BEGINNING VOL. 3: TO LOVE A VAMPIRE Leila Walking with our children—Jase, the equivalent of a twelve-year-old, and Sirena, the equivalent of a four-year-old—I can’t help but notice how much they’ve grown. Dhampir children grow at an accelerated rate and will reach their full maturity at ten years of age. As I watched them, a part of me already missed their baby stages, but I want what all parents want… for my children to be happy, to grow up strong, to feel loved and protected. And now, as a vampire, I can give them all those things. In fact, it will take vampires to keep up with them. As dhampirs, they are half human and half vampire. As such, they have superhuman strength and need blood, but they don’t crave it like vampires. Our friend Amy is a dhampir… super strong and intelligent, but the sunlight doesn’t affect her the way it traditionally affects vampires, burning them to death. Nor does it affect my children. After Lance and I first got together, I developed a sunlight ser

LeilaEven though I knew that Lance wasn’t telling me everything, it was our anniversary, and I didn’t want to spoil it. I looked over, and Jase was still dancing with Addie.“You know, Jase is a good dancer,” I said, surprised.Lance chuckled. “Yes, I think Addie’s been teaching him when we’re not looking. It looks like she wants to make sure he’s got the moves when it’s time for him to start dating.”I burst out laughing, shaking my head. “So, it’s okay for Jase to date, but it’s not okay for Sirena?”Lance looked at me as if wondering what the problem was.I smiled, shaking my head. “If Jase is allowed to date when he’s old enough, then so will Sirena. We won’t have different rules for each of our children. It’s not fair. And keeping her on a tight leash will just make her turn wild.”Lance nodded, pulling me close as he leaned his head against mine. “Well, thank goodness we have a few more years before we have to start worrying about that.” Then he raised his head and gazed into m

LeilaI checked on Sirena, and she was sound asleep, all covered over. Then I leaned on the door facing of Jase’s room, watching. But they were having a manly talk, so I walked discretely away, giving them time alone.I headed into our room and sat on the edge of the bed to take off my shoes. Then I put them away in the closet. Since I was a vampire, I got tired occasionally, but it was a different kind of tired. Physically, I was strong enough to demolish a whole building. But it was more of an emotional tiredness when I needed to recharge.Just then, Lance walked in the door, looking at me with hungry eyes.“Are the children—”I didn’t get to finish the sentence when his lips slammed into mine, and he scooped me into his arms, never breaking the kiss. His lips groped mine hungrily, and I bit his lower lip and then crushed my lips to his as he carried me to the bed, looking down at me like a starving man looking at water.I slid my hands up his chest, feeling his muscled chest as I u

LanceI walked around the car and placed my hand on the small of her back. Her cream-colored dress looked exquisite and showed off her womanly curves in all the right places. The back had a diamond cutout, and she wore cream strappy heels. I was surprised that she dressed up today just to come to the hospital. But since she was no longer working here, it didn’t really matter. She could wear anything she wanted, and I loved the way she dressed.“Would you like me to go upstairs with you?” I asked when we stopped at the private elevator.She shook her head, smiling. “No, I’ll be fine. You go ahead. Just come and get me when you’re ready.”I nodded, giving her one last sweet kiss. “I will. If you need me, just call.”I waited with her until she was safely in the elevator, and she wiggled her fingers goodbye, leaving me to feel like the luckiest man in the world.“There you are!” Drake said behind me. I turned around, and my blood turned cold. “Lance, I’d like you to meet our newest patro

Leila“Ferdinand, I want the castle secure,” Lance ordered as soon as we walked in. “There was a breach here last night.”Ferdinand nodded once. “Yes, sir. We’ll check everyone who enters and leaves.”“And I want every exit secured,” Lance ordered as we headed toward the elevator. “I don’t care if you have to deadbolt them from the inside.”The doors opened on the top floor a moment later, and two guards were standing outside our door.“Has anyone entered or left since we’ve been gone?” Lance asked as I opened the door.“No, sir,” they both said in unison.Lance continued barking orders as I rushed into the penthouse, and down the hallway to the family room. Jase was sitting on a chair with his leg slung over the armrest, reading a book, while Sirena played with her doll on the floor.Addie was on her feet immediately. “Is everything okay?”I nodded, my eyes darting to the children, and she nodded once, understanding.“Mom?” Jase looked up from his book and sat up, putting his foot do