We were above ground and still no sign of Jack or Sergeant Org.  I wondered if the sergeant was in on the ruse all along and simply pretending to be knocked out for my benefit.  I was beginning to be suspicious of everyone around me.  How sad that it had come to that.We were barely on the trail when we met up with a small troop of Mannadorian soldiers.  The King was notified of my capture and had traveled to meet me.  It seemed my time as a free woman would be shorter than expected.Although my legs were relieved when they placed me on a beautiful black gelding for the remainder of the journey, my heart was heavy.  Every step that my steed took put my vampire guardian and lover further and further behind us.  I questioned if it might be better to die. I didn’t know how I’d be able to live without Jack at my side.I closed my eyes and the memories flooded into my head. Making love with Jack must have broken down the

I had no idea how far up the river I had to go to reach the teleportation launch.  I also had no idea what to do when I got there.  These thoughts, as well as thoughts of Jack and Sergeant Org, filled my head while I kept a steady jog. I was surprised at how well my legs were holding up.  Either all of the intense walking had strengthened them, or it was part of the maturing process my body was experiencing.  Whatever the reason, it was good fortune for me.I pictured Sergeant Org in my mind.  Had my parents really pledged my hand in marriage to him?  It seemed so abstract. He certainly was handsome in his own way.  He didn’t fall into Jack’s category of handsome, but never-the-less he was good looking enough.  Had my life gone differently and I not met Jack, I could have possibly accepted being married to him.  He was not just handsome, but he’d proven himself to be a kindly person.  Someone of this nature w

I couldn’t believe it.  After hearing the story of Sergeant Org’s true identity and how we’d been promised in marriage when I was just a babe in arms, Jack stormed out of the cave and refused to talk to either of us.  After one of the most excruciating hours I’ve ever endured, he finally returned.  What I expected to hear and what I heard were two different things.“Sit down, both of you,” he commanded.  We did as he bid.  He looked directly into Prince Mandrake’s eyes –I could no longer think of him as Sergeant Org-, “Why didn’t you tell me your true identity?  You know I would have kept it a secret.”“I know,” the prince replied.  “It’s just that I’d promised Captain Berger never to tell a soul and I honor my promises. Besides, it was safer for you to not know.”“I suppose,” Jack murmured. “We have a dilemma

To say Aunt Jenny was shocked by my new look was an understatement. Since she’d been privy to my true story longer than I was, I decided to tell her the truth.  We walked arm in arm around the clearing of the cabin while I described the horrors of what the Dragos were up to.  We spent a few minutes focusing on missing people reported on the news and speculating whether or not they had been unfortunate victims of the Dragos before moving on to the next part of my little adventure.Telling her about Jack rescuing me was both heart breaking and heart soothing.  She smiled proudly as she praised him for the attention and care he’d always provided for me through the years. She confided how she didn’t know how she’d have managed to keep me safe and hidden if it wasn’t for him.  To my surprise, she confided that there had been several attempts on my life since she’d taken parental responsibility and it was Jack who’d thwa

“Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?” I asked cautiously.Jack looked at me as if realizing I was still in the room for the first time.  He walked over, took the seat next to me, and then took my hand.  Drake took the other one.  There are no words that would even remotely touch on the impact my body had when those two held my hands.  The closest thing to it would be to say it was like a bolt of erotic lightning surged through me. I visibly shuddered.  Jack released my hand.  Drake did not.“I want you to tell me all about this boy, Mark,” Jack said firmly.“Why don’t you like him?” I asked again.“How did you meet him?” Drake interjected.“He’s always been around for as far back as I can remember.  We grew up together,” I replied.  “I don’t understand.  I told you I was engaged...”