Lanie


    | had Ste by the hand as we walked throuun ith door into an enormous courtyard with the rest of our


    mily following.


    Gabri carried Isaac, and Zane held ma


    Xander and Mason brought up the rear.


    Although they didn’t say it aloud or even send them thoughts through the mind link, | knew it was because


    ey were nking us in case some threat came up on us frontechidd


    The Moon Goddess moved inside and all around meslecting coinotney had nothing to worry about. | as d for their alertness,


    though. My two Alphas were straboootesand ready to take on anything that


    e our


    me


    way


    Charlotte moved ahead, past us, with Greyson at her side:


    She looked over her shoulder at me with a wide grin. | hadn’t knowwnerseridong, but it was the first time


    seen her look happy and genuinely at peace. Her satisfaction tobeo of herinromalbouises or energy that


    dn’t really mingle with mine...but | was d to feel them.


    Itd epted this path because the Moon Goddess hadforted me but seeriga Ghadotte st ease


    fereally cemented to me that we were all going to be all right..


    wasn’t sure what I''d been expecting, but it wasn’t this. Lush gardens beneath aaroooorsskyn this


    more? | could hear the tinkling of a fountain but couldn''t see it. Birds chirpeddSoftigarssswasihned with


    ng stones making a few different paths leading to several separate area ss


    Obi Mara,it’s so pretty!” Ste tugged my hand toward one of the winding stone pathss


    her


    Toulon,sweetheart. Let’s just be patient, okay?” | shot Xander a look.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    He seemed


    pressed as | was, but a swirling pulse of his Alpha energy reached the. Het vo


    in cose cohing went down


    Steddockddatt him Cooddy, it’s okay. This is a good ce.”


    He bent to scoopd her up and kissed her chubby unnm


    without Maan coronatus You promise mustle cheek. “Let''s just stick together, Ste. N


    She looked disapppoited but the nodded “Yes, Daddy, | promise.”


    Slowly, a group hadantennalized in front of us, one by one, from behind the trees and flowerbeds.


    Men and wonten treseada nothing more appropriate to tropical temperatures than what I''d have pected from an skan


    ecotuthored in semi-circle. Most of them were smiling at us in wee, but


    ew hung back as though they were reserving judgment


    However ponéfantitat face stood out to me, and | gave a happy gasp.


    “Mchi


    Xander


    “If Mchi’s hanging putitihare it must be safe enough,” Zane thought to me as soon as the Ancient vampire stepped out of the


    crowd that was greeting us. “How are you feeling about this? I’m getting conflict.”


    | shifted Ste fromone eantac the other as | replied via the link. “I keep getting waves of reassurance from our Luna. Not sure


    she’s swaddoing it on purpose, or if that’s the reason I’m actually pretty cool right now. But | do know that if Mchin shealthis


    ce has to be safe as hell.”


    Mason''s voice slipped into any vidro how are you so cool? | gotta be honest, I’m not sure I’m okay. being surrounded by all these


    vampes


    “We''re all here together Feel Lenis Sheertruits Mdi. So should we,” Zane put in.


    | could tell by the look on Meson’s face that he still wasn’t convinced. That was fine. Some healthy wariness would serve us well,


    so long as itididioned his so tense he went off without warning or


    provocation.


    Lanie must''ve been feeling it, too, because she turned


    It even lifted the ends of her hair, and | swore could see


    almost at once in the golden tight of the courtyard.


    him, her smile still wide. A glow surrounded her.


    all sparkles glittering all around her. They faded


    “| mean, look at this f ucking ce,” Meson thoughhtapne and Zane. “We''re in ska, and this is like


    something out of the Bahamas or some s hiti This stinks opmagic Xander. Do vamps control the weather?”


    “Daddy,” Ste said with a frown. She put a tiny hand on my check to turn my face toward her. “Tell him


    not to worry so much?”


    “Did you hear me thinking to your Daddy?” Meson asked dna dowodice.


    She paused before answering. “I can just see your eyes am scared”


    “There’s no need to be afraid, Mason.” A woman in a flowing green dres her blonde hair c


    her shoulders and back, stepped closer to us. She held out a delicate handdawnld my brother. A


    tittle one might not be reading your mind..but | am”


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