"Identical twins." Beth nodded, her face growing warmer. "Though Tyr seems more serious than his brother. Tobi was cracking jokes the whole time they were measuring windows and checking sight lines."
"Lord Damien's security team is the best," Jacinth said. "Though I suspect you're more interested in their... other qualities."
"Can you blame me?" Beth laughed, tucking her legs beneath her. "You should have seen Tyr in this fitted henley..." She trailed off, remembering how the fabric had stretched across his broad shoulders.
"And?" Layla prompted, clearly enjoying Beth's flustered state.
"And nothing! They're vampires, for heaven's sake. I barely know them." Beth buried her face in her hands, but couldn't stop grinning. "Though Tyr did say they'd be back to install the new security system..."
"Mama! Come push me!" Yousuf called out from the swings. Beside him, Molly bounced excitedly.
"Me too!" Molly shouted, waving both arms at Jacinth.
A genuine smile broke across Layla's face as she stood. "Coming,habibi!" She turned to Beth and Jacinth. "Thank you. For understanding. For showing me there's hope."
Jacinth rose with fluid grace, mischief dancing in her expression. "Come on," she said, extending her hands to both women. "I believe we've been summoned. Those swings won't swing themselves."
Chapter 4
Beth pulled into the familiar parking lot of the West Side Inn, nostalgia washing over her. The restored Victorian's welcoming porch lights glowed in the early evening darkness, just as they had almost two years ago, when she'd first arrived here, scared and uncertain after her release from the Sanctuary.
The inn's front door opened before she reached the steps, spilling warm light across the wraparound porch. Renee's elegant figure filled the doorway, her dark eyes sparkling with warmth.
"Beth, honey! Come in out of the cold." Renee enfolded her in a tight hug that smelled of vanilla and fresh-baked cookies.
"It's so good to see you," Beth murmured, letting herself relax into the embrace. Renee had been like a surrogate mother during those first difficult weeks of freedom.
"Look who's here, Angus!" Renee called over her shoulder as she ushered Beth inside.
Through the open doorway between the lobby and lounge, Beth could see the warm glow from the fireplace. Angus's tall frame appeared in the doorway, silhouetted against the dancingflames. His white teeth flashed in a broad smile as he crossed the lobby to greet her.
"Welcome back, Miss Beth." His deep voice carried the same calm reassurance she remembered. "You're looking well."
Beth ducked her head at the praise, warmth flooding her cheeks. "Thank you. I'm feeling much better these days."
"As you should." Angus gestured toward the lounge. "The others are gathering in there. But first..." He exchanged a knowing look with his wife. "Renee just pulled a batch of her famous snickerdoodles from the oven."
"Can't have a proper meeting without cookies," Renee declared, already steering Beth toward the lounge.
Beth hung her coat and knit hat on the wooden pegs along the wall, grateful for the warmth radiating from the crackling fireplace in the lounge, just through the door from the lobby. The flames cast dancing shadows across the polished hardwood floors, bringing back memories of countless evenings spent in this welcoming space during her recovery.
Beth followed Renee through into the dining room where people were already gathering around a grouping of tables that had been pushed together to form one long table. She waved at everyone as Renee led her past the swinging door into the kitchen, breathing in the heavenly scent of cinnamon and sugar. The industrial-sized kitchen gleamed with spotless stainless steel, but somehow still managed to feel cozy and welcoming. A cooling rack on the center island held rows of perfectly golden snickerdoodles.
"Here, dear." Renee handed her a silver platter piled high with the still-warm cookies. "Make sure these get put out on the buffet table." She fixed Beth with a stern look, though her dark eyes twinkled. "And be sure to keep some for yourself before they all disappear. You know how quickly they go."
"Yes ma'am." Beth couldn't help but smile, remembering how these same cookies had helped coax her out of her shell during those first difficult weeks at the inn.
"Angus and I won't be here for the meeting tonight." Renee wiped her hands on her apron. "We have some business to attend to elsewhere. But Katerina promised to keep us in the loop about everything discussed." She patted Beth's arm reassuringly. "That girl notices everything - she won't miss a single detail."
Beth balanced the heavy platter carefully as she nodded. The cookies' sweet aroma made her mouth water, bringing back memories of late-night conversations in this very kitchen, when nightmares had driven her from her bed and Renee had always seemed to know exactly when to appear with fresh-baked comfort.
Heading back into the dining room with the platter of cookies, Beth's gaze swept across the familiar faces. The veterinary partners from the clinic where there - Troy Shelton deep in conversation with Suzanne MacPherson, while Douglas McCandliss listened intently to something his wife Jacinth was saying, her dark eyes animated as she gestured.
Sliding the cookies onto the buffet, and nabbing a couple for herself before finding a seat, Beth smiled at her friend's enthusiasm. It still amazed her sometimes that Douglas had actually married a Djinn - how did that work, she wondered, loving someone who would never age, never die? And what must it be like for Jacinth, falling in love with a mortal, knowing she'd have to watch him grow old and leave her behind?
Beth's pulse quickened when she spotted Tyr and Tobi among the group. The vampire twins stood near the window, their fair hair catching the warm light from the crystal chandelier overhead. Her mind flashed back to their encounterthe other night, how carefully Tyr had examined her security needs without making her feel vulnerable or broken.
She offered them a small smile as their brilliant blue gazes found hers. Tobi grinned broadly in response while Tyr's expression remained more reserved, though his eyes held a warmth that made her cheeks heat slightly.
