Bloodlines (Conversion #2)

Bloodlines (Conversion #2) Page 19

As we entered the city and the pull got deliciously stronger, I couldn't think anymore about my odd traveling companion. I could only squirm in my seat, my breath embarrassing strained, and point her to the direction where I felt him. She sighed and rolled her eyes, generally looking annoyed that I had no apparent self control. I wanted to snap at her, "Back off! Have you ever felt this? Didn't think so! I'm doing the best I can!" But, I couldn't focus long enough to put that many words together.

As the office building housing Gate Magazine came into view, I bit my lip and clutched the console, anything to keep me in the car. The building had an underground parking lot, and with vague grunts and directives, I got Starla to go into it. As she put the car in park, I felt Teren coming towards me. That's when I lost it.

I hopped out of the car before she even got the chance to shut it off. I only took three steps in the dimly lit underground before I was engulfed in cool arms and was being devoured by cool lips. My fingers locked in his dark hair, holding him securely to me, even though he was making no effort to get away. His hand clenched and unclenched my body, like he really wanted to be tearing off the loose painting sweats I was wearing. We panted in each other's mouths as the draw completed its connection. We were, once again, how our nature wanted us to be - together.

As a low growl rumbled up my throat and Teren's cool hands slid over my backside, I heard an irritated throat clearing from behind me. With a concentrated effort, Teren pulled his mouth from mine. Breathing heavy, and resisting the desire to return to my lips, he looked over my shoulder. Then I saw his control nearly instantly snap back into place. Mine wasn't quite there yet. As he straightened and stared at Starla, my lips attached to his collarbone and my hand traveled down the front of his slacks. Hey, I wasn't just fighting the pull. I was a seven month pregnant chick, with a hot husband and an acute desire.

But Teren had lost his, looking over my shoulder. While I heard my sister nervously giggle and Starla mutter, "God," Teren stopped my fingers from slipping inside his slacks. He looked down at me quickly while he gently pushed me back from him. "Emma," he whispered, his hands cupping my cheeks, trying to bring me down.

My breath eventually evened as his slightly glowing eyes enveloped me. Swallowing, I nodded in his hands that I was better. From behind me, I could hear Starla resume her cow-like gum smacking. Saucily she said, "Yeah, I can tell you guys have the bond well under control."

I turned to face her, about to tell her where to go, when suddenly the door leading to the stairs burst open. Hot Ben came striding out, breathing heavy and holding his stomach. Hurriedly walking up to us, he ran a hand through his highlighted hair and shook his head. "God you're fast, Teren."

I blinked at seeing him and Teren answered my unasked question. "I called him. I wasn't sure what was going on." His brow furrowed as he looked back at Starla and then over to my sister, she waved as she stood at the back of Starla's car.

Teren shifted his attention back to Starla as I heard Hot Ben sidle around to his other side and ask him what was going on. Not answering Ben, Teren narrowed his eyes at the mixed creature in front of him. Her blue-green ones were faintly glowing in the dim lights. As a human, the glow would have been hardly noticeable, easily dismissible, if you didn't know what you were looking for. To a partial vampire, the glow was unmistakable. Teren's mouth dropped open.

"You're..."

She extended a hand to him. "Mixed...and I hear you've been looking for me."

Hot Ben gasped beside Teren and stared at Starla with a look of complete wonder on his face. Teren's face sort-of matched Ben's as he stared at her, for a moment too stunned to even take her hand. She waggled it in front of his face, her lips twisting in annoyance at being ignored, and he finally woke up from his daze and grasped it.

Both of his hands enclosed over hers and his eyes moistened. I bit my lip to not start hormonally crying at the sight. Teren had waited so long for this moment. "It's...amazing to meet you. Thank you for finding me." His voice was nearly reverent as he said that, and I momentarily hoped that this tiny blonde thing wouldn't let Teren down. He'd built up meeting more of his kind in his head, and so far, she hadn't been what I'd been expecting.

A little taken back by his reaction, she pulled her hand away. "Yeah, well, you've been causing quite a stir, poking your finger in every vamp nest you can find." She raised an eyebrow. "That sort of thing doesn't go unnoticed."

Teren straightened his stance, shaking his head lightly. "I had good reason."

Starla's eyes flicked to my stomach. "Yes, I've been brought up to speed on that."

Teren stepped towards her, arms outstretched like he was going to grab her. His fingers barely brushed her arms. That was all the closer Teren got to her. Suddenly, he was shoved back. And by shoved back, I mean he was pushed thirty feet and landed harshly on his back. As he smacked his head to the pavement, Hot Ben pulled a stake from his pocket and moved into a defensive crouch. My sister screamed and backed up a step. I teetered on my feet, not sure if I should run to Teren's side, or run to my sister's. Indecision held me in place.

A part of me also wanted to smack Starla for pushing Teren. Only, it wasn't Starla who'd tossed him back. With the draw of the pull, I'd completely forgotten that Starla wasn't alone. Teren's seemingly aggressive move had drawn the attention of her bodyguard. Ben and I eyed the imposing man warily. He was standing in the space Teren had been, having blurred into a battering ram, the moment Teren had stepped up to Starla. He was taller than Teren and wider too. His hair was a light brown that matched his slightly glowing brown eyes, and he was dressed in head-to-toe black, like he thought that was an inconspicuous outfit. Crouching down in a protective stance in front of Starla, his fangs were dropped, as a low growl broke the sudden silence of the room.

Starla's "muscle" was a mixed too, albeit it, an undead one. There was no thumping heart to be heard in his barrel-sized chest. But he had to be only partially vampiric, if he'd been assigned to protect her during daylight hours.

Teren popped up from where he'd been tossed aside and zipped back to the man. I speedily moved to block him at the last moment, holding him back from leaping on the vampire. It took quite a bit of effort on my part, since Teren was a little revved up. Hot Ben came over and helped me, holding back Teren's other arm. He eventually calmed down as Starla sighed and walked around her protection, thumping his chest with her hand.

"Down, boy," she muttered. Coming up to Teren, she cocked her head and shrugged her shoulders. "Sorry, he doesn't like me being touched." Her turquoise eyes flicked to me, then back to Teren. "You can understand?"

Teren shot the man a hard look and then focused again on Starla. Ashley came up beside me and clutched my arm. I clutched hers back, both glad she was here, and wishing she was far away. His voice irritated, but a forced patience in it, Teren bit out, "I was just going to ask, if you can help us?" His voice and face softened as he looked over at me and then back to Starla. "Can you help her?"

Starla looked between the two of us as her bodyguard behind her crossed his arms over his chest. She sighed and shook her head. "Not me, but you should speak with Father. He sent me here, curious what you wanted with us. But seeing what you've done," she shook her perfect head of hair disdainfully, "he will definitely be interested in your...situation."

Teren nodded eagerly, the thought of maybe getting some answers, outweighing his irritation at being thrown across the room. As Starla chomped on her gum and indicated the car with her head, I looked over Teren's body. He seemed fine, but that had looked like it had hurt. "You alright?" I asked, as Starla got back in her bimmer.

He eyed the big man, zipping back to his black car on the other side of the lot. "Yeah, I'm fine." He brought his eyes back to mine; they sparkled with hope. "I'm great, Emma."

Over Teren's shoulder, I watched Hot Ben causally put his stake back in his pocket. I had the feeling he was always armed with one now. Twisting, I watched my sister eyeing where the big vampire had gone. She was fine with Teren, and fine with the tiny, unassuming blonde vampire, but that big guy had freaked her out. I could smell the fear on her.

As Ben moved to walk to his car, presumably to follow us, I blurred over to him, stopping him. He paused and blinked at me suddenly standing in front of him. I rarely moved blindingly fast in front of him. I was just glad I hadn't tripped along the way. Putting my hands on his chest, I searched his blue eyes. "Teren and I can handle this." He immediately began shaking his head and objecting. I shook mine more forcefully and dug my fingers into his skin. "No, please...take Ashley home."

I said that quietly, and glanced over his shoulder at my brave, scarred sister. She was determined to see this through with me, no matter how much the whole thing terrified her. Ben looked over at her too, his body slumping as he did. Ben had always been very gracious around my sister, never looking down on her deformity; never treating her any differently than he did any other friend. His eyes took in her slight frame, shaking slightly as she stood with her hands clutching her elbows, locking her arms around her body. Her eyes flicked over to mine then, and she smiled slightly - it was a forced one.

Hot Ben glanced over at Teren, who nodded, having heard that entire conversation, and then turned back to me. "Alright, Em." Surprisingly, his arms came around my girth to wrap me in a swift hug. In my ear he whispered, "Be careful...both of you."

We stepped apart and I nodded at him, tears in my eyes again. He stepped back from me and nodded, his chiseled face determined. I had the feeling he would take his assignment with ferocious seriousness, protecting Ashley from every bad thing in the city, maybe even staying by her side all night, just in case. For the millionth time, I could have kissed Hot Ben.

Teren held out his hand for me as I heard Starla sigh in exasperation, and mutter that we were all worse than her pampered, Princess of a sister. Ignoring her, I took Teren's hand. His cool fingers giving me strength, I walked up to the car. Ashley walked up as well, as she noted that it was time to go again. I gently put my hand on her shoulder as she moved to open the door.

"No, Ash. Not this time."

She sputtered and shook her head at me and I dropped Teren's hand to grab her shoulders. "I love you, Ashley, and I know you love me. You don't need to do this to prove it to me." She shook her head and started to say she wasn't, when I interrupted her. "I know, and if I were in your shoes, you'd have to pry me away." I pulled back, my fingers going to her wet cheeks. I stroked the roughness of her scars, ignoring the odd feeling skin.

"This is something Teren and I need to do together, alone." I leaned in close, resting my head on hers. "I love you, but I can't have you there with me. I need to know you're safe..." My voice trailed away as emotion cut it off. I felt Teren's hand come up to my shoulder and I suddenly had a greater respect for him always wanting to keep me away, to keep me safe. Having someone you love in danger was harder than having yourself in danger.

Ashley started to cry in earnest, but eventually nodded. I pulled away from her, wiping my own cheeks. Telling her I loved her, I kissed her forehead. As Teren and I got into the car, I watched Hot Ben come up to her and put his arms around her comfortingly. She twisted and held him tight. He stroked her back and watched us through the window, his jaw clenched as he nodded at Teren again.

Starla started the car and snorted as she pulled away. "God," she muttered. "Overdramatic lot, aren't you? You'd think I was driving the two of you to certain death." She started to laugh as she pulled out into the street and Teren and I gave each other uneasy glances in the backseat.

Once it was clear we weren't staying in the city, Teren leaned forward in his seat to talk to Starla. Clutching my hand tight, he said, "Where are you taking us?"

Starla popped a bubble and looked at him in the rearview mirror. "L.A.," she said casually.

Teren nodded and sat back in his seat, his cool side edging right up to mine. Starla reached in her purse on the passenger's seat, dug out her bug-like sunglasses, and turned the radio up. Some pop hit boomed through her speakers and I figured she was discouraging us from asking any farther questions.

I sighed and leaned into Teren, happy that at least, for once, we were doing this little adventure together. Teren sighed as well and kissed my head before leaning his cheek on it. A twin nudged against a sore spot and I adjusted in my seat to get comfortable. Los Angeles? That was several hours from San Francisco. I settled in for a long drive, grateful that once the sun set, Halina would blaze her way to us. She wouldn't have time to run back to the ranch, but Teren and I could find somewhere for her to hide. It would just be nice to have our "muscle" with us.

After a few silent miles, Teren shifted to look at me. I pulled away from his side and looked up at him. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows and highlighted his eyes that matched this sunny Californian spring day. "You smell like paint." A corner of his lip lifted after he said that.

I smiled and subconsciously rubbed my belly. "Ashley and I were working on the nursery. You should see it...it's beautiful." My eyes watered at that. I wasn't sure why. Maybe the thrill of preparing to see my babies, or maybe the fear that I may never meet them.

His hand came up to cup my cheek and his thumb grazed over the surface. I could hear his skin sliding across mine, even over the music, and I could smell some sort of grease, lingering on his fingers. "You smell like...the underside of a car."

Starla snorted at that and popped another bubble. Teren ignored her, smiling down at me. "It's chain grease. I went home and got my bike this morning." He dropped his hand from my face and looked down. "I just needed to work off some energy."

I grabbed his hand, lacing our fingers. "Did it help?" I asked quietly, knowing his workout was more to relieve stress than exercise, much like my art project today.

He looked up at me, smiling crookedly. "Not really." I sighed and leaned in to kiss him. Ignoring an annoyed sigh from Starla, who turned the music up even louder, we kissed for a few moments in the backseat. During a break, Teren pulled back and whispered, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Carrie."

I pulled back, surprised at the road he'd decided to take our conversation down. I noticed Starla stop smacking her mouth and turn the music down slightly, but mainly I focused on Teren. His eyes were wide and remorseful. I shook my head. "That? Of all the things to be sorry for lately...you pick that?" My lips lifted at the corners as I looked over his face.

He smiled slightly at seeing the humor in my mouth and shook his head too. "I just felt like that one was still lingering between us." He shrugged. "I don't want to walk into this with anything...between us." His face turned serious when he said that.

I cocked my head and then nodded. He continued when he saw that I understood his reason for bringing this up again. He sighed and ran a finger through my hair, pulling a fleck of paint out of it. "I should have told you, but everything with us just happened so fast. We never really had the 'exes' speech, and it was such a long time ago."

I smiled, having had that same thought myself. "I know." I mentally added that we still needed to have that talk - I had a few questions, especially about him and "visiting" female vampires - but I didn't want to have that conversation with Starla listening. And I was more confident than Teren apparently was, about us getting out of this unharmed.

I stroked his arm as he gazed at my stomach, perhaps thinking of the woman who had briefly carried his child before me. Trying to push back my jealousy, I asked, "Why did you let her remember? Why didn't you tell your family what happened?" My hand went up to stroke his cool cheek and his eyes lifted to mine. "I'm sure they would have understood."

He sighed as his eyes flicked between mine. "I...I just..." His voice trailed off as he shifted his vision over my shoulder, to the window. We were out of the city, speeding down the interstate on our way to the largest city in the State, where the elusive group of mixed were apparently hiding out. Blocking his view with my head, I raised my eyebrows, waiting for a response.

His eyes came back to mine and he shrugged. "I knew Great-Gran would take everything...and she was the first girl who loved me, the first girl I loved." He swallowed, like he hated telling me this. I smiled reassuringly and he continued. "If it were up to me...they'd all have their memories. That was Gran and Great-Gran - protect the family. Of course, now, I can see the logic in that, but back then, I'd have preferred if they all remembered me...like, I actually did exist." He swallowed again, his eyes watering. "With Carrie...I just wanted someone out there to remember that they loved me once. I just wanted one person to remember me."

I swallowed at the look on his face, my own eyes watering. "I remember you. I'll always remember you," I whispered.

"I love you so much, Emma," he said, his lips immediately lowering to mine.

After a brief kiss, I pulled back. "I know why your family wanted Carrie wiped, and why some of the girls had to be...altered, but why does Halina take it all? Can't she leave some of the good parts? The beginning at least?"

He looked down, a small smile on his lips. "You know how they feel about loose ends." He looked up and shrugged. "They don't want us running into people who will notice that we don't change." He looked down again. "Plus..." His voice trailed off and I lowered my head to meet his gaze again.

With a sheepish smile, he shrugged. "It was easier. If they didn't know me, then they wouldn't try and rekindle the romance." He shook his head as he relaxed back into the seat. Starla in the front seat snorted again, resuming her gum smacking. He glanced at her and frowned. "And they had all proven that they couldn't handle the truth, in one way or another..." He looked back at me and shrugged. "There was no future with any of them."

I cocked my head and leaned back. "All of them?" Overlooking his condition had been pretty simple for me, in the beginning, before I'd learned how serious it was. That had taken a bit longer to accept, but I'd done it. It was a little surprising that other women hadn't been able to see past the species, to the amazing man underneath.

He smiled and leaned into my shoulder. "Until you." He tilted his head as he regarded me. "You truly don't understand how rare you are."

I bit my lip before kissing him again. Their loss...my gain. Sighing, I pulled away. "I suppose I could see why that would make you reluctant to share things about your life. I suppose you've just been conditioned to be secretive."

I reached up to stoke his cheek and he smiled. "Do you forgive me then, for not telling you about her?"

I grinned crookedly, the last lingering remnants of jealousy fading from me completely. His past didn't matter. My past didn't matter. Even our futures were vague, grayish blobs of uncertainties. What mattered was today. What mattered was riding in this car with him, and a strange eavesdropping woman, and feeling the love that flowed so easily between us. I still had questions, as he probably did about me, but all of the questions in my head were just to learn more about this unbelievable man who'd married me. There would be no anger, jealousy, or resentments in my questioning. Not when he was so completely mine, and I was so completely his.

That coy smile still on my face, I murmured. "Maybe in a few years."

Starla in the front seat groaned dramatically and turned the radio back up an earsplitting level. Over the music she loudly said, "You guys are worse than a Hallmark movie. Good god." Shaking her head, she started singing along to top forty hit and strumming her fingers on the steering wheel, tuning out our love fest. I laughed at her and rested my head on Teren's shoulder again.

Into my shoulder Teren muttered, "I don't know where Carrie is, but once we get past this...speed bump, we'll track her down and I'll have Great-Gran erase her memories."

I pulled back to look at him, surprised that he'd concede to her memory being taken. I found myself nodding as I looked him over. He smiled in return and whispered, "You're the only one I need to remember me, anyway."

Starla groaned again as Teren and I kissed again.

The drive to L.A. was not a short one, especially when you've got two tiny people pressing on your bladder. After the fifth pit stop so I could pee, Starla finally got snippy about my condition, her earlier compassion all but gone. I very politely informed her that I could just relieve myself on her hand stitched leather seats instead? She stopped complaining after that.

Teren made the nearly eight hour drive as comfortable for me as possible, rubbing my shoulders, encouraging me to take a nap on his lap, making me drink a couple packets of blood that Starla had in her car. Quite ingeniously, her group of mixed had designed portable blood packets. They were in silver pouches that you poked a straw through, reminding me of kids' Capri Suns. They were cold though, and didn't have the same bite as the warm stuff. But I drank it anyway, not even daring to ask what sort of animal it was from. My stomach just couldn't handle it, if the answer was one I wouldn't want to hear.

Just when I was about to forcibly rip the gum out of Starla's mouth, my very last sore-from-traveling nerve used up, we started entering the outskirts of Los Angeles.

I'd taken family trips down here as a kid, back when my dad was alive. We'd done all the touristy stuff people do in L.A. - Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios, La Brea Tar Pits, counted the stars of the Walk of Fame. You name it, we'd probably done it over the multiple summers we'd vacationed here. But I hadn't been down in years, not since Dad had died, not since Ashley's disfigurement.

I found myself taking in the prepackaged beauty of the city. The sun had set on the long drive over and the lights of the miles wide metropolis lit the sky with an orange glow. We wouldn't need to worry about our eyes in this place. Feeling Halina already racing towards us, I started spacing out, letting memories of happier times with my family flood into me. Then Teren beside me popped up. "What part of Los Angeles do you live in?"

Starla brightened in clear adoration for her favorite city. "The only part of L.A. that matters - Hollywood." Her face turned a little smug as she bragged about her zip code. I resisted rolling my eyes.

Teren didn't bother. He even laughed at her a little. "Hollywood...seriously?"

She sniffed, offended by his reaction. "You know a better place to look eternally youthful?" Teren twisted his lips at that and sank back into the seat. Looking over at me, he shrugged. She did have a point.

We started weaving our way through palm tree lined streets, heading towards the nicer and nicer neighborhoods. As the houses started getting larger, security started tightening. Every house we started passing had walls and gates with intercoms and security cameras, watching our every movement. I started missing our place in San Francisco. It was cozy and warm and inviting. I couldn't wait until I could go back there.

I sighed and Teren squeezed my hand, running a finger through my hair as he searched my face. I smiled at him and rested my head on his shoulder.

After another ten or fifteen minutes, we stopped before a gate at the crest of a steep sided hill. Shrubbery lined either side of the fence around the gate and the house contained within wasn't visible. Nerves started attacking me as Starla drove up to a box, pushed the button on the intercom and said, "I'm back, brought a pair of mixed with me." The gate started rolling open, the metal scream loud to my sensitive ears. She pulled inside, the black car of her bodyguard following close behind.

She pulled up to what looked like a seven car garage and parked the BMW, immediately stepping out if it. I noted that she left the keys in the ignition and figured that she'd never had to put her car away in her life. As Teren helped me out of the back seat, a couple twenty-something vampires approached us. I couldn't tell if they were mixed or pure, not with it being night now, and them clearly not having any heartbeats. Although they had a certain scent to them, something that was familiar and...comforting.

They looked over Starla, eyeing her for injuries, before sweeping over me. Their eyes widened at seeing my stomach, but then returned to normalcy. Ignoring me, they shifted their attentions to Teren, clearly the threat.

Starla adjusted her dress and tossed her hand out to one of the guys. "This is Jacen," she flicked her hand at the other one, "...and Jordan. They're mixed too."

Jacen nodded stiffly at us. He was sort of short for a guy, but had the same shade of blonde hair as Starla, and also had it meticulously over styled. I couldn't help but think that these were not vamps who went camping. His eyes were the same blue-green mix as Starla and I thought that maybe they were related in some way.

The man beside him, Jordan, didn't nod at us, only eyed Teren warily. He was the opposite of Jacen, tall, lean, and dark everything - hair, eyes, skin. He blended into the background of night around him and the whites of his eyes seem to glow at me more than the others.

Teren nodded politely to both of them, a small, excited smile on his lips. "I'm Teren Adams. This is my wife, Emma." His smile broke out into a wide one. "We're very happy to meet you."

The men glanced at each other and then back to Teren. Jordan finally spoke. "We know who you are." He glanced at Starla again, still looking like he was making sure she was okay, and then back to Teren. "We also know what you've been doing, and we're more...cautious...than happy, to meet you."

Teren nodded, his smile fading. I grabbed his hand, stretching out my aching joints as Starla's bodyguard parked his car and got out to stand behind us. That nervous energy tripled in me. I could hear my heart rate spike; I could even smell my fear in the air. I couldn't help my reaction though. We were in a strange, sealed off location, surrounded.

Teren whispered in my ear that everything would be okay and I nodded, clenching his hand harder. Jordan nodded towards the house and our group started moving that way. Starla sighed, looking bored already as she clutched her Prada bag and examined her nails, maybe thinking she'd scratched one on the long drive back. As we followed the tall, dark mixed walking beside the short, blonde mixed, Starla eyed us and muttered, "I suppose your vamp is flying down to you as we speak?"

Teren glanced at her, looking like he didn't want to tip her off to that fact, but then, looking at where we were, and the sort of precarious situation we were in, he nodded at her. Surprising them with an unannounced arrival may not be the best idea. She nodded, like she was well aware of that. Resuming that damn gum smacking, she calmly said, "We have full vampires too."

I had no idea if she was merely stating a fact, or if she was implying a threat. My heart sped up even more. Hearing it, Jacen turned his blonde head back to me. "Calm down, no one here is going to hurt you." Not letting me respond to that, he shifted his head to Starla. "Will you spit that damn stuff out? Do you have any idea how loud that is?"

She twisted her lips and put a hand on her hip. "Shut it, Jace."

He rolled his eyes and twisted to the front door we were approaching. As he grumbled that she resembled a cow, I felt myself relaxing. As scary as these strangers seemed, underneath it all, they were a family, much like the one I'd left behind at the ranch. That made me feel slightly better, as we walked through the front door of the compound.

I say compound because of its size. Much like the Adams vamps, this group liked space. There were one or two smaller, side buildings in a basic one level design, but the main building was an impressive one to three story dwelling. It varied in height, shape and dimension, so that the building almost seemed alive. Everything was all curves and arches and roundness, as if Dr. Seuss had designed the house. But overlaying that odd architecture was a layer of opulence that made Teren's family seem thrifty.

Waterford Crystal vases held flowers that smelled completely fresh and new. I was pretty sure they were rotated daily. The foyer had an actual Oriental rug. My eyes could see the intricately weaved together patterns. I thought it was a little gaudy, but it definitely screamed money. The ground not covered by the expensive rugs, was cool, polished granite and the ivory walls were filled with original works of art.

As I stared at the crystal chandelier hanging over my head, I wondered if there was such a thing a poor vampire.

Starla harshly tossed her designer bag on an intricately carved purpleheart wood entryway table. Sighing irritably, she smacked Jacen's shoulder. He glowered as he looked back at her. Purposely smacking her gum, she gave Teren and me a wry glance as the bodyguard shut the door behind us all. With her thumb, she indicated Jacen. "Did you know that before he died, Jacen here attempted to be a stage actor?"

Jacen tilted his blonde head at her, his face not amused. He crossed his arms over his chest as she continued. "Yeah, he even got a small part in a play. Wanna guess what his role was?"

She raised her eyebrows gleefully as Jacen growled low in his chest. Teren and I looked at each other and shook our heads. Teren started tuning them out, looking around the room, like he could somehow find an answer to our all questions in one of the many paintings hanging on the walls. I could tell he was getting antsy, being so close to what he'd wanted for so long.

Starla laughed, smacking Jacen's shoulder again. "A vampire. The dork actually got a role as a vampire." Jacen told her to shut up, but she started laughing near uncontrollably. As Jordan rolled his eyes and disappeared into the house, she managed to spit out around fits of laughter, "The director fired him...because he wasn't convincing enough."

She bent over, clearly delighted by this fact. Jacen straightened and glared at her. He could be imposing in a way, but he was still barely bigger than her. "Bite me, Starla."

She smirked, popping a bubble in his face. "Anytime, Jace." She smiled and flashed a fang at him.

My eyes flicked between the both of them, not sure what to do with any of that exchange. Teren beside me had finally had enough though. He dropped my hand and stepped forward. That got everyone's attention. The seemingly relaxed mood in the room stopped, as Jacen and the bodyguard bared their fangs at him. Starla had spent quite a bit of time with us, and wasn't nearly as wary as she had been upon our first introduction.

She put a calming hand on Jacen's shoulder as Teren shook his head and raised his hands in the air. Taking a step back to stand by me again, he irritably tossed out, "Why did you bring us here? For stories?" He sighed in frustration and ran a hand back through his dark hair. "You said we should talk to your father...can we see him now, please?"

Just then, Jordan came back to the room with another vampire, also appearing to be in his twenties. I figured he was a mixed then too. Jordan looked between Jacen and Starla, his dark eyes disapproving. "Do you two ever stop acting like children?"

As one, they both turned to him and stuck their tongues out. The new vampire cleared his throat authoritatively and they both immediately stopped goofing off. As Teren grabbed my hand again, Starla skipped over to the new arrival.

"Hello, Father," she said, throwing her arms around him and kissing his cheek. "I brought back the vampire causing all the problems. Seems he tried to turn his human."

Her father smiled down at her. His face was smooth and lineless and intrinsically beautiful. He had completely green eyes and sandy brown hair, but looking at him gazing at his daughter, I thought I could see the resemblance. "I'm glad you've returned safely, Starla." He glanced up at her bodyguard and briefly nodded. The big, silent man nodded back and left the room. I exhaled with relief when he did.

Looking over at the two of us, the man slung his arm around his daughter, kissing her head. While never removing his eyes from us, he said, "It's Teren, isn't it?"

Still holding my hand, Teren extended his other to the man. "Yes, sir."

The man smiled with one side of his mouth. "Please, call me Gabriel. And this one here is your mate?" Gabriel smiled warmly at me, extending his hand in my direction.

I took it, noting the coolness of undead skin, and gave him my greeting. At the same time, Teren answered with, "She's my wife, Emma." He emphasized the word wife. To Teren, that word carried greater weight.

Gabriel took in my achingly obvious condition and frowned slightly. None of them seemed to realize what Teren wanted with the mixed. None of them seemed to have expected a pregnant girl in their midst. Turning his head to Teren, he raised his eyebrows at him. "You tried to turn her? While pregnant? I can see your dilemma now. That was very foolish and quite a risk. Why would you do that, to someone you obviously care about?"

Teren took that as his opening. "She was dying, another vampire bit her. I tried to save her. Can you help her? Do you know what I've done to her? Do you know if she'll convert? Can you save the children before she does?"

Gabriel laughed, releasing Starla and gripping Teren's shoulder. "Are you always this anxious?" Extending an arm down a hallway, he calmly said. "You and I have some things to discuss, don't we? Come, first I have something to show you."

Teren sighed at that, frustrated to not have his questions immediately answered, then nodded, and stepped where Gabriel indicated.