"At least the vampires are on our side," Harper continued, grateful for their unexpected allies. "They understand what it's like to live in secrecy, to have to hide who you really are. And they're powerful - having them as protection will make a huge difference."
Safe, Reyna agreed in her mind. Her fox seemed completely unbothered by the idea of vampires, which only reinforced Harper's confidence in their alliance.
"Besides," Harper added, "they've been living peacefully among humans for centuries without detection. Just as we have been."
Harper couldn't deny her relief at having such powerful allies. The thought of facing hostile humans alone had kept her awake more nights than she cared to admit. With the vampires' support, maybe they had a chance of making this transition without loss of life.
Harper stifled a yawn, snuggling deeper into Nathan's side. The afternoon sun filtered through her newly hung curtains, casting a warm glow across the living room. Her muscles ached from the day's work, but contentment settled over her like a cozy blanket.
"You're exhausted," Nathan murmured, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on her shoulder.
"Mmm," Harper agreed, her eyes growing heavy. "But it's a good kind of tired. Everything's unpacked, organized... finally feels like home."
Den, Reyna corrected sleepily in her mind.
Nathan chuckled softly. "Reyna seems pleased with how it turned out."
"She is," Harper mumbled against his shoulder. "She needs this as much as I do… our own place, where we're safe and can dig in. So to speak."
"Wait." She frowned. "You heard her? In my head?"
"Mmhmm."
"That's weird. I never heard of anyone being able to do that before."
"Shh." His hand moved to stroke her hair, and Harper felt herself drifting. The steady rhythm of Nathan's heartbeat and the warmth of his body beside her made staying awake increasingly difficult.
"Come on, sleepyhead," Nathan's voice came from somewhere above her. "Let's get you to bed for a nap."
Harper made a noise of protest as he shifted, but allowed him to help her to her feet. She swayed slightly, steadied by his hand at her elbow.
"I'll head home so you can rest," he said, guiding her down the hallway to her bedroom. "You've had quite a day."
Harper crawled onto her newly made bed, already missing his warmth. "Thank you for everything today," she managed through another yawn.
"Sleep well, Harper," Nathan's voice was soft as he pulled a throw blanket over her.
She was asleep before she heard him leave.
Chapter 19
Harper lookedabout the large conference room at the vet clinic. Jacinth, Remi, Katerina, and Jake were already there, along with three strangers she'd never seen before. The air crackled with a strange energy that made her fox senses tingle. Beside her, Nathan was tense, and he all but quivered with excitement. She couldn't help grinning at him, and squeezing his hand.
Jacinth cleared her throat, and the babble of voices ceased as everyone looked to the head of the table where she sat. "Thank you all for coming. I'd like to introduce Aleksei, Tobi, and Tyr, vampires from Lord Damien's clan."
Harper's gaze flicked between the three newcomers, trying to reconcile their ordinary appearance with the extraordinary nature of their being. While she'd known about vampires, she'd never actually seen one before. Few had… or at least, that they remembered.
"I apologize for the unconventional meeting place," Jacinth continued. "The West Side Inn is too public, and we didn't want a stray guest wandering in on us."
Tobi, a fair-haired vampire with a mischievous glint in his eye, flashed a grin. "No worries. We've had meetings in far worse places."
His twin, Tyr, nodded in agreement. "Once, we gathered in a sewer. This is practically a palace in comparison."
Aleksei, who carried himself with the bearing of a seasoned warrior, remained silent but watchful. His piercing gaze swept the room, assessing each occupant in turn. He wasted no time with pleasantries, and when he spoke, his voice carried the weight of centuries. "We'll be establishing a rotating patrol schedule. Our enhanced senses allow us to detect threats long before they become imminent."
Jake, looking slightly uncomfortable, shifted in his seat. "What about feeding?"
Tobi waved a hand dismissively. "Relax, wolf-boy. We've got that covered. Lord Damien's rules are crystal clear – no hunting humans here. We've got… er… other arrangements."
