Chapter 7

Pandora’s smile faded when she saw who awaited her in the luxurious parlor. The woman stood as Pandora entered. Beautiful and as youthful and powerful as she had been the last time Pandora saw her nearly twenty years ago.

“Stay away from her,” the woman said before Pandora had crossed the threshold.

“What a delightful surprise.” Pandora chose to ignore the threat. “And how foolish. But then you always were rash, Resa. Prone to leap before looking, as the humans say.”

“Cut the crap and let’s get down to it,” Resa replied and took her seat. “We know she’s been spotted and the only reason I’m here is to warn you that if you renege on our bargain—”

“I need neither your warnings nor your reminders of our agreement,” Pandora interrupted, taking a seat adjacent to Resa. “And might I add that the agreement was not with you, but with your mate. Odd that he sends you instead of coming to me himself.”

“He’s not that stupid. The situation hasn’t changed. The Emperor still favors his second born, leaving the Heir Apparent in perpetual exile. The only way for him to return and claim what is rightfully his is for us to succeed in seeing this through. And that will not happen if he is spotted. Unless, of course, you’ve failed to filter the information released to the V’Kar on this world and someone knows that he has not returned to sit at the left hand of the Emperor.”

“Failure, as you well know, is not an option,” Pandora replied. “But let us not rehash issues we’ve covered innumerable times. You come seeking assurance. I would like to oblige, but the truth is, her existence has been noted by many.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning that we must devise a plan to make the respective earth governments aware of her existence believe that she is no longer among the living.”

“Agreed. What do you propose?”

“At present I am uncertain of the best course of action. I have a man in position within the national security sector of this country. According to his latest report, all that is known is that the aircraft transporting her crashed, leaving two survivors. Even under drugs the survivors remember only that she perished in the crash. The description they gave of the woman was of a tall, heavy-set woman with sandy blond hair and brown eyes. None of which describes her. Which means her powers of persuasion and mind control are strong.”

“Then you’re certain she lives?”

Pandora noted the way Resa’s hands gripped the arms of the chair, giving testimony to her anxiety. She could exploit that anxiety if she so chose, but it would not further her cause. Resa was the one being in the universe who held the trust of the Heir Apparent. And Pandora needed his cooperation.

“She lives.”

“Where is she?”

“My dear, that is information that can only bring you pain. You cannot see her, and should you be given her location the temptation would be too strong.”

Resa slumped in her chair, a gesture uncharacteristic. “You’re right. I know. But I have to know that she’s safe. You must give me your word that she will be protected.”

Pandora reached out and placed her hand on top of Resa’s. “Protecting her has been a priority for more than twenty years. It will continue to be so. We need her. She could be the key, Resa. A key in the puzzle that once pieced together will be the salvation of V’Kar.”

Resa nodded sadly. “Yes, I know. But there are times I wish she wasn’t.”

“We all have a destiny to fulfill, Dhampir,” Pandora deliberately used the old term, knowing that it would have more of an effect that all the sympathy in the world.

Resa’s eyes hardened, and her spine straightened. She stood and looked down at Pandora. “Yes, we all have a destiny to fulfill. See that you fulfill yours, Mother Superior. Because if harm comes to her, not even the destiny of V’Kar will protect you from my wrath.”

Pandora inclined her head in acknowledgement. Resa did not possess power as great as her own, but nonetheless she was a formidable woman. One Pandora would rather have fought with her than against her.

She watched Resa stalk from the room then summoned her aide. “I want to see our operative from within the national intelligence sector.”

The aide nodded and hurried to do Pandora’s bidding. Pandora leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. One thing Resa’s visit had proven was that time was a luxury she did not have. She needed to conceal Raenea’s existence, and she needed to do it fast. It was time to use the resources of the humans to achieve that goal.

* * * * *

Caleb gritted his teeth and counted to ten. He wasn’t in a good mood to begin with, and it seemed that fate had it out for him and was dumping one problem after another on his plate today.

He and Conn had tested his theory, and while she had not sprouted fangs, chewed on his neck, or disappeared in a puff of smoke at sunrise, she was still upset over what had happened and now obsessed with trying to find out who she really was.

And that was a can of worms neither of them wanted to open because as soon as they started searching for answers it would expose her. And then the military would be after her.

His heart hurt for her. Not knowing who you are and where you come from would be hard enough. But to be possessed of super-human abilities and paranormal fears about your identity had to be nearly impossible to deal with.

“Caleb!” Bobby, one of the ranch hands yelled, getting his attention. “The guy’s here for that mare.”

That wasn’t news that brought a smile to Caleb’s face. An old acquaintance of Caleb’s father had shown up a while back looking for a horse for his granddaughter. Ordinarily, Caleb would have told him to go elsewhere. Hinson Daws was a mean-spirited old man who had a reputation of being hard on animals.

That didn’t set well with Caleb, but his father had asked Caleb to cut Hinson some slack. Hinson Daws had a lot of clout in the state and Charlie needed that clout to get certain legislation passed that would benefit the state.

Caleb didn’t like being used as a political tool, but did as his father asked and agreed to sell Hinson a sweet little mare.

Little did he know when he made that deal that Conn would take a shine to that mare and the mare to her. The mare followed her like a puppy and responded to verbal requests from Conn like a trained circus animal.

Conn was going to be quite unhappy to see the mare go. But what choice did he have?

Hinson waddled around the corner, bellowing as he approached. “You got that horse ready, boy?”

Caleb gestured to the ranch hand, Bobby. “Get the made loaded up for Mr. Daws, Bobby.”

“Yes, sir.”

“So, word has it you got you a filly shacked up in the main house with you,” Hinson said and spat.

“That so?”

“That’s what I hear.”

Caleb walked past him, forcing the man to turn and follow. “So, who’s this gal anyway?” Hinson puffed, struggling to keep up. “Your daddy know ‘bout this, boy?”

The urge to turn and drive a fist in the old man’s face was strong but Caleb just gritted his teeth and kept moving. He saw Bobby leading the mare toward Hinson’s trailer. Conn was with them, and he would tell from the way Bobby cut a pleading look his way and the way Conn’s mouth was moving, that she wasn’t happy about what was happening.

Just then Hannah hurried up to him. “Caleb, there’s some people at the house. Government folks. They want to talk to you.”

Caleb felt acid bubble in his gut. Acid caused by fear. It could mean only one thing. They were here about Conn.

“Tell them I’ll be there in a few minutes,” he said and watched her hurry away.

He reached the truck at a few steps ahead of Bobby and Conn. Hinson’s man, Joe Stilwell got out of the truck as Bobby stopped in front of the truck. “I’ll take it from here.”

Bobby looked at Caleb and at his nod, handed the lead to Stilwell.

“Wait!” Conn hurried over to Stilwell as he started to tug the horse toward the trailer.

“Who the hell are you?” he snarled.

“I just want to say goodbye,” Conn said softly.

Stilwell snorted and gave the rope a viscous tug. The mare balked and started backing up, prancing nervously. That made Stilwell angrier, and he tugged harder, cursing and yelling at the mare.

“Stop!” Conn shouted. “You’re scaring her.”

“Shut the fuck up!” He tried harder, succeeding only in making the mare rear up, pawing and whinnying in fear.

“Caleb, make him stop!” Conn screamed.

“Conn, honey.” Caleb made a grab for her arm, but she evaded and dodged around the mare to Stilwell.

“Stop that!”

“Ladies get the fuck away from me or I’m gonna put you on your ass!” He shouted, then yelled at the horse who reared and pawed, her whinnies sounding more like anger than fear.

Things were getting out of hand. Caleb started toward them to try and settle things down and suddenly things got a whole lot worse. Hinson Daws, who no one had been paying attention to, walked up behind the mare with a prod and proceeded to shock her.

“Get the nag in the damn trailer!” He shouted at Stilwell.

Caleb felt his blood pressure rise. Shocking or beating a horse was not something allowed on the Circle R. And the idea of selling a horse to a man who would do such a thing made him see red.

But apparently not as fast as it did Conn because before Caleb could make a move, she’d screamed in anger, run over to Hinson Daws and knocked the old man flat on his ass with a solid roundhouse.

If that wasn’t enough, she’d snatched the prod from his hand, and she jammed it against his ass when he rolled over and tried to push himself up.

“You are not taking this horse!” she shouted Caleb made a grab for her, but she dodged him. He grabbed hold of Daws to drag the lard ass to his feet. And when he did, Conn turned on Daws’ man.

“You’re not taking that horse anywhere. Let go of that rope right now!”

“Fuck you!” Stilwell snapped and took a swing at her.

Caleb turned just in time to see Stilwell throw a punch. He let go of Daws who hit the ground again with a loud grunt and a split-second later Bobby exclaimed, “Holy shit!”

That about summed it up. Daws was on the ground wheezing and Conn had his ranch hand Stilwell by the throat, lifted up off the ground, his legs kicking weakly, his face pasty and his eyes quickly rolling back in his head.

If that wasn’t enough, half the ranch had responded to the commotion and was watching. All in dead silence.

“Conn!” Caleb grabbed her free arm, but she didn’t budge an inch. It was like she was made of lead, immovable and mad as hell. Lights danced in her eyes.

“You will not harm this horse,” she hissed at Stilwell who was kicking weaker with each passing second.

“For Christ sakes Conn, you’re killing him!” Caleb shouted and yanked her arm hard.

Her head whipped around and for a moment the force of her anger was turned on him. He actually staggered back a step, feeling a sudden loss of air in his lungs.

“Conn,” he gasped. “Stop.”

She blinked and gasped. “Caleb!” She released Stilwell who landed in a heap on the ground and threw herself at Caleb, wrapping her arms around him as if to hold him up.

“It’s okay.” He pried her off. “I’m okay. But we’ve got a mess on our hands, honey and you’d better skedaddle cause sure as shit old Daws is going to be raising hell in about five seconds or so.”

“No, this is my fault. I won’t let him take it out on you.”

“Conn, go,” he ordered and when she stiffened, added, “we can’t afford to have him call the law.”

She didn’t say a word but turned and marched to the front of the truck where she stopped, crossing her arms over her chest, her eyes flashing fire. Caleb saw everyone watch her. Saw the shock on everyone’s faces. And knew that nothing was going to be easy from this point on.

Bobby and another ranch hand got Daws to his feet. Caleb checked on Stilwell. He was coming to. Mad as hell but not hurt.

“Boy, you just bit yourself off a world of hurt,” Daws wheezed. “You think for one red hot second that you’re gonna get away with letting some two-bit slut attack me with a cattle prod then you got yourself another think coming.”

“Mr. Daws, now settle down. This was all just a misunder—”

“Don’t you take that tone with me, boy. That little tramp attacked me and I’m gonna see her locked up. Best thing you can do is say yes sir and tie that bitch up ‘till the sheriff gets here. Stilwell! Get the goddamn sheriff on the phone!”

Stilwell coughed, wheezed, climbed to his feet and stumbled to the truck.

“Mr. Daws, there’s no need to call the sheriff.” Caleb tried to be calm even though his heart was racing. “I’m sure Conn just overreacted. She’s grown fond of the mare and—”

“Boy, one more word outta your mouth ‘cept ‘yes, sir,’ and I’ll come down on the Circle R so hard, when I’m done with you, Charlie Russell won’t have a fucking ranch to come home to! Stilwell! You got the damn law on the phone?”

“I don’t think that will be necessary.” A smooth male voice announced from behind Caleb.

Caleb whirled to face the tall, dark-haired man in the black suit and dark sunglasses. Beside him was a stunning woman with platinum hair worn in a tight bun, equally dark suit, and dark glasses.

“And you’d be?” Caleb asked.

The man reached inside his jacket and produced his identification. “Marcus London, NSA. We must speak. Now.”

Caleb gestured around. “Well, as you can see I kind of have a little situation on my hands at the moment.”

The man stepped close to Caleb, lowering his voice so that no one else could hear his words. “Not of the earth, Mr. Russell. Does that ring a bell?”

Caleb’s heart sank. Much as he wanted to, he couldn’t think of anything that was going to save Conn now. “Conn, honey?” He turned and held out his hand to her. “We need to go inside and have a talk with these nice folks.”

She didn’t seem to hear him. Her eyes were wide and her face, pale. She was staring at the newcomers with an expression he couldn’t begin to identify.

“Conn!” He barked and she started.

“Honey go on up to the house and wait for me. Please?”

Without a word she turned and walked away.

Which did not please Hinson Daws at all. “Whoa there, boy. That bitch ain’t going nowhere. She attacked me and I’m gonna see her—”

“You are going to do nothing,” London said, advancing on Daws. “Aside from get in your vehicle and leave. This is a matter of national security, and should it be discovered that you have discussed or revealed anything that happened here today the consequences could be quite severe. Do we understand, sir?”

Daws swallowed nervously and nodded.

“Then I suggest you leave immediately, sir.”

Daws gestured to his man and the both of them got in the truck. Caleb watched them pull off then looked around at his people. “Ya’ll go on back to work. Everything’ll be fine.”

“What’s this all about, Caleb?” Bobby asked.

“Go on back to work, Bobby,” Caleb said. “It’ll be okay.”

Bobby nodded but didn’t look convinced. Caleb turned to face the pair in the dark suits. “So, what now?”

“Now you invite us in, and we have a discussion,” London replied.

Caleb saw no way to refuse. “Fine, come on in.”

In the history of bad days, this one was chalking up to be a real prize winner.

* * * * *

Caleb didn’t bother with manners. He entered the house, leaving the agents to follow him inside. Conn was waiting in the front room, standing in front of the window watching. Hannah was lurking in the hall.

“Hannah, why don’t you call it a day,” Caleb tried to put as much calm and assurance as possible into his voice.

“I don’t mind staying.”

“That’s okay. Everything is fine.”

“If you say so.”

Caleb watched her turn and head back toward the kitchen. He went over to Conn, draping his arm around her waist and pulling her close to his side. He waited until he heard the back door close before speaking. “Honey, these people are with the NSA and they—”

She completely ignored him. “Who are you?” she asked the couple in a low menacing tone.

“Honey, I told you,” Caleb said. “They’re with—”

“No, they’re not,” she cut him off. “These people are…” she looked up at him. “Caleb, they’re like me.”

It wouldn’t have surprised him anymore if a bomb had gone off under his feet when the woman stepped forward and said, “You’re right.”

“What?” Caleb hugged Conn closer. “You’re telling me you’re not with the NSA? Then who the hell are you and what do you want with Conn?”

The woman gestured gracefully toward the seating arrangement. “Might we sit?”

“Have at it,” Caleb growled, keeping his position.

The couple took a seat on the sofa and the woman removed her glasses. Her eyes were the same strange violet color of Conn’s. She smiled at Conn. “You have long sought answers Raenea, and I am here to answer them. Please sit.”

“Why do you call me Raenea?”

“That is your name, my dear. Raenea Belenus, daughter of Constantine Belenus of the D’Harahn, Heir Apparent to the Throne of Shadallah, the crown prince of V’Kar.”

“Say what?” Caleb asked.

The woman cut him a smile. “Perhaps it would be best if we spoke with Raenea in private.”

“No,” Conn said. “Anything you have to say to me you can say in front of Caleb. He’s my…mate.”

The man who’d introduced himself as Marcus London, removed his glasses. Like Conn, he also had violet eyes.

“What makes you apply that term to this human?”

Conn stared at him for a moment. “It’s applicable.”

The couple exchanged a glance and the woman spoke up. “Very well. We will speak. However, Mr. Russell, do not doubt that should you think to reveal any part of what is said here today, you will live to speak of it again.”

“Don’t you threaten him.” Conn hissed, eyes flashing with light. “You hear me? I want answers and if you’ve answers for me then speak. But never threaten Caleb again. Do you understand?”

“She is much like him,” the woman remarked to the man.

Conn went weak against Caleb, but only for a moment. Then she moved away from him to cross the room and stand in front of the man. “Like him? You know my father? Who are you?”

The man stood. “I am Azarth, Minister of Science and I have served your father for longer than humans have walked upright on this world.”

Caleb felt his own knees go a little weak and decided it was a good time to have a seat. He took a chair by the window.

Conn stared at the man for a long time, reaching out with her mind to probe his thoughts. And met a wall too thick to breach.

“You will find it far more difficult to infiltrate the thoughts of your own kind than that of humans, Raenea,” Azarth said with a smile and sank back down on the couch.

“You could tell?” That was a shock. No one had ever felt her invade their mind before.

“There is much for you to learn,” the woman replied, earning Conn’s attention.

“Such as your name,” Conn said.

“You may call me Pandora.”

“And what role do you serve, Pandora?”

Pandora smiled. “Let’s just say that in the system of V’Kar, a female may rise to positions of great power.”

Conn heard the deception in the tone. “In other words, you are not going to be honest.”

“My words are true.”

“Your words are evasive,” Conn said, falling back on her normal speech patterns and accent. “If I cannot trust you to be truthful about your identity and position then what is there to inspire me to trust any other words you might speak as truth?”

Azarth chuckled, earning an annoyed glance from Pandora. “She has a valid point,” Azarth commented.

“Indeed,” Pandora said. “Very well. I am SyFeth, of the Sybelle de’Fane V’Kar. In the language of these people, Mother Superior of the Sisterhood of V’Kar.”

Conn looked to Azarth for confirmation, and he nodded. “The Sisterhood is the most powerful and feared organization in this galaxy or our own. As Mother Superior and the oldest of the V’Kar, Sy—pardon, Pandora—wields enormous power and holds information and secrets not even the ruling body of V’Kar, the J’Zhan, or the Emperor is made privy to. She is, in effect, the most powerful woman in the known population of the Universe.”

“Lofty,” Conn murmured. “But illogical. If indeed you wield such tremendous power, then why not dispatch an underling to do your bidding? Why come to me yourself, in the guise of a human? And why be here on this world if the galaxy you rule is so powerful and vast?”

“Excellent questions and questions worthy of a daughter of the throne,” Azarth commended.

Pandora regarded her in silence for a long while, then smiled. “In time perhaps you will become privy to certain knowledge, Raenea Belenus. But for now, my concern is simple. To erase all knowledge of your existence from human minds and records and ensure that you are not harmed or terminated.”

“Why?” Conn asked. “Why would someone of such power be concerned with a single life? With my life? Of what benefit am I to you or your worlds?”

Pandora sighed lightly. “I can see that dealing with you will be equally as vexing as dealing with your father. Very well. The simple truth is the worlds of V’Kar have lost the ability to reproduce. Since before humans crawled from the primordial soup of this world, our worlds have suffered infertility.”

“Then how is it that your worlds survive? Unless, of course, you’re immortal.”

“Close,” Azarth replied, and at the sharp look from Pandora, chuckled. “Oh, come now. It is no secret. In human terms we are virtual immortals. And in answer to your next question, Raenea, our system suffered a cosmic cataclysm that poisoned our peoples, rendering them infertile. Yet here on this small green world we may have found a key to ending that sterility.”

“And I factor into this how?”

“You are the child of the Heir Apparent, a D’Harahn, the purest bloodline of all V’Kar and a mutant. A woman fathered by a D’Harahn and a hybrid witch. Amazingly her genetic makeup is more than ninety percent D’Harahn and you, Raenea, are the first child ever to have been born of a mixed union who has not only survived but possesses nearly complete D’Harahn genetics.”

“I’m a test result,” Conn whispered, then her voice grew stronger. “Then where are my parents and why don’t I remember them?”

Azarth sighed. “When you were the human equivalent of ten years old, your existence was discovered. It sparked much internal turmoil between the various factions of V’Kar on this world, bringing us to the brink of war. It was decided that in the best interest of all, you should be hidden.

“An accident was staged and from all reports your parents were gravely injured, and your father was recalled to the home world to sit at the left hand of his father, the Emperor. You were reported dead.”

Pandora picked up the tale. “I arranged for a suitable guardian and mentor and erased all knowledge of your parents from your mind. It was the only way to protect you.”

“Hold on,” Caleb spoke up.

Conn turned to look at him as he stood and walked over beside her. “I’ve been listening to all this, and yes, it all sounds like science fiction to me, but knowing what Conn can do, I can’t entirely discount the possibility that maybe you people are from another galaxy. So, for the sake of argument, let’s say that everything you’ve said is true.”

“Very well,” Pandora agreed.

“Okay, so it still boils down to a load of shit,” Caleb announced. “If Conn is who you say and what you say, then why would any of your people want to harm her? She could hold the key to your sterility problems. I’d think every single one of you would want to protect and safeguard her. So, I’m betting there’s more to this tale than you’ve said. Just who is it that she needs to be protected from?”

“An intelligent man,” Azarth said and smiled at Conn. “And correct. While our people might be willing to go to war to discover the secrets hidden within your genetics, none would raise a hand to harm you. But there are those who would.”

“Who?” Caleb asked.

“The Alliance,” Pandora hissed the words. “An organization founded when man worshipped at the feet of the Pharaohs, dedicated to the eradication of our race.”

“The Alliance,” Conn whispered, feeling a cold shiver slide down her spine. “Why do those words inspire fear inside me? Have I ever encountered them?”

“It was you they were trying to kill in Mexico when Shen was murdered,” Pandora answered.

“Why do they want to kill me?”

Azarth and Pandora shared a look. She turned her head, looking to one side while he answered. “Because they believe our people to be something of myth and legend. They covet our abilities and because they cannot discover a way to harness these abilities for themselves, they fear us. And what man fears, he tries to destroy.”

“Something of myth and legend?” she asked, then looked quickly at Caleb. “Vampires!”

“Yes,” Azarth confirmed her guess.

“Well, are we?” Conn asked.

“Hardly,” Azarth scoffed, then added. “However, there are certain proteins in human plasma that are very fortifying for our kind.”

Conn shivered. “What are you saying?”

“Simply that if injured or wounded, human blood has a healing effect that is almost instantaneous.”

Conn thought about it. “Well, that could apply to anyone on this planet. If a human is injured and suffers blood loss, they require transfusions.”

“We take it in another fashion.”

“No. Oh no,” Conn groaned. “We are vampires!” She looked at Caleb. “I told you. I saw the marks on your neck. Oh, merciful heavens, I bit you!”

A laugh from Azarth had her turning on him. “You think that’s funny? Well, I don’t. No one should have that done to them against their will. And I wasn’t injured or wounded or sick. I was…”

“Yes?” Azarth asked.

Conn couldn’t bring herself to tell him what inspired the act. It was too personal.

“It is also an act of mating,” Pandora spoke up. “An act that binds us to another.”

“Mating?” Caleb asked. “How does something like that act as binding?”

“When a V’Kar takes the blood of another he or she takes a part of that person’s essence, if you will. And in turn, imparts something of their own essence to the other. In other words, Mr. Russell, should you have a genetic test performed it would be discovered that you carry alien DNA.”

“What?”

“You and Raenea have mated, in the most primitive and binding way possible for one of V’Kar.”

Suddenly memories that had been long suppressed resurfaced. Conn staggered, nearly overwhelmed. Memories flooded in, or at least fragments. Her parents, her childhood and the knowledge of her kind and their enemies, The Alliance.

“Oh, Caleb,” Conn whispered. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

He pulled her close to his side. “No worries, honey. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be bound to.” He looked at Pandora and Azarth. “But this business about the Alliance concerns me. Is there any chance they could find her?”

“They already have,” Azarth said in a deadly serious tone and bounded to his feet. “Take her and flee. You must protect her at all costs. Go. Now.”

“Hold on!” Caleb protested then jumped when the front door crashed open.

“Go!” Azarth shouted and flew into action.

Caleb had never seen anything move as fast as Azarth and Pandora. Men poured into the house, bearing swords and crossbows and daggers. And met with whirling disturbances in the air that sent them flying.

Conn yanked on his arm, nearly causing him to fall she pulled so hard. Together they raced through the house and out of the back door, headed for the stables. What met Caleb’s eyes nearly doubled him over. His people were scattered on the ground like lifeless dolls.

He had to stop. Bobby was lying near the barn door. Caleb felt for a pulse. “He’s alive.”

“They didn’t want to kill them, just render them unconscious so they would be unaware of what transpired.” Conn said.

“What?” he yelped.

“Azarth told me. With his mind. Now the question is, do we stay and fight or run?”

“Run,” Caleb said and jumped to his feet, racing into the barn. Conn flew into high gear, moving as fast as she could, which turned out to be rather swift because in a matter of seconds, she had two horses saddled.

“Hell, you can probably outrun them without a horse,” Caleb commented as he mounted.

“Caleb, are we doing the right thing?” she asked, suddenly unsure. “What if those people kill Pandora and Azarth? What if they do something to the people here to try and find out where we’ve gone?”

She stepped back from the horse. “No, we can’t leave. We have to stay and fight.”

Caleb came down off his horse and grabbed her. “Listen to me. You heard him. You agreed. We have to go. I have to protect you. I can’t let them get you, Conn. I can’t.”

“It’s a little late for that, cowboy,” came a deep voice from the door.

Caleb turned to see a tall muscular man with a crossbow aimed at Conn. He stepped in front of Conn. “Get off my land.”

The man laughed. “That only works in the movies, cowboy. Now step aside. Or not. Doesn’t matter much to me.”

“You’ll have to get through me, and I won’t make it easy,” Caleb warned.

“No!” Conn shouted from behind him.

Caleb felt her move but never saw her. Apparently neither did the man with the bow because one minute he was aiming at them and the next he was flat on his ass and Conn held the bow in one hand and the arrow in the other, with the point of the arrow pressed against the center of the man’s chest.

“Leave this place now and do not return if you value your life,” she growled.

“Go ahead, kill me,” the man laughed. “There’s thousands more. And we’ll never stop coming until you’re dead, vampire bitch.”

Conn knew that to be true. As unbelievable as it was and as heartbreaking, there was no way she could stay with Caleb. The Alliance would not rest until they saw her dead.

Or believed her dead, she realized. Tossing the arrow aside, she knelt down beside the man, gripping his head in both hands. It was the most horrible act she’d ever committed, and it sickened her, but she forced her way into his mind, projecting the images she wanted to plant firmly and permanently.

He screamed and thrashed, but her strength was greater than his, fueled by the need to project Caleb and their chance at love.

When at last the man’s eyes rolled back and he went limp, she rose and turned to face Caleb.

“My god, Conn, what’ve you done?”

“Made him believe that I’m dead. Caleb, we have to go to the house. We have to neutralize all of the attackers.”

“What?”

“It’s the only way. Please.”

“Conn, this is way out of control.”

“I know, but unless they believe me dead, they’ll never leave you in peace. Please, we have to ensure that no one here is in further danger from them.”

Caleb hesitated for a moment then nodded. She grabbed the unconscious man by the back of his jacket and started dragging him as she started for the house. Conn felt a growing sickness inside her. The Alliance may not have succeeded in killing her, but they might have effectively killed her chance at a life with Caleb.