Lanie


    | came back to myself, not sure how much time had passed. It couldn’t have been long, since Charlotte was tugging a chunk of


    steak from her kebab with her teeth and giving me a curious look.


    “Lanie?” She spoke around the mouthful of meat.


    “You all right?”


    “Got a little woozy for a second or so. Felt like | was dreaming, but | knew | was awake.” My appetite had


    also faded quite a b


    Charlotte’s frown eased. She sighed. “Your grandfather must be trying to reach you.”


    “Like through a mind link?” | blinked in surprise. “I know we''re family, but that seems strange.”


    “Not like the one you share with your mates. He’s an Ancient, so he can....I’m not sure how to describe it. Reach, Charlotte


    exined. “Umm...maybe it’s better described as touch? He can find people he wants tomunicate with and draw them to


    him. Usually, they simply think it’s their own idea.”


    “He did tell me he wanted us to meet.” | concentrated, trying to see if | felt that weird dreaming sensation again, but it was gone.


    “Could there be something else going on?” Charlotte gave me a sideways look that at first | couldn’t interpret


    “You mean am | with pup, | confirmed, and she nodded. My heart pounded at the thought of it, but | couldn’t tell if it was in a good


    or a bad way. “I hope not. | think | hope not. There’s so much going on right now, it’s not the right time for another pup”


    Even as | said it aloud, | wondered if that was how | truly felt. One hand went protectively to my belly again, the way it had in the


    training room, only this time did | imagine the smallest of bulges there?


    Something that didn’t have anything to do with the beef kebabs I''d been gobbling?


    “I''m sorry | didn’t mean to worry you” Charlotte leaned a little bit closer to draw in a long, slow breath.


    “if it offers anyfort, | can’t smell a pregnancy, not even if | open myself up to all of my strengths.


    flet out a self-conscious chuckle that faded quickly


    sighed How long did it take you to learn how to control all your gifts? | feel like I''ve barely scratched the Hartacs with what the


    Moon Goddess has given me How will | ever leam how to utilize all the vampire stuff,


    not


    You pa long hepan Youre meant to eat all in a day or two hot even in a month or year or


    ester; bool years. Lulus Ce


    last of and sped the one Radiated To scary if t


    khoal


    see what my grandfather wants.”


    “Can you find your way? | could take you, but | have some errands to run.” Charlotte tossed her empty kebab stick into the


    garbage.


    | paused to focus my thoughts. “I think | can find it.”


    We exchanged hugs and she went off in one direction while | took the other. As | was heading for the other end of the street


    where the elevators were, | spotted Xander’s mother leaving one of the small shops. She carried a shopping bag in one arm and


    a travel mug in the other.


    “Gabri!” | called, hurrying to catch up to her.


    She turned with a frown that didn’t ease even when she saw it was me. If anything, it looked like she kind of frowned even


    harder. Itsted only a few seconds before she looked normal again.


    “Lanie. What are you up to?”


    “I''ve been training with Charlotte and Mchi, and I’m on my way to meet up with him again. | guess he’s got some things he


    wants to talk to me about one on one. What are you up to?”


    With a strainedugh, she held up her bag and the mug. “Nothing much. With the children being cared for, there’s not much for


    me to do other than pick up a few things. Oh, and have tea with a friend.


    What kind of things were you learning during your training?”


    Another wash of that woozy sort of dreamy feeling passed over me. This time, | managed to fend it off, but | could tell she’d


    noticed something. “I''ll tell you all about itter tonight, okay? Right now | really have to


    run.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    “| can smell the vampire in you.”


    | did a double-take, not sure I''d heard her correctly over the sounds from the crowd. Several others had


    Group out. gathered to wait for the elevators now opening and letting a group


    “I''m sorry?” | asked her, but Gabri shrugged.


    “You run on. | forgot | needed something from the book shop. See youter.”


    She left without another word, and | took a spot on the elevator. Just as the doors shut, | glimpsed her through them. She was


    staring at me with an intense look of concentration.


    What was that all about?


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