Tears welled in her eyes and a lost expression filtered across her features. "My poor mother. Why didn't she warn me?"

Duncan wiped away a tear as it fell down her cheek. His heart lurched for the way Rose had to discover her true heritage, for all that she'd lost in such a short time. "From what my mother said, I can only assume your mother was following her oath to The Morrigan. It was just a fluke you happened to run into James."

She shuddered at his comment. "To think James was one of my mother's Guardians."

"Your mother knew him as Seamus Flannery," Duncan said before he told her the story about the Atruans changing their names when they came to the States.

"James, Seamus. It doesn't really matter what he called himself." Her voice turned hard and her shoulders tensed. "And Ronan...the bastard tried to kidnap her. I should've killed him while I had the chance."

Duncan almost told her the truth about Ronan, the one Ian just conveyed about Ronan's innocence, but he didn't. He didn't buy into it. No matter the past, in his mind, Ronan was just as dangerous as James. Ronan might be a condemned man for a crime he didn't commit, but he'd seemed just as deadly as James. If Rose kept Ronan clearly in the "bad guy" category in her head, she'd be very wary of the vampire whose supposed job it was to protect her at all costs.

"Maybe we'll get lucky and he and James will kill each other," Duncan snorted.

Surprise reflected in Rose's gaze. "James hasn't been eliminated?"

He shook his head. "He mortally wounded the Sythen leader and is running around free at the moment-hunting for you, I'm certain."

"If he was the Guardian who didn't rebel all those years ago, why would he be hunting for me now? It just doesn't make sense."

"You're a desirable woman. Need I say more?" he gave her a neutral answer.

Rose glanced at the clock on the nightstand as she shook her head. He heard her heart rate stutter, then rapidly speed up before she threw her pillow at him.

"Ohmigod, I can't believe I slept 'til noon. I've got to go!" She jumped off the bed, landing on her feet.

Duncan caught the pillow and watched her gather her clothes, her movements rushed. "You can't go anywhere. You need to stay here so we can protect you."

Rose walked into the bathroom, calling over her shoulder, "No can do. I've got to make a flight in a couple hours."

Duncan followed her into the bathroom. His chest tightened at the thought she planned to leave. "Where are you going?" he asked in a casual tone as she turned on the shower.

Rose stepped under the spray and pulled the sliding glass door shut, calling out over the water pounding against the tile floor, "I'm going to Ireland to find out all I can about my mother's past."

Duncan's stomach clenched and he tried to remain calm as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorjamb. "I've told you everything you need to know. There's no reason for you to leave now."

"Open my purse and pull out the paperwork. There's a letter written in Irish from my mother. I believe it will confirm what you've told me. All I know for certain is that I need to call a woman named Siobhan and arrange a meeting with the Saoi."

Duncan walked back into their room, opened her purse and scanned the paperwork she asked him to read over.

He returned the paperwork where he found it and walked back to the bathroom doorway.

"You're correct. Your mother's letter pretty much sums up what I've told you."

"That's what I thought."

There was no way she was going anywhere without him. While his gaze traveled her gorgeous body through the frosted glass, his cock hardened instantly at the idea of taking her against the wall in the shower. He stepped forward and slid the glass door back.

Rose had suds in her hair. Her eyes were closed against the water as she spoke. "After hearing what you've told me, I'm even more determined to go now. I've got to find out how to defeat a cursed Guardian. Hopefully, I'll learn even more about my Atruan heritage while I'm there."

Good point on learning everything they could about eliminating Ronan, he thought. He wasn't sure how Ronan managed traveling from Ireland to the US without being exposed to some daylight, but he'd seen the Atruan's willpower firsthand. The vamp's extreme actions put him in a category all by himself-of the unstable variety.

With two maniacs on her trail, leaving the country for a while might be the best thing for Rose. Their absence would give Ian, Jax and Mark more time to find the rogue vamps.

Duncan stepped into the shower, desire flowing through him as his body craved closer contact with Rose. Grasping her waist, he pulled her against his chest. "Then we'll go together, a thaisce."

Rose gasped when his hard body pressed against hers. Soapsuds caked her hair as she clasped his shoulders and stared into his eyes.

Her lips set in a determined line. "I'm doing this on my own, Duncan."

He threaded his fingers in her hair and tilted her head back until the water ran through it. Running his fingers through her long strands to loosen all the suds, he replied in a determined tone, "This isn't up for debate. As your mate, I go where you go. Always."

Rose stood near the airline's ticket counter, waiting for Duncan. Her gaze landed on his perfect ass encased in a pair of faded jeans. She scanned the fine-gauge burgundy sweater that stretched across his broad back before letting her gaze move to his light brown locks and overnight beard. Her heart rate kicked up at the shadow on his jaw. If she didn't know better, she'd think he purposefully left it like that just to entice her more. Infuriating man.

Rose sighed. She really didn't like the idea of Duncan going to Ireland with her, but the stubborn man refused to take no for an answer. Plus, as he pointed out, "In your quest, you might run across other documents in Irish and need my translation expertise."

The idea he was worming his way into her life, making her need him more than she'd ever needed anyone made her stomach tense. And rumble a bit, too, she thought, walking farther away so Duncan wouldn't hear the telltale gurgling sound. He didn't need any more fuel for the "we will mate" fire.

Looking away, she gripped the handle on her travel suitcase and let her gaze scan the airport. At this hour, the terminal buzzed with activity. The smell of fresh roasted coffee at a nearby coffee stand wafted her way and she smiled. For a brief second, she considered getting a cup of the rich brew, but the thought of drinking it, the way it would taste to her now with her belly completely empty, made her stomach churn.

Rose jumped when Duncan's arm came around her waist from behind. He pulled her back against his hard chest and the faint smell of his cologne surrounded her. Trailing his lips down her neck, he whispered in her ear, his voice a velvet purr, "You and me and a few days on a beautiful island. Alone. Sounds perfect."

A shiver coursed through her at his seductive tone. Rose closed her eyes and clamped her lips shut when she felt her incisors begin to lengthen. Clenching her jaw, she worked hard to regain control, to not be drawn in by Duncan's charisma. She would not take his blood.

When her fangs shortened back to their normal size, she pulled out of his grip and stared up at him. "This is a business trip, Duncan. Nothing more."

Duncan's gaze narrowed at her comment. His jaw ticced and his shoulders tensed.

"Rose..." he began when the PA system announced their flight was beginning to board.

Rose let out a breath of relief at the interruption. Excitement coursed through her as she turned and walked through the gate and down the gangway toward the plane. She was doing it...going to Ireland. She had so much more at stake with this trip. Even now, everything Duncan had told her still whirled in her mind.

She wondered how Duncan was taking the fact he wasn't half human like he'd thought he was. She realized he'd had a few surprises of his own these past couple of days. She glanced down at him as she reached the top step to enter the plane. He winked at her.

He's doing just fine, she thought with a smirk as she stepped into the plane.

Duncan's seat was closest to the window and Rose's was beside him. How the hell did he accomplish the feat of sitting next to me? she wondered as Duncan took her suitcase and stowed it away in the compartment above their heads before doing the same with his.

Duncan flashed her a sexy smile as if he'd read her thoughts. Rose narrowed her gaze, then waited for him to seat himself before she could sit down. Ever since she discovered she could read Duncan's thoughts, she'd purposefully stayed out of his mind. She didn't need the extra sexual stimulation of knowing his determination to mate with her or the motivation behind it. It hurt enough to know he'd never planned to convert her, let alone mate with her. She didn't want to discover any more surprises. Her mind was already on overload.

As people continued to file onto the plane, Duncan leaned close. "This trip is what we make of it. It's a long flight, a ghra. I love a captive audience. I'll get to whisper all kinds of suggestive comments in your ear."

Rose groaned inwardly, her heart hammering at his comment. She dug her nails in her palms, hoping she'd find an Irishman willing to donate a pint, of the bloody kind, on her way to the bathroom in one of the pubs...which would be their first stop in Ireland if Duncan kept this up.

Just then, Nigel's face popped up from the seat in front of them. "Hiya, Rosie. Surprise!"

"Uncle Nigel!" Rose said. She was so relieved at the distraction her uncle provided there was no way she could be mad at him for ignoring her request to go alone on this trip. "What are you doing here?"

Nigel's gaze darted from her face to Duncan's suddenly stoic one. "Well, I know you said you wanted to go alone, but I just couldn't let my little girl go by herself. Like I said, I've always wanted to go to Ireland. So here I am." When he finished speaking, he put out his hand to Duncan. "It's good to see you again, Stryker. Small world, eh?"

Duncan took his hand, his Irish accent heavier than she'd ever heard it. "It's Duncan Mordoor, Nigel, and I'm here with your niece."

Her uncle's raised eyebrow and Duncan's disgruntled expression and gruff tone caused an amused smile to spread across Rose's face. She could tell Duncan sure as hell didn't expect a chaperone on this trip. "Duncan's a friend of mine, Nigel. His mother is from Ireland."

Why didn't you tell me your uncle was Nigel Sinclair? Duncan asked.

You never asked.

Nigel ran his hand through his brown hair and said with a laugh, "Well, it looks like you'll have two escorts, my dear."

Fully amused by the wrench Nigel seemed to be putting in Duncan's plans of seduction, Rose glanced at her uncle's hair. "I see you've gone back to your natural color, Unc."

Nigel grinned, ran his hand through his hair once more and winked at her. "Yeah, I figured blending in would be best on this trip."

Another passenger tapped Nigel on the shoulder so she could get to her seat next to the window. Nigel waved to them. "Gotta sit down for now. I'll pop back up later."

"Great," Duncan muttered.

This time Rose didn't hold back her laughter.

When a blonde woman said, "Excuse me," Rose quickly sobered and met her gaze. "Yes?"

"Do you mind if my oldest son sits next to you? I'll be across the aisle with my younger two."

Rose smiled at the dark-haired little boy staring at her with wide inquisitive blue eyes. He appeared to be around seven or eight.

"Not at all," she replied at the same time she heard Duncan's low groan in the background. Ignoring the annoyed vamp, she asked the little boy his name as he pulled off his backpack and seated himself beside her.

"I'm Todd," he said in a voice that sounded mature beyond his years.

"I'm Rose." Looking back at Duncan, she said, "And this is Duncan."

Duncan just nodded, then turned to stare out the window.

Todd buckled himself in and said in an excited voice, "This is my first time going to Ireland. I can't wait to visit my cousins."

"What are their names?" Rose asked.

He nodded, lifting his backpack to pull out a mini-photo album. Pointing to two boys with light brown hair and mischievous grins, he said, "These are my cousins, Sean and Danny. They're a year older than me. I'm going to visit them in Sligo then travel around with my mom sightseeing for a few days."

Todd's mother leaned over and smiled. "He'll talk your ears off if you let him."

Rose laughed, enjoying the boy's enthusiasm. "He's fine."

Duncan couldn't believe his rotten luck. Not only would Rose's uncle make it difficult to seduce her into mating with him, but having a kid sitting next to them put a damper on his plans to entice her with sexy talk the entire trip. He consoled himself this was the first connection. He and Rose had a much longer flight on the second leg of the trip to Ireland.

Nigel turned around, speaking to Duncan through the crack in the seats. "The good news is I was able to get a seat beside Rose on the next flight so I guess we'll all be together then."

"That's great." Duncan forced a smile. Just great. He glanced at Rose as her uncle turned back around. She hadn't heard Nigel, she'd been so busy talking to Todd.

Duncan's annoyance faded, turning to appreciation as he watched Rose with the little boy. She was patient and encouraging when he showed her pictures he'd drawn for his cousins. She'd make a good mother. The thought made him smile. He'd never thought about having children. Had never pondered what it would be like to hold a miniature version of himself in his arms, to train his child in his powers. His chest swelled at the idea and Duncan couldn't hold back the smile that spread across his face. Their child.

The wheels began to move as the plane taxied down the runway. He watched Rose pull a piece of gum out of her purse and wondered if she were chewing it to keep her ears from popping. He almost told her she didn't need it anymore now that she was fully converted, but stayed quiet. Maybe keeping a routine was good for the soul.

"Can Todd have a piece of gum?" Rose asked the boy's mother. When the woman nodded, Rose handed a piece to Todd.

Once the plane was airborne, Rose blew a bubble.

"Will you show me how to do that?" Todd asked in awe.

"Sure. First you have to chew your gum really good, then start to flatten the gum with your tongue like this. Then, you push your tongue through the gum and blow, like this." A bubble formed, then popped.

Todd grinned. His expression changed to one of concentration as he chewed. His brow furrowed while he tried to mimic what she'd shown him. Rose turned to face Todd to show him again how to blow a bubble, this time in slow motion.

As he listened to them discuss bubble-blowing techniques, Duncan's gaze traveled to Rose's gorgeous hair. She'd worn it down. He wanted to touch it, to run his fingers through the long red locks and inhale her sweet scent.

"I think I got it," Todd said in a determined voice.

Duncan heard a pffthunk and then Todd's worried voice. "Uh-oh."

"Um, maybe don't use so much force when you try to blow." Rose's tone sounded calm as she slowly turned to face Duncan. She held a hank of her hair out toward him, while a plea for help reflected on her face.

Duncan chuckled at the wad of gum that was now embedded in her long strands.

He raised an eyebrow. "Bubble-blowing lessons are over, I take it?"

She gave him wry grin. "He's just excited to learn." Her look turned hopeful as she spoke in his mind. Got any vampire tricks up your sleeve to help me out?

Duncan stared at her sparkling aqua eyes. The woman took his breath away. He lifted the lock of hair with the bubble gum in it and noted Todd's curious stare.

You need to go to the bathroom, he compelled the boy.

Todd unbuckled his seat belt and said to his mom, "I gotta go," before he headed to the back of the plane.

Once the child left, Duncan leaned over and blew a breath of cool air on the gum.

Rose watched him with a look of surprise on her face as he blew once more, chilling the gum to a hard lump. When he peeled the gum off her hair and dropped it in the scrap of paper she held out, Rose started to thank him, but he took advantage of their close proximity and the boy's absence.

His lips covered hers in a slow, seductive kiss.

Satisfaction rippled through him to hear her heart rate gallop to attention. Rose put her hand on his jaw as her tongue brushed against his, a featherlight caress.

Duncan swiped his tongue inside her mouth once more, taking her gum.

She sat back in her seat with an intrigued look on her face. "Thank you, Duncan."