Leutene


    Stoi;@renched to touch the hem of Ste’s dress. | wanted to pull her into my arms, but | didn’t want Oscarehend settled for


    that small contact.


    “What sodo you mean, all of our thoughts?” | tried to keep my voice steady, but her little face scrunched up


    it the sound of my tension.


    | was misle des mung to use my Luna energy, but | didn’t need much of it right now. The Moon Goddess was notizer to


    varises and the strengths she’d granted me worked through my own motherhood. Ste rxed.


    Theditton |


    Theo icon warning about my varnpire side, but | certainly had never shared anything like that out loud with my daughter Ste


    might''ve simply been perceptive enough to guess that. It didn’t mean she was Ictually reading thcuouterOn the other hand...


    “Wolves doxtonomununicate via mind links. Usually, it’s mate to mate, or Alpha to Beta, but close tionships cac create a bond


    that allows us to speak mind to mind.”


    “I''m aware of that tavadachesaid wryly.


    Of course he was. A susandash of iration filtered through me. He knew so much, and | still barely knew


    anything. | didn’t have receno tviviedian that now, though.


    “Ste.” 1 focused ch Wowon’t be angry with you if you’re a little confused. Are you feeling Mama’s


    eelings? Guessing? Can youdeltay cjelodbok on my face, like when you told Abba his eyes looked scared?”


    She shook her head. No bheneamwhatyou’re thinking


    “When he asked you if you were reading his mind, did you tell him a fib?”


    Solemnly, she waited a second, then anodded.


    “Why would you do that? Fasked her, trubut thought already knew.


    cute fudy with the pretty dress was already thinkin


    Anat tumult hear that Abha was upset about some


    “| didn’t want to get into trouble. And the


    thinks. His thoughts, Steacted hemen.


    able to do that, so i didn’t want to tell alm could, toob. Betoon.”


    *How long have you been able to do tra?”.


    I''m not sure.


    Heat flushed my cheeks. | was going to tuve anne


    least some of the private conversations between my rate


    Daddy, Papa, and Abba are thinking to each other


    im ng to-to if she was, in tact, listening in to at


    and have you been hearing what Mama and


    She covered her mouth with both hands wivin a hurry of of mites es escapedNo, ob, Mama Only one at a time: But once theard


    Abba thinking about how much he tesugutt Joy wwata noap hood: Only he didn’t say


    poop, he said the bad word”


    ty eyebrows flew up. “Oh, he did??


    Yes. | try not to listen, becoused kinowie’s bad. But you’re all so loud,” sheined. “You, Daddy, Papapa, Grammy. Izzy and


    Allie, too. And thngecontit downstairs. And the people upstairs.”


    he pointed a small finger at theeinou. Snowwisted on Mchi’sp to look him in the face. And you


    Mchiughed and bouo her cienti Steltalit not mide to make jokes like that”


    Not joking!” There was that sh of stubbornness again, Ste crossed her arms and glowered at him


    es, the same color as his, shot out a samotnow that took a few seconds to fade.


    My grandfather turned stem, andil caught chirpssef novicerrifying an Ancient really could be. “Good


    iris do not scare people that way it’s not arme pok. Ste You cannot be hearing my thoughts,


    se Great Granddad is a vampire. That’s not how things work for our kind.”


    is eves met mines had to take his word forismce: nad h o does about now vampires worked.


    told you, | am not joking! Her voice wavered. Cleanty.nne was upset “Right now, you''re thinking about


    ty mama’s mommy used to y jokes on pecole swien 50g was lode, just like me. And | look like her. And


    be ying a joke, because | look like my grandmaaaang youthink yarmpires can’t have their thinkse


    their head, but they can! Because | hear them


    like


    Pet


    cas


    he burst into tears, and | reached to gather her against reel Malhi fooked shaken, then sorrowful. He


    : her back gently


    hav


    mys


    m sorry, small one. | never meant to hurt your feelingss! believe you”


    I


    te turned fear-stained cheeks toward him. Sniffling, she gave him wobbly, watery smile. | know you


    cause | can hear you.”? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    of o


    How about now? What am | thinking?”


    ford


    hedrowned “Nothing”


    locked at me. | was thinking, quite hard, but also trying to shield. So poosmile to bioch


    mine stand how it’s possible for her in the first ce.


    Mchi stood. “This is extraordinary I’ve got some things to look into about this ut conte


    the potantume, get refreshed, and Ill see you all at dinner.


    um Hand How was going to exin this to my mates?


    212


    tha