Full summary: Rosabel was the daughter of Layel and Delilah, sister to Warr and the "princess" of the vampire race. Zane was her father's loyal warrior, a demon's former love-slave and a vicious warmonger. When they were together, none of that seemed to matter. After failing to resist temptation, they realize that danger and opposition lurks in every shadow.

Author's note: Zane is actually in Gena Showalter's short story, The Amazon's Curse. I, however, am not a big fan of Nola... Anyway, rated M for violence, language and suggestive behavior.

Prologue

He heard the cling of metal clashing against metal and saw the light bouncing off the twirling blades. Warr huffed and puffed, the look in his eyes wild as sweat dripped from his midnight blue hair. He pulled his lips back with a growl, bearing pearly fangs. Warr swung his greatsword again.

Zane's gaze settled on the girl practically dancing around her brother. Her feet barely seemed to touch the ground as she evaded the oncoming blows. Little hands held the hilts of daggers gently, but the way she moved made them seem like extensions of her person. Her dress – why she would wear one while sparring was beyond him – flowed prettily as she tip-toed her way out of Warr's reach.

With his long legs, Warr closed the distance between them with one step. Rosabel ducked, avoiding his large, unwieldy weapon once more. Warr blinked and Rosabel's blade ghosted over his vulnerable neck. "I win, brother," she murmured. "You are too slow." Warr smacked her hand away – making Zane bear his own fangs, even though the siblings couldn't see him – with a snarl.

"I swear: I will best you, Rose." He didn't make it sound like a friendly game between siblings.

Zane decided to step in then, ebony hair untamed and his dark eyes glistening with malicious intent. Warr's violet gaze lifted to him and he tensed visibly. As if sensing her brother's unease, Rosabel turned to see what had him troubled. Zane's heart stopped. He stopped, actually, frozen in his tracks.

She stared at him with her ice blue eyes – eyes that should have reminded him of her father, but didn't. Her long, stark white hair cascaded down past her hips – hair that also should have reminded him of her father, at least with its color, but did not. She smiled at him, a gentle smile that was not like her father's whatsoever. There was warmth in her eyes, a cheery "hello" on those pink lips.

Finally, Zane cleared his throat and said, "Your parents have been looking for you. They will be in the dining hall."

Layel had put him in charge of their safety, so Zane was always stuck baby-sitting. But even if he thought that, it was hard to see either of them as children anymore. Warr was twenty now, with muscles that would shame any other man. His eyes reflected the face of Death, his expression a perpetual scowl. Sometimes, Zane found himself wondering why that was. Rosabel was nearing her eighteenth year. She looked more and more like a woman with each passing day, too. The fidgety, chubby-cheeked Rose was long gone.

"We're on our way," Warr grumbled, putting his mighty sword in its scabbard on his back. The thing never seemed to weigh him down.

Rosabel followed suit, tucking her blades into sheathes attached to belts hidden beneath her dress. The flash of leg was enough to have Zane hard and…uncomfortable.

Warr was staring at him now. Shit. Zane closed his eyes briefly, thinking of Marina, the demon queen that he had allowed to use him – for the sake of that damned siren – and his erection was slain. Just. Like. That.

It was true. Zane wanted Rosabel. It'd come as a surprise, really. He'd found out one day while accompanying her on a walk. She'd been hopping from rock to rock, twisted her ankle and would have fallen had he not instinctively reached out to catch her. He'd enjoyed the feel of her, the way she'd clutched his shoulders, the way she'd relaxed once she knew she was safe with him. He'd felt so guilty about it that, for a long time after, he couldn't even bring himself to look at her.

If anyone knew Zane, they knew he couldn't handle physical interaction, and that was especially true when it came to women. He hated it, was disgusted by it. The fact that he could – and wanted to – touch Rosabel was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Third time's the charm, he'd always tell himself, remembering both the siren woman and Nola. A while ago, he would have given up everything to be with Nola, the Amazon. She'd disappeared, though. Eventually, though he'd tried to hold onto them, his feelings for her disappeared as well.

Zane had something else that he could pursue now. Oh, he knew that he should tell Layel and have the king of vampires send him away for even thinking about his little daughter… But then he remembered that he'd probably never feel like this again. He'd be a fool to pass this up.

The siblings were under the archway that would lead them to the dining hall when Rosabel stopped and whirled around to face him again. "Oh! Zane, may I ask something of you?"

She was so polite, he thought. He often wondered how, given that she grew up with an Amazon and the vampire king as parents. "What is it?" he asked, keeping his tone as even as possible. He didn't need it going all soft and caressing with her brother standing right there.

"I will be going out today," she told him. "Would you like to come along…and be my bodyguard?" She looked hopeful.

"You will have me!" Warr snapped before Zane could say anything. He gripped Rose's upper arm tightly and Zane fought to keep a growl contained. "As always..." Warr groused before pulling her along with him.

"Lucky little…" Zane mumbled to himself. He couldn't hurt Warr. Even if Layel hadn't given him the job, Warr was Layel's son, so Zane felt obligated to protect the brat. After all, he owed Layel much. He'd saved Zane from ruthless, dominating women twice now. With an irritated sigh, Zane started for the dining hall.

Layel and Delilah were cuddling when he arrived. His Rosabel and her brat of a brother stood off to the side, looking pained.

"Mother, Father…" Rosabel lifted her hand to her face, covering one of her eyes – it was a habit of hers that told Zane that she was feeling out of place.

"Rosabel!" Delilah exclaimed, looking over Layel's shoulder to see her children. "Your father and I were—"

"Kissing," Layel finished. "Please, don't interrupt and just enjoy the meal." He gestured to the banquet before them.

"Layel…" Delilah started, but couldn't – wouldn't – resist him.

"Ugh! I think I've lost my appetite." Warr turned away. "Let's go, Rose. If necessary, we'll find someone willing to…donate their blood."

"If you do, be careful," Layel said. "We do not need you taking too much and bringing someone's wrath down upon us."

"Understood, Father," was Warr's ready response.

The children departed and Zane stepped out of the shadows. Layel met his gaze, gave a small nod and Zane took off. It was the only way Layel would ever allow his children outside of the palace: Zane would track the siblings' progress and make sure they remained safe.

Warr and Rose were already outside of the palace, unaware of Zane as he flew silently above them. Out in the open, when he believed they were alone, Warr was different. He was softer. "Where do you want to go?" he asked his sister, his gaze restless as he searched for possible threats.

Rosabel looked at him from out of the corner of her eye. "I've not decided yet. I know that I want to go somewhere exciting. Life at the palace is so…dull. Let's go somewhere new!"

"You want to explore again? Have you not learned your lesson?" Warr pinned her with his dark, violet gaze. "You are safest within Father's palace."

"Safe and happy are not the same thing," she told him. "The palace feels more like a cage—"

"Are you mad?" Warr questioned loudly. "You have everything there. It is our home, the only place where we can let our guard down."

"Even so, I will never be content sitting around in its confines. There's so much more out there, Warr. I want to see it all." Her smile was the brightest he'd seen in a long time. He was silent for a long moment. He wanted Rosabel to be happy, but… Warr shook his head.

"Too dangerous. And I highly doubt Father would allow it."

Rosabel laughed. "As if I would let that stop me."

"And what about them?" Warr asked, hating himself for even bringing it up. "Will they help you change your mind?" Rosabel went uncharacteristically silent, making Warr feel even worse.

From where he was, Zane could only wonder why Rose suddenly wore such an unpleasant expression. That look of sadness was too much. What had Warr done now?

"I will not allow fear to hold me back," Rosabel said, lifting her chin.

"It doesn't matter if you're scared or not. It's about having the strength to defeat your enemies. As you are, do you think you could really handle them?"

"Warr…" Her head dipped, hiding her face behind her wealth of snow-white hair. "There's no guarantee that I'll have to deal with them." She rubbed her arms as if she were cold.

"But you know they're out there. They could be actively searching for you." Warr sighed and let her know, "I just want you to face the truth, to acknowledge the risk you take every time you leave the safety of the palace. I need you to stop placing yourself in danger."

"There can't be danger everywhere," she mumbled sadly.

"And that is where, my dear little sister, you are wrong."