Then he met her gaze once more. "Did he suffer? Please tell me he went peacefully."

Rage welled within Rose once more, so sharp and hard her chest felt as if would burst with the need to tell her uncle the truth. But she couldn't. As silent tears fell down her cheeks, she kept her face as composed as possible. "He didn't appear to have suffered. He died in his sleep."

Nigel nodded. "I'm so sorry, honey. Even though George and I were never really very close, I'll miss him, too." He squeezed her hands. "But at least he's no longer sad all the time. He's with Anna...where he always wanted to be."

With supreme effort, Rose tamped down the wave of fury that swept through her and nodded her agreement that her father was in a better place. Her chest constricted that she'd had to lie to her uncle about the circumstances of her father's death. Ronan would pay.

"I've taken care of the arrangements and when I get back from Ireland I'll fulfill Dad's wishes with his cremated remains. There won't be an official funeral."

"Would you like me to be there with you?"

She shook her head. "Dad asked me to do this alone. He knows your strong beliefs against cremation."

Nigel nodded his understanding, then his brow creased in concern. "I don't know if you should travel so far away by yourself so soon after losing George."

"Now more than ever it's very important to me to learn what I can about my heritage," she said in an adamant tone.

"Then I'm going with you."

Rose tensed. Even though Nigel, with his bisexual background, was accepting of people from all walks of life, and he'd even dabbled in some clairvoyant and other paranormal groups in his past, she wasn't prepared to tell her uncle about her vampire heritage. Not yet.

She shook her head. "I've already booked my flight to Shannon for tomorrow morning. You and I both know you can't just leave the casino at the last minute."

Nigel stood and paced, thinking out loud. "I could have Sam watch over the place. He knows it like the back of his hand."

"Nigel."

"Yeah, that would work. Then Michelle and her mom could help fill in if the need arose."

She could almost see the wheels turning in her uncle's mind. "Nigel."

This time he stopped pacing and met her gaze.

"I know you only have my best interests at heart, but I'm fine to do this on my own. As a matter of fact, I'm looking forward to it." Her voice dropped and she finished in a whisper, "I need the time away."

Her uncle frowned. "I don't like it, Rose. I'm your only parent now. I worry."

Rose stood and hugged him tight around the neck. "You're the best! I promise I'll call you from Ireland."

Nigel wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a bear hug and a kiss on the cheek. "You'd better check in often."

She managed a smile. "I promise."

Glancing at the clock on his desk, Rose pulled away. She didn't realize how much time had passed. It was already one in the afternoon. More than likely Jax and Mark had discovered she'd taken off in his truck by now. Which meant Duncan would soon know. She knew the stubborn vamp would come after her...probably pissed.

Let him come.

She kissed her uncle on the cheek and turned to open his office door. "I've got to go. I still have to get a few things for the trip."

"Don't forget to keep in touch," Nigel called after her as Rose left his office and headed for the casino's entrance.

Rose thought about going home, but she decided against it. That'd be the first place Duncan would look for her. Instead, she headed to the mall to buy a few sets of clothes to mix and match while she was in Ireland. She didn't plan on making a fashion statement and her credit card would thank her for her frugality.

An hour later, Rose packed her purchases into an inexpensive roll-on bag she'd picked up at a baggage store. She stowed the suitcase on the floorboard of Mark's truck, then started the engine.

She had one more errand to run and she damned well planned to make it there before she headed back to Ian's house. She wasn't a fool. Ian, Jax, Duncan and Mark could provide the best protection against Ronan until she learned to use her own powers-whatever the hell those powers were.

Rose couldn't help the sense of sadness that gripped her as she approached Saint John's memorial cemetery. After she parked Mark's vehicle, she locked the door and headed up the long center sidewalk toward the cemetery gates.

Her grip on the flowers she'd purchased tightened and her heart felt as if a heavy weight had been placed over her chest as she wound her way through the plots. When she reached her mother's gravesite, Rose's heart constricted even tighter at the sight of the tiny white flowers that grew on her mother's grave. She'd thrown the seeds there every year, hoping they'd take root The cemetery people forbade wildflowers, only allowing cut flowers to be placed on the graves.

Laying the bouquet of white roses against her mother's tombstone, Rose let the tears fall as she squatted and traced the etched inscription in the cool marble with her fingers.

Here lies the woman of my dreams, a wonderful mother to her child and my life partner.

She will always be missed.

Anna Brennan Sinclair

Rose frowned when she realized the only date on the tombstone was the date of her mother's death and not the date of her mother's birth. Why hadn't she noticed that before?

"You were born on August 12th, 1937, right?" she said aloud, then sighed. "I guess that's one thing I won't know for sure about you."

"To protect you."

Rose jerked her gaze to Duncan who stood behind her, staring at her mother's gravestone with an inscrutable look on his face.

"You shouldn't have gone off on your own." His expression turned stony when he met her gaze.

Rose glanced at her mother's grave once more and spoke in a low tone, finishing her conversation with her mother, "Now Dad is with you."

"I thought your father was still alive," Duncan said in a puzzled tone.

Fresh tears fell and she abruptly swiped them away. "My father...di-" Her voice broke over the words, but she finished as she glanced back at Duncan, "died this morning."

A shocked expression crossed his face and he swiftly pulled her to her feet. "I'm so sorry, Rose. I didn't know."

"You were too busy accusing me of letting another vampire convert me," she sniffed, then sighed. "I'm too upset to fight you right now. I'll kick your ass when I'm feeling more like my old self."

Duncan lifted her in his arms and buried his nose against her neck. "I have so much to apologize for, but for now we need to get you back to Ian's where you'll be protected. You're vulnerable out here in the open."

Rose handed him Mark's car keys as well as her own then snuggled closer to his warmth, feeling safe despite her anger at his stubborn pride. "I'm done with my errands for now anyway."

Duncan glanced at Rose's mother's grave one last time. His gut clenched as he read the name. Her maiden name was Anna Brennan. His mother was right. Rose was indeed a descendant of an Atruan priestess.

And he'd been the vampire who'd converted her to a Ruean...or at least part Ruean.

He felt sick to his stomach with guilt.

Rose tucked her head under his chin. The sign of ultimate trust on her part made his heart ache. He kissed the top of her head and headed for Mark's truck. Nodding to Jax and Mark across the parking lot, he threw Jax his keys and mentally told her to follow him. He glanced at Mark and threw Rose's keys to him.

Retrieve Rose's car from the retirement home and meet us back at Ian's.

While Duncan drove Mark's truck back to Ian's house, he noted the suitcase under Rose's legs. Why the suitcase? he wondered. He glanced her way several times. Swift, biting possessiveness, unlike anything he'd ever experienced in his life, swept through him each time his gaze landed on her face. She's mine. Made by me.

Despite his guilt, he couldn't help the pride that filled his heart. All mine. The need to protect Rose, to complete their mating at all costs was the only thing that mattered to him right now.

That and the hope she'd forgive him enough to trust her heart to him.

Rose glanced at him and for a second he tensed, wondering if she'd read his determined thoughts. The tired look on her face told him she hadn't bothered. He didn't know if he should be relieved or worried. He tried to step inside her mind, to discover her feelings, but Rose's narrowed gaze warned him to keep his distance.

Duncan gave her a sheepish look and returned his attention to the road.

When they arrived at Ian's home, Duncan insisted on carrying Rose inside. It worried him she didn't try to fight him, but instead laid her head on his shoulder. Rose had been through so much in such a short time. He couldn't begin to understand how she was feeling deep inside. As he carried her past Jax and Mark who stood in the hall, Duncan spoke to Jax mentally, Tell Ian I'll be down later.

She nodded her understanding as she watched him walk upstairs.

Duncan laid Rose on their bed and pulled off her shoes. Once he'd kicked off his own, he crawled in beside her and pulled her body close to his, spoon-style as he whispered in her ear, "I know you're tired so I'll save the major talking until tomorrow, but I do want to apologize for doubting you."

His grip tightened around her waist. "Things worked beyond my understanding." He paused and took a breath. "One of the reasons I was so angry was because I thought someone had taken away what I had come to think of as my 'right'."

"Your right?" She turned in his arms to lie on her back and look up at him.

Duncan slid his hand across her breast and down her belly, letting his gaze follow its path. "You and I have a connection, a spark whenever we touch." That goes beyond our being vampires, he thought with conviction. "If any man converted you, I wanted to be that man."

Her serious gaze locked with his. "You didn't want to convert me."

He clenched his jaw that she seemed to want to hold on to that thought, regardless what he said. "You know damn well why I didn't want to convert you, Roisin."

"If I'd been special, meant something to you, it shouldn't have mattered."

Duncan gripped her waist. "Don't you see? I didn't want you to experience life the way I did, never really belonging to either race."

Rose put her hand on his face, her eyes full of tears. "I know my conversion was an accident on your part, a fluke. I'm coming to terms with it. We can't change what has happened. You've apologized for acting like an ass about it. Let's not bring it up again."

Duncan traced his finger down her jaw. "I'll give you fair warning now. I'll do everything in my power to mate with you."

"I'm not taking your blood," she said in an adamant tone. Then she placed her hand on his neck and pulled his head close to hers as she finished in a seductive tone, "But I'll take anything else you're willing to offer. Doing something that makes me feel alive is exactly what I need at the moment."

His lips brushed hers. "You'll have to eat eventually, a ghra."

Rose wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her tongue along his lower lip. You're such a stubborn man. I'm only hungry for one thing right now.

She bathed his neck with her warm breath as she finished, "And that's sexual gratification. Take off your clothes."

Duncan's cock ached to be deep inside her. They'd work out the rest later, but like Rose, he needed their connection, needed to remind her why he was the only man she'd revealed her emotions to while they'd had sex. He sat up and shrugged out of his shirt, then helped Rose out of her clothes before he removed his pants and boxers.

Lying back down beside Rose, he quickly pulled her underneath him at the same time he slid his thigh between her legs, nudging his erection against her sex.

Rose didn't object. Instead, her gorgeous eyes glittered with desire. She placed her hands on his shoulders and arched her back. "I want to feel you deep inside me. Now."

Duncan entered her in one powerful thrust. Rose cried out, then moaned, griping his shoulders.

When he realized this was the first time he'd entered a woman's body without protection between them, Duncan groaned at the ultimate feeling of closeness. Damn, she felt so hot and wet and so fucking good. No more condoms. Ever! He withdrew and slammed into her once more, gritting his teeth at the sensations rocking through his groin. He was on fire.

Rose keened and dug her fingers in her shoulders. "God, you feel so good," she panted, rolling her hips underneath him.

Duncan fought hard to keep from losing it. The woman rocked his world on many levels. He'd caught a glimpse of her fangs as she spoke and the sight revved his libido to full throttle. He felt every single thump of his heart beating inside his head, experienced every pulse right down to his cock. He held back his release and forced himself to remain elevated above her on his elbows. He refused to get too close to her neck. The way he felt right now, he might lose his tightly held control and take her blood without her consent.

Rocking her hips against him, Rose cupped her hand behind his neck and tried to pull him closer.

Duncan held his position, gritting out, "No."

Her strength surprised him when she yanked his mouth close to her neck. "Bite me, Duncan. I want to feel the pain and the pleasure. I need to feel alive...to experience you taking me. Again."

Her desire fueled his own. Duncan's nostrils flared as he inhaled, catching her intoxicating scent. She was going to kill him. His heart felt as if it were going to burst from his chest if he didn't sink his teeth into her sweet flesh. But as ruthless as he was in his desire to mate, her well-being would always come first.

He stopped thrusting and remained deep inside her as he gritted out, "If I take your blood, your hunger and the need to take mine will overwhelm you."

"I'm stronger than you give me credit for. Now, bite me, damn it. I want you."

Duncan saw the brief flash of her fangs once more. That erotic sight caused a jolt of sheer sexual adrenaline to shoot through him. He grasped her hair and slowly bent her head back. He laved at her thudding pulse once, twice and a third time before he bit her harder than he ever had.

Rose's gasp followed by her moan of sheer pleasure echoed throughout his body as he moved his hips. Never had he pounded inside another as he did Rose, thrusting in rapid, heart-pounding jerks. The woman made him feel so out of fucking control.

She screamed and raked her nails down his back, taking each of his thrusts with counterthrusts of her own, encouraging his rough joining.

When her body began to shudder around his, Duncan felt a shock run through him as if a bolt of electricity moved from his head to his cock, splintering throughout his body. He groaned at the intensity peaking inside him.

True to her word, Rose didn't bite him, but damn if that strange sensation wasn't the most unique, erotic encounter he'd ever experienced. He exploded inside her, his hips moving quickly at first, then slowing. He relished the fact his fluids bathed her insides and the knowledge he'd just taken their lovemaking to a more intimate level.

When he stilled inside her and withdrew his fangs, Rose ran her fingers down his back, panting, "That was beyond incredible, but why didn't you take my blood?"

Duncan leaned up on his elbows, reluctant to withdraw from her body. He reveled in their connection and wasn't ready to give it up. Not yet.

He frowned down at her when he saw the rosy color in her cheeks. The woman looked absolutely radiant. Why wasn't she clawing at him to take his blood? He sure as hell wanted to feel her fangs sink deep in his neck.

"You've been through a lot. I wasn't going to take advantage of you by taking what little blood you need."

When she nodded her understanding, he continued, his tone turning intense. "But don't think I'm going to give up on our mating. I've never been more determined than I am about this."

Rose traced her finger along his jaw, a devilish smile on her face. "I'm more stubborn than you, but you just keep right on trying, Duncan Mordoor. Nothing makes me dig my heels in more than a challenge."