He lowered his massive jaguar head and pawed the ground, his eyes narrowing. The rising sun reflected in his metallic gaze, making it appear even colder and devoid of emotion. Dangerous and lethal were the only two words that came to mind when she met his icy stare. Why wasn't he burning to a crisp?

Ye did summon me. Through the necklace ye have on.

Rose remembered the chill that went down her spine when she'd opened the locket at the same time she's spoken the words "Protect me, forever" in Irish. Then the English translation of the lyrics to the "Sleep, my Darling" lullaby her mother used to sing to her came flashing into her mind.

Sleep, my sweet darling Knowing your guardian will come Make wise your decision to call him, Above all else, his protection will be done.

Realization dawned and she asked, Was my mother a vampire like you?

He shook his jaguar head. Yer mother was special.

The rising sun reflected off his shiny black fur, highlighting the blue-black color and magnifying the stark contrast of the white stripe down his side.

I don't understand, she whispered.

He lowered his head and pawed at the ground once more, impatience reflecting in his stiffened stance. Tell me where to find this vampire who converted ye.

Rose's mind whirled. If he spoke the truth and he hadn't bitten her, then Duncan had to have converted her. She felt the sun warming her bare skin and realized that while she was thinking, she'd let go of her jaguar shape and had converted back her human form-her naked human form.

When she lifted her gaze to Ronan's, the heated look in his jaguar eyes didn't bode well for her. Spying her torn clothes on the ground a few feet away, her heart rammed in her chest. She shakily stood on her feet, her hands extended. "Don't even think about it."

The jaguar's nostrils flared and his ears flicked back and forth as he slowly advanced on her, a low purring sound punctuating each step he took.

Rose took a deep breath to let out a "bloody murder" scream. Instead, she gulped in surprise when someone slammed into the jaguar's side. As the man and cat rolled in the grass, another person lifted her body in his arms.

This time she did scream as she began to fight her captor. Then she heard Duncan's voice in her head. Go with Mark. Now!

Fear and relief rushed through her when she saw through the blur of fists and claws flying back and forth. The man fighting Ronan was Duncan. Rose struggled once more, turning to speak to the blond man holding her, "He'll kill Duncan."

Mark's grip on her tightened. "Duncan can't concentrate on fighting if he's worried for your safety."

Understanding filtered into her mind and Rose stopped struggling. "Put me down. I can run faster on my own."

Mark nodded, setting her down. As they ran, Rose took one last look back. When she saw the jaguar bite Duncan's shoulder and heard his roar of pain, she stopped and started to turn around, but Mark gripped her arm. "He's a male vampire, Rose, a stronger fighter than you. Let him fight."

"Then why doesn't he shift so he's on equal footing?" she argued.

Mark tugged on her arm. "Because he's limited in his shifting abilities."

"He is?" Rose asked, worry for Duncan's safety ramping up once again. She started to pull away from Mark's grasp. "I can help."

Mark tightened his grip and nodded toward the early morning sun. "The vamp's affected by it. I can sense his power weakening."

Rose concentrated on Mark's comment. She turned to see Duncan land a blow to the jaguar that sent the big cat flying. Apparently Mark was right.

Nodding to him, she started running again. Once they reached the parking lot. Mark fished out his keys and unlocked his passenger door. "Get in."

Rose slid into the passenger seat. Now that the imminent danger had lessened, the cool leather reminded her of her naked status. When Mark climbed in and started the engine, she said, "Please keep your gaze on the road."

Mark didn't look her way as he pulled out of the parking lot. "Duncan and I saw you shift. So I'm assuming that Sythen converted you. But no matter what clan we're from, we all have the ability to project clothes on our forms if we wish."

She glanced at his profile in surprise. "We do?"

He nodded. "Concentrate on clothing yourself. Imagine being dressed."

Rose closed her eyes and took deep, calming breaths. When she opened her eyes, she saw jeans, boots and a black sweat jacket clothing her body. Wow! Now that was cool!

"Try to keep the image in your mind until we arrive at Ian's house," Mark said, glancing her way. "Jax is about your size. She should have something for you to wear."

Worry for Duncan still gripped her. "Can't we just wait a safe distance away?"

Mark shook his head. "He insisted I take you to Ian's."

She grabbed his arm. "And I insist we don't leave him completely."

Mark started to speak, then he paused for a second and met her gaze. "Duncan just communicated with me. The vamp got away. He shifted to mist. Duncan says he'll meet us at Ian's."

Relief washed over her that Duncan survived. "I'm so glad he's okay." Even though she was thankful Duncan was unhurt, Rose had to admit to herself she wasn't all that unhappy the vamp got away. She wanted to kill Ronan herself. Something told her the battle wasn't over between Ronan and her. She'd get her opportunity. The vamp had to pay for murdering her father.

Rose closed her eyes against the overwhelming sorrow that swept through her. Her father was gone. Clenching her jaw, she squeezed her eyes tight to hold back the tears that had surfaced. She needed to stay focused. Not fall to pieces.

Forcing herself to focus on something else, her curiosity got the best of her. She glanced at Mark once more. "You said Duncan communicated with you. How did he speak to you mentally without standing in front of you?"

"Vampires can communicate mentally over short distances. Since I wasn't very far away, Duncan was able to speak in my mind." Mark paused and smiled. "On the other hand, Ian and Duncan seem to be able to speak mentally over much greater distances. I guess their twin bond allows them greater flexibility."

"Ah, that makes sense. Is Jax Ian's vampire mate?"

Mark nodded as he glanced her way. "Have you met Ian and Jax?"

She shook her head. "Just Ian. Even though I know they're twins, I'm still amazed at how much they looked alike."

"They couldn't be more different," Mark chuckled.

Silence filled the car. As the adrenaline running through her system continued to lower to normal levels, Rose glanced down at her hands for the first time. Traces of blood caked between her fingers and under her nails...a physical reminder of who or, better yet, what she'd become. The knowledge almost overwhelmed her. "I'm a vampire," she whispered. Closing her eyes again, she swallowed hard and told herself that if she hadn't been converted, she wouldn't have stood a chance with Ronan.

"Hey, it's not so bad...being a vampire." The empathy in Mark's voice made her open her eyes.

"What would the boys at the precinct say if they knew about your darker side?" she asked with a half smile.

Mark flashed a wide grin her way. "They wouldn't believe it."

She nodded her agreement with him. "You haven't always been a vampire?"

Mark shook his head. "No. Seven months ago I was human."

Rose inhaled, taking in his scent. He smelled familiar to her but she couldn't pinpoint why. "Were you converted against your will?"

Mark met her gaze for a brief moment, then looked back at the road, gripping the steering wheel tight. "A rogue vampire put me on the edge of conversion, hoping to use me against Ian. But I was too far gone and too wounded. I wouldn't have lived if Duncan hadn't converted me."

Rose's eyes widened. No wonder he smelled familiar to her. "Duncan converted you?"

"Not that he doesn't regret it every time he looks at me."

Mark's comment surprised her. "Why do you say that? You appear to be loyal to him and a good person."

"Duncan's got this thing against converting humans."

Rose's heart ached at his words. Duncan didn't want to convert her? Then why did he? She remembered Duncan making a similar comment to her when she first met him, but after all they'd been through, somewhere deep in her heart, she'd hoped he'd changed his mind. Her stomach roiled at the knowledge nothing had changed...but her.

She rubbed her temples, trying to make sense of the jumbled mess her life had become. One thing she knew for certain, Ronan's comments made her more determined than ever to go to Ireland.

Thirty minutes later they turned off a main road onto a dirt road that led deep into the woods. Rose knew they were heading to the North Shore area, somewhere between Highland Park and Lake Forest. She kept her gaze straight ahead, curiosity getting the best of her to see how Duncan's twin lived. They emerged into a cleared field and drove up the gravel driveway until they reached a two-story house. With huge picture windows gracing the second level above the front door, a steep pitched roof and a wide front porch, this house was the perfect place to get away from the city.

Mark parked the car and Rose got out, inhaling the scents all around her. Off in the distance she smelled murky leaves and dirt, heard the rush of water moving at a fast pace. Lake Michigan.

The front door opened and a beautiful woman dressed in a white long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans stepped out. She crouched down and rubbed her black cat's back as it weaved in and out of her legs before she stood and quickly wound her long dark hair up behind her head. Retrieving the set of chopsticks she had clamped between her teeth, she secured her hair with the sticks.

"You must be Rose," she commented with a smile.

Rose nodded and approached the porch, extending her hand. "And you're Jax. It's nice to meet you." She tried to hold her hand steady but the cool spring air brushing across her naked skin made goose bumps form.

Before Jax's hand connected with hers, Rose remembered her bloodstained hands. She jerked her hand back, saying in embarrassment, "Would you mind terribly if I washed up?"

Jax gave her an understanding look. "Sure you can." She then addressed Mark. "Duncan coming soon?"

Mark nodded. "Right behind me. Rose will need to borrow some of your clothes. She's newly converted and projecting clothes at the moment."

Heat suffused Rose's cheeks at Mark's inadvertent reminder she was stark naked.

Jax laughed, throwing her arm around Rose's shoulders. "It's okay, Rose. I kinda went through the same thing the first day of my conversion. Hey, you're shivering. If you concentrate you can regulate your body temperature too," she said while she steered Rose up the porch steps and into her home. "Why don't we go upstairs and I'll find you something to wear. Then you can take a shower."

"Where's Ian?" Mark asked, following them inside and shutting the door.

As Jax led Rose up the stairs, she turned and called down to Mark, "Ian's at his mother's right now. I expect him back soon."

Something about Jax felt very comforting to Rose. She appeared confident and happy with her lot in life. Rose let Jax lead her down a hall and into a bedroom that took up half of the second floor. It too had large picture windows and a deck with a gorgeous wooded view. With its masculine colors of browns and navy blues, the room had a warm, lived-in feel. It had to be Jax and Ian's bedroom.

Letting go of Rose, Jax moved over to her dresser and pulled out a teal-colored T-shirt similar in style to her own. Glancing over her shoulder at Rose, she eyed her up and down, then withdrew a pair of jeans from the drawer. "You look to be close enough to my height though slightly slimmer in the hips. My jeans should fit you well enough." She raised an eyebrow. "Do you need underwear, too?"

Rose bit her lip and nodded, trying hard not to break down in front of this woman.

Grabbing a bra and underwear from another drawer, Jax said, "These are brand new. Ian has a tendency to...er...shred mine so I keep plenty on hand."

Rose took the clothes and responded in a shaky voice, "Thank you for your kindness, Jax."

Jax grasped her chin and raised it until their eyes met. "I don't know what happened to you, but I'll do anything I can for my Anima's twin. If he's asked us to help you, then you mean a lot to him. Duncan is a complicated man, one who doesn't show his emotions." Her lips quirked in amusement. "I knew a woman like that once."

Rose smiled. "Thank you for understanding, Jax."

"Come." Jax led her out of her room and back down the hall. Entering a door on the left, Jax pulled her inside another bedroom decorated in earth tones and deep burgundy.

"You can stay here, use the shower, take a bath...do whatever you need to do to relax." Heading toward the door, Jax grasped the handle and turned back to her. "You may be newly converted, but I sense an unusual depth in you..." She paused and a thoughtful look crossed her face. "I'm here if you need to talk."

Rose stared at the closed door and whispered to the empty room, "I wish to hell I knew what that depth was."

Depositing the clothes on a cushioned chair, Rose started for the bathroom when she saw the telephone sitting on the nightstand next to the bed.

Glancing at the bedroom door, she walked over and picked up the phone. Rose dialed Our Home's number and held the phone to her ear, her hands shaking. While she waited for Helen to answer, she forced herself to take deep, calming breaths. Helen didn't need to hear a bawling Rose on the other end of the phone, but she was determined to find out what Ronan had ordered Helen to do with her father.

"Our Home," Helen answered.

"Helen, it's Rose."

"Rose, dear..." the other woman's voice broke and she sniffled. "I'm so sorry about your dad, but I went ahead and took care of your request."

"My request?" she asked, her voice hitching as her heart clenched in her chest.

"Yes, you mentioned cremation to me a long time ago."

Rose blew out a sharp breath to keep from breaking down altogether. She was relieved that Helen had remembered their discussion about her father's wishes even if it wasn't official. "Thank you, Helen."

"If you're up to it, come by either today or tomorrow to sign all the official paperwork. I've arranged for your father's remains to be sent here so you can pick up the urn."

Rose closed her eyes at the inadvertent pain Helen's words caused. It was all happening so fast. "I'll be there. Thank you for all your kindness, Helen."

"You're welcome. Take care, sweetie, and I'll see you soon."

Rose hung up the phone, took a deep, calming breath, then punched zero for the operator.

"How may I help you?" the lady asked.

"Please connect me to International Aire's reservations line." She waited until a clerk picked up the line.

"International Aire, would you like to book a flight?"

"Yes. Out of O'Hare airport flying to Ireland tomorrow morning."

"Which airport do you want to fly into?"

"Whichever is closest to the western side of Ireland."

"That would be Shannon. Will that be one passenger?" she asked.

"Yes."

"I have one flight going tomorrow at two-thirty in the afternoon. Would you like to book it?"

"Yes, I would. One passenger."