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"You’re afraid for Dad, aren’t you?" Kaitlyn asked It had never occurred to her that anything could happen to her father He was so tall and strong, always confident and in control, she had always thought him to be as indestructible as the mountain on which the Fortress was built

Elena nodded "If Rodin could be destroyed"

Her mother didn’t finish the sentence, but Kaitlyn knehat she was thinking If Drake’s father, who had lived for over a thousand years, could be destroyed, it could happen to any of theht, Kaitlyn pondered the conversation she’d had with her s were so serious, or that her father’s life rown up in Wolfram instead of the Fortress, Kaitlyn suddenly realized that she was ignorant of much of the history of their people Sure, her parents had taught her the basics, taken her to the Fortress to meet her relatives, explained as expected of her when she was old enough to take a husband She had attended weddings and other formal functions in the company of her parents, she knew she was expected toas she was able It was so she had accepted without question Until sheto know him, she had coe, didn’t want to spend her life in the Fortress doing as expected of her She wanted to stay in Lake Tahoe with theback tears, she turned onto her side She shouldn’t be thinking about herself, orabout her father, about what ht happen if he had to meet the Italian Master Vampire in battle to defend the Fortress

A cold fear clutched her heart She was her father’s heir If there was a fight and her father lost, would she be expected to meet the victor in battle? Surely not! She had never held a sword in her life Surely her uncle Andrei or uncle Stefan, or one of the other brothers, would step forward to e

Wouldn’t they?

With Stefan’s return, Elena decided they should have a party to welcome him home

"A party?" Drake asked "Now?"

"Why not now?" Elena asked

"I can think of any nuh of exasperation "I think we’ll be safe for a few hours It’s not like Nadiya’s going to coone such a long ti, shea party do you have in runted softly "Very well" There had never been any doubt that she would get her way, he thought ruefully In all theirshe wished It had pleased hirant her every henever possible

"Stefan looks good," Elena remarked, "but the sadness is still there, in his eyes Do you think he’ll ever get over her?"

Drake stroked her hair, loving the feel of it in his hands, the way the silky strands curled around his fingers "I hope so"

"If only he’d fall in love again"

Lowering his head, Drake kissed her lightly "Love heals all?"

"Most things And speaking of love, you must know that Kaitlyn is in love with that man"

He nuzzled the slender curve of her throat "I do not wish to discuss that noife"

"Drake" Her eyelids fluttered dohatever she had been about to say forgotten as his tongue slid seductively over her skin

Clai her lips with his, he swept her up in his ars in life changed, he thought as he lowered her onto the bed and stretched out beside her Children grew up Wars were fought Dynasties rose and fell But his love for Elena, his need for this woman above all else, remained constant now and forever

Chapter 19