"Yeah, yeah, I'm all about brains and he's going to be madly intrigued with my intellect and dazzled with my cushy body." Gabrielle made a face, trying to laugh, but looking as if she might cry.

"Gabby, what's gotten into you?" Joie asked, stepping closer to her sister, feeling waves of distress pouring off her sister.

"It's just that I blow it every single time I'm actually attracted to a man. It doesn't happen very often. Most of the time, I'm bored out of my mind and can't stay in their company for five minutes. But when someone comes along who makes sense, and can discuss topics I'm really interested in, if I'm physically attracted, I come off looking like an idiot-or next to you and Jubal-the damsel in distress who needs rescuing." She stuck her chin out. "I'm not, you know."

"Of course I know. You forget, Gabrielle, Jubal and I climb with you and go into caves. We've gone down the Amazon and into the rain forest. You never flinch."

"I flinched in the ice cave."

"Yeah, well, here's a news flash for you, sister, so did I. Anyone who doesn't flinch inside that place is plain suicidal and out of their mind."

"Really?" Gabrielle asked. "Neither you or Jubal looked as if you freaked out."

"Of course we did. Bodyguards can't show freak-outs, babe, that's the bottom line and Jubal prides himself on never showing a freak-out because we'd tease him unmercifully until the day he died and maybe after as well." Joie shared a grin with her sister. "Is Jubal hanging out in the bedroom? I need my clothes?"

"I'll get you something presentable." Gabrielle disappeared.

Joie heard her giggle. Gabrielle never did anything so undignified as to giggle. Unashamed, Joie listened to the murmured conversation in the next room. Gary had joined her brother and sister in her bedroom and Gabrielle had clearly forgotten her mission to produce clothes for her sister.

Joie stalked to the door. "h.e.l.lo! I hate to remind you all, but I'm stuck here, naked in the bathroom. Vacate or toss me some clothes."

Jubal groaned and covered his eyes. "You are so sick, Joie. I didn't need that visual. Gary, you ought to try having a couple of sisters bent on tormenting you. They gang up on me like you wouldn't believe."

Gabrielle blew him a kiss. "We keep your life from being extraordinarily dull and boring."

"Don't believe her," Jubal cautioned Gary.

Joie caught the bundle of clothes her sister tossed inside the bathroom. "Thanks for remembering me," she hissed.

"I remembered," Gabrielle replied with a smirk. "Getting your clothes just didn't seem all that important all of a sudden."

You are truly a hussy, Joie said and closed the bathroom door firmly on her sister's teasing laugh. I know exactly what you were doing. That poor man has no idea you've got your hook out and you're fishing.

I'm going to dose his drink with a love potion, Gabrielle shot back.

Gabrielle rarely was depressed or upset for long. She was naturally upbeat and had a sunny personality. Joie found herself smiling in spite of the deep dread in the pit of her stomach. Being with her family was exactly what she needed.

She dressed carefully, for war. She didn't want to be unprepared for anything. She had weapons stashed in both the bedroom and her bathroom and she donned as many as she could carry without detection. Her clothes were loose enough to hide the weapons and to move in fast, yet wouldn't get in the way should she need to climb or fight hand to hand.

Gary stood up when Joie entered the room. "Good evening." He bowed slightly, a habit he'd acquired from the Carpathians. "I take it Traian left already? I figured he'd rise as early as possible. There were clouds blocking the sunlight. They sometimes arrange the weather to protect their sensitive eyes." He smiled at Joie. "He wants me to get you to drink some juice this evening."

Joie pressed a hand to her stomach. "I don't think that's going to happen, but I'm sure Gabrielle and Jubal are hungry."

"Starved," Jubal agreed instantly. "I thought Joie was going to sleep forever."

"You'll get used to the different hours they keep," Gary said. "I work in the lab and forget the time myself. If I'm on to something promising, I don't seem to need sleep."

"I'm the same way," Gabrielle said. "Sometimes I look up and it's two days later." She exchanged a long smile of complete understanding with Gary.

Jubal threw his hands into the air. "I'm starving. I need to get food and whether you're hungry or not, Joie, we need to stick together. Let's go down to the dining room."

Joie rolled her eyes. "Big surprise that you're starving, Jubal. I swear you were born that way. Are you armed?" Joie dragged on her boots and shoved a knife down into the leather scabbard built in.

Gary raised an eyebrow, but Gabrielle just shrugged, her grin sheepish. "We're used to Joie. She's nearly always lethal."

"Of course I'm armed." The smile faded from Jubal's face as he turned to Gary with sober eyes. "Are you?"

There was a small silence. Gabrielle pressed her lips together. Joie and Jubal just waited for the answer. If Gary was even remotely interested in their sister, he'd better know how to protect her.

Gary gave them a small smirk, not in the least intimidated. "I carry weapons at all times. Here, working with the Carpathians, I have no choice. They rest during the day and if the undead send human puppets to find their resting places, they have to be protected."

"Great," Gabrielle said. "We don't just have to worry about vampires trying to kill us, but other things as well."

Gary nodded. "Sadly, it's true. And don't ever forget the secret society of humans that hunt and condemn various people to death and torture and kill them. This is a dangerous part of the world to live in, so if you're going to be here, you have to learn as much as you can about protecting yourself at all times. Basically, expect the unexpected."

Jubal pulled open the door. "I won't have to worry about ghouls or crazy vampire hunters if we don't eat soon. Go now!" He glared at his sisters.

Both of them laughed at him, but obediently followed Jubal into the hall and down the stairs.

Gabrielle leaned close to Gary. "Jubal is very grumpy until he eats," she whispered overly loud so her brother could be certain to hear her. "We still call him 'grumpy pants.' "

Jubal groaned. "Never have sisters. Just an FYI."

"News flash, Jubal," Joie said, her gaze, like his, on the few people milling around the dining room as they entered. "You adore your sisters and everyone knows it."

"I do make you think that, otherwise you wouldn't do my laundry for me," Jubal pointed out smugly.

Joie noticed Gary was every bit as alert and watchful as Jubal and she were. Food was served buffet style, so they quickly got the dishes they preferred, Jubal taking plenty of healthy helpings while Joie settled for a small gla.s.s of juice. They sat down at the table nearest the door for a quick exit.

Joie frowned as her siblings ate with gusto, needing the calories after the ordeal in the ice caves. Her stomach lurched at that thought of food. She felt Gary watching her and she wrapped her fingers around the gla.s.s to forestall any attention he might draw to her sister and brother to the fact that she couldn't eat.

"Do you live here permanently, Gary?" she asked.

He nodded. "I'm needed here. The work that I do is very valuable and there's satisfaction in that. This species is too amazing to go extinct. There has to be a way to solve the problem of successfully carrying a baby. Besides, it's heartbreaking to live among them, get to know them and then have one of the few women miscarry or lose her precious child."

"I can't imagine how painful that would be," Gabrielle said, compa.s.sion pouring into her voice. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to see what you're doing, since I'm here anyway. Maybe I could help."

"Usually Carpathians erase all memories of an encounter with them," Gary said. "I was surprised that Traian hadn't done so."

Jubal looked up, a dark scowl on his face. "Yeah, I don't think so. He can forget that."

Joie kicked him under the table. "He isn't going to do that. I'd shoot him and he knows it. Don't be such a dork." She saw Gary watching her, so she put the gla.s.s to her lips and took a small sip. Her stomach cramped almost instantly. She set the gla.s.s down with great care. "Do you travel much?"

Gary shrugged, shaking his head. "I've been on a hit list for a while now and it isn't safe. The Carpathians protect me and in all honesty, I'm pretty focused on my work."

"That's the way I am when I get in a lab. Time pa.s.ses and sometimes I'm there for days without sleep," Gabrielle admitted.

Joie became aware of the exact moment the sun set. She didn't see the orange and red hues, but in the midst of the conversation going on around her she simply knew. She felt the sudden shuddering of the earth as the vampires rose. Her heart leapt in fear.