In The Shadow Of The Oak

by Royal Ember

Upon their first rising, all vampire are told of Fated Mates, a marked human destined for their vampire soulmate and whose blood can bring either great power, or the True Death. Orphaned and adopted by a vampire family, Alex meets her mate too young and is forced to forget. For if any discover that Death has a Fated Mate, both their lives will be in grave danger.

10. Chapter 10A

A/N: Sorry for the delay. I had surgery on my hand, then had complications so typing has been slooooow going. Things are getting better now, and Part B will be up shortly. Unfortunately, I had to cut this chapter into several parts as it was at 30K words and still growing. Sorry, while I may love reading super long chapters as much as the next girl, that is just way too long to post! On the other hand, most of Parts 2 and 3 have been written, so it shouldn't take long at all to finish polishing them up!

As always the disclaimer of non-ownership goes here. Thank you to everyone who reads and/or reviews my story, and for those who have been my sounding board for the last few months! You ladies know who you are, and it's much appreciated!

Now, on with the show. Enjoy!

---

Chapter 10A

Two years later …

Alex sleepily rolled over and nuzzled into her pillow as she half-listened to her brother Gabriel argue with their dad in the living room. The last three days there had been an odd tension in the nest, and she had tried her best to keep out from underfoot. Irritated brothers meant even more physical training, and she felt they were already pushing her.

"Maker, this is preposterous! If we go, there is no guarantee that things will work as you hope! What if—"

"Brother," Josiah soothed. "We can't keep this up. Every time they only find us faster, and it is getting harder to hide as technology expands and the world grows ever smaller. This is the perfect opportunity for us to flush out our enemy."

"And if you're wrong and the unthinkable happens?" Gabriel demanded. "What good will your certainty be then?"

Alex tried to focus on their words, but she was so exhausted from her classes that she could barely keep her eyes open. The last thing she heard as sleep dragged her back down was her father's calm voice.

"Be still, my sons. I understand your concerns, but all of the major bloodlines have been ordered to specific meeting areas, and our nest has been commanded to go to the North American site. We must go, and I will not leave my daughter alone. She has matured much in the last two years, but I shudder to think of what trouble she would still get into as a 15 year old. The city may not survive one of her 'adventures' without one of us here."

"But—!" Gabriel growled, and she wondered what had made him so angry that he was willing to defy their father.

"Silence. We will use this to our advantage. Besides, we will not be the only ones there to offer protection. All will be well."

---

The United States of America
Chicago, IL

The limousine pulled up to the Waldorf Astoria in Chicago, and even though she had stayed in some pretty swank places while traveling with her family, Alex had to admit that the entrance was visually stunning. She especially liked the lit fountain and cobblestone courtyard.

She turned to her dad. "So ... I'm still confused." Had been confused, in fact, for the last two weeks since her nest had been ordered to Chicago for the upcoming Great Revelation. The city was easily large enough to support the increased vampire population, although she had rolled her eyes at Gabriel's irritated complaining about being forced to drink mostly bagged blood before the ball. No killing was allowed for the next four nights, on orders of The Council.

"About what, daughter?" her dad asked as he looked up from his iPad. Teaching him how to use it had been an ... interesting ... experience. At least he had finally figured out how to stop shattering the screen each time he wanted to surf the net. She wished she could have a phone, but her family didn't trust her to not call a certain vampire Sheriff. It had been two years since the 'Halloween Episode,' as Bennet called it, and her dad still watched her like a hawk.

"Well, I thought we had to keep moving because people were trying to kill me," she said bluntly. Being in the Supernatural world meant that she had seen a lot of death, and heard a lot of death threats, no matter how much her family had tried to shield her.

"Yes, but this is the best chance to try and flush out our enemies when we can manipulate the situation to our advantage. You will be safe, daughter."

Gabriel did not even bother to look up from where he was going over plans with Bennett. "That means none of your 'adventures,' Alex. No back-talking, no escape attempts, and no sarcastic quips or inappropriately timed high-jinx. You need to do what you're told, or you'll put all of us in danger. We will be too busy trying to ferret out information to babysit you."

Alex's mouth dropped open in outrage. "I'm 15 years old, and I don't need a babysitter! It's been two years since I had an 'escape attempt,' and I learned my lesson!"

Josiah, always the peacemaker, placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yes, but we must concentrate on finding out what we can, and you will not be able to travel about unescorted here. Remember the little incident in Malaysia? There will be many powerful vampires and bloodlines here, Alex, and you must remember to use The Code."

Alex blushed at the reminder of her little 'accident,' and gnawed on her bottom lip. "We can still have Christmas though, right?" Her hopeful eyes looked between her dad and her three brothers. Her heart sank at their silence.

"Don't you think you're getting a little old for Christmas, Alex?" her dad asked with a sigh.

"No."

Her dad shook his head. "Unfortunately the ball happens on Christmas night, so we will not be able to do our normal 'celebration.' This is an important meeting for several reasons Alex, not the least of which we will learn how they plan on handling The Great Reveal. In comparison, missing Christmas this once is inconsequential."

At her hurt look he added, "There will be other years, Alex."

She didn't answer, but just looked out the window at the city. Everyone had been super tense and in a bad mood for days, and she had been looking forward to the normalcy of their nest's holiday traditions. Now it was brushed aside, like it didn't matter at all.

This entire weekend was going to just suck, she just knew it.

---

Alex scowled and leaned against the side of the elevator as she and Josiah took it to the top of the hotel.

Trying his best to ignore his sister, Josiah wondered if the ability to loudly sulk while actually saying nothing at all was a trait particular to all human teenagers. Well, and their brother Bennett. Alex was a good girl, but at fifteen it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep her hidden. She was too curious for her own good, and keeping her alive as she had her various exploits was practically a full-time job for a team of highly trained experts.

Sometimes he actually pitied her future mate.

"We are so strict because we care for you, little sister," he said softly.

Her shoulders slumped as she looked up at her favorite brother. "It's Christmas," she whispered. "It's the only time Gabriel and I really do anything together. It's our thing, and now he's just decided that its too dangerous. He doesn't even talk to me anymore," she grumbled. "Only order me around like I'm some … some … poodle."

Josiah sighed. Their eldest brother gave the word 'prickly' a new meaning, but he knew Gabriel greatly valued his position as her brother. "Alex—"

Alex shook her head. "No, Josiah. What's the point of keeping me safe, of keeping our nest safe, if everything that makes us a family is stripped away?"

Josiah stared. Sometimes he forgot that she was quickly approaching human adulthood. By vampire standards she would still be considered a child, and would for several hundred more years. Yet then she would say something like this, and he would realize that the toddler he had held through her nightmares and childish fear was growing up. For a moment he looked at her not as a brother, but as a male, and to his horror realized his little sister was a very attractive young woman.

He would kill any man who ever tried to touch her. He considered it good fortune that human males were put off by her Fated Mate aura, and vampires knew better than to play with her. That only left hundreds of other Supernaturals to maim if they so much as looked at his baby sister in 'that way'. He glared at her green knit sweater, jeans, and knee high boots, and for the first time thought that they clung way too inappropriately to her body. He would have to have words with the women their father paid to buy her clothes. Surely they could find something more concealing. Like a parka.

Alex frowned down at her boot clad feet and rubbed at her chest as she ignored, with the skill of practice, her brother's sudden muttering about maiming and killing. She felt ... weird. Expectant. Like something was about to happen, something ... something ...

She sighed, and tried to push the feeling away. She ached for home, wanted to be there so bad she could almost taste it. To walk the hallways, and sit by the pond on a cool night. It was only three more years until she was eighteen, and if her family thought she was going to stay put after that then they were nuts. The moment she was legally considered an adult in The United States, she was buying the first ticket from wherever-the-hell-they-were to Dallas, Texas and knocking on her vampire's door. She really hoped he didn't mind her moving in.

Well, even if Gabriel wouldn't join her for their normal traditions, she hoped she could convince their Dayman to accompany her to the mall. She had worked really hard and saved her money, and this year she had a lot of plans on what she was going to do with it.

The doors to the elevator finally opened and Alex blinked at the short hallway with three doors.

"Um, I thought we were going to the penthouse?" she asked.

Josiah smiled, his eyes twinkled mischievously. He had the sneaking suspicion that his sister would soon forget her disappointment.r,

"The Waldorf is owned by vampires, Alex. When it was determined that The Great Revelation was to occur, they decided to do massive renovations amongst all of their hotels. This one has been fitted with sunlight resistant glass, windowless rooms, and the top floors were made into interconnected suites. This allows larger bloodlines, as well as a monarch's revenue, to be easily accessible to each other."

Alex nodded slowly, even as more questions bubbled within her.

Josiah quickly said, "The middle room is the shared kitchen, dining, and sitting room."

Alex's brows furrowed in confusion as her brother waived the keycard at the door, punched in what had to be a forty digit long numerical code, followed by a fingerprint and retinal scan. Apparently the Waldorf took personal security to a whole new level.

"Who are we sharing a nesting territory with then?" she asked as the door swung open.

Josiah just smiled, and gestured for her to go in first.

Alex swallowed nervously when the electric current under her skin felt like it ramped up. She realized with surprise that the feeling in her chest seemed to oddly pulse, and wondered at the difference. She walked into the beautifully decorated grey and black living room, and a movement to her left caught her attention.

For a moment she only stared at the vaguely familiar female vampire. The woman's dark hair was twisted into an elegant chignon, and her black and cream power suit fit her perfectly. Alex nervously smoothed down her simple green tunic sweater, and wished she knew how to dress like that. Her family was awesome, but they were males, and not exactly eager to acknowledge that she was growing up.

"Hello, Alex," Isabel said, and smiled softly at the girl's confusion. It was understandable as it had been a long time, by human standards, since they had last met. Her eyes ran over the lovely teen, and she approved of the pretty outfit that set off the her dark red hair and fair skin. It was refreshing that, compared to today's youth, she was not coated with scent and face paint, and that she did not dress like a trollop. To often she noticed young human females erred on the side of trashy, rather than the sexy or sophisticated look they were obviously intending. Alex was petite, perhaps 5'3, and while she still retained some of the awkwardness and softness of youth, it was clear she was no longer truly a child.

Alex's eyes widened in pure shock, and her head whipped around to stare at Josiah, before she looked back at the female vampire. "M-Ms. Isabel?"

The woman laughed lightly, and smiled fondly at the startled girl. "I think you can just call me Isabel now. It is good to see you again."

Alex grinned and stepped forward, just as her brother gave a rather fake and obvious cough that stopped her short. Right. Hugging vampires, even those she had known as a kid, went against The Code. She really despised politics, but obediently gave the correct nod of a younger member of a bloodline to an elder from an allied nest.

"Greetings, Isabel, First Lieutenant of the Dallas Ne—" Alex froze, and her mind went blank. Dallas. She was from the Dallas nest! His nest, and if Isabel was here that meant … that meant … Her throat constricted, and her heart beat so fast it felt like it was going to explode.

Joy.

Hope.

Fear.

She didn't know what to do, what to say! What if he was here? Did he want to see her? Would he still call her 'Firefly'? Would he still want to talk to her? She hadn't had time to prepare herself or … or … oh god. Had she brushed her teeth after eating on the plane? What if she stuttered when she saw him, or fell on her face and looked like an idiot? Her stomach sank and horror filled her. What … what if he reacted to her like humans did, and ignored her?

The very idea made her want to throw up. "No," she whispered. She rubbed at the fluttering in her chest, and looked hopefully around the richly appointed common area. The minimalist grey and white decor and low couches did little to hide the fact that Godric had not magically appeared in the room while she had been freaking out.

Hurt shot through her. He wasn't here.

She gasped as the feeling in her chest grew painful and, for the first time, burned. She pressed a hand to her sternum as her heart began to beat faster and faster. The feeling twisted and tugged and it kind of hurt, but it was nothing compared to the thought that Godric knew she was in Chicago, but didn't want to see her.

Isabel frowned when the teen turned alarmingly pale, and her heartbeat quickened. The fear in Alex's scent made her fangs snick down, and she fought the instincts that told her to bundle the Fated Mate into a safe room, and lock the door. She had thought the teen would be happy, but now she worried at how the Sheriff would take the girl's obvious terror. Why was she so afraid? Did she think Godric would hurt her after all the times he had saved her life?

"Alex?" Isabel asked, only to gasp when she met the teen's tormented eyes. Her distressed scent permeated the room, and Isabel struggled to clear her mind and control her instincts. Isabel felt horrible, and wondered how she was going to break the bad news to Alex.

Alex didn't know what to do, and her mind spun hectically. She was afraid to ask, afraid of what would happen if the answer was 'no.' "Isabel … did … did …" She couldn't choke the words out past the heavy feeling lodged in her throat, and her worry increased at Isabel's uncomfortable expression. If he was in the attached suite, wouldn't he already have shown himself?

This mattered, Alex realized. Over the years she had forced herself to try and forget how much she missed him, to not let her family know how much she truly longed to return to Dallas. How she often woke from oddly unfocused dreams to find dried tear tracks on her cheeks, and a painful ache in her chest. How she craved the warm and safe feeling she still remembered, and how when she thought of 'home' it was always in Dallas. As much as she loved her own nest, it was Godric's that was home to her. It was silly, she had only met him for a few weeks as a little girl, but something about him called to her, and did not allow her to forget him no matter how many years passed.

A jolt surged through her, and she shivered. "I-I … I-I can't … I-I don't want …" she stuttered breathlessly. Was this what a panic attack felt like? Her fear grew, and the pull turned brutal. She could hear her brother and Isabel demanding to know what was wrong, but she couldn't force herself to answer.

She wasn't ready yet.

The odd thought that moved through her head as her shoulders curled forward around the pounding ache. She wasn't strong enough yet to stand within whatever this was, to survive whatever it pulled her towards.

Just as suddenly as it began, the pull went slack. For some reason, she could almost hear what sounded like the soft, discordant notes of a yearning song echo in her mind. She strained to make out the muffled tune, and it felt like it was trying to tell her something … something so important that it would change everything …

Power flooded the room, cold and heavy except where it wrapped snuggly around her in a warm embrace.

"Little one." The lightly accented words reached deep within her, and soothed the loneliness she had carried like a heavy burden for ten long years. Carried it for so long, that she almost forgot how it was to not feel it. Slowly, her eyes opened and brown eyes met grey as the world around her went still and silent.

It was him.

Mr. Sheriff Sir.

Godric.

---

Godric stood quietly in the elevator, his hands clasped behind him as they rose towards the top floors. He was displeased about having to leave Dallas in the questionably competent hands of Stan, but he would cause less damage there then he would here amongst the kings, queens, and the Heads of the oldest bloodlines currently residing within the North American continent.

Isabel was quickly tapping on her cell phone, and Godric ignored her, lost in his thoughts. He was the second oldest vampire at the gathering, and just walking into the hotel had almost caused a mass stampede of baby vampires practically flinging themselves out of his way. The older vampires at least kept some decorum, but even they strictly followed The Code so as to not cause offense. Not even Russell Edgington had as dark a reputation, but if he had, the King of Mississippi would never have been gifted with his Fated Mate. Godric tried not to feel envious, resigned to the fact that he would pay for his crimes for whatever years remained in his 'eternal' life.

When the elevator doors opened and they moved down the hallway to their designated rooms, Godric raised a single eyebrow at the three-door multi-suite. "Isabel,this seems somewhat extensive for only my progeny, grand progeny and ourselves.

Isabel glanced down as her phone buzzed and saw the incoming message. Good, they had arrived and now all she had to do was get her stubborn Sheriff into their half of the double suite before they made their way upstairs. She had a feeling that her extremely private Sheriff would not enjoy this reunion to occur under the public eye.

"Yes, well, perhaps this would be better discussed inside, Sheriff?" she asked hopefully as his eyes looked piercingly at her. The weight of their inspection made her freeze, and she didn't relax until he turned his disturbingly old-seeming eyes away from her. She was just thankful that he trusted her enough to open the door and enter their temporary nest.

Both ignored the sleekly modern sitting room and the wall of sun-proof windows that looked out upon the Chicago cityscape. Once the door closed with a click, the deceptively young looking Sheriff peered at her with a raised eyebrow. "Explain, underling."

Isabel took an unnecessary breath, perhaps she should have thought this part out a little more before springing this surprise on her Sheriff. "Sheriff—" Her words trailed off as her phone buzzed in her hand, and her shoulders slumped in relief.

Godric's eyes flicked down to the madly vibrating phone, and then again met hers. She flinched when power swelled in the room. This was not good, she had been so excited that she had forgotten how much he really did not appreciate surprises.

Especially surprises in territories outside of his own control.

"Isabel, you seem remarkably attached to your mobile device this eve, and in fact, for the last month. Is there something you would like to share with me, First Lieutenant?"

Isabel flinched at the coldly polite tone, and marveled weakly at how her Sheriff was able to make his soft and gentle sounding words seem ominous.

She was saved from answering when they heard the door open in the suite on the other side of the common room that connected the two sleeping areas. She breathed in deeply, and wanted to purr at the wonderful scent that crept through the rooms. Alex. Although her scent had changed from the crisp and clean one of a child and taken on the muskier tone of maturity, Isabel could still recognize it. It was an interesting and unique scent, but not one that Isabel could name.

She cast a glance towards her Sheriff, and frowned at the emotionless look on his face. If she did not know him as well as she did, she would have thought he felt nothing. His very stillness, however, told her that whatever else he was, Godric was not indifferent.

"Surprise!" she said brightly. She knew this would cheer her Sheriff up, and patted herself on the back for the fantastic idea. Stan had told her it was a mistake, but what did that wannabe cowboy know? "I thought that—"

"What have you done?"

The soft, barely audible words took Isabel by surprise. Her Sheriff was angry, deeply angry she realized with a gulp, she realized when she met his coldly furious gaze.

"Why have you brought her here?" he demanded.

"I … I thought you would enjoy seeing her again. I've missed her and I thought … that . . ." she trailed off, and bared her throat submissively. "I apologize, Sheriff."

Godric struggled to control his anger at his Second. He had not wanted to see Alex again, convinced that the child would be better off away from the shadow his reputation cast. Besides, once she mated he knew her vampire would not wish her to be connected to one such as he. It was better for her to keep her distance … better for both of them.

"Sheriff … I'm sorry you are unsatisfied with the situation, but she's here and you two are bound to run into each other. Maybe you could at least say hello to her?"

He would not let himself see her, no matter how much he wished to. "No."

"But … how do I explain this to her?"

Godric locked his guilt away. "Tell her I am busy with important work and do not have time for her, and then see about changing our accommodations."

Isabel's heart broke, since she had a very good idea on what Alex's response would be. She wanted to argue, but the command in her Sheriff's words could not be ignored, and she bowed and left for the shared common room.

Just one deep breath, he guiltily thought. He would allow himself just one, maybe two, more breaths of her lovely scent. To know that she was safe and undoubtedly happy with her family.

He took another deep and slow breath, his eyes closed to better concentrate on every nuance. Her scent had grown and changed, and it now reminded him of the winter flowers that had once bloomed on the rocky shores of the sea near his village. Sweet and delicately musky with a hint of the wild ocean air caught within their petals, it made his internal monster shift restlessly under his iron control. Yet beneath it all, submerged within her natural scent was the dark, velvety tones of a Fated Mate.

His control wavered, and he took one more breath, a strange ache in his chest while he determinedly ignored their conversation. Altogether it was a one of the most exquisite personal scents he had ever experienced and it made him, who did not need to breathe, breathless. To his shock he felt his gums ache, and his need to feed flare. It had only been three weeks since he last tasted bagged blood, and he should not need more for at least another two.

He was so distracted that the sudden rise of Alex's heartbeat caught him off guard. His head shot up and he stared at the closed door that, to most vampires, would completely soundproof the room. His great age, however, let him both hear and smell Alex's rising fear and distress. He was unable to not listen, and pain flooded him when she seemed afraid to see him.

Disgust.

Self-hatred.

Hurt.

The emotions felt bitter on his tongue, and he realized just how much it had meant to him that this precious girl did not fear him. He had thought that his deeds on her behalf would count in his favor, but her reaction was only what he deserved. Godric raised a hand and rubbed at the painful ache in his chest as he fought his need to go and comfort her.

He did not want to see her flinch from him in fear.

With a soft growl of irritation, he walked quickly back and forth across the now too-small room. Why was Isabel not soothing her? Alex had always reacted best to a soft tone and a firm pulse of power, but neither his Lieutenant nor the girl's brother were adequately tending to her distress. Could they not see what she needed? He had thought Isabel cared for the child!

His agitation grew as he struggled with his decision to remain aloof, but when Alex's panic reached a crescendo, he was through the door before he even realized he had made a decision.

"Little one," he said as he immediately settled his power around her like a thick blanket. She was safe, would always be safe with him, and he would make sure she knew she need not fear him. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, and deep brown eyes set in a surprisingly adult face met grey, and everything went still.

It was her.

Firefly.

Alex.

---

Alex trembled as the lightly accented, quiet words reached the deep loneliness and hurt she had felt for years. He was here! Really here in front of her and looking at her and … and … She let out a strangled sob even as she was unable to tear her tearful gaze away from his. She was completely overwhelmed, unable to deal with the strength of her emotions as they battered her.

She wanted to run away. She wanted to run to him. She wanted to throw something at him for leaving her alone for ten years. She wanted to ask him if she was still his Firefly.

Unable to understand what it was she so desperately needed, she shook in place, her arms wrapped tightly around her stomach. It was too much, and she needed … she needed …

Those grey eyes she had adored even as a little girl became dark and distant. "Perhaps this meeting was not a good idea. I apologize for causing you distress, Alexandra."

Pain.

Her Mr. Sheriff Sir, her Godric, was hurt … by her. No. She would never let him be hurt, never ever, ever. She would rain hellfire and brimstone down on anyone who even tried!

Panic seized her as he broke their connection and turned away, and it felt like the cruelest rejection in the world. Like he was taking something precious away from her that she needed more than air. The feeling in her chest tore, and she choked back a pained noise when it actually hurt.

"No!" she shouted. Her choice, the only choice she could have ever truly made, was decided in an instant when she threw herself after him in a frantic leap.

With vampire reflexes, Godric twisted and caught her headlong flight with arms of steel, but hands of softest velvet. Immediately, she clung to him, arms curled firmly around his waist.

Stiffly, obviously unused to such behavior, his arms wrapped lightly around her as she burrowed further into his chest. He was just the right height to snuggle into, and he smelled amazing.

"Godric ... Godric ... Godric ..." her hoarse mantra was barely a puff of air that trembled badly with emotion. Yet as much as his arms soothed her, she needed more.

Without thought she did something that not even her father allowed, for all that he loved her like his own blood. It was something so utterly forbidden outside of a vampire's direct bloodline that to attempt it was grounds for the True Death. Unable to resist, compelled by urges she couldn't refuse, Alex lifted her face from his shoulder, turned, and nestled into his throat with a relieved sigh.

Yes.

There.

It wasn't enough.

She was thirsting for something, and it felt like she had been starving from the want of it for years, barely surviving, and only just now starting to realize what it was she needed. She pressed even closer, her face tucked under his jaw as she took a shuddering breath. This close to him even her human nose could smell his wonderful scent of oak, warmth and safety.

"Mr. Sheriff Sir," she murmured, and happily rubbed her nose against his cool skin. "I missed you." The vulnerable words were whispered softly into the safety of his neck. The strong arms that cradled her so gently tightened uncomfortably for a moment, before they relaxed and a hand rose to move soothingly over her braided hair.

"Godric, I missed you so much. Did … did you miss me too?"

She gasped, and her fists clenched in the back of his shirt when she felt a cold nose run from her ear to her collarbone, and the painful clawing in her chest grew a tiny bit quieter. Vaguely she was aware that her brother was spluttering something behind her, but nothing mattered but soothing the ache she had lived with for years.

Godric didn't say anything, but she felt him give a slight nod and, hidden in the safe hollow of his throat, her lips curled into a smile. This felt like a secret. Their secret. She liked the idea that she meant enough to him, that he cared enough about her for them to share secrets.

There was a strange vibration, as if something shifted and aligned into place, and she sank into the feeling.

Bliss.

Minutes, years, eons passed before she became aware of anything other than the vampire who held her snuggly against his surprisingly firm body. The harsh, aching maw of need was finally quieted, and she blinked as if waking up from a deep sleep. Slowly she became aware that she was horribly wrinkling a powerful Sheriff, was actually still plastered against him with her fists clenched into the back of his shirt.

Oh. My. Gods.

Horror and deep embarrassment filled her. Where was a sink hole when a poor teenage girl needed one? She had thrown herself at him like some … some … hussy, stalker fangirl!

Alex felt her cheeks burn at the realization that Josiah and Isabel were right behind her. That they had seen her have a meltdown, and practically attack Godric with a leaping hug! Granted he had hugged her back, at least she thought she remembered him hugging her back, but the memories from the last few minutes were oddly foggy. What if he hadn't hugged her back?

A shy smile crossed her lips. What if he had?

Her stomach flipped, and she distractedly tried to smooth the wrinkled linen under her fingers as she worried about what she had done. She had forgotten The Code, the very rules her family had spent years teaching her. Was Godric angry with her? Was Josiah? Vampires were particular about their necks, and typically only one's Child was allowed the privilege of being so close. Nervously, she nuzzled her flushed face further into the blessedly cool skin, and wondered if she could actually die from embarrassment.

The linen under her fingers felt really good, and she absentmindedly began to stroke the flat of her hand over it, deep in thought. Why could nothing between them ever happen like she planned? It really sucked, and was seriously cramping her style.

She nodded firmly, and took another deep and soothing breath of oak and comfort. She really loved this scent. Maybe she could find a candle that smelled like it? It was a little too guy-like to wear as a perfume, but maybe she could find a body mist? She shook her head and rolled her eyes. No way would Bennett not tease her if she started walking around smelling like the Dallas Sheriff because of body spray!

Okay, pep talk time! She could smooth this over, and her dad had always said the key to any good plan was to list out every step. First, she needed to apologize and then try and remember that Godric probably didn't want her clinging to him like some vampire-obsessed monkey.

She frowned, puzzled at the vague feeling that she was forgetting something really important as she again nuzzled her flushed forehead into the cool skin against hers. Oh well, it would come to her eventually.

Okay, so, secondly she needed to …

The soft chuckle that rumbled under her ear broke her concentration, and Alex slowly tipped her head back until her gaze met amused grey.

She blinked, realization slowly dawning.

Oh, no!

Her eyes widened. This could not be happening to her! She was yelling at herself for doing her best octopus impersonation on an innocent vampire Sheriff, breaking about a million vampire laws … and had just realized she hadn't let go of him! Had just been nuzzling him like some sort of feline!

"Alex, are you well?" Godric chuckled as he shook off the strangely blurred feelings from the last few minutes. He felt better than he had in a long time, and he was highly amused at the girl he held securely in his arms. He wondered if she realized she had been mumbling out loud about 'attacking innocent Sheriff's with hugs like a deranged flying monkey' and 'not going to get out of being grounded until she was ninety, and in dentures'. To his irritation, Alex seemed to suddenly realize that she was still hugging him, but he refused to relinquish his hold. His gaze slid appreciatively over her flushed face. Why was she suddenly so upset?

"I ... I forgot The Code ... your neck ... and I …your scent …" Alex babbled. Godric's gentle look made her voice trail off, and she once again got lost in his pretty eyes and the feeling of his arms around her.

Her eyes trailed slowly over his face, becoming reacquainted with the angles and curves that had faded in her mind. She still remembered the morning she woke and realized she could no longer recall what he looked like, and how it was the first time she had ever hated being mortal. She had even tried to find a photograph of him in her dad's office. The fallout from that still made her wince, since she had been grounded for 'snooping' for a month when she had refused to tell her dad what she had been up to.

"S-sorry," she said shyly. She peeped up at him again, suddenly nervous at just how gorgeous he was. He was all pale skin, dark hair that her fingers itched to pet, and a really interesting mouth. For the first time she wondered what a particular vampire's fangs looked like.

She bet they were stunning.

Her flush deepened, and she went cross-eyed as she tried to focus on the calloused finger gently touching her suddenly dry mouth. His soft chuckle made her eyes snap back to his, and the look in them made her stomach flip in a totally different way. She hadn't ever felt like this before … but she kind of liked it.

Well, besides the humiliation part of the evening, anyway. That part totally sucked, and she flushed an even darker shade of red. Was it possible for a human to die from all the blood rushing to her face?

"Calm yourself," Godric soothed. For a moment his stare was sharp and searching as he took a deep breath, and then gently guided her face back into his neck. When she went limp and boneless against him, he swallowed the pleased purr that wanted to escape.

"Sheriff?" Josiah asked, too softly for mortal ears.

Godric's calm gaze took in Isabel and Josiah's perplexed expressions as he answered in kind, careful to not upset the precious girl whose scent was finally calm and serene. "All is well, Child of Theron, there is no insult taken."

The implied command to cease the conversation was clear, but Alex was his sister, and Josiah had a responsibility to look after her. Even though he was now convinced that she must have a death wish. How was he supposed to explain to his bloodline that Alex had literally just cuddled the most feared vampire in America?

"You allowed her to scent your throat … and you scented her back!" He had known his sister was fond of the Ancient, but such an emotional response was … unexpected. She was still plastered against the Dallas Sheriff, and looked fully prepared to make herself utterly at home. He had expected her to be happy, but not to break the major edicts of The Code that they had painstakingly taught her! She had always been rather tactile, hugging the bloodline and their Dayman, but Godric was neither of those.

Godric coolly eyed the younger vampire, but had to admire the boy's inner strength to continue to question him. His friend had chosen well with this progeny, although he did not appreciate how strong the boy's scent was on Alex.

"She is a Fated Mate, and was so emotional that I could smell her through a closed door in the other suite. Would you have had her so overcome that her scent would draw in nearby vampires? There is to be no blood spilled at this convention, on order of The Council."

"But … how did you know it would calm her?" Isabel asked. She wasn't sure what she had been expecting to happen, but this reaction was not it.

Godric looked at her in bemusement at the obvious answer. "She reacted similarly as a youngling when my Child and I rescued her from the Weres. She has commented on my scent before, and it calmed her then as it does now. She is just an innocent child, Isabel. Do not make this more than what it is."

The matter closed, he turned his attention back to the girl he cradled so carefully in his arms. When was the last time he had ever been so relaxed? Was this what it was to feel happy?

Isabel watched when her Sheriff seemed to go into a type of downtime, his hand slowly stroking across the teen's titan colored hair. She had a feeling that Godric, for all his wisdom, was not really prepared to deal with the fact that Alex was no longer a child.

The next few days were going to be interesting.

---

Alex slowly came back to awareness and muttered a complaint when the gentle hand moving over her hair stopped. Slowly, she rolled her head sidewise to rest on Godric's shoulder, smiling contentedly.

"Hi," she whispered shyly.

"Hello," he replied with an amused quirk to his lips. "Are you well now, little one?"

"Mmhm," she hummed, and took in another deep breath as she searched for the perfect spot on his neck. Oak trees, campfires, and something spicy that was just Godric. He was sort of like her personal candle, she decided. The light in the darkness and loneliness that she so often felt, even among her nest.

The teasing tug on her braid had her giggling. "Hey, what was that for?"

"Do you not also wish to greet Eric, and meet his progeny? I feel them approaching the hotel now."

"I'm good, thanks." She took another breath, and the feeling in her chest thrummed. Yes, this spot just above his collarbone smelled the most like him, and it was hers.

"Alexandra!" Both Isabel and Josiah had the same scandalized tone, and Alex rolled her eyes. Ugh, they were seriously interrupting her scent-wallowing. Reluctantly, she peeled herself away from Godric, but quickly slipped her hand into his. She still felt off centered, and holding his hand made her feel better. The gentle squeeze made her think that he felt the same way, and it was another secret between them.

"Remember your training, Alex," her brother chastised.

She made a face, but relaxed when Godric squeezed her hand again. She really liked the way it felt with his larger, cool hand wrapped around hers. What was the point of following The Code considering she had already bent the rules into pretzels? It seemed silly, but then again, she thought that about a lot of what her family considered 'important'.

"Alex," Josiah warned, and she huffed and looked up at Godric. He wasn't a tall man, but then again, she wasn't particularly tall herself, although she held out hope for growing another inch and reaching at least 5'4. Again her gaze seemed to be pulled towards his mouth, and she tried not to blush. Gods above, how had she not realized as a little kid how gorgeous he was? Then again, her younger self seemed convinced he walked around in a cape and a flaming sword killing monsters left and right.

"Alex!"

She shot a glance over at her glowering brother, and stood up straight. She really wanted to impress Isabel and Godric and show them she wasn't the kid that she used to be … especially since she already acted like an idiot with what she would now have to call 'The Hugging Incident'. Privately, of course. No need to give Bennett more ammunition to tease her with.

"Greetings, Sheriff Godric of Area Nine, vassal to the Kingdom of Texas and allied with the Makhaira bloodline." Midway through she almost got distracted again by his pretty eyes, but she soldiered on and thought she pulled everything off with dignity and grace. Ha! She would like to see even a century-old vampire do as well as she just did! She didn't even forget anything this time, and she preened under Godric's gaze.

Josiah rolled his eyes when his sister not only kept ahold of the Ancient's hand during the formal greeting, but started to lightly swing it back and forth midway through. She looked so pleased with herself that he suspected she wasn't even aware of the highly improper action. He heard Isabel quietly snicker, but he didn't relax until he saw the fondly amused look the boy-vampire bestowed upon his adopted sibling.

"Good enough, I suppose," he grumbled and gave his own nod and greeting to their allies. He still planned on having a rather firm conversation with his baby sister about appropriate behavior towards the Dallas Sheriff. Their nests would be sharing adjoining territories for the next week, but she needed to know that there were still boundaries.

"You did that very well," Godric complimented the beaming teen. Her hand felt very warm tucked within his own, and he could feel her heart beating through the delicate skin, its rhythm oddly soothing.

When the door to the common room opened, Godric turned to greet the arrival of his bloodline and he absentmindedly tucked her hand into the curve of his elbow, unaware of the reaction his romantic-seeming gesture had on the teenage girl.

---

Alex awoke cocooned in the silky, red duvet on what had to be the world's most comfortable bed. With a happy sigh she kicked the covers off and threaded her fingers behind her head, a silly grin on her face.

He had tucked her hand into his arm like a courtier would for his lady way back in the day. Like she had read about in Gabriel's romance novels that he didn't know she, er, borrowed. She liked how it had made her feel, all nervous and excited like butterflies were zooming about in her stomach, but cared for too. Maybe he didn't see her like some little girl?

Full of giddy hope and nerves, Alex flipped over and smothered her giggles into her pillow. She had been so worried that she would feel as awkward and out-of-step with Godric like she did with human guys, and it was really nice how … included … she felt around him. Like he actually saw her, and liked talking to her. Even though her own nest sometimes still overlooked her human needs, he had apparently sensed her tiredness, and guided her towards one of the sofas. She must have fallen asleep listening to the two nests talk, her hand still tucked into his, and she really, really hoped she hadn't drooled. Or snored! She also had a vague memory of being coaxed into changing into her pajamas by Isabel, and really hoped she hadn't babbled something stupid.

She sat up in the heavenly bed and irritably shoved her hair behind her shoulders. "Stupid hair," she muttered. She really needed food and coffee before she tried to tackle The Beast, as she called her crazy-thick hair. With a grumble she staggered to her feet, still irritated at Josiah since he had tattled on her to their father as soon as Theron had walked through the door. With an evil smirk, she reckoned it had been far to long since she had pranked any of her brothers. Pranking was good for them, it kept them on their toes and was practically survival training for them!

She nodded to herself. Yep, that was her story and she was sticking to it.

"Besides, it's not like I just went and hugged just any old vampire! It was Godric. He's practically like one of our nest mates!" She often liked to talk problems out loud, and it wasn't like any of the nest would be disturbed. She could sing 'I'm a Little Teacup' and swing on the chandeliers like a monkey, and they wouldn't wake up.

Not that she had ever tried that, of course. Silly delicate and priceless chandeliers that shattered into a gazillion pieces before she could even have a good swing. She had barely touched it!

She frowned, she really didn't like the idea of the surprisingly cute and young looking Sheriff being considered one of her brothers. No, she decided as she thought about the handsome Sheriff with the pretty eyes and lean body, he definitely was not one of her brothers!

Her thoughts wandered as she absentmindedly tugged her well worn grey leather jacket over her blue, vampire cupcake tank-top and pajama shorts, and went in search of food. It was still two hours until her dad would rise, but Brian and George would wander in with her breakfast soon. Her aching muscles practically wept with gratitude that yesterday had been the last combat class for the next week, but ever since she almost burned down their nest in Cape Town trying to make toast, it was decided that Brian would cook her breakfast every morning.

"Seriously, it's so unfair!" she grumbled to herself. "It had only been the one time. Okay … there was that time in Singapore … so maybe twice …?" She rolled her eyes and wandered slowly to the door. Cooking was hard!

She made a beeline into the two suite's shared common room, her mind fixated on a hot cup of miracle elixir. She shivered and burrowed further into her jacket as the cool air made her skin goose bump.

She was stretched on her tip toes trying to reach a cup, when a loud snarl made her turn and she yelped when cold fingers wrapped firmly around her bare calf. How was it that his cool hands could still feel so warm on her skin? Flustered, she stared down at the kneeling vampire and fought the sudden desire to feel if his hair was as soft as it looked.

"Godric, what the —!"

"Who hurt you?" he fiercely demanded, and when his eyes flicked up to meet her own she froze at their feral expression, and the sudden heavy press of power. She shivered, but it wasn't from fear as she struggled to understand what was going on.

"W-what?"

---

Godric rose from his death sleep, surprised at how excited he was for the coming evening. How long had it been since he had relished his nightly rising instead of greeting it as another boring night?

With a sigh, he vamp sped from the bed and was showered, dried, and dressed in one of his typical linen outfits in minutes. Although he would never admit it, the hours before the rest of his nest woke were often boring and isolating. Granted he could look over his various businesses, but often he found himself at loose ends, trapped in the shuttered house and uninterested in most past times he had already experienced countless times before.

He situated himself on one of the sleek, modern couches in the shared common room and opened up his laptop to look over his various business interests. He would never admit to the several glances he gave the closed door to the other suite, or the fact that he hoped Alex would rise soon so they could talk. A half-hour later he looked up when the door to the other suite banged open, and his lips quirked as Alex practically ran to the kitchen.

For a moment his eyes trailed over her loose hair that fell in dark red waves midway down her back. He had always liked red hair, especially the darker shades, and it was the first time he had ever seen hers unbound. When she went up on tiptoe to reach a shelf in the cabinet, his eyes slipped down to her bare legs, her skin so fair that his keen eyesight could see the faintest blue hint of his favorite artery as it trailed down to her right knee. His eyes narrowed, and he tilted his head slightly as she turned, and he saw the outline of a dark blue bruise on her lower leg. It was an odd shape, almost as if …

Rage.

Godric vamp sped, and was on his knees before Alex an instant later, his hands delicately sweeping over the bruised flesh as he demanded to know who had left the hand-shaped bruise on her skin.

"W-what?" Alex stuttered, before she looked down. "Oh, um, George —"

At that moment the door to the suite opened and a single human male entered. "Hey Al, it's George. Are you decent? Brian will be up in a minu—ACK!"

One minute George had been looking down at his iPhone with a bowl of fruit in his hand, and the next both items went flying through the air as he was shoved up against the wall with a snarling, black eyed, demon boy inches from his throat. He went for the silver spray at his belt, but the growling vampire easily hit his arm and the entire appendage immediately went limp and numb. Every hair on his body stood straight up, and he could barely breath as the Ancient vampire pressed the full force of his power against him.

"You dare!" Godric snarled.

"Godric!" Alex gasped and scrambled to the enraged vampire. "Stop!" She ignored the look George sent her, and tugged on the back of Godric's shirt, to no effect. When she tried to step closer, he let out a fierce growl and moved to stay between her and the Dayman. Off balanced, she desperately cartwheeled her arms for balance before she fell backwards onto the floor with a thump, and a surprised gasp.

"Explain why there is a hand-shaped bruise on Alexandra's leg. Now."

George's blue eyes widened at the realization at what had set the Sheriff off. "I was offered the job as Theron's Dayman not just because of my organizational skills, but also because I am an ex-Green Beret in the human military. Alex has physical training four times a week, and the last session involved ground fighting."

Godric growled, and George hurriedly continued. "I'm gay, Sheriff, and have no interest in either children or females. I'm happily partnered with Brian, and have been for ten years!"

Godric was still deep within the blood rage when the smell of blood, of Alex's blood, caught his attention and pulled him back to full awareness with a snap. Quickly, he looked over his shoulder and saw Alex on the floor, a broken bowl and scattered fruit beside her, and her hand cradled to her chest.

"Can you please put our Dayman down now, Godric?" Alex asked tightly as she got back to her feet. "As I was trying to tell you, he's not a creep!"

Guilt filled him, and he immediately dropped the gasping human, and had Alex's small hand cradled lightly between his own before she could blink. The slice was shallow, and barely a few drops of her precious blood had beaded to mar her pale skin. Still, he had hurt her.

"I am sorry, Alex."

The sudden blooming ache in her chest made her breath catch as she looked up into utterly remorseful grey eyes. Her own softened, and to her watching Dayman's surprise, she reached out her uninjured hand, gently laid it over one of Godric's, and soothingly stroked her fingers back and forth over his.

"It's okay," she said gently. Her heart swelled in her chest, and the oddly soft emotion … was this what tenderness felt like? She spoke, never stopping the soft petting or looked away from Godric.

"George, are you okay?" she asked.

Godric kept his hands cupped around hers, but turned sightly to face his innocent victim, just one more human in the long list of those he had hurt. At least this one wasn't dead, but he had worked so hard to distance himself from the monster he had been, only to find that the seeds were still within.

"I apologize for my assumption. Do you require medical attention at this time?"

"No, Sheriff. Theron gives me a few drops of his blood every six months so I am faster and stronger than a normal human to better protect Alex. Look, the bruises are already healing." George quickly cleaned up his shattered bowl of fruit, but kept an interested eye on his charge. Rarely did the girl let anyone outside of the nest touch her, and yet she stood practically holding hands with one scary-ass vampire. Interesting.

Very interesting.

Godric nodded. "I will discuss my error with Theron, and appropriate recompense will be made on your behalf."

George knew enough of vampire culture to know that to dismiss such a gesture would be an insult to not only the vampire in front of him, but also to his boss. "Yes sir," he turned to Alex. "Al …" he trailed off, his attention caught by the sudden disapproval radiating off the vampire who had almost snapped him like a twig. He smothered a smile when he saw the two still holding hands, and couldn't wait to tell Brian about their charge's rather obvious crush on the good-looking Sheriff.

"Alex," he began again, and had to bite back back a laugh when the tense vampire gave a small nod. "Brian will be up momentarily with your breakfast, as well as several snacks for the evening. Make sure you eat them all, a sensible meal at midnight, and be back in time to eat here before you sleep."

Alex rolled her eyes and huffed. "George, I haven't forgotten to eat in years, you don't have to keep reminding me!"

Godric's eyes narrowed as he led Alex over to the sink to wash away the few drops of blood. "You forget to eat?" She was still growing, and from his observation and vague memories from his human life, skipping meals could greatly hurt her development.

George began to clear up the dropped fruit and shook his head. He would let the vampire deal with this, and quickly left with a lame excuse about going to see what was keeping Brian with her breakfast.

Godric's voice was stern. "Child?"

She was mesmerized as she watched him gently pat her hand on a soft towel, but then she stiffened with irritation. She didn't like him referring to her as a kid … even if she was one compared to him.

"When I was a teenager I fainted during one of my training sessions with my brothers when I overlooked lunch. They freaked out, and George had to call in Dr. Ludwig who told them they needed to feed me more. Dad had googled how much a teenage human female should eat, but hadn't taken into account how active I am. If you think I'm bad in the kitchen, you don't ever want to smell what Bennett does to chicken! So dad hired Brian who is a nutritionist, chef, and dietician to teach me how to cook and to make 'healthy human meals for my consumption.' Apparently," she pouted, "he didn't believe me when I told him Nutella and Chocolate were good for me."

Godric realized he still held her hand in his. Reluctantly he dropped it and he stepped away, his eyes scanning over her body as he took a deep breath to check her health. Distantly he realized he had been taking measured breaths ever since she had emerged from her bedchamber, an action normally reserved for dealing with humans for business.

Her grey jacket caught his attention, and his lips quirked as he held out a chair at the dining room table for her. He had wondered what had happened to his favorite leather coat. "Nice jacket."

The teasing grin on his lips made her want to melt into a puddle under the table. "Um, yeah … um …" Her mind went blank and she struggled to recall any of the six languages she could speak, and her face felt like it was glowing. "Uh …I-I, um … Isabel! Isabel put it in with my stuff."

Godric smiled at how flustered she was, his cynical heart charmed by her sweet reaction. Her embarrassment at being caught was obvious, but he hoped that she had derived comfort from the jacket like she had as a child after her abduction.

"I had wondered where it had gone, but figured it fell victim to one of Isabel's culls of my closet."

Alex's fingers twisted nervously in her lap and it felt like her stomach had a million butterflies frantically flapping their wings. "Godric?" she asked hesitantly. "My brothers are busy today, and I'm not allowed to go anywhere without a guard. Soooo, what are you up to tonight?"

---

Alex crossed her arms over her chest and stomped through the slushy snow as fast as she could. Her angry breath came out in quick puffs of frost in the air, and she was so irritated that she was surprised steam wasn't coming from her ears. The quiet vampire that strolled placidly next to her dressed in the jeans and sweater she had bullied him into buying, hands tucked behind his back and a small smile on his face, only made her more irate.

How could he still look so adorable when all she wanted to do was smack him in the face with the nearest snowball?

"I could have handled it!"

Godric calm expression never changed. "And you did, and very splendidly, I might add. I merely sped the process along as I doubted you wished to waste more time in that store, instead of purchasing more gifts for the Angel Tree."

She whirled on him in the middle of the busy sidewalk, and poked a finger into his chest. Both were unaware of the amusement from the pedestrians who gave them a wide birth, and Alex jabbed him again as she made herself ignore how his dark green sweater stretched over his firm his chest.

"I didn't need you waiving around your black American Express Centurion Card! She was wrong, and I had the perfect argument to prove it to her!"

Gently, he laid his hand over the still jabbing finger and pressed her palm to his chest. "Alex, what is really vexing you?"

Alex frowned and looked anywhere but at the vampire just a few inches in front of her. There was no way she was telling him that when that … that … hussy had fawned all over him it had made her green with envy. Stupid sales lady with her perfect hair and pretty shoes and perky boobs!

"It's nothing," she muttered. Why couldn't she have boobs like that?

He smiled at her decidedly pouty expression, so unlike the practiced coyness of the saleswoman who had smelled of lust, pungent coconut-lime shampoo, and drugs. No, he vastly preferred Alex's lovely, natural scent and honest emotions.

When she had first told him about the Angel Tree, where an individual could choose a disadvantaged child and provide gifts for them, he had been … proud of her. Something he had never felt for any besides his bloodline. That pride had only grown when he learned that last year her father had given her a small startup fee for her to buy into the stock market, and that she had saved hard all year long for this one trip. He had thought his grandchild knew how to shop, but Alex, armed with a book of store coupons and sale fliers had approached the expedition like a well planned battle. The sheer amount of items she had managed to amass for the two children on her limited budget had been rather astounding.

Alex fidgeted and shifted back and forth on her tired feet. "Godric, can we get something to eat?"

Brought out of his thoughts, Godric tucked her hand into his arm. "Do you enjoy Italian food? I smell some sort of restaurant a few streets over."

Preening at the jealous looks several girls threw her, she nodded vigorously. "I love pasta. Will the smell be okay? Gabriel hates it, but it doesn't bother Bennett or Josiah or my dad."

"No, little one," Godric said as he ushered her easily through the door into the candlelit bistro. "I have become desensitized to such things in the last century."

The host looked up, but his smile became strained when he approached them, and he kept his eyes off of Alex. "Table for two?" he asked, as if he hoped they would say no.

Alex sighed and looked away. She had been so focused on shopping that she hadn't paid any attention to how humans were around her … but she couldn't ignore it now. She startled at the arm that pulled her close, and leaned gratefully into Godric's cool side as a wave of confidence moved through her.

Godric's eyes met the hosts', and added a touch of glamour, "A booth, preferably at the back of the restaurant." The man's eyes glazed over before he quickly led them to a lonely booth away from the other few customers.

Alex looked curiously around as they followed their guide to their table. Suddenly, every chick-flick movie Gabriel had ever forced her to sit through flew through her mind. Nice tablecloths … candlelight … soft music … small tables perfect for an intimate chat …

She blushed, and clenched her fingers in her jeans so she wouldn't reach up and desperately smooth her hair. Was this a date? Did she want it to be a date? She had asked him shopping, which wasn't a date, but he was the one who suggested food. Dinner at a nice restaurant happened a lot in the movies, right? Granted, he was a vampire and she wasn't so great at the human thing, but even she knew that this was a romantic restaurant!

Okay, she decided as she desperately tried to calm her racing heart. She would just play it super cool and see how Godric acted. If he sat on the same side of the table as her, then it had to be a date, right? If he didn't, then he was just making sure she wouldn't starve. She didn't know which she wanted … she was so drawn to him, but that feeling of before, of not being ready yet, persisted.

When they got to the table, she held her breath as Godric motioned for her to slide into the booth first, and she grinned when he slid in next to her. Ready enough or not, it made her stomach flutter to realize that he was as drawn to her as she was to him.

Exuberance turned to panic, and she struggled to think of something to talk about. She wanted to get to know him so much, to discover why his eyes seemed so very sad, and what he thought about life and the universe. She just needed to be cool … she just needed to be suave … she just really needed to not throw up on him from the butterflies in her stomach!

The cold hand that gently took hers made her jump, and she gratefully tangled her fingers with his. The soothing motion of his thumb over the back of her knuckles made the tight ball of nerves relax, and she smiled up at him.

"Are you well?" Godric asked quietly. He was displeased that the host had made Alex feel so uncomfortable that she had withdrawn into herself. He had seen how humans had shifted away from her while shopping, and had been relieved that she was mostly oblivious. Was this the treatment she had told him about over the phone in Rio?

Something on the edges of his perception caught his attention, and Godric turned slightly away from Alex as he narrowed his concentration. Luckily, he had placed her on the inside of the booth, with his body shielding hers from any sort of outside attack. Anyone who wanted her would have to get through him first, and her relieved smile when he had sat next to her had pleasure blooming within him that he could give her some sense of safety.

Alex fiddled with the silverware on the table and glanced nervously up at Godric. He was quiet, his focus obviously turned inwards. Was she so boring that he had gone into Downtime like Bennett did when she made him sit through episodes of iZombie on tv? Was she really that bad at being on a date? It's not like she had a lot of experience with them!

Desperately, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "So … um … Godric, what have you been up to the last ten years?"

When whatever he had sensed had moved on, Godric turned his attention back to his fidgety table companion. "Being the Sheriff of Dallas."

She waited a beat, then frowned. "Well, yeah. But what else have you done? Traveled anywhere? Negotiated any crazy alliances for world domination? Watched episodes of The Walking Dead? Taken up bowling?"

Bowling? Godric laughed, the act rather freeing, and waited until the extremely nervous waiter had taken Alex's order before answering. "No, I had enough of bowling during the late 1950s when Eric decided we needed to join a bowling team."

Alex had been taking a sip of water, but almost choked at the idea of the tall Viking decked out in a bowling shirt, with short pants, white socks and black shoes. "D-did you two have the slicked back hair with the front poofy bit like in the movie Grease?" she asked, and couldn't hide the amused quaver in her voice.

They stared at each other, eyes dancing in mirth, before they both started laughing.

Alex wiped hysterical tears from her cheeks and politely thanked the waiter when he slid her ravioli in front of her. She was so happy, she didn't even care that he practically tripped over himself to get away from their table.

"What about you, little one?" Godric asked.

She really wished he would stop calling her that, but she didn't want to ruin their time together. "Oh, we traveled all over the place and dad had me take classes in each country, and I had tutors too for math and stuff. I learned how to ballroom dance in St. Petersburg, went snorkeling off the coast of Australia, and Josiah even carried me to the top of Mt. Everest, although that ended up being a really bad idea because I got sick from the quick altitude changes. Dr. Ludwig was really unhappy about that! Oh, and I took art classes in each city we were in, which I adored." She hesitated for a moment. "Its where I made the badge for you. Did … did you like it?"

Alex wanted to go face forward into her ravioli to shut off her inane babbling so that he actually had a chance to say something. Perky-boob lady at the mall certainly seemed to know how to talk to guys, why was she so bad at it?

"Very much so. I count it as one of my most treasured possessions." Godric enjoyed listening to her recount her exploits, her obvious excitement so refreshing when compared to the fake ennui of many of the vampires in his Area. He liked sitting next to her like this, and he felt more at ease than he had in years. When had he turned into such a workaholic that all he had to share with her were the intrigues and minutiae of running his Area?

"What is your favorite art class?" he asked as he watched her eat with fascination. He was surprised at how much his inner monster preened that he was providing nourishment for her, was taking care of her in this small way. It wasn't exactly the same as if he had gone out and hunted for her, but it was as close as modern society in this country would allow.

Alex grew quiet, and she idly pushed around a lone ravioli in its sea of cooling marinara. "Can I tell you a secret?"

His chest grew warm at the thought. "On my honor, I will not break your trust."

Nervously, she reached into her messenger bag and withdrew a battered leather sketchbook. "I … I want to be a photographer. Not, you know, a portrait photographer. I want to take pictures that make people think, that show the world in another way than what they think it is." Fingers trembling, she flipped open the first page and handed the book to him. "I took a photography class in Amsterdam, and I loved it."

She watched as he flipped slowly through the photos she had pasted onto the pages of a book not even her dad knew about. It felt good to talk about it, to share this part of herself with Godric.

"These are very good, Firefly," he complimented as he looked closely at several pictures that showcased the life and culture in the various countries she had lived in. While rough and obviously untrained, she had managed to capture a certain something in them that caught and held the eye.

Pleasure bloomed in her chest, hot and bright and wonderful. "You like them? You're not just saying that to be nice? I mean," she paused and bit her lip. "I know you've probably seen some of the best pieces of art in the world, but—" The fingers that gently pressed against her lips made the breath catch in her throat.

Godric's words were firm and brooked no disagreement as he gazed deeply into her eyes. "While they may lack the polish of a fully trained artist, your pictures manage to capture something that many others strive to find after years of schooling. You have talent, Alex, and I believe that one day you will be a fantastic photographer with much to offer the world."

The moment stretched between them, and so intent where they on each other that neither realized when Godric's thumb rubbed lightly, soothingly over her lips before he dropped his hand back to his side.

A loud clatter from the busboy a few tables over broke the moment between them, and Godric looked down at the sketchbook and flipped another few pages. His brow furrowed as he looked at page after page of various types of thunderstorms.

"Alex?"

"Hm?" she hummed in response, so happy that her mind and heart were among the clouds. She felt like she was flying. Maybe she was actually pretty good at this dating thing?

"Why do you have so many pictures of thunderstorms?"

The question made her come back to earth with a thump faster than Icarus, and her face blushed bright and painfully red. There was telling him about her super secret desire to be a photographer, and then there was this. "Uh, because I … um … I … l-like them?"

Godric smirked, the gesture feeling odd from disuse. "Really?" he teased. "You seem a bit uncertain of that, Firefly." Irritably, he waived off the hovering waiter, now highly curious about what could bring that delightful flush back to her cheeks stronger than ever. He took a breath and almost purred from her heightened scent.

Alex clutched tightly at his hand between both of hers. "I … I was so upset when I had to leave Dallas. I really liked it there. It felt like home in a way no other place has. Then … then one day I woke up and couldn't remember what, um, Isabel or … or … Stan … or," she took a deep breath, "you looked like anymore. It hurt to realize my mortal memory had forgotten yo-, I mean, all of you."

"I … we missed you as well, Alex. Isabel replanted the entire garden to be full of the night blooming purple flowers you loved so much, and in the spring their scent permeates the entire neighborhood." He looked back down to the dozens of photos in the book, the storm clouds in different shades and taken at different times of night and day. The last picture in the book was circled and labeled 'Tibet' and showed clouds illuminated by a bolt of lightning. The black clouds were lightened to a translucent grey with the barest hint of blue at the edges of the bolt, and it looked strangely familiar.

"Do you see?" she whispered, too nervous to ask anything else. It had taken her eight months and hundreds of pictures to get one that was the right shade. Her brothers still thought she was a little nuts for how excited she would get whenever she would hear the distant rumble of thunder.

He glanced up at her. "I am afraid I do not, but it is a very pretty photograph."

She gnawed on her lip, but bravely met his eyes. "I couldn't remember your face anymore. I just woke up one day and it was gone. It was all gone, and it made me so sad. I couldn't bring up anything … except your eyes. I remembered how those always reminded me of a thunderstorm. I took hundreds of photos before we traveled to this temple in Tibet carved into the side of a mountain. It was summer, and the storm blew in and tore open the sky. I stood in the rain, hoping to take at least one picture that would work."

He stared at her, and she could see that past his suddenly blank facade he was deeply shocked. She swallowed, the noise loud in their quiet little corner. "A-are you going to say anything?"

Silence.

She flinched, and looked down at her plate. Was it possible to invent a time machine with leftover ravioli, a flickering tabletop candle, and just her humiliation? The quiet seemed to seep into everything, and she just hoped he wouldn't laugh at her. She felt exposed, and felt her lack of experience in these situations keenly.

He shifted next to her, stood up and her eyes burned as she watched from the corner of her eye as he walked away. This was worse than that time in St. Petersburg when no one would dance with her, worse than the time in Rio when those kids had played that mean prank on her. With trembling fingers she reached for her wallet to pull out some money, blinking tear filled eyes. She was the adopted daughter of the Makhaira bloodline, she reminded herself, and she would not shame her family.

Before she could find her wallet in the cavernous black hole that was her bag, Godric was sliding back into the booth next to her. She kept her back to him, unsure about what was going on, her entire body tense. Why had he come back?

"Miss, if you would turn around please?" asked an unknown voice.

Startled, she whirled, and stared at the older man dressed in a dark suit with a camera around his neck. The movement broke the film of tears, and a single one slipped down her cheek, only to be wiped away by a cool thumb that stroked lightly over her cheekbone to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

Nibbling on her bottom lip, she gathered her courage and looked up to meet Godric's eyes … and melted.

Instead of the normal grey, his eyes had lightened to an almost crystalline color that took her breath away. "Godric?" she asked weakly.

He smiled at her confusion, the tenderness he felt an unexpected sweet ache in his chest. He had not thought until he returned to the table how she would interpret his abrupt departure. He despised her tears, he realized when he gently brushed away a second that rolled down her fair cheek, the warmth a tiny burn against his cool skin.

The bright flash of the bulb made them both jump. "Sorry young sir, but I could not resist. I think this photo a much better one than if you had posed."

With a shrug Godric paid the man, and they both watched as the polaroid slowly developed.

Alex laid her head on his shoulder. "I like it." The picture was sweet, she decided. The photographer had caught them in profile, with Godric's hand on her cheek and her smiling shyly up at him. They were slightly leaning towards each other, and Godric's more subdued outfit contrasted nicely against her vibrant purple and blue shirt.

She shot a playful look up at her silent vampire. "You look very pretty in it, Godric," she said with a teasing elbow nudge. With careful hands, she tucked the picture into her messenger bag.

Godric rolled his eyes, and for once gave into his deeply buried mischievousness. "Pretty, am I? I believe you called me a 'hottie' when you were a child."

If Alex had thought she had blushed before, it was nothing compared to the fiery miasma that burned across her cheeks now. "I did not!" she spluttered, before a vague memory of it weaseled its way to the front of her brain. "Oh gods above, I did," she moaned and put her head in her hands.

When her elbow accidentally hit her soda, which she had been pretending was a fancy mixed drink like she saw the really pretty woman sipping elegantly at a nearby table, it was only Godric's reflexes that saved her from wearing her Dr. Pepper.

The low, masculine laugh and soft brush of power made her feel even more clumsy and inexperienced. Oh gods, she really wished she had watched those flirting YouTube videos she had scoffed at just last week. Seriously, this looked a lot easier in movies and when she had spied on her brothers.

Finally, she managed to stutter, "Y-you shouldn't make fun of me. I was five and thought you were Prince Charming on a white horse."

Godric's laughter abruptly stopped and he looked away. "I am no Prince Charming, Alex. No knight-in-shining-armor to save young girls from their fates. I am the monster in the darkness that—" The unexpected jab into his side make Godric blink and raise a single eyebrow at the obviously irritated female.

"Don't you say such mean things about yourself!" Alex snarled as her eyes flashed with temper. "I didn't let those werewolves when I was a kid, and I'm not gonna take it from you either. I kicked them, and I can kick you too!"

Irritated beyond all measure, she didn't wait for Godric to move, but climbed over him to escape the booth, her messenger bag clutched to her side. The hand on her arm made her stop, but she was too angry to look at him.

"Where are you going?"

"The bathroom," she snapped. She needed a few minutes to get control over her temper. When he made a motion to rise, she turned and glared at him. "You're not invited."

Godric's eyes flickered to the dim hallway that curved out of sight and led to the human washrooms. "Child, you know you are being hunted, and it is not safe for you to leave my side."

Alex knew he was right, but the fact that he would still call her a 'child' after their touching moment with the polaroid turned her irritation with him to livid anger. And hurt. It felt like he had just stomped on her heart. Hadn't he felt what she had?

"What, do you think the toilet monsters are going to get me?" she asked sarcastically. "I'm 15, and I think I can survive a trip to the bathroom all by my very lonesome without a … a … babysitter," she hissed out as their waiter returned to their table with the bill.

With a large, fake smile that would have alerted her brothers to the fact that she was about to cause trouble, she acted like she didn't see the waiter behind her. "No, Godric. I'm not going to go into the men's restroom with you. What type of girl do you take me for?" Pretending like she didn't notice the waiter's frozen form, and ignoring the warning look in Godric's eyes, she quickly turned and walked down the hall. She knew Godric would not want to glamour the entire restaurant to forget anything untoward, and figured she would have at least a minute before he would come and find her since their waiter would undoubtedly keep a close eye on him.

Power wrapped around her, icy with disapproval but she shrugged it off with nary a thought. Control her would he? Ha! She didn't even care that he was angry, and that she was probably going to catch hell from her nest. She needed a moment to compose herself, and sometimes a girl had to do what a girl had to do. Besides, it's not like any vampire or Supernatural would dare hurt her with Godric's power pulsing about like a rabid disco ball!

As she walked the last few steps to the bathroom she pulled the polaroid picture out from her bag. Doubt shook her. Had she overreacted? Grudgingly she decided that maybe she had, just a teeny, tiny bit. She shivered, and wished she had brought her jacket with her. Why was it so cold back here? Okay, maybe she had over-reacted a lot.

The dirty hand clamped over her mouth took her by such surprise that she staggered, and it was all the opening needed to gag her and tug a cloth bag over her head. She felt the icy cold pierce her skin as she was dragged through the back fire exit. The pain of it was enough to shake off her shock as she started to struggle.

"Get'er feet! The man said we wont have long—" a man's voice said.

"Godric!" she tried to shout through the gag, as she desperately tried to kick away from whoever was trying to tie her feet and hands together. She had only an instant's warning, some instinct telling her to go limp.

A second, rough voice snarled, "Stop moving, you dirty bitc—!"

The man's words cut off with a gasping gurgle and thud, and she hit the ground with a muffled grunt. The second never had a chance to react before she heard a crunch, and the thunk of a second body hitting the ground at her feet.

It was odd, but without her sight all of her other senses were stronger. She could smell the garbage cans from what had to be a back alley, and feel the cold burn of wet snow through her clothes from where she laid on her side … and she could feel Godric's power crashing around her like angry waves. Well, she could hear him too, the low rumble of his growl making her feel safe and secure.

"Alexandra."

The hands that pulled her carefully to her feet were gentle. Reaction began to set in, and she started to shake from the cold and from residual fear. He had been right, and her stupidity had almost meant … it had almost meant …

Godric could feel her slight trembles, and he yanked off the offending bag from her head and released her hands and feet his fingers soft as they moved over the abraded skin. The gag shoved in her mouth made his anger skyrocket, and he snarled as he carefully pulled it out. The look in her eyes made his anger at her, and at the situation she had put herself in, start to fade.

"It's okay, Firefly," he whispered as he lifted his hands to cup her chin. The blood splattered across his fingers made him pause, and to his dismay he realized his fangs were still down and he could feel the blood dripping hotly down his chin. Disgusted, he waited for her to run screaming from him, to flinch from the proof of his monstrosity. He could feel his son coming, pulled to him by the force of his Maker's Command and fury. Hopefully Alex would allow Eric to attend to her while he disposed of the bodies. Although the idea of anyone, even his beloved son, soothing her made him deeply unhappy.

The small, warm hands the wrapped around his wrist and lightly pulled at him, pulled his attention from his dark thoughts.

"Alex?" he asked as the girl tugged him over to her discarded messenger bag and pulled out a plastic bottle of water and a purple piece of cloth that he sometimes saw humans her age tie around their heads.

She looked around, ignoring the two slumped bodies, and tugged her vampire over to a wooden box. Carefully she stepped up on it, satisfied that it raised her the few inches needed to put her at eye-level with him. Quickly she dampened her bandana and began to wipe at the blood dripping down his chin. She considered him her nestmate, and while she couldn't lick the blood from his skin like a vampire would, she could still thank him like one in the old ways.

Surprised, Godric stood there as she started to run the wet cloth over his chin. This … this was not what he had been expecting. Screams, maybe. Or perhaps for her to avoid him for the rest of the weekend. Warmth filled him as she gave thanks to him in the vampire way, as she quickly cleaned him of the blood spilled in her defense.

He wrapped his hand around her wrist, stilling her. "You are not afraid?" he asked while he carefully scented the air for deception. Much to his surprise her brown eyes were clear, her heartbeat steady, and her scent was calm.

"Never."

"Then you are foolish." The words were harsh, but had to be said.

She tugged her hand free from his and continued to wipe away the blood. "Don't be an idiot, Godric," she said, her exasperation clear when she rolled her eyes.

His lips quirked, amused at her audacity even here surrounded by the enemies he had slain in her defense. He could feel his son coming, the speed of his movements meaning that he was likely flying. There were no other Supernaturals within several miles of their position, and he allowed himself to relax.

With a sigh, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment. The feeling of the cloth moving over his chin, the delicate way she touched him, her scent telling him she was unhurt and calm … that everything was still right with his world … The purr started up deep in his chest, the low rumble soothing both of them.

"Thank you for saving me. I-I'm sorry I was such an idiot in the restaurant. You were right," she said quietly while she tenderly wiped the last of the blood from his chin before she started on his hands. His fangs were down, the tips of them denting his lower lip. She wished he would open his mouth so she could get a good look at them, but she felt too shy to ask. She was embarrassed about her behavior, and doubted that he would even want to go out with her again. Leave it to her to get almost kidnapped in the back of an Italian bistro and blow it.

Depressed, she looked down at his hands, the hands that had ripped her kidnappers apart, yet had lifted her with such careful strength. At least he still cared enough to save her. Slowly, certain he would pull away, she intertwined her left hand with his, and leaned forward to touch their foreheads together. Hope fluttered in her chest, the pulsing soft and wonderful when he allowed her touch. Maybe … maybe everything wasn't lost?

"I owe you my life," she whispered, "and the Makhaira Nest will stand behind my debt. Ask what you will of us, of me, and it is yours." Alex held her breath, unsure of exactly what she wanted him to ask of her. Would he ask for her blood? Did she want him to? Uncertainty and excitement rolled in her stomach as she waited for his response.

Hunger rippled through his belly, and the surprise of it made his eyes pop open as his purr stuttered to a stop. She did not know what she was offering, was as yet unaware of how sacred her blood was to his kind, and how only her future mate would be able to survive the tasting.

"Alex …" he trailed off, his eyes meeting hers. The moment hummed with tension. He was saved from answering, however, by the arrival of his son. He refused to admit how relieved he was, and took a step back from Alex, although he kept her hand in his. Purely for her own comfort, of course. She was not leaving his sight anytime soon, and they would be having a discussion about her actions in the restaurant.

"Father," his son said with some amusement as he took in the two dead humans. He was somewhat less amused at seeing his Maker and the Fated Mate holding hands.

"Eric, please dispose of the bodies. From the looks of them, they were vagrants so I doubt many questions will be asked."

"Were they glamoured? Too bad you killed both of them," Eric commented as he googled the best areas to drop two bodies around Chicago for the least number of questions to be asked if they were discovered.

Godric growled, angry at himself for allowing his emotions to overcome common sense. A vampire should not be ruled by his emotions, and he was old enough to know better.

Alex squeezed Godric's hand, and offered, "They talked about how a guy told them 'they wouldn't have long' when they were trying to drag me out of the alley."

Eric shared a frown with his Maker. "Whoever it is, is playing with us. No vampire would think two humans would ever succeed in taking her with you nearby."

Godric nodded grimly. "This was a warning. Foolish, since now we know for certain that whichever vampire it is, is most likely at the conference."

"Foolish or not, they did manage to get close enough. Where were you when they grabbed her?" Eric asked as he pocketed his phone.

Alex stiffened and looked down, deeply embarrassed.

Godric glanced over at Alex and paused for a moment. With a soft smile, he squeezed her hand. "She is 15 years old, Eric. I did not think she needed a babysitter to go to the washroom."

Alex's head shot up, and the grateful look she gave him made his chest warm. The soft rub of her thumb across his let him know just how much she appreciated his words. It was another secret they now shared between them.

Eric frowned as he looked between the two. The connection between them practically hummed, and he had never seen his Maker so tactile with one not of his bloodline.

Alex reluctantly tore her gaze away from Godric's. "They grabbed me outside of the bathroom. The emergency exit is further down, but I hadn't really been paying attention. I was looking down at …"

Her eyes widened and she spun around, looking frantically the muck and snow covered ground near her bag. With shaking hands, she pulled the polaroid out of the snow, and her lip trembled when she saw the dirt and snow had damaged it.

"It's all wet," she whispered. It was her only picture of them that she had, and it was taken on their maybe-date, and it was ruined.

"Shh," Godric soothed and ran a hand down her hair. He ignored the incredulous look his son was giving him, and looked fondly down at the girl that continually managed to surprise him. "We can have another one done."

A tear slipped down her cheek. "Yeah, but it wont be the same."

His lips quirked, and he quickly wiped away the evidence of her distress. "You did not cry at almost getting kidnapped or when you saw the bodies of your attackers. Please do not cry now, Firefly." An idea occurred and his smile grew. "In fact, that is what I ask for saving your life and repaying whatever debt you think you owe me."

She giggled while she picked up her bag and slipped the ruined polaroid inside. "Promise we can have another done?"

Godric chuckled. "Yes, I promise." He pulled her close, and rested his chin on her head.

Eric watched them, for once perfectly fine with being overlooked. This could be a problem. Granted, no one thought Godric deserved a Fated Mate more than he, but even Eric could admit that with his Maker's background, it was unlikely the gods would so bless him. His Maker had spent a thousand years pissing off, or killing, his way through both the human and Supernatural population. No, his Maker had too many enemies amongst the gods of old to ever be intended for such a gift.

Eric decided that perhaps the less time spent alone between the two, the better. While it was plain that the girl was very fond of Godric, it was harder for Eric to pin down his Maker's feelings. He was obviously protective, and clearly doted on her, but Eric was unsure if it was anything other than the natural response of a vampire to a Fated Mate's scent. More than likely, his Maker was more attentive because the girl was the daughter of his oldest friend and an allied nest, and he was worrying over nothing.

Uneasy, Eric wondered how to bring up to Godric how their interactions would look to outsiders unfamiliar with their history. Fated Mates were not to be played with, in any capacity, upon threat of the True Death. Perhaps, Eric decided as he watched his Maker shrug out of his jacket and wrap it around the shivering human, it would just be best to make it impossible for the two to be alone together.

"Alex," he called out as the duo prepared to return to the hotel. Eric glared down at the dead vagrants, wishing that he could leave the bodies to some underling so that he could continue to observe his Maker.

"Yes?" Alex asked.

"My progeny has offered to go with you to the hotel spa and shopping area tomorrow night. She has mentioned that you would probably enjoy such an outing with other females." Or rather she would pretend to enjoy going with Alex to the spa once she was told about it, even if Eric had to threaten her shoe allowance. Again.

"R-really?" Alex asked with excitement. She had always wanted to try a 'spa day' but had never wanted to go alone. "Godric, do you think Isabel would want to go too?"

Although his Second's schedule was undeniably packed with meetings, he would make sure she would have several hours free to spend time with Alex, even if it meant he had to go to all of them in her place.

"I'm sure she would love to," he replied. Her smile was as bright as the sun, and made the aggravation he would face tomorrow totally worth it.

"Wow, thanks!" She paused for a moment, and quickly did some mental arithmetic. "Um … is the spa expensive?" She looked down in embarrassment from having to ask such a question, but she had talked her dad into agreeing that while he could pay for 'dad stuff' like food and classes, she wanted to pay for any extra-curricular activities. It made her feel proud, and more like an adult and not like some little kid.

Godric shot a glance over at his progeny, and gave a slight nod. He would fund the trip, and gladly.

"Oh, it's complimentary when you stay in the double suites," Eric lied smoothly and made a mental note to tell his progeny about the lie.

"Huh, that's a pretty awesome perk." She shivered in Godric's jacket. "Can we go back now, it's freezing!"

As they walked away, Eric listened as the girl teased his Maker about once again being her 'knight-in-shining-armour.' From his Maker's unexpected amusement, it was obviously a private joke between the two.

Yes, he thought grimly as he flew the bodies to the outskirts of Chicago. It would be a good idea to keep them separated as much as possible over the next three days of the convention. The last thing any of them needed was for someone to accuse his Maker of any preposterous, and illegal, dalliances with the girl.

Besides, he doubted his 2000 year old Maker would even notice, or miss, the girl if she were busy elsewhere. His father was also little pale, so maybe he would introduce Godric to those lovely twin human donors he had seen advertised by the hotel. That should be enough to keep him occupied for several hours.

Eric turned back to the city and continued on his way, debating on perhaps sampling some donors himself. Alex was only one little human teenager, no matter how special her destiny. How difficult could it possibly be to keep her busy, and away from his Maker?