Crimson Dawn: The Crimson Series, #4

By Georgiana Fields

Jenny has lusted after Royce Lucard forever! But she can't be his fated mate for so many reasons. He still sees her as a bratty kid, despite her being a highly trained Healer. Worse, she is the granddaughter of the Lucard Clan's sworn enemy. Finally, she is fangless! Jenny is considered defective by her birth clan as well as other Dhampirs.

Sometimes it's better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission, especially when saving the lives of others. When Royce finds out about Jenny sacrificing herself to heal him, he lashes out and orders her to stay away from him. She runs—all the way to Sanibel Island, Florida. Her favorite retreat.

Royce has waited over 13 years to claim Jenny. He ignored her, giving her a chance to become the incredible woman and Healer she was meant to be.  Desperate over her disappearance, he must find her and convince her, she is his fated mate. If he can't, he'll be doomed to centuries of loneliness.

Stolen children, kidnapped women, and the evil of Eugenics place Royce and Jenny in grave danger. Can their extraordinary Dhampir talents and love for each other survive an evil that has lasted centuries?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Saphira Press
• Release date: Aug 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781736460047

Book preview

Crimson Dawn

The Crimson Series

Book 4

Georgiana Fields

A drawing of a person Description automatically generated

Copyright © 2017 Georgiana Fields

All rights reserved.

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, Georgiana Fields. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the publisher's permission is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. The publisher does not control and assumes responsibility for the author or third-party websites or their content.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

ISBN: 978-1-7364600-4-7

Cover Design:  Gina Dyer

Photography:  Gina Dyer

Photo credit  Amber Calisa Rigsby

Depositphoto

Interior Design:  Melba Moon

Editor:   Mary Marvella

The Crimson Series

Brisk storytelling and compelling characters kept me turning pages.

~Deborah Smith, NY Times bestselling author

Dedication:

For all my readers, thank you. And a special thanks for Amber’s eyes.

Best regards,

Georgiana Fields

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-one

Chapter Twenty-two

Crimson Haze

About the Author:

Chapter One

W e’ve got visual. Prize is Strapped to a chair in the middle of the room. Glen’s voice came through Royce’s earpiece. How do you want to proceed?

Good question. Up until now, everything about this mission had been too easy, making it smell like week-old fish. It had taken less than a minute to secure the perimeter. No guards surrounded the abandoned warehouse — no evidence of traps or tripwires. Everything appeared as if the kidnappers were amateurs. Even the weather seemed to be cooperating with no moon and thick fog for cover. Royce knew he was a lucky bastard, but he wasn’t that lucky. Is the package broken?

Cannot confirm. Head down. Cannot see movement. Thermal says she’s still warm.

Can you see how many are guarding the package? If they rushed the place, he could be risking the girl’s life. Royce pinched the bridge of his nose. The kid had already suffered enough. Damn, he didn’t think he’d ever get the image out of his mind of the assholes severing the child’s ear in the proof of life video. He’d cut something off of them when he got his claws on them. Poor kid. Nabbed her right out of her backyard, the nine-year-old had been through hell in the past eighteen hours. Bloody hell, she’s just a little bit older than Shelby. Shite, if the kid was older, then her injuries would heal quickly, but as it was, the poor kid suffered. I’m so going to gut the bastards.

Negative. Package appears to be alone, doesn’t mean there aren’t eyes and ears on it, Glen replied.

Affirmative. Dimitri, what do you have for us? Royce looked up as Dimitri Petrov emerged from the shadows. The man was human, but he was a valuable member of the team and the best hacker Royce had ever known. Dimitri even surpassed his teachers, Viktor and Percy, in record time. With the three of them around, no computer was safe. The other reason the man was a valuable member had to do with one small fact, every mission Dimitri had been a part of had been a success, with no casualties and no injuries. Hell, the Russian was their lucky charm.

Jammers. Dimitri held two small black boxes between his thumbs and forefingers. The second you and Glen fade, I jam the place. Dimitri shrugged. Of course, the second they see snow, they could blow the place. I figure you have less than a second to snatch and run. He shook his head as he set his toys down. Then again, the girl could be sitting on a pressure plate. She moves and kaboom. Dimitri threw his hands into the air to emphasize his point. Could be the reason the kid’s not moving. I’ve run the numbers. Your odds of getting out alive? Not good, my friend.

The only reason Royce could hate the man, his numbers never lied. Alright. Question. Can your jammers prevent them from detonating remotely?

Maybe, if everything’s on the same frequency, and if they didn’t use jam-resistant equipment. If they did, then no. We’re not dealing with your average kidnappers.

Shite. All right, everyone come in. You, too, Glen. Royce watched his team appear. They gathered around the SUV. Nothing like having one’s back against the wall to make a man realize his greatest strength lay in the people surrounding him. As much as I want to believe we’re dealing with amateurs, my gut’s telling me this is a fecking trap, and the kid’s expendable. They may not realize she’s Dhampir. Okay, options? Anybody?

Gravel crunched under Vaughn’s feet as he shifted his weight. I drop in through the roof, He pointed to the glass skylight. grab the kid and fly out. I never touch the ground. For a behemoth, Vaughn could deftly swoop in and grab the kid. His solution made sense.

If the kid’s wired, you both get blown to hell. Then your mate kills me. Not an option.

Then what the hell am I here for?

Your charming personality and good looks. Since Royce failed in protecting Peter and his mate, the slightest things riled him. Royce would be damned if he’d lose another friend or family member. His gaze locked with his brother’s pale green eyes. You have Rosie and your kids to think about, Vaughn. I’m not putting you at risk. You’re here because, well, I figured the kid would need a parent figure. And shite, if Tee were with us, you and he could play rock, paper, scissors for the honor, but he isn’t. Right? You’re our tyke wrangler.

What if I fade and reconnoiter? Glen asked. See if the kid’s wired? If not, I grab her and get out. I don’t have any kids or a mate.

That you know of, kids that is, one of the others commented.

Royce looked at his team. He had a bad feeling about this, a horrible feeling. Glen, Vaughn, Chase, and Cade, you’re Alpha team. Dimitri, Ryan, you are Bravo.

Duh, Ryan muttered. We know the only action we get is watching the rest of you play heroes.

Right. Well, you’re the ones who keep our asses safe. Royce met the eyes of each member of his team. Since no one has any other options, I want Alpha to cover the outer perimeter. Scott, you’re in charge of Bravo. Keep our resident tech geeks safe. I’m going in.

You can’t, Glen argued. Something happens to you, we all pay. I can go. I know how to disarm a bomb.

I know you do. I taught you. But, my lead, my risk. Royce had shared blood with Glen enough to know what the man thought. They were more than cousins. They were brothers. Royce glanced around. These men were his brothers. He knew what each one thought. Their voices were a constant hum in the back of his mind. These men were his clan, his family, and he couldn’t risk any of them. As I was saying, I want two groups, just in case they’re waiting to ambush us. Everyone else, you know your responsibilities. Vaughn, radio Percy, have him and Quaid standing by. He faded before anyone could argue.

Shifting his body, so he became nothing more than a ghost, Royce pressed against the wall of the building. In this form, he could see, hear, and pass through anything. His only drawback was the lack of smell. Moving through concrete felt like swimming through mud. As he emerged from the wall inside the building, it hit him. How in the hell would he get the kid out? Royce ghosted to the door. A quick exam didn’t show any wires. Maybe they were dealing with idiots, and he could walk out the door. He could only hope. He floated toward the small girl.

Something was odd.

The child’s chin rested against her chest, and her light blond hair hung in front of her eyes. Blood caked the left side of her face where they’d severed her ear. The bastards hadn’t even attempted to bandage the girl’s wound.

Shite. They’ve pulled a bait and switch! The kid wasn’t Mina St. Clair. This kid was human. Bloody hell! Well, it didn’t matter. The poor kid still needed to be rescued, and her injury tended. Maybe with proper medical care and plastic surgery, her ear could be replaced. The child’s emotional scars would be the hardest to heal.

Royce floated around the girl. Duct tape covered the child’s mouth, and her hands and feet were bound with zip ties. He couldn’t see any wires. No vest or anything visible set off alarms. Lying on his back, Royce peered under the metal chair the girl sat on. Again, nothing out of the ordinary. Royce stood behind the child and materialized. He didn’t want to frighten the blazes out of the kid by appearing out of nowhere in front of her. Had she been the child they’d searched for, he wouldn’t have hesitated. But this kid was human. He drew in a deep breath. The inside of the warehouse reeked of petroleum. Not good.

Honey. Royce placed his hand on the child’s shoulder. He wished he knew the girl’s name. Sweetheart. Royce gently shook the child. Her head jerked up, and her tear-stained face grabbed his heart. Her eyes opened wide, and she rapidly sucked air in through her nose. Royce heard the pounding cadence of her heart. The pungent smell of fear permeated the air. Honey, you’re safe. I’m going to take you to your mum. The girl’s chest rapidly rose and fell with her fear. I’m going to pull this tape from your mouth. Okay?

Tears slid from her eyes as she gave a jerking nod.

Gingerly Royce eased the tape from the child’s mouth to prevent injury. The girl seemed to calm a bit as she licked her tiny red swollen lips. Next, he slid his hand behind her, shifting his nails into claws and cutting the plastic zip ties binding her hands. He knelt and snapped the binding at her ankles.

Once free, the girl slumped forward and Royce caught her. Lifting her in his arms, he hurried to the door. One last quick scan of the door confirmed Royce’s first inspection that the door was safe to open.

The instant he pulled on the door, he heard the faint click and knew he’d mucked up. A flash, followed by the blistering pain. The blast propelled Royce through the door. He had just enough time to wrap his body around the child, protecting her as much as possible from the explosion. Screams and agonizing pain filled Royce’s mind. A secondary blast besieged his men, his brothers, his family. Underground explosions rocked the van Dimitri, Scott, and Ryan sat in, monitoring the rescue.

He’d failed all of them.

A soft whimper brought Royce’s attention back to the child in his arms. He rolled from her. Searing pain radiated in his back. The child sat, drawing her legs up and wrapping her arms around her shins. Royce watched her until darkness overcame him, and he surrendered to the welcoming black abyss.

Jenny rocked out to her latest playlist, thanks to Dimitri, the wonderful techno-geek. She cranked up the volume and bobbed her head to the rhythm of Apocalyptica. God, she’d have to kiss the Russian when he returned from the mission. Dimitri was a godsend to her. Besides her parents, Dimitri and Quaid were the only ones who knew of her little gifts. She wasn’t like most Dhampirs. Oh, she still had to have blood to survive. But she’d been born defective. She was the Fangless One. She still needed blood, more than most, actually. But she sipped hers from a teacup, glass, or bag, not a human. She wasn’t a princess. She just didn’t have fangs. Her other little defects, she happened to be an empath with a touch of telepathy. She could feel others’ emotions and, in some cases, read their minds. Jenny could tell when people were happy, sad, nervous, lying, anything. To get an accurate read, she only had to touch a person’s bare skin. So drinking someone’s blood, not going to happen. Better for most of the blood she consumed to come from a bag and not directly from the source. She didn’t want to risk that much of a connection with her donor.

Most people wouldn’t think that sensing the emotions of others was such a big thing. However, Jenny could count the numerous times she’d had her good mood dampened by someone else’s sadness. And vice versa. She lost herself in music or books as her only escape from what others felt. Her other little gift that only her parents and Quaid knew about was her ability to heal others by merely touching them. She was an Airmed. No, she wasn’t the Celtic goddess of healing and resurrection but a person who could understand and heal all injuries and illnesses, except death. Certainly can’t cure that. Jenny’s gift had its drawbacks. Her patient healed because Jenny transferred the injury or sickness into herself. Big. Ouch.

She pulled her wool sweater tighter. God, she hated the cold. Plus, being inside the walk-in refrigerator just reinforced how much she hated it. Jenny shivered more as her gloved hand touched each bag. We’re low on platelets and plasma. She didn’t have to worry about her boys, Royce, Glen, Vaughn, and her brothers. Short of getting their frigging heads blown off, or their hearts ripped out of their chests, they’d survive anything. And in another day, they’d be here joking with her and being complete pains in her rear before they all went their separate ways again. Quaid would head back to Texas. Glen and Royce would return to England, and Vaughn would go home to Georgia. As for her brothers, well, they were taking her on a long-deserved vacation to Rio. This would be the first time in three years she wouldn’t go to Sanibel Island. Still—Rio! Yeah!

Jenny sighed. She’d get to see Royce again. She knew it would only be for a couple of days, but she’d get to see him. Jenny wiggled her hips, shuffling her feet to the rhythm of the music coming through her earbuds.

Royce Lucard, the future leader of the Dhampir and the one man she’d had an uber-crush on since she first laid eyes on him. She was six at the time. Royce, hmm, maybe somewhere around two hundred? Maybe. She knew he was born in England in the late 1700s. Just thinking of the golden Adonis made her panties wet. Oh, she had it bad. So, so, bad.

Okay, enough thinking about Mr. Sexy-blue-eyes and back to my job. She had to have everything finished before Quaid arrived tomorrow, so she could give him her order for the medical supplies they needed. She wanted everything in place before she left on a well-deserved vacation. Nothing and she meant nothing, would keep her from some warm sandy beach, the ocean, and lots of good-looking men. The best part, there wouldn’t be a frigging snowflake in sight. Bo-yeah!

She’d like to know what in the heck made her parents decide to establish the clinic in upstate New York instead of someplace with less snow and more sun, like, say, Hawaii. She loved the Big Apple, as well as the upper state, and don’t get her started about all the fall festivals. She just hated winter and all the snow. Snow was meant to be measured in inches, not feet.

Good grief, she needed time-off, bad, really bad. In the last six months, it seemed every other week Jenny had dealt with situations, dangerous situations. And she was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. If that wasn’t bad enough, she couldn’t confide in a single person. Her mother probably suspected, but Jenny couldn’t even risk telling her mother. If Royce or anyone found out what she’d done, been doing, her life wouldn’t be worth a snowflake’s chance in Hell. The laws were written in stone on this. Death. Period. Being Zeno Dorjan’s granddaughter, she figured many would line up to drive a stake through her heart.

War was coming, and there’d be casualties on both sides when the dust cleared. She just had to do her thing to ensure she saved as many innocent lives as possible. Per her last informant, there were five more she had to help. Five more souls she would bleed for, five more lives she’d save. But she’d learned early in her life nothing was set in stone. Five could quickly turn into five hundred.

Jenny’s gut twisted. She knew the day of being exposed drew ever closer. She just hoped being a healer would keep her neck out of the noose. She laughed. Like that would save her hide. Not. She’d broken one of the primary laws, and if that didn’t get her staked, then what she did could be viewed by some as treason.

The Dhampir were an ancient race, a warrior race from a planet in a separate solar system. Jenny’s adopted dad had told her their people came to Earth when humans still lived in caves. Heck, many of the Dhampir scientists believe they were the so-called missing link. Dad jokes he was the one who taught the Mayans mathematics. The Dhampirs did try to come out of the closet several hundred years ago. That little experiment didn’t go well, considering it launched the witch-hunts.

Humans, in general, would instead kill something that didn’t fit into their small realm of normalcy than accept it. And over the centuries, humans haven’t evolved much in their way of thinking. Just look at how intolerant they were about different religions, races, and sexual orientation. So telling a bunch of paranoid humans that vampires, shifters, and gargoyles existed would go over like a lead balloon. Even in this so-called modern age, the human psyche was stuck in the dark ages. But not all humans wanted to drive a stake through a Dhampir’s heart, and not all Dhampirs were model citizens. They had just as many screwballs in their society as humans had.

Jenny should know. Her biological family was a bunch of inbred fruitcakes whose gene pool needed bleaching. She was born fangless, in other words, defective. Her biological father killed her mother because Jenny had been born with defects and was not his. That was a joke. It didn’t matter Daddy-dearest was dead. Jenny knew she was a Dorjan. She had their darkness inside of her. She shivered. According to gossip, her brothers were ordered to dispose of her. They did. Chase and Cade gave her to Ruth and Samuel. Oh, dang. The cold is driving me freakin’ insane.

Jenny laughed, forcing herself to focus on her inventory. The faster she finished, the faster she’d be out of the refrigerator. They were running low on fresh-frozen as well as O-negative. She could tap a vein in an emergency — no worries. But with all the many situations she’d had recently, they needed blood. Hmm, she’d better double, no triple this month’s order.

Jennifer! her mother bellowed. Mercy, the woman had a set of lungs on her.

What? I’m in the infirmary doing inventory. Mom probably wanted her to go into town again. What else did they need? She wondered if she could order Kevlar to protect her boys?

She sighed. Why waste money? They wouldn’t wear it. Jenny groaned as she stepped from the walk-in refrigerator. The instant she exited, her mother’s fear and panic slammed into Jenny.

Jenny. Her mother rushed into the room. Her long fishtail braid bouncing behind her, her face flushed, and tears filled her eyes. They’re bringing in wounded.

Jenny’s heart stopped. For the guys to fly directly here, it wasn’t good. Deep down, she knew it was one of her boys. Who’s hurt? Is it Cade or Chase? God, she prayed her brothers were okay. Mom, who is it. Is it Glen? Vaughn? Oh God, he’s been through so much. He and Rose deserve to make up for the lost time. Who?

Tears ran down her mother’s face. They lost Dimitri and two others.

Nooo! Jenny’s knees went weak. The girl, did they rescue the girl? she asked, snatching items she knew they would need.

Not really. The kidnappers used a decoy. A human child. Her mom drew the back of her hands across her eyes. Vaughn’s delivering the child, her mother’s voice trembled. Baby, it was an incendiary device. Royce shielded the child, taking the brunt of the explosion.

Why did it have to be Royce? Burns took forever to heal. Okay, how long before they arrive, and is he the only one burnt? Panic welled in her. She had to push everything from her mind and shut down all her feelings and emotions. There’d be time later to mourn the dead. Right now, she had to prepare for the wounded. Why bring him here, and not West Grove. It’s better suited to his needs.

Logistics. The guys were in Canada. They’re an hour out. Royce is the worst. Glen’s lost his vision, but Quaid thinks it’s only temporary, caused by the flash. They’ve all given blood to Royce.

I know, Mom. Royce is going to need more blood, lots of it. We’re going to need bleeders. Has someone notified his parents? They should be here. She rushed around gathering supplies. Once she’d loaded the cart with everything they would need, she raced down the hall, pushing into the main examination room. With Royce being Dhampir, there was no need for sterilization, but they would need the restraints.

Royce was strong and he carried his father’s blood, so she knew he would survive. He would survive this, as he’d survived everything else in his long life. Jenny just had to keep positive and prayed she’d survive the ordeal.

Jen? Jenny? Jennifer, are you listening to me? Her mother’s voiced pulled Jenny from her thoughts. They’ve landed. They’re bringing him in.

Chapter Two

Jenny thought she’d seen everything. But nothing had prepared her for Royce’s injuries. His back was charred black. Some of his clothes had melted into his flesh. She blinked back her tears. The burns ran all the way to his spine. It would be weeks, probably months before he could walk on his own again unless she helped speed things along. She could take his injuries into herself.

She and Quaid rolled Royce into the examination room as her mom hurried to treat the others. They faced a long night.

Don’t touch him, Quaid barked, his wolf close to the surface. Gray fur pushed through his bronze skin and rippled over Quaid’s arms and face. His eyes turned the gray-blue of his animal. Jen, I need you whole. Others will need our help tonight. Don’t. I know that look on your face. You want to use your gift to heal him. But if you do, who knows how long you’ll be out healing yourself. I need you.

Fine. She hated it when Quaid was a step ahead of her. She snatched a pair of blue Latex-free Nitrile gloves. They would act as a barrier, blocking her ability to heal Royce simply from touching his skin. I was only going to ease some of his pain.

Bullshit. Quaid studied Royce’s prone form. The burns are mostly concentrated to his back. Once we strap his arms and legs, we’ll cut his clothes off. The tick in Quaid’s jaw confirmed her thoughts, and she blinked back her tears. Now wasn’t the time for emotions.

Quaid and Jenny worked on Royce for nearly eight hours. Jenny didn’t think she’d ever get Royce’s screams out of her mind. She thanked God when he finally lost consciousness. They’d placed Royce face down on the metal table, restrained his hands and ankles to keep him from fighting them. Peeling Royce’s clothes from his body took away the first two layers of his skin. He screamed and tugged at his restraints so hard they cut into his wrists and ankles. Jenny fought to remain focused on her task as she blocked out his pain and anguish. Royce’s emotions battered her. She thought she’d braced herself for the worse, but she hadn’t. It tore at her soul to have to inflict more pain on him.

Jenny didn’t want to hurt Royce anymore, but she had to save him. I’m sorry, Royce. Her hand trembled as she reached for the brush. She had to scrub the clothing fibers from his skin. His body wouldn’t heal if any foreign particles remained in him.

Royce jerked and thrashed against the restraints, nearly breaking free. His horns erupted from his forehead. His nails thickened, grew black, and curved as they morphed into claws. He glared at her with crimson eyes, and his fangs fully extended. He growled and hissed as he struggled against his restraints with each scrape of the brush. The noises rising from his throat sounded more animalistic than human. In his Dhampiric form, Royce resembled sketches she’d seen of demons. And yet, even with all the pain he endured, she knew he had not released his full Dhampiric form. He battled her and himself.

Royce finally fell unconscious.

Jenny gently washed the dried blood from around Royce’s face, and body then removed the restraints from his hands. The worst was over, for now. After she dressed the wounds they moved Royce to another room and a bed and tucked pillows around him to keep him on his stomach.

Jenny tenderly smoothed her hand over his scorched and melted blond hair. His hair wasn’t what concerned her, it would quickly grow back, but his back... His healing would be long and painful.

If they were lucky, they’d be able to put the maggots on him in the morning. The blowfly larvae would feed on Royce’s dead tissue, encouraging and speeding the healing process. But right now, he needed fresh blood to start his healing.

The door opened, and Jenny watched as Quaid led in Royce’s father, the leader of all Dhampir clans, Alan Lucard.

Tears welled, then rolled down his face as he approached his son. His hand trembled in midair when he reached toward Royce. Allen’s thoughts and emotions slammed into Jenny. He longed to touch his son but feared hurting him.

They will pay for this. Alan’s eyes glowed as he pushed up his sleeve. Leave us, he ordered. Unashamed, he let his tears flow down his cheeks.

Jenny watched as Alan pressed his wrist to Royce’s lips. In a second, Royce began drinking the rich, healing blood of his father. She backed from the room, closing the door behind her.

Her adrenaline rush waned, and was replaced by exhaustion. She made her way down the hall to her mother’s small kitchen. Mechanically Jenny placed the kettle on the stove for tea then sat at the tiny table. In the stillness of the kitchen, she felt the pain of the injured and their fears. Jenny closed her eyes. Others’emotions became her burden.

Are you okay, Sis? Cade placed a cup of tea in front of her. She’d not heard him enter or pour her tea.

No. She opened her eyes and met his dark green gaze. Her half-brother appeared as tired as she felt. He plopped down onto a chair and sank his fangs into a blood bag. I’m going to miss Dimitri.

I know. We all will. Dimitri was our, Cade’s voice cracked. His eyes welled with emotions. our lucky rabbit’s foot. Shit, Dimitri kept telling us not to call him that, considering how lucky the rabbit was.

Cade, don’t beat yourself up. The last words I said to Royce... Her voice cracked. I told him I wished he’d burn in Hell. Jenny’s tears rolled down her cheeks. She idly fingered her iPod. Did I cause his injuries? No, I did not. But it bothers me we fought. If he’d died, I wouldn’t have forgiven myself.

Cade smoothed his hand over his brown hair. Hell, Sis. You and Royce fight all the time. Matter-of-fact, from the time you could talk, you’ve given the man hell. Shit, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear you two were mates.

Being the fangless granddaughter of Zeno Dorjan makes me as appealing as Typhoid Mary. Besides, we both know I’m not Royce’s type. But he was her type. She twirled her hair around a finger. Not blond. She stared at her chest. Not big boobed. And I have a little more junk in my trunk than the women he dates.

Take it from a guy, the way Royce looks at you. He tossed his empty bag in the trash. Cade belched as he snatched another blood bag from the refrigerator. He likes what he sees. Trust me. There’s something there.

Nope, not going down that road. What Jenny felt for Royce, had always felt for him, was nothing more than a crush. Had to be. Royce had never shown her any indication he liked her, let alone that she was his mate. Besides, I’m twenty-seven. If I were his mate, I’m sure he would have shown some interest in me by now. Don’t you think? So, no Lucard-Dorjan union.

Damnit, Jen, you’re not a Dorjan. Her brother glared at her. You were not raised by them. Everybody knows your parents are Ruth and Samuel Mallory. You’re their blood, not Dorjan’s. You’re not like Chase and me. Cade covered her hand with his. You are Jennifer Mallory. Now say it.

I’m Jennifer Mallory. She wouldn’t argue with her brother. No matter what Cade said, she knew what others thought of her. She’d felt their emotions toward her. She heard their thoughts as loudly as if they shouted them through a bullhorn. They didn’t trust her. She was the throwback, the freak, the fangless one, the one who proved The Creator, Yeva, cursed the Dorjan Clan for their perversion.

Oh, sure, she knew what humans and Dhampirs thought. Those who knew her figured she was born without fangs because her birth mother was her father’s niece. Yep, her gene pool needed bleaching. These same people trusted her brothers because of what they did to help the Wolfes and the Lucards a few years ago. But her? They did not trust her any further than they could spit her, even though Jenny helped deliver most of their children. That didn’t make a difference. She was still Coralie and Fagan’s freakish child. What happened today? What went wrong? Jenny searched Cade’s mind for the answers he wouldn’t speak aloud.

"Hell, if I know. We did everything by the book. There were no signs of explosives anywhere outside the building. Dimitri swept the perimeter, and you know how meticulous he is—was. Anyway, Royce went in. A few seconds later, all hell broke loose. Royce opened the door, coming out with the kid and kaboom. The bastards planted landmines.

Dimitri died bravely. He, Scott, and Ryan all died well. Cade leaned back in his chair and studied the ceiling. Shit, I hate this mess. And we didn’t accomplish a damn thing. They switched kids on us. So all of this was a waste! Tears streamed down Cade’s face. Why is it Ruth dug more shrapnel than it takes to build an effing tank from me, but Dimitri didn’t look like he had a scratch on him, yet he’s dead? It’s not fair. Why can’t we protect our humans better?

Jenny pushed from her seat and cradled her brother in her arms. He and Dimitri had been friends, best friends. Dimitri never held a grudge, never cared her brothers carried Dorjan blood or the Dorjan name.

I wish I had the answer for you. Ruth, Jenny’s mother, placed a hand on Cade’s shoulder, giving him a gentle squeeze. I thank God every day you and Chase gave Jenny to Samuel and me, for choosing us to raise your sister. I wish Sam, and I could have raised you, too. Ruth bussed Cade’s cheek. I haven’t seen Chase lately.

I’m here. Chase guided a blindfolded Glen into the kitchen. Just got off the phone with Vaughn. He said they'd taken care of the dead and, Chase’s voice cracked, we’ll have a memorial when the wounded have healed. The kid and her parents are safe. Vaughn said Percy and Viktor are trying to track the whereabouts of the real Mina St. Clair.

Vaughn thinks Zeno is behind this, Glen ran a shaky hand through his hair. The kidnapping, the trap, everything. After all, Fagan did try to nick Shelby a few years ago. Glen stumbled and reached with his arms out in front of him. His fear of permanent blindness washed over her.

I hate to agree with you, but I think you’re on the right path, Chase said. This sounds like something my perverted asshole grandfather would do. Cade, toss me a couple of bags.

Here. Jenny quickly stood and took Glen’s arm. Chase, turn out the lights. She helped Glen to her chair. Though they were cousins, Glen could nearly pass as Royce’s twin. Other than Glen’s black hair, he and Royce were identical. I want to check your eyes.

Glen tightened his hand on her arm. How’s Royce, Jen? Don’t lie to me.

The truth. Not good. Royce has second and third-degree burns on his back, leaving his spine exposed. It’s going to take him weeks, if not months, to heal physically. Emotionally, I can’t say. He knows about Dimitri and the others and blames himself. He’s never lost a member of his team. Emotionally he’s in a bad place. Now, tilt your head back.

Thank you. Glen sat still as she removed his bandages.

The emotions from the guys assaulted her, blame, and guilt. Chase, Cade, and Glen all blamed themselves for Dimitri’s and the other’s deaths, for Royce’s injuries, for everything. She’d bet they even blamed Royce a little. In reality, no one was to blame except the men who kidnapped the child and planted the bombs. Telling the guys that wouldn’t help.

Glen gripped her hand. The sweet smell of fear oozed from him. "Quaid said I should be able to see in a few days."

She didn’t miss the quiver in Glen’s voice when he said should. I think you’ll be able to see sooner than that. Screw Quaid. He was her boss, in a sense, but she had to give these guys some hope.

Right. If I can’t? Then what? I soldier on, using Tristan as a seeing-eye-mutt?

Jenny slapped Glen’s arm. Stop being so dramatic. That’s Percy’s job. Besides, Tee would purposely walk you into a wall.

Royce should have allowed Vaughn to swoop in and nick the kid. If he had Royce wouldn’t be hurt, I wouldn’t be blind, and the others wouldn’t be dead. Glen slammed his hand on the table, knocking over her cup of tea.

She understood Glen’s anger. He wasn’t mad about Royce’s decision, but at the fact, friends had died. His best friend was severely injured. And yes, Glen was frightened—terrified he’d never see again.

Jenny examined the faint scorch marks along the side of Glen’s face. From the burn pattern, he’d had his face turned slightly at the time of the blast. I have a feeling once Tristan and his team inspect the building, or what’s left of it, they’ll find the place had booby traps all over it. No matter what you all did, the outcome would probably have been the same.

Glen grunted. Tee and his team are going over it as we speak. If that’s what they find, it means this was a trap for us. It made sense, seeing the assholes nicked a Dhampir child and switched her out with a human kid. By the way, does anyone know who she is? I mean, hell, had her folks reported her missing?

Caitlin said the kid was snatched from Canada, Chase informed them. Cat also said she informed the authorities we’d purchased the building to practice search and rescue and stumbled upon the kid. They’re buying the story so far, let’s hope like hell, they continue. I’ve got the feeling this was a trap for all of us.

Jenny didn’t want to think about that. She couldn’t because then it meant her boys all had targets on their backs. She was so definitely putting in an order for Kevlar. "Now,