“They would kidnap me? Really?”
Just how many dangers did she face in the late nineteenth century?
Khan replied, “I will have my tracker explain everything in more detail, along with your magic teacher. They will arrive tomorrow morning, and so your pass to leave the fae witch territory will start tomorrow afternoon, provided you follow any and all instructions from my tracker and your magic teacher.” He stood up straight. “I think I have what I need for now.”
As he made to leave, she blurted, “Will I get my own magic training bracelet? I had to borrow Yesenia’s.”
“Maybe. I don’t think Yesenia will need it any longer, especially since you’re here.”
“But—”
“I must leave. Take it up with your sister.”
With that, he walked along the outside of the room and left.
With a huge sigh, Meadow leaned back in the chair and crossed her arms over her chest. While part of her was excited to learn from an actual magic teacher and maybe get better control of her powers, part of her worried that maybe she was defective and no amount of training would help. After all, Stacey had been kind and done the best she could to instruct her. It wasn’t as if her mentor had merely waved a hand and said to wing it.
There was a knock on the door, and Meadow stated, “Come in.”
Nora appeared, with River right behind her. Meadow’s brother looked grouchy, which didn’t bode well.
Nora said, “Laurie and Joseph are here and have been waiting for Dark Lord Khan to leave. Would you like to see them? We can stay and offer support, if needed.”
She eyed her older-yet-younger brother and at his stony eyes, she knew his being in the same room as Laurie and Joseph would be a bad idea. Besides, what could go wrong in a parlor, with her brother, sister-in-law, and who knew how many servants just a shout away?
And it would only fast-track the two vampires’ eventual rejection of her, anyway. Oh, she’d let them claim her and bite her once. Hell, she could do with an orgasm or two. Even if they only wanted her because of fate, it’d been way too long since she’d dared to sleep with a guy.
Once the deed was done, they could go back to their lives, and she could go back to being alone, dealing with her powers.
Because no matter what Khan might believe, Meadow thought she might be broken.
“Meadow? Are you okay?” her brother asked.
She met River’s gaze and forced a smile. “It’s just a lot, is all. But yes, I’ll meet with Laurie and Joseph. Alone, though. Because as much as I love you, River, you can be overprotective and growly when it comes to family. And I don’t want you to scare them off.”
Nora snorted, but River replied, “It would take a hell of a lot more to scare them off than a few glares. Remember, I had to convince Laurie and Leo that I loved and wanted to marry Nora.”
The pair shared a loving glance, and jealousy stabbed Meadow’s heart.
Stop it. River deserves this. And even from what little you know about Nora, she deserves it, too.
River finally met Meadow’s gaze again and nodded. “All right. But if I hear a single shout or loud noise, I’m fucking barging in here. They really should have more patience, the bastards, and give you a chance to settle in.”
Meadow rolled her eyes. “Imagine being a vampire, River. And after decades of a still heart and the inability to eat or feel desire, you suddenly can. You’d probably be impatient too.”
He grimaced. “I know with your powers it’s unavoidable, but I’d rather not talk about desire with my little sister.”
“So I’m still your little sister even though I’m older now?”
He strode across the room and put out a hand. Once she took it, he yanked her up and engulfed her in a hug. “Of course you’re my little sister. You always will be.”
The familiar warmth and scent of her brother made her eyes heat with tears. “I know we tease and joke, or at least we used to. But I love you, River, and I’m glad we’re together again.”
He squeezed once more and released her. “Me too, Em. Me too.”
Meadow noticed Nora wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. The vampire said, “Don’t mind me. The baby makes me cry at everything.”
River rushed to Nora’s side and placed a hand over her belly. “Are you all right, love? Do I need to check on our little one again?”
