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Ee play yard directly across fro outside on the wide, wraparound porch where the wind could touch her face Soot froh her body every ht and day

Rain had given the air a clean, fresh scent The world looked shiny and new, every leaf on the trees a vivid green or silver S froht red spots of color, adding to the beauty of the couard, co-owner of a string of high-end nightclubs He had a unique piece of property, and she would have loved to live there if things had been different Tariq was Carpathian, an ancient race with aifts, but they needed to drink blood to survive She knew they were forced to sleep in the ground during daylight hours and only caht If they didn't find their lifemate in ti the vilest of creatures--vampire

"Ereen eyes waved at her from the play yard "It's a beautiful day"

Genevieve Marten was gorgeous Model thin Tall with long legs that went on forever Dressed in sliant, even in that attire, to be playing nanny to five children Emeline knew Genevieve was independently wealthy and had traveled the world, yet she was a

s sweet as anyone could be, and she'd taken on the job of looking after the children when Tariq and Charlotte couldn't Emeline was certain Genevieve didn't have a mean bone in her body

"It is, isn't it?" she called back For that one moment, Emeline felt normal, like she had a friend and they shared a joyous moment just because it was such a beautiful day

As she waved, a long tangle of blue-black hair fell around her face and she pushed it back, vaguely thinking she was going to have to cut it soon She'd always loved her hair, the one feature she thought was attractive about her But it fell below her waist, and she was just too exhausted to take proper care of it Merely lifting her ar a terrible chore She sighed and rested her chin on the heel of her hand, her eyes on the five children running

She loved watching the children She didn't really know true happiness anymore, but the closest she ca, seely carefree and happy They were alive because of her deliberate sacrifice The sound of their laughter, seeing thes, orth every horrific moment she'd suffered They were alive Trau very quickly

"Come join us," Genevieve called

Emeline wanted to join them She even needed to, but she couldn't take the chance She didn't think Genevieve would turn on her, but there were others

"I' tea," she said "You should join me I baked cookies"

The children had beco she often did during the daylight hours, even in the ht, she stayed in the house, her heart beating too hard, terrified he would co, it was only a matter of ti enough to keep hi more and more frequent Emeline often had prophetic drea se the outcome of what occurred Vadim had found her in those dreams, he had found a way to trap her and capture her She escaped, but he was still with her in her et out

"Emeline!" the chorus of voices called to her Happy Affectionate Although she rarely left her porch, they knew she had their backs She'd saved thereat cost to herself They weren't fully aware of that expense, and she hoped they never would be They were too young to bear any more burdens than they already did

"Sith us, Ely, his for to show the proe, as well as love for his siblings He'd kept theirls were taken by the one after them She couldn't help but admire Danny

"Not right now, but I have a plate full of warm chocolate chip cookies And, Genevieve, I also have fresh cranberry and pistachio biscotti dipped in white chocolate"

Tariq Asenguard had taken the children in, becoh, protecting them with his friends and unique security systerateful to hier

Danny raced to the porch, leaned down and brushed the top of her head with a kiss, scooped up a handful of cookies and was back at the swings before either three-year-old, Lourdes or Bella, could protest Bella was his youngest sister Lourdes was the orphaned niece of Tariq's wife, Charlotte

"Thanks, Eood" Both little girls ied them

Despite his youth, Danny watched over his family with a fierce protectiveness He was equally as protective of little Lourdes, Emeline, and Eht everything was lost He was a sun to emulate the Carpathian , because he was growing it so he could pull it back in a long ponytail like the Carpathian males often wore He admired Tariq and even walked like him