The Third Fate Read Free Page B

the living…”
    “ I did not bond her!” he rasped in denial, immediately closing himself off from the psychic link all vampires shared.
    As an ancient he could do this, but it was difficult to accomplish without alerting other vampires. They grew suspicious of anyone choosing to close the link between them.
    “ Your thoughts claim otherwise,” she laughed in a knowing way. “Seek your ease with the mysterious human consuming your thoughts and be at peace.”
    Raven faded, turning to mist before his eyes, ending the matter. Cael was on his own.
    *
    Anna Kinnell, Sissy to her girls, sat across the kitchen table from her niece, a worried look creeping over her features.
    “ Did ye sleep well last night? Ye look tired, lass.”
    Rising from the cushioned chair she reached for a mug from the top shelf.
    “ Here, let me get that, Sissy,” Paige offered. “Where’s your stool?”
    “ Stool!” Sissy snorted. “It’s a wee lass that needs a stool. I’m no helpless girl, mind ye. I’ve lived longer ‘an ye – and get on just fine, too.”
    “ I’m just trying to help,” Paige laughed. “Independence is fine, Sissy, but letting someone help you once in awhile is good, too.”
    “ I’ll not be a pamperin’ myself like some old natty!” Sissy huffed, pouring a steaming cup of tea and setting it before Paige on the worn, gold-flecked Formica table top. “Now let’s hear why ye be sportin’ those dark circles under yer jade eyes.”
    “ Stop worrying over me. I had long days at work this week, and when I finally collapsed at night these crazy dreams kept me from resting proper. I’ll be right as rain once I catch a cat nap or two.”
    The tea warmed Paige’s insides deliciously, and she popped a mini scone into her mouth before donning her wrap and heading for the door.
    “ Don’t ye be workin’ too hard. Life is fer livin’, lass!”
    “ I’m living! Brooke and Lara are taking me out later on. That is if I can stay awake,” Paige teased. “Okay, Sissy. See you tomorrow.”
    She blew a kiss in Sissy’s direction.
    Her aunt called after her, “Be careful, Paige!”
    But the door had already slammed shut. Anna rested her back against the chair. Every year at this time she grew extra nervous for her niece. Her sister’s only child had become hers, and she’d promised to protect her. In softest voice of poetry, Anna’s lips mouthed the incantation re-enforcing the Druid magic that masked her niece’s true nature.
    Alone in her home, Anna’s thoughts wandered to years gone by, years she’d tried in vain to forget. Images of her beautiful twin, Agnes, filtered through the boarded-up windows of her mind’s eye, flooding her with emotion.
    Oh, Agnes. Why did ye have to fall in love like that?
    It was pointless to re-hash; her sister had fallen in love - with a vampire. Anna was beyond arguing the impossibility of creatures of the night. She’d seen plenty to convince her. Agnes fell easily, powerless to resist once the undead demon had brainwashed her. Oh, Agnes had claimed she was in love, that her love was willing and uncoerced, but Anna refused to believe it. And then the unthinkable happened.
    Shoving unwanted memories aside Anna locked them once again away, safely hiding them in the vault of her mind. It was dangerous to ruminate on such things. Vampires were powerful beings, psychically linked to one another and to sensitive humans that carried any of the old, strong blood of the Highlands. If they ever discovered her sister’s deception – or her own involvement – her niece, Paige, would pay with her life.
    *
    Mirrors lined the walls of the club’s powder room creating a dizzying infinity effect as the trio checked their reflections. Paige smoothed her fingers over the silky blond waves of hair that spilled over her shoulders, taming any strays, and applied lip balm.
    “ Try some lipstick,” Lara encouraged, offering her the tube. “It’ll spice up your look!”
    “ Thanks, but no