"But-"

He walked over to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a brandy, drank it down in one

swallow, and then disappeared back inside the master suite.

"I don't understand, Fred. What does it matter?"

"It's forbidden. They can't keep it, Byron. It wouldn't be fair to the child."

"Is it fair to send it away to live with strangers?"

"It can have a normal life this way. Don't make this harder for Father, he's doing the

right thing."

"He's doing the weak thing." I spat with the confident superiority of adolescence. "And it's killing Mother."

Fred slapped me across the face. "How dare you! You have no idea what he's given up

for her. Do you expect him to become a total outcast?"

The sounds of shattering gla.s.s pierced through the air, and it was follow by an outraged, devastating scream.

"No! Lillian!"

Fred and I ran into the room. The infant lay, crying, alone on the bed. My father stood at the shattered window, his hands holding onto the sides of the frame, jagged gla.s.s cutting into his palms. I walked slowly over to the window and looked down into the courtyard. My mother's broken body lay below.

"I never should have mated with her," whispered my father. His voice filled with regret.

I turned and looked up at him, perhaps really seeing him for the first time in my life. "You're right. She deserved better," I told him. And then I watched, as my father turned to dust before my eyes.

I turned the water off, stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel from the rack and wrapped it around my waist. I had vowed then that I would never be like my father, and I wasn't. I had done everything right. Or at least I used to think that I had. I'd stayed amidst my own kind, living a solitary existence, ama.s.sing a fortune, honing my powers, and fulfilling my duties as the clan treasurer. I'd been entrusted with a time-honored duty, managing the trust that helped care for the Chosen, the children fortunate enough to be born human. The children like Violet.

It was the only explanation, really. If Fred and Grace had been paying for Violet to go to school, she was Chosen. How could I possibly interfere with that? I couldn't. I wouldn't. Because I had somehow managed to fall in love with her.

"I'm sure you have a reasonable explanation," she said.

My eyes flew open. A bit of light streamed in from the hallway. It was just enough to barely illuminate my room, but as luck would have it, it glinted off the steel cuffs making them shine like a beacon in the night. Violet was standing at the edge of my bed staring down at me, her hands resting on her hips.

"What?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

She rolled her eyes. "The handcuffs?"

"What handcuffs?"

"Ren, I have a sprained ankle, not a head injury. I can see the handcuffs."

"You shouldn't be up. What are you doing up?"

"My ankle's a bit better. I had to go to the bathroom," she said. "On my way back I noticed them. What's their purpose?"

"These?" I looked up towards the head of my bed where my left hand was bound to the center iron rail.

She sighed; I could tell she was close to exasperated. "Yes, those."

"To keep me from sleep walking, from sleep walking and bothering you."

She spotted the key on my bedside table, picked it up, and then leaned over me. "Ren, I was hoping you were going to come and bother me. Let's get these off of you. Before I start getting naughty ideas."

I grinned. "What kind of naughty ideas? Wow, you smell really nice, Vi." Her proximity already had my head practically swimming.

She paused and looked down into my eyes. I couldn't help myself. My free hand moved as if it had a mind of its own to caress the back of her long slender neck.

"You tasted really good, too. When I kissed you earlier? I've never tasted anything so sweet," I murmured, recalling how the effects of that kiss had lingered long after her lips parted from mine and wanting so much to experience those sensations again.

"Really?" she asked, sounding a bit breathless.

"Really. You should go, Vi. You should go back to your room," I told her, removing my hand.

She reached up and awkwardly tried to fit the key into the lock.

"I can't quite reach it," she murmured as she shifted further.

She was kneeling on my bed now, her torso hovering over my bare chest. The top few b.u.t.tons of her shirt were undone, and l admit it, I peeked. Her full b.r.e.a.s.t.s were enticingly suspended before me, swaying gently back and forth as she struggled with the key.

"It won't turn all the way," she said.

"Keep trying. I think you almost have it," I encouraged, arching up and trying to subtly get a better look. At times like this, apparently I have no shame.

Violet swung one leg over my hip and persistently continued to work on it. She was so intent on her task, I'm not sure that she even realized that she was straddling me at first. But I realized it. Every inch of my body realized it. Now, I've never been very fond of having a woman on top. Rita tells me it's because I'm a control freak and that I need to get over it. Upon reflection, I realized that her chaining me to the bed with the handcuffs was likely her idea of therapy. She probably thought she'd ride me into submission and that I'd someone see the light. Maybe I had.

I moved my hand to Violet's waist to still her movements. As I did, she clearly registered for the first time that I was fully aroused and that my erection was resting comfortably beneath her. The warm heat of her body penetrated the thin cotton sheet. I imagined sinking deeply into it, into her. I shifted my hips ever so slightly, watching as her eyes widened. She lurched forward.

"Ouch!"

"What?"

I didn't have to ask. I knew. She had cut herself.

"I slipped. I grazed a knuckle on one of these stupid links."

"Violet, you need to get off," I told her.

"I think I almost have it."

"No. Now. You need to get off now, Violet. The blood. It's... I can't..."

"You can't what?" she asked sitting up and looking down at me curiously.

My oversized shirt had shifted on her and slipped off of one shoulder. I could see the evidence of her pebbled nipples through the light layer of fabric. Her spectacular mane of wavy hair framed her face. It was wild and s.e.xy. I had never wanted anyone so much in my entire life. I could feel it, rising up within me, the desire, the need. I wanted to pull her towards me and push her off. I did neither. Despite my trying to stave it off, a low growl began to rumble from deep within my chest.

"Ren?" She sat up even straighter, her hot p.u.s.s.y pressing, sliding against my c.o.c.k.

"Please, Violet!" I managed to choke out. I turned my head away and closed my eyes, listening with a sense of dread as the rumble built. I was losing the battle for control and losing it fast. My only hope was to get some distance between us. "Go!"

But she didn't go. Instead, she reached out to me. She placed the palm of her hand on my cheek and gently turned my head so that I was once again facing her.

My eyes flew open, connecting with hers as the primitive roar ripped from my throat. I watched in horror as Violet scrambled off me towards the end of the bed, her feet and arms working furiously.

"No...!"

My warning didn't come quickly enough. She had reached the end of the bed and when her right hand came down to find only air, she tumbled unceremoniously to the floor.

"Aah!" she shrieked.

"Vi?" I asked, trying to sit up.

She didn't move. I heard a hollow thump as her head struck the floor. Her heart was racing.

"Vi? Are you hurt? Look, I'm staying right here...all chained up."

"N-no, I'm not hurt!" she said, sounding almost angry.

"Thank G.o.d," I sighed, my head dropping back down on my pillow.

"You're a... What the h.e.l.l are you!" she yelled.

"A vampire. I'm immortal. I did tell you earlier."

She pulled herself up and then started to retreat, hopping backwards.

"There's no need to run away. I'm not going to hurt you."

She paused. "Why were you yelling at me to go?"

"The desire to mate with you was becoming overwhelming. I could feel it building. I

didn't want to loose control in front of you, but it happened. You saw."

"M-mate with me?"

"Don't worry. The look of horror on your face was better than a cold shower. In fact, I

may never get another erection again." Christ, I felt miserable. The sting of rejection had hit me full force and burned worse that I'd ever imagined.

"I don't understand," she said almost to herself as she hobbled towards me.

"What?" I asked, with a glimmer of hope.

"I'm not sure I understand any of it," she said, shaking her head forlornly.

I breathed a sign of relief. "It's a lot to take in."

"You're a vampire."

"Yes." I waited patiently, praying that she would accept me, accept who and what I am.

"Oh!" she gasped. "I get it!"