrighthegatheredpower.

Ethanfeltthepowerhe’dgainedbyjoiningwithSamanthaatthewaterfallmonolithanditwasakilling

power.Buthedidn’thesitate.Instead,heletitflyasheracedinRy’sdirection.

BecauseRyhadreleasedhisenergyaswell,sparksflew,butmuchclosertoRy,whichpartedhislips

andputascowlonhisface.Hemightevenhavecursed.

Heturnedandheadeddown,towardthewater,thenleveledoutalongthesurface,butthenearbyhamlet

ofLaFourchewastooclose.Rycouldgetlostinthenarrowstonestreets,hideout,takehostages.

Ethancouldn’tletthathappen.
He geared up for another energy stream, flicked his wrist and caught Ry in his back, sending him

headfirstintothewater,skippinglikeastonethreetimesbecauseofhisspeed.

Ethan flew slower as he neared Ry, now face down. With that much speed he could have broken his

neck.

HegotcloseenoughtoreachforRy’sarm,thenhesawtheairbubbles,andwithdrewjustintime.Ry

whippedaround,hisshort-swordmovinginaswiftarc.HewouldhavetakenoffEthan’sarm.

Atthesametime,EthanusedhisswordandcaughtRyunderhiscollarboneandupthroughhisneck.
HelookedsurprisedasEthanwithdrewtheblade.Bloodflowedasheslidbackintothewater.
Ethan reached in and grabbed the back of the coat, hauling him in a quick levitated flight to shore,

droppinghimonthegrass.Bloodflowedandbubbledashegaspedhislastbreaths.Ethanknewhewas
tryingtoself-heal,buthe’ddeliveredamortalwound.

“Allthistime,”Ethansaid,droppingtositonthegrassafewfeetaway.“Allthistime,youservedin

theGuardyetyouwereplanningtheseattacks.”

Rycouldbarelyspeak,buthesaidbetweengaspsforair.“Ihatedyou.Ialwaysdid.Fuckingusurper.”

Hisbodywentlaxandhiseyesdilatedfully.

Rywasdead.
Ethanstaredoutatthelake,nowsettlingdownfromthewavesRy’sbodyhadcreated.Ducksswamin

andoutofreedsatthefarside.Realm-folkhadbeguntogatheratthevillageend.

Hebreatheddeeply,gratefulthatitwasover.
HepathedtoFinn,askingforanupdate.
All the Invictus pairs are subdued. We’re rounding them up on the east plain. It’s lined with

barracks.Rymusthaveuseditasatrainingcamp.Howdidwenotknow?

Darkfaeenthrallmentandshielding.Heprobablyhadalotofhelp.Thisisn’tasimplethingthat’s

goingon.

No.Itisn’t.
EthanthencalledforGuardsmentotakecareofRy’sbody.
Assoonastheyarrived,hereturnedtoSamantha.
Fortunately, Quinlan had deposited her on the south ridge and had returned to his Guard. He was

gearinguptogethismenbacktoGrochaireRealm.

Finn had summoned the fae healers, who were at work, moving among the injured. Even Vojalie had

arrivedandnowstoodnexttoSamanthaanarmaroundhershoulders.Otherworkerscartedoffthedead
tothemorgue.

EthanflewslowlyoverSweetGorge.Thedrywastelandwouldsoonberenewed.Maybethetimehad

cometobuildamemorialforthosewhohadperishedinthemassacre.

He’dseetoithimself.
Butsomethingvibratedwithinhischest,andinstinctivelyheglancedtowardSamantha.Hefelther,ina

newwaynowthattheywerebonded,andhecouldtellthatsheneededhim.

*********

SamanthawatchedEthanturnandheadinherdirection.He’dbeenlookingdownatSweetGorgeand

she’dfeltavarietyofsensationsmovethroughhimfromterriblesadness,tohope,thenreverence.

He looked magnificent, even though he was blood-spattered and sweaty, his long gorgeous hair in

tangles,butheglowedwiththelookofamanwho’dtriumphedandwhonowknewsomepeace.

She didn’t need to ask if Ry was gone; she could feel it in Ethan as clearly as she knew he felt

overwhelmedbyallthathadhappened,thesamewayshefelt.

EvenwithVojalienexttoher,sheneededEthanrightnow.She’dbeguntotremblefromtheexertionand

stress.Heslidhisarmaroundherandsheleanedagainsthimclosinghereyesandholdinghimhard.

Quinlanflewclosebutdidn’tland.“IhavetogetmymenbacktoGrochaire.LookslikeI’vegotsigns

ofInvictusinthreedifferentsectors.”

“Needhelp?”
“Notrightnow.”Hisdeepvoicerolledaroundthegorge.“ButImaybecallingyousoon.”
“Anytime.”EthanliftedahandasQuinlanturnedandflewstraightup,hisGuardfallinginbehindhim.

Ethan’sforcesshoutedafterthem,cheeringthemon.

Samanthaturnedandlookedatthem,wavingtheirfists,gloryinginavictoryoveranimpossibleenemy.

Tearssprangtohereyes.

Oncethey’ddisappearedovertheeastridge,Ethangaveordersthatallthesurvivingwraith-pairswere

to be locked up until the following night. He didn’t give a reason, but it was clear to everyone that
Samanthaneededrestbeforeshe’dbeabletohelpdissolvethepairs.

HeglancedatVojalie.“I’mgoingtotakeSamanthabacktothehouse.Sheneedsagoodmealandrest.”
“Andahotbath.”
Ethansmiledtenderlydownather.“Yes,anicehotbath.”Heevenkissedherforehead.“Butbeforewe

do,Vojalie,Iwantyoutotellherthetruth,tellherwhoyouare.Idon’twantherlearningfromanyone
else,butIthinkit’stime.”

“Tellmewhat?”
Vojalie turned her warm brown eyes on Samantha and caught her chin with her hand. “I didn’t know

howtotellyouandthoughmyhusbandcanirritatethehelloutofmeattimes,heisrightaboutonething:
timingisimportant.

“Whenyoufirstcamehere,youdidn’tknowme,oranythingreallyaboutourworld.Andtobehonest,I

wascompletelytakenabackthatAndreahadneverevenspokenofme.Shewasmydaughter,yousee,one
IhadbeforeDavidoandIbecameacouple.YouandIarerelated.”

Samantha’sthroatgrewincrediblytightandtearsfellfromhereyeseventhoughshedidn’twanttocry

ormakeafuss,butthethoughtthatshewasn’taloneintheworldanymorebroughtthetearsfalling.

“Forgivemefornottellingyousooner.”
Samanthadrewinashakybreath.“It’sokay.Iunderstandalotmorenow,afterthesepastthreedays

than I would have earlier. So many things make sense and no, she couldn’t have told me about you,
because she didn’t tell me she was fae. I just thought she had really striking features.” She laughed,
thinkinghowshe’dliedtoherselfaswell.

“IwanttogettoknowyouandIhopewe’llatleastbeabletobefriends.”
Samantha saw the doubt, even the fear, in her eyes, that she’d be rejected. So, despite her trembling

fatigue, she reached out and took Vojalie’s hand. She told her briefly what she now believed had
happenedtoAndreaduringthelastyearshewasinBergisson,andaboutthewaythedarkfaepresence
hadrecentlyinterferedwithSamantha’smind,givingheroldvisionsofthemassacre,confusingher.

“So, you see, Andrea just didn’t know that she was being systematically injured, you might even say

enthralled.IthinkbythetimeshedidhaveavisionofwhatwouldhappenhereatSweetGorge,thenight
thatEthanlosthisfamily,shecouldn’ttakeitanymore.Shewroteasmuchinherlastjournalandifyou’d
liketoreadthem,you’remorethanwelcome.”

Vojalieshadedherface.“IfonlyI’dknown.”
“None of us knew,” Ethan said. “We barely understood why the stream dried up. This ancient fae is

verypowerful.Shehasextensiveenthrallmentskillsthatshecouldhavepreventedallofusfromseeing
theeasternplainforthepastseveralyears,aplacethatRyhadusedasatrainingcamp.That’salotof
power,tohavekeptusallconfused.”

“Itis,”Vojalieagreed.“ButapparentlystillnotenoughtohelpRyandhisInvictusforcetakeoveryour

Realm.”

Ethan squeezed Samantha’s waist. “I think we owe a lot of that to Samantha’s courage.” He smiled.

“Evenhercunningattimes.”

Vojalielookedfromonetotheother.“You’vecompletedthebondingprocess.”
“Wedid.”
Samantharecalledtherecurringdaydreamshe’dbeenhavingsinceshewasachildaboutthehouseby

thelake,madeofriver-stone,andsurroundedbyland,andsomethingoccurredtoherabouthowpersistent
thatimagehadremained.“Vojalie,doesanyofyourfamilyownahousebyalake?TheoneIdescribedto
younotlongago?”

Vojalie’seyesfilledwithtears.“Yourmother’shome,onethatbelongedinmyfamilyforcenturies.She

livedtherewithPatrick.”

In this moment, Samantha felt the past and the future rush together, two waves colliding and passing

througheachother.ShestaredatVojalie,hermother’smother,herunknowngrandmother.

“I’vebeenconnectedalltheseyearstoBergissonandneverknewit.”SheheldVojalie’sgazeandwhen

hergrandmotheropenedherarms,SamanthafellintothemandheldVojalietight.

VojalieheldherforalongtimeandSamanthalether.
Afaevibrationsangbetweenthem.Thepastwasmadewholeinthismoment,lifecomingfullcirclein

abeautiful,surprisingway.Foralongmoment,Samanthafeltasthoughhermotherwasrightherewith
them.

Whenatlastshedrewback,Vojalie’sbrowneyesweredamp.“Ineverthoughttohaveaconnection

withmydaughteragain.Thankyouforthis,Samantha.Thankyoufromthedepthsofmyheart.”

Samanthanodded.Shedidn’twantthemomenttoendbutfatiguenowworkedinher.Ry’sfeedinghad

takenatoll,aswellastheterriblestressoftheentiresituation.

“Takeherhome,”Vojaliesaid.
EthannoddedandheldhisarmoutforSamantha.Shesteppeduponhisfootandslidherarmaroundhis

neck.Ashetookherintotheair,shelookedbackatVojaliegrowingsmallerandsmallerasEthantook
herhighintothestarrynightsky.

*********

EthanhadshoweredandworeonlyhisnavysilkrobeashetendedtoSamantha.
His housekeeper had prepared a light supper of potato soup, fresh sour dough bread lathered with

butter, and a salad made up from greens from the kitchen garden. She’d included a bottle of imported
Germanwine,atasteEthanhadquicklyacquiredoncehisrealmhadstartedimportingfromShreveport.A
lotofthemastyrslikedGermanwine.

HekeptsupplyingSamanthawithwhateversheneeded,whetheranothersliceofbreadorarefillon

herwineglass,oranotherhelpingofsoup.Shewasfamishedformanyreasons,oneofthembeingthatRy
hadtakenalotofherblood,somethinghetriednottothinkabout.

“Isthereanysaladleft?”
“Yes,ofcourse.Plenty.”
“ThenI’dlikemore,especiallyanyextraradicchioyoufindinthere.”
“Comingrightup.”Hesmiled.Hecouldn’tstopsmilingbecausehecouldn’tbelievehisgoodfortune.

He had a woman lounging in his white, claw-foot ceramic tub, arms draped over the sides, bubbles
floatingoverandaroundher,andshebelongedtohim.

Thebond between themfelt as normalnow as breathing andhe couldn’t rememberwhat his life had

been like just a few nights ago, when he’d stormed into the prave and arrested the vampire, Tom, for
illegalblood-takingatahumanevent.

Nowhewashere,pickingoutpiecesofradicchio,becausethat’swhathiswomanwantedinhersalad.
Yes,hiswoman.
Whenhebroughtthesaladbacktoher,hesatonthestoolnexttothetubandcarefullyfedheronebite

atatime.Eachtime,shesuckedthedressingoffhisfingers,whichofcoursekepthiminanarousedstate
hehaddifficultydisguising,especiallywhenshe’darchherbackandhertightnippleswouldappearfrom
beneathslidingislandsofbubbles.

He could look, but he couldn’t touch. She’d set the rules, because, as she said, her body was still

rebuildinghersupplyandshewouldn’tbereadytofeedhimforatleastanotherhalfhour.

He’djusthavetowait.
She’dmadetherightcallbecauseheknewthemomenthetookhertobedhe’dneedtotakehervein;the

twoactsjustcouldn’tbeseparated,nottonight.

Andthisjoiningwouldbedifferentfromalltheothersbecausethey’dcompletedthebond.
Shetookasipofwine,thenmoresalad.
Hestrokedhercheek,whichsheallowed.“Howareyoufeeling?”
Shesmiled.“Better,butanxioustobebackinbedwithyou.Ineedthisaswell.”
Henodded.Hecouldfeelherneedanditwasmorethanjustphysical,asthoughwhathadhappenedout

atSweetGorgerequiredthisuniontobefullyrealized.

Finally,she’dtakenherlastbiteandsaidhecouldtowelherdry.Hesetasidetheglassesandplates,

thenreturnedtothetubwithathicktowel,awarehetrembledwithneed,andhiscockpushedatthesilkof
therobe.Shestoodupandheleaneddowntohitthelevertodrainthetub,thenwrappedherupinthe
towel.

Liftingheroutandontothefloor,hedriedher,caressingherandkissingheratthesametime,topto

bottom,fronttoback.Shegiggledandcooed,andstrokedhisnowdryhair,hisface,andteasedhislips
withherfingers.

Whenhefinallykissedher,hefeltthesolidityofthebonddeepinhisabdomen,asthoughaninvisible

cordstretchedbetweenthem,anddesirepulsedthroughhiminheavywaves.Hefeltherresponseasshe
suckledhistongue,fondledhismuscles,andgroanedagainsthismouth.

Heliftedherinhisarmsandcarriedhertothebed.Havinghadthekeenforesighttorollthecomforter

back,helaidherout,gettingridofthetowelatthesametime.

“Robe.Off.”Shecommanded,butherbeautifullightblueeyesglitteredwithamusement.
Hesmiled,thenlaughed.She’dalwaysbeenabletodothat,tomakehimlaugh,andhelovedherforit,

oneofthemanythingsheloved.

He stretched out on top, planting his knees between her thighs. With his forearms next to her, he

thumbedherlips,thenherlineofherjaw.“Thisisaveryfaechinyouhave.”

“Iguessitis,butnotsopointedasmymother’s.”
“Doyoumissheralot,Samantha?”
“Everyday.Shewasmybestfriend.”
Heheardthehitchinhervoice.“Thatmusthavebeenhardforyou,beingaloneinShreveport.”
“I’dcometoacceptit,maybeinthesamewayIfeelasimilaracceptanceinyou.ButnowitlookslikeI

haveawholenewfamily,twoinfact:onewithyouandonewithVojalie.Oh,Ijustrealized,Berniceis
my…wait, I’m not even sure what the relationship is. She would have been my mother’s sister.” She
giggled.“BabyBerniceismyaunt.”

Hesmiledaswell.“I’msurethismustallseemstrangesincefromahumanperspectiveVojaliedoesn’t

lookmucholderthanyou.”

“Isupposenot,excepthereyes.Shelooksveryold,verywiseinhereyes.”
Heleaneddownandkissedher.Sothiswaswhatitwastomakelovetoawoman,tobeinlove,andto

love.Ethanhadneverthoughttobeinthisplace,notforyearstocome,becauseofBergissonandwhat
wasfast-developingasamajorwaragainstanancientfaeforceandtheInvictusshecontrolled.

Instead,hisbloodrosehadarrivedtoshowhimanewpath,acompletelydifferentjourney,bywhich

hewouldbeabletodoabetterjobatkeepinghisrealmsafe.Yes,hehadincreasedpowerbecauseofhis
bondwithSamantha,butgreaterthanthatwerethelessonshe’dlearnedofallowingincreasedleadership
amongthoseclosesttohim.HehadnewplansforFinnandKyleandhemeanttomeetwithQuinlanand
Gerrod within the next week to begin planning long-term strategies to force the dark fae entity, and the
GreatMastyr,outintotheopen.Andthesewerejusttwoofmanynewideaskickingaroundinhishead.

Butrightnow,hehadhiswomaninhisbedandhefocusedhisthoughtsonher,onthesweetnessofher

crushedraspberry-and-winescent,thesoftvibrationsthatemanatedfromtheseatofherfaepower,from
theaffectionhesawreflectedinherlovelylightblueeyes,andinthesoftnessofherlips.

Heenteredherwellwithreverencethistime,andawe,andwonder,thatsomuchsheerjoycouldbe

contained within a woman. He held her gaze as he thrust steadily, pushing her on and on toward her
climax.Hesavoredthatshewrithedbeneathhimwhenhepinnedherhandsaboveherhead,andworked
herstronglywithhiships.

Hesenthispersonalfrequencyinstrongpulsesagainstherbodyandwatchedherbackarcheachtime

thefrequencypushedagainstherfaepower.

Hethrustfaster,wantingtowatchhercome,tocryout,toexperienceherecstasy.Nothingseemedmore

importantintheentireworldthanthis,thanbringingherpleasure.

Softcriesleftherlips.Herheadrolledfromsidetoside.Hereyelidsfluttered.
He mover stronger now, vampire strong, and then vampire fast, using his speed to drive her straight

over the edge. She cried out a long almost anguished sound as pleasure streaked through his cock in a

seriesofintensepulses.Hegroaned,maybeheshouted,andallthewhilethebondbetweenthemtightened
andintensified.

When her body eased down and his muscles started to relax he all but fell on top of her with deep

satisfied.

Butshesmiledandstrokedhischeek.“We’renotdoneyet.”Sheturnedherheadexposingathrobbing

veinforhim.“Nowtakeyourfillanddomeagain.”

The site of her neck ready for him, firmed him up and as his fangs struck, he began to pump as he

sucked down her erotically flavored blood once more. Her hands moved over his body, exploring his
muscles, heightening his pleasure, until once more she was crying out and his shouts rang through his
bedroom.

*********

SamanthalayonherbackandhadbeeninthispositionlongafterEthanfellasleep.He’dmadeloveto

hermorethanonceafterfeedingfromherveinandshe’dadoredeverysecondofit.

Hewashalf-sprawledoverher,hisheadonherchest,anarmoverherstomach,andonekneeonher

thigh.

Shewrappedandunwrappedastrandofhislonghairaroundherfinger.
Shestaredunseeingattheceiling,marvelingatallthathadhappenedtoherandallthatinjustafew

shortdaysshe’dbecome.She’dbasicallyenduredacrash-courseinhow-to-be-a-faeandapowerfulone
at that. But she’d survived, as much because of Ethan as anything else, and she’d passed from have a
fairlywithdrawnviewofwhatherlifeshouldbetonowsharingabedwithamastyrvampire,servingas
hisbloodrose,andeventuallytakingherplaceinBergissonasVojalie’sgranddaughter.

Above all, love had come to her so miraculously that gratitude poured through her over and over, a

streamofbeautifulwarmththatcausedthecrystalsallthewayintheconservatorytohuminresponse.

She’daskedEthantoleavethedoorsopenthatshemightbeabletohearthecrystalssing,asoundthat

wouldalwaysremindherofthegoodnessthathadcometoherwhenshe’dtakentherisktojoinEthanin
Bergissonthefirstnightshe’dmethim.

Shehopedthecrystalswouldalwayssing.
Her eyelids fluttered and as she began to drift off to sleep, she saw the cottage again, the one of her

girlishdaydreamsandwishes,thoughnowsheknewithadalwaysbeensomuchmorethanthat,nothing
shortofafaevision.

But this time, she saw her mother standing beside the cottage beckoning her forward and pathing, I

preparedthisforyou.Thecottagebelongedtooneofourforebears,thentome.Nowit’syours.

Twotoddlersracedbyhermother,twolittlegirls,eachwithlongcurlyblondlocks,andinSamantha’s

twilightsleepshesawEthan’shairreflectedinthegirlswhomsheknewtobelongtoherinthefuture—
herdaughters.

HerfaenesssangthroughthevisionandshejoinedhermotherasAndreashowedherthecottagebythe

lake,madeofriver-stoneandlandscapedwithtreesthattouchedthewater.

Here,sheembracedthefullmagicofherlife.
Here she would raise her children and sing the song of gratitude forever, in the arms of the man she

loved.

AboutTheAuthor

CarisRoane,akaValerieKing,haspublished,to-date,twelveparanormalromances.AsValerieKing,

she’s written over fifty Regency romance novels and novellas and has launched a new line of Regency
booksfromsweettosexy.In2005,RomanticTimesgaveheraCareerAchievementawardinRegency
Romance.

As Caris Roane, she also writes contemporary romance and has recently released her first

contemporary,ASEDUCTIVEPROPOSITION.

Caris lives in Phoenix, Arizona, loves to write, really doesn’t like scorpions, and has two cats,

SebastienandGizzy.

FormoreinformationaboutCarisRoane:

www.carisroane.com

FormoreinformationaboutValerieKing:

www.valerieking-romance.com

TableofContents

TableofContents
TitlePage
Copyright
DearReader
ChapterOne
ChapterTwo
ChapterThree
ChapterFour
ChapterFive
ChapterSix
ChapterSeven
ChapterEight
ChapterNine
ChapterTen
AboutTheAuthor

Document Outline

Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dear Reader
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
About The Author

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