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The idea horrified her "What va dead, as he full deserved" His jaw fir, and they found a permanent place here In our world, they would never be safe" A grim smile touched his lips "They’re like th is much more obvious However, the fact that they’re still far more powerful than humans makes them an excellent backup to the security detail An abusive husband or a team sent from one of those oppressive countries to reclaim their women won’t expect a six-year-old to disembowel them Another reason for the deep forest location Easier to dispose of bodies"

He flashed his fangs "Mel is one of their two randparents, Kohana and Chumani, served the vampire who helped Miah and Nerida acclimate to the vampire world, as much as they could And of course, this territory, while ostensibly under Lord Richard, is also still considered very much Lady Lyssa’s as well They exist in the shadow of her protection as well"

He lifted a shoulder "Because Miah and Nerida clearly have the manneris and sun disorder where they will always look like children, and can’t go out in daylight They stay here so they aren’t turned into freaks and exploited by the outside world Some may wonder at the truth of that, but science is more easily believed than the supernatural Those who came here for safety and secrecy also tend to respect that need for others So far, Miah and Nerida have always been safe here"

The va out to be so h she wanted to heartheet the household set up to your liking, Master"

"I’ve no doubt" He gave her an appraising look, then he was gone, turning and disappearing into the night But her body heated at that look, re his threat in the vehicle, a threat that she took in a way perhaps most women wouldn’t But most women weren’t raised in the vampire world Other than her brother, it was the closest to an emotional declaration she’d received fro the stairs, she found Niall now in the kitchen A plate of cookies had been left next to a vase of daisies on the counter He’d turned back the cellophane and was finishing what appeared to be his third or fourth helping He nodded to the plate "Nerida left us cookies Better eat them now, because there won’t be any later"

"Apparently," she noted, trying to shtened

"We’ll pull in his equipet most of it if you’re tired Or if you want tae rest up for whatever ‘extracurricular activities’ ye have planned"

She narrowed her gaze "You’re the one with extracurricular plans Perhaps you should refuel with cookies while I unpack I wouldn’t want her disappointed by your performance"

Yes, she knehat Evan had said about old friends, but she hadn’t expected Niall to be nasty Though his expression beca back "I asked because I wanted to knoas expected Not because I intended to go out and jump the first available male I don’t want that"

"But you’ll condemn me for it? Like I’m some sort of hoormaister? It’s only supposed to be about the vampire? His wants and needs?"

"To an InhServ, yes You and Evan have your oays I expect he would prefer to have your full devotion, but--"

"Excuse ether before the stor her arms, she took a step back, not in retreat, but to avoid a crick in her neck

"It’s not an insult, Niall Knowing you hold yourself only for his will, whether it’s to watch us with another, or for another purpose, but always to serve hiive him an earnest explanation "It builds the bond, deepens it Most vaive they to it Like the slow anticipation of a cli it out of reach until you think you’ll explode from it"

"Aye, ye know so much about it Your mindless devotion to Stephen was bloody perfection"

She slapped hi her to hiry, her face close to his enraged one They’d taught her expressing her emotions was acceptable, so she’d embrace the lesson

"What Stephen was or wasn’t to me wasn’t relevant to my oath I served him fully, no matter what There was honor in that, purpose Your debt of honor to Evan was the excuse for soive yourself" Her voice had lifted to a near shout She’d never shouted in her life

Okay,the lesson a little tooproper control, but beyond that, her anger would acco in the face of his own te calmly despite the fact that she was hurt, a dull throb beneath her heart