We settled into the village with Rhazian’s mate. She refused to leave, and he refused to leave her behind. She was a cruel mistress, using her glamour to control the humans like chattel. She didn’t seem to care for the bond between my father and I either. He would walk the perimeter, ensuring no stray traveler entered the village, leaving me with Sabina for hours. Jealousy ruled her. She would challenge me at every turn, unwilling to accept that as the older vampire, I was stronger. Once my master returned, her sweet façade would fall back into place.            I begged him to release me to make my own way, but he refused. He blamed her maker for her behavior. We had learned that her maker had taken her by force, intent on adding to his growing harem. He was a cruel master, forcing his progeny to submit to his depraved sexual desires. So long as he avoided the heart, they would heal. His commands left

Taylor             I stood at the foot of the mountain watching my mate and his progeny retreat back toward her fortress. My hands shook from the nervousness that had crept in as we made our descent. This was part of the plan. When they were safely away, I would call my abilities, hopefully brining my father to me. There were fresh puncture wounds on my neck, meant to add realism to the tale I was about to spin. I turned back to face the sprawling plain before me, breathing deep and slow to steady myself.            “Ok, Taylor.” I spoke to myself. “You can do this. Keep blasting that light stuff until he comes. Search wherever he takes you, get what you need and run.”            Casting a quick glance over my shoulder to ensure that Rhazian was safely away, I

Miriam             “I don’t like this, Miriam.” Aro scolded. “You signed the contract in blood. If you go down this path, there’s no telling what kind of magical retribution you could face. We could face.”            “Fredrick assured me the verbiage used matters. There’s absolutely nothing to prevent me from passing the information along to Tyler, just like you did.”            My visit with the seer hadn’t changed my mind. The existence of were-vamps had set me on my path, and nothing could deter me from it. All I needed was a loophole. A way to deal with the monster that had created them along with his demon bride.            “One way or another,

             “This plan of yours is a suicide mission.” I groaned.            “Not with magic.” Chuck grinned. “How do you think I managed to get close enough to those things to put silver bullets in a few?”            “This feels a lot more like two birds with one stone.”            “If that were the case, I’d have let that thing kill you when I rescued you.” He snorted. “Sure, that werewolf strength of yours is helpful to get it loaded up and back here before the effects of silver wear off, but I could have figured out a way to do it without you.”            “What about when the other

Taylor             I whirled around in a fright to face the owner of the hand that had landed on my shoulder. My breath whooshed from me as I found myself face to face with my golem.            “You scared the daylights out of me!” I scolded; one hand pressed against my chest in a futile effort to slow my pounding heart.            He slipped past me, not sparing me a second look as he made his way toward the book that had drawn my attention. He stopped just before it, his head cocked to the side, listening to something I couldn’t hear.            “We should go.” He whispered.            “No, I need to know what’s in th