courage to face his main problem with the whole thing. “The only way they can have a relationship is if he turns her.”
Gerald nodded slowly, his eyes slits. “So you do have a problem with those you are sworn to protect.”
“ I don’t mind protecting them, or keeping the peace. But... Glory...”
“ You find your baby sister precious. Do you think your mother and I value her any less?” His father’s voice held a threat.
“ No,” Shane replied with honesty.
“ Then leave it be. Glory will make her own choices, just as you did.”
Heat flushed up his neck at his father’s reference to the time he ran away. Shane had left the small town, trying to get away from everything paranormal. In the city, he joined the police force, only to be confronted by a past that just wouldn’t let him alone. He’d finally given up a few years ago, coming home to fulfill the duties that should have been his older brothers.
But none of that mattered right now. And it didn’t change his mind about Glory, but he dropped the subject.
His father tapped the pipe against the ashtray and relit it. “Is there anything else you would like to talk about?”
A picture of Niki DeVeraux flashed in his mind, making his heart thump a bit faster. “Nothing.”
His father’s gaze was penetrating, but the man only said, “Your mother waits.”
Feeling like a chastised young boy, he left his father’s study and went into the overflowing kitchen. Relatives and friends greeted him, asked questions, or slapped him on the shoulder as a hello.
His mother was a small woman, tiny really. Barely five-six, their entire family towered over her. Yet, with a glance, she kept them in line. Shane had more than once been terrified by her ‘look’. As usual, she wore her long black hair in a braid. No make-up adorned her youthful face. She glanced up, laughing at something, her brown eyes filled with amusement.
She spotted him and her face lit with joy. “Shane, my son.” She wrapped her arms around him, drawing him into her embrace. Somehow, all of his worries felt a little lighter.
Until he saw the scowling face of his older brother in the far corner. Brian turned and stormed out of the house, knocking back a few people in his way.
Their mother sighed. “I don’t know how to help him get over it.”
“ Neither do I.”
Jasmine patted his cheek. “It’s not your fault. He will come to know this.”
Shane wasn’t so sure. It was bad enough to be chosen as the next tribal shaman, without the guilt of knowing his older brother had been passed over. They’d all grown up believing Brian to be the heir of the family’s hereditary magic and power. Expected it. The Fates always chose the eldest child.
Except this time.
The years since the Fates’ decision had turned Brian into an angry, bitter man who rarely came to visit, and never spoke a word to Shane.
It was a hole in his life, losing not just his brother, but his best friend.
A hand tugged on his arm, and Shane turned. Morning Dove, his grandmother, beckoned him to the table in the corner of the room. He followed, helping her sit comfortably. He took his place next to her, and let her have his hand. She traced the lines over his palm with her finger absently, as she stared at the spot just above his head.
“ Tell me about her.”
“ Who?” Shane asked.
His grandmother flicked his ear. “Don’t be dense, boy.”
“ She’s a vampire.”
“ Mmm. But tell me about her .”
He did, unable not to. And not because he was afraid of his grandmother’s magic, either.
Morning Dove frowned. “Alone. So alone Yet, brave. Great pain can change a person.” Her gaze slid to the back door where Brian had left. “Bring her to me. I want to meet this Niki.”
There was no way to get out of it. “I’ll ask her. But I’m not going to kidnap the woman just so you can meet.”
Morning Dove laughed. “Maybe you won’t. But maybe...”
He pressed a kiss to her cheek, taking
Gerald nodded slowly, his eyes slits. “So you do have a problem with those you are sworn to protect.”
“ I don’t mind protecting them, or keeping the peace. But... Glory...”
“ You find your baby sister precious. Do you think your mother and I value her any less?” His father’s voice held a threat.
“ No,” Shane replied with honesty.
“ Then leave it be. Glory will make her own choices, just as you did.”
Heat flushed up his neck at his father’s reference to the time he ran away. Shane had left the small town, trying to get away from everything paranormal. In the city, he joined the police force, only to be confronted by a past that just wouldn’t let him alone. He’d finally given up a few years ago, coming home to fulfill the duties that should have been his older brothers.
But none of that mattered right now. And it didn’t change his mind about Glory, but he dropped the subject.
His father tapped the pipe against the ashtray and relit it. “Is there anything else you would like to talk about?”
A picture of Niki DeVeraux flashed in his mind, making his heart thump a bit faster. “Nothing.”
His father’s gaze was penetrating, but the man only said, “Your mother waits.”
Feeling like a chastised young boy, he left his father’s study and went into the overflowing kitchen. Relatives and friends greeted him, asked questions, or slapped him on the shoulder as a hello.
His mother was a small woman, tiny really. Barely five-six, their entire family towered over her. Yet, with a glance, she kept them in line. Shane had more than once been terrified by her ‘look’. As usual, she wore her long black hair in a braid. No make-up adorned her youthful face. She glanced up, laughing at something, her brown eyes filled with amusement.
She spotted him and her face lit with joy. “Shane, my son.” She wrapped her arms around him, drawing him into her embrace. Somehow, all of his worries felt a little lighter.
Until he saw the scowling face of his older brother in the far corner. Brian turned and stormed out of the house, knocking back a few people in his way.
Their mother sighed. “I don’t know how to help him get over it.”
“ Neither do I.”
Jasmine patted his cheek. “It’s not your fault. He will come to know this.”
Shane wasn’t so sure. It was bad enough to be chosen as the next tribal shaman, without the guilt of knowing his older brother had been passed over. They’d all grown up believing Brian to be the heir of the family’s hereditary magic and power. Expected it. The Fates always chose the eldest child.
Except this time.
The years since the Fates’ decision had turned Brian into an angry, bitter man who rarely came to visit, and never spoke a word to Shane.
It was a hole in his life, losing not just his brother, but his best friend.
A hand tugged on his arm, and Shane turned. Morning Dove, his grandmother, beckoned him to the table in the corner of the room. He followed, helping her sit comfortably. He took his place next to her, and let her have his hand. She traced the lines over his palm with her finger absently, as she stared at the spot just above his head.
“ Tell me about her.”
“ Who?” Shane asked.
His grandmother flicked his ear. “Don’t be dense, boy.”
“ She’s a vampire.”
“ Mmm. But tell me about her .”
He did, unable not to. And not because he was afraid of his grandmother’s magic, either.
Morning Dove frowned. “Alone. So alone Yet, brave. Great pain can change a person.” Her gaze slid to the back door where Brian had left. “Bring her to me. I want to meet this Niki.”
There was no way to get out of it. “I’ll ask her. But I’m not going to kidnap the woman just so you can meet.”
Morning Dove laughed. “Maybe you won’t. But maybe...”
He pressed a kiss to her cheek, taking
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