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“What are you doing out here?” she asked.
“Just enjoying the night. What are you doing up at this hour?”
“I woke up and you weren’t beside me.”
“You should be sleeping.” Taking her by the hand, he led her to the wrought-iron bench situated under a flowering peach tree. Sitting beside her, he slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Abbey will be waking in an hour or so. You should rest while you can.”
“I know, but it’s lonely in that big old bed without you.”
“Is something troubling you?”
“No.”
He looked at her, one brow arched. “Finding me gone in the middle of the night is nothing new for you. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing. I’m just being silly, but you’ve been a little distant lately and . . . well, you’re not sorry about the baby, are you?”
“Of course not. Why would you think that?”
“Well, I know you weren’t thrilled about the idea at first.”
“Savanah, you asked if I was against it. I said no. I meant no. You didn’t ask me if I liked the idea, but none of that matters now. I couldn’t love our Abbey more if she was my own flesh and blood. I love you both, and right now I can’t imagine my life without either of you. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Rane drew her closer. “This whole parent thing takes some getting used to, you know? I never expected to be a father. I’m not sure I’ll be any good at it.”
“Well, I’ve never been a mother, either,” Savanah said with a rueful smile. “I’m not sure I’ll be any good at parenting, either.”
“One of us had better be good at it,” Rane said, kissing her lightly. “We can’t send her back now.” He gazed into the distance. “Do you think it will upset her when she’s old enough to be told what I am?”
“No. By then, she’ll know what a good man you are. Look at your mother. She was upset when she first learned her parents were vampires, but only because they had kept it a secret for so long.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Little girls always love their daddy best of all,” Savanah said, thinking of her own father. “I know I did.”
Rane squeezed her shoulder. “I know you still miss him.” Savanah’s father had been killed by a vampire almost two years ago.
With a sigh, Savanah rested her head against his shoulder. They sat there for several minutes, enjoying the quiet of the night, before Rane said, “Your daughter is calling you.”
Savanah pressed a hand to her breast as it filled with milk. “Right on time,” she said, rising. “Are you coming in?”
Rane was about to say yes when he sensed a familiar presence lurking in the shadows. Brushing a kiss across Savanah’s cheek, he said, “I’ll be along in a few minutes. Warm up my side of the bed, will you?”
With a little “humph,” Savanah hurried into the house.
As soon as the door closed behind Savanah, Rane turned to face the woman who stepped out of the shadows. She wore a long, hooded black cloak over a pair of black jeans and a bloodred sweater. Though he was happily married, Rane couldn’t help but admire his visitor. There was no one else like her in all the world. He doubted any male over the age of twelve could look at her and not want her.
“Good evening,” she murmured. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“Mara, when have you ever been an intrusion?” he chided softly. “We don’t see you nearly enough, although I am surprised to see you here. I thought you were going back to Egypt.”
She lifted one shoulder in an elegant shrug. “I changed my mind.”
“Always a woman’s prerogative,” he replied, noting her sober expression. “Is anything wrong?”
Mara paced a few steps away from him, then turned and paced back. “Yes, very wrong, but I don’t know what it is, or how to explain it.” She glanced around the yard, as if to make sure they were alone. “I’m changing,” she said, her voice low, as though she feared someone might overhear, “and it scares me.”
“Changing?” His gaze moved over her. She looked as young and beautiful as ever. Her hair, as black as ink, fell in waves over her shoulders. Her skin was like alabaster, her eyes as green as new grass. Save for Savanah, he had never known a more beautiful, vibrant woman. “Changing how?”
“I’ve been getting tired at night and I’m having trouble sleeping during the day. The last time I fed, it made me sick. I’ve been craving mortal food. My powers are weakening. I’m afraid I’m losing them.”
“I’ve never heard of anything like that happening before. What do you think is causing it?”
“I don’t know!”
She looked up at him. For the first time that Rane could remember, he saw fear in the depths of her eyes. “Have you talked to Roshan?”
She shook her head. Roshan had been a vampire for over three centuries. Years ago, Mara had given him her blood, increasing his preternatural power, and allowing him to walk in the sun’s light. He was Rane’s grandfather and the head of the Cordova family. “No, I haven’t told anyone else.”
Rane swore softly. “Maybe you should talk to him. He’s been a vampire a lot longer than I have.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m . . . I’m too vulnerable.”
“What the hell does that mean? You don’t think he’d . . .” Rane shook his head. “You don’t honestly think he would try to destroy you?”
“No, but . . .” She crossed her arms over her breasts. “Like you said, he’s been a vampire a long time. We’re all predators at heart, Rane, and predators prey on the weak, even among their own kind.”
“I don’t believe this! Dammit, Mara, you’re my godmother, and Abbey’s, too. We’re family. If you’re in trouble, you need help. I can’t give it to you, but maybe Roshan can.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” She stared past him into the darkness. “When I was first turned, I heard an ancient legend that said if a vampire survived for a hundred years, he would be restored to mortality. I didn’t believe it, of course, and when I turned one hundred, nothing happened, but”—she lifted her troubled gaze to his—“what if it’s happening now?”
