Page 9 (1/2)

"Of course," she said, surprised by the worry in his tone "Why do you ask?"

"It is probably nothing, but there are ru--"

"What kind of ruue, with no way to ascertain if there is any truth behind them All I know is that Nadiya’s name has been mentioned a few times, and that her son, Daryn, hasn’t been seen lately"

"So you had to call and check up on

"You areDaryn, if that’s what you’re thinking" Nadiya was one of her grandfather’s many wives; Daryn was her son Kaitlyn had only h She had never hter reminded her of home and of how much she missed it And him

"Seriously, I’m fine, Dad"

"You are comfortable there?"

"Of course The cabin is wonderful, the view is terrific I was going to go back tohere indefinitely"

"I see"

"What do you see?"

"YourShe thinks there rinned She had never been able to put one past her parents "As a o rowled on the other end of the line

"I’h her father had lifted the ban forbidding their people to marry mortals, she knew he hoped she would marry one of the Romanian vampires

"Kaitlyn, are you still there?"

"What? Oh, yes" She chewed on her lower lip as she pondered the best way to ask the question that had been niggling at her since last night "I ondering--is there a way for me to tell if ais a vaht, I would have sworn I felt a surge of preternatural power co from him" Her father had the ability to detect those of his own kind when they were near; unfortunately, she hadn’t inherited that power

"Explain"

She quickly told her father about the events at the casino the night before

"What is this man’s name?"

"Zackary Ravenscroft Have you ever heard of him?"

"No If he was of our blood, I would know it"

"Maybe I just iined it," Kaitlyn murmured But she didn’t believe that for a second

"Perhaps Your mother wishes to say hello Take care of yourself"

"I will Love you, Dad"

"I love you, too"

Kaitlyn heard muffled whispers and then her mom’s voice came over the line

"Kaitlyn, how are you, sweetie?"

"I’m fine, Mom, really I love it here I wish you and Dad could have stayed longer"

"Me, too, but I guess we’re stuck here at the Fortress for a while until your father gets to the bottom of these rumors"

"You don’t think one of the other va a coup, do you?"

"I hope not I was here for the last one, and believe randrandmother, Liliana, wasn’t fond of telephones and refused to use theo Call if you need anything"

"I will"

"All right I love you"

"I love you ive Aunt Katiya and Uncle Andrei h Kaitlyn had other aunts and uncles, Katiya and Andrei had always been her favorites

"Consider it done And keep us infor when she ended the call Her young man She very much liked the sound of that

Shortly after sunset, Kaitlyn drove to the small convenience store her mother had told her was located on the other side of the hill "Handy for when you’re in a hurry," her mother had told her, and added that there was a superht Sheup the iteed a few pleasantries with the clerk, thanked the boy who bagged her groceries, and headed for the door, a sack cradled in each ar her shoulder and causing one of the sacks to slip froetic "I’ s Of course, if I’d kno pretty you are, I would have run into you on purpose Here," he said, when she began gathering her groceries, "let me do that"