I


    Lanie


    | was going to like Delh a lot, which was a relief.


    In the short hour we’d spent together, she’d been so cheerful and helpful that | couldn’t help but feel like all of this was going to


    be okay.


    “Of course, it will,” Delh said with a look of surprise when | said that out loud. She tilted her head to look. at me with wide eyes.


    Her irises were fully ck with a red ring around them, which I''d found startling at first, but she’d exined that it wasn’t


    something every vampire had.


    It was a sign of her empathic abilities, which went beyond being able topel someone, a skill most vampires could easily


    wield.


    “You are feeling so much better; | can sense it,” she added. “I didn’t want to say anything about it before, since it’s rude to talk


    about someone’s feelings unless they mention them first.”


    “| have so. Much. To. Learn.” | emphasized each word andughed a little. “I didn’t think it would be so tiring, either! |


    communicate with my wolf all the time, and when | draw on my Luna gifts, it leaves me energized. Not drained.”From N?velDrama.Org.


    Delh smiled. “It’s a journey, Lanie. Because you are a hybrid, you are not going to have the same reactions as a pureblood


    vampire. But because your bloodlinees from an Ancient...well, to be honest, | can feel a loting off of you. Though I’m


    not entirely sure what awaits you. We''ll have to learn together.”


    “| look forward to it.” From somewhere far off, | heard what sounded like a bell or a gong.


    Delh turned toward it. “Oh, that’s the announcement bell. It’s time for us to get ready for the big dinner tonight. Did you have


    any more questions before we go?”


    She held up a hand before | could answer.


    “Never mind,” she said. “I know you have many questions. Anything | can help you with in less than a


    minute?”


    “Nope.” | shook my head, and we bothughed.


    “Can you find your way back to your quarters?”


    “| hope so. | need to start learning how, anyway. | can’t expect a tour guide every time | need to go from


    one ce to the next.”


    “If you get lost, I’m sure someone will be around to help.”


    We hugged and parted ways.


    I


    l impressed myself with how well | was able to navigate my way back to the quarters. By the time | got


    01/2


    “Everything okay?” | asked, concerned, as Ste ran to me right away. | smoothed a hand over her hair.


    “Hello, my precious. Did you have fun today?”


    “The boys aren''t back yet, Gabri said.


    | frowned and bent to hug ina and Isaac, who''d taken a bit longer to toddle to me. | kissed


    and then straightened. “They’ve been gone this whole time?”


    “Can you link with them? See where they are?” Her voice had an edge to it that made me feel a litt


    anxious.


    | sent out a query through the mate link and got nothing at first. Then Xander’s voice drifted to me, very soft. | had to concentrate


    really hard to hear it.


    “Shielding...interferes...” he thought.


    | looked at her. | think he’s trying to tell me that the security shields here are blocking the mind links.”


    She frowned. “I don’t like that.”


    “Are wolves the only supernaturals that have mind links?” | hefted ina onto my hip and nodded as she


    babbled at me. “Yes, that sounds like so much fun.”


    | kissed her chubby little cheek and squeezed her, then set her down to do the same to her twin. All three


    pups were vying for my attention, and it was a little overwhelming.


    “Gabri, could you take Ste and help her get a bath? I''ll take care of the twins.”


    “Of course | can.” She said this with more of that same edge in her tone.


    It made me look up. “Everything okay?”


    “Yes. Fine. They''ve been away from us all day, that’s all. I’m not used to it. Maybe | should stay here. tonight while you four go to


    the dinner.”


    “You can if you want to, I’m sure, but Braden told me that they''ll send someone from the school to stay


    with them. They’ll be in bed before we have to leave.” | studied her, sensing waves of irritation and nervousness


    rolling off of her, but not sure exactly why. “I think it would be good for you to go to the dinner, though. Didn’t you say you had


    friends here?


    Did you get to spend any time with them today?”


    “Oh, yes, old friends,” she said crisply. “I guess I’m not the only one who was able to spend time with


    people from the past today.”


    Before | could ask her what she was getting at, the door flew open. Three sweaty,ughing and clearly


    exhausted men stumbled into the room


    When | looked back to check on Gabri, she’d gone into her rooms and closed the door behind her.