"Really? Or is it just Lorn?"

"Does it matter? Anyone who comes into contact with you will read you as one of ours. It seems the blood exchange is working."

"I was up during the day and withstood some sunlight for a short period of time before it started to burn my skin."

"I heard." Garson glanced around. "I was also told you promised to stay below ground. I'm your guard tonight."

"I needed to get out."

"I get it. We weren't meant to remain cooped up inside small spaces."

"I'd like to test out what I can do now. Is that okay? I'll stay close."

"What're you planning?"

"I don't know yet. Maybe see how fast I can run or how high I can jump. I've never had these abilities before."

"Veso trained you how to fight." He stepped back. "Do you want to spar?"

"Uh...no." The notion of fighting with someone she didn't know all that well didn't appeal to her. Garson had never been mean to her when they'd grown up together but he'd avoided her like everyone else. She wouldn't exactly call him a friend. "But thanks for the offer."

His phone rang and he removed it from his pocket, glanced at the screen, and held his finger to his lips as he answered it. He pressed it to his ear. "What's up?"

Kira heard the response with her keener hearing. "Trouble. Get back here."

"I'm on my way." He hung up. "Go back inside the den and lock in. I'll be back."

"Who was that?"

"Kar." He spun, shoving the phone back inside his pocket. "Move, Kira. Get inside." He took off, running fast.

Kira hesitated, torn over what to do-then took off after him.

It was easy to see Garson's slightly glowing heat signature. He could really move though, and it took effort to keep up since she wasn't used to running far distances in her new body. She just hoped she stayed back far enough that he wouldn't figure out that she'd ignored his order.

She realized he headed toward the lodge and slowed a little in case the wind shifted to reveal her scent, or any noise big enough for him to hear over the ones he made as he rushed to get to Kar. Lorn would be with him.

Her feet hurt a little since she hadn't worn shoes outside, but she'd discovered it was easy to leap over fallen logs and small bushes in her path. Garson sped out of her sight and she stopped for a minute, thinking.

There were homes ahead and she wanted to avoid them, so she circled around, going at the lodge from the side. Lights blazed from the windows on all three floors of the big building. It was easy to scale the hill it sat on. She hid in the shadows at the top, caught her breath and waited.

It didn't take long before shouts sounded from around the back. She crept that way, staying in the thick trees to prevent anyone from easily spotting her.

Lorn, Kar, Garson, her father, and one other VampLycan she couldn't identify from the back stood facing a small group of the clan. Brista seemed to be the group's leader, since she was in front, her mouth moving. Kira couldn't pick up the exact words but they were hissed, the tone angry. She cautiously inched closer.

"Enough!" Lorn bellowed. "I settled this yesterday. Those children aren't to be harmed."

"They're dangerous," Brista argued, her voice louder. "They could bite the other children. The law is the law!"

"Laws change," Lorn snarled. "You heard me tell Perri her young were safe. I'll not be made a liar."

"You're just assuming feeding them blood from strong ones will work." Brista threw out her arms. "Who told you that? Other clans? They're liars who would love for us to lose children. That's why they gave you bad information. You're being a fool! You'll get our youngest murdered."

The unknown VampLycan turned enough for Kira to identify Bran. Veso's father hadn't liked her much but he'd been cordial the few times they'd had contact. "I don't believe that's true. No one wishes for harm to come to children."

"If you weren't a woman, I'd deck you, Brista." Lorn stepped closer. "You stay the hell away from those kids. Do you understand me? Anything happens to them and I'm holding you responsible, since it seems you've used fear to get these parents to come with you tonight." He glared at the small group gathered. "Your small ones aren't in danger."

Dobis cleared his throat. "My baby is barely two years old. What if Perri's daughter decides to go after mine because she's too weak to defend herself? We live close to their home."

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Kar said. "Is that what you think of Elsa? She's too sweet for her own good. She won't lure your child out of her bed to bleed her dry. Shame on you! That girl puked her guts up going hunting with the women last summer and cried over their kills. She's babysat your daughter, hasn't she? She'd never murder a child, and especially one she's cared for."

Dobis stepped up next to Brista. "But the blood tells, and Perri's children are tainted. It's only a matter of time before Elsa hunts, and it won't be my child she attacks! That's why they must be staked and destroyed. It's for the good of the clan!"

"Yeah," Zober agreed. "Elsa has babysat most of our young when Brista was at meetings. They trust Elsa, and would think nothing of going to her. I'm not willing to risk my young over lies you've been told by other clans."

"Everyone calm down," Garson demanded.

"You don't have children. Stay out of this," Brista spat. "It's my duty to defend all the young and assure their safety. I demand we stake and destroy Perri's young before they go after other children!"

Memories surfaced of Brista treating Kira like crap. Now the bitch was trying to get VampLycan kids killed. Elsa was a soft-spoken girl who hadn't been mean to anyone that Kira knew of, yet Brista still wanted to kill her. It infuriated Kira, and she clenched her teeth.

"You have no proof of blood donations working," Dobis stated. "But we know what happens if we allow those abominations to gain strength and the hunger sets in. They're tainted with the bloodlust. Elsa was a good child but now she's vile. I won't allow children to die because you're listening to clans who hate us."

"I'll personally see that it's handled. It's my job. Otherwise I'll have every parent opposing you, Lorn. I won't sleep until those children are destroyed and my babies are safe!"

Lorn snarled, his claws coming out. "Don't threaten me, Brista."

That was it. Kira had heard enough. She pushed away from the tree she hid behind and raced toward the group. "Hey, bitch! I mean, Brista. You want proof? Here it is. You touch Elsa and I have no problem doing more than decking you. I'll stake your ass out in the sun all day and rip off your head!"

All eyes turned her way. Kira glared at Brista though, refusing to look at Lorn. He'd be pissed but she was too mad to care. Brista was a bully, and she'd be damned if she allowed her to use her position as the clan caregiver to the youths to kill some of them.

"Kira..."

She still refused to glance at Lorn. He sounded pissed. She marched forward and walked between Garson and Bran. She put her back to Lorn, glaring up at Brista.

"Inhale, bitch. What do you smell?" Kira hoped Garson hadn't been lying about how she scented.

Shock widened Brista's eyes.

Kira lifted her hands and shoved Brista hard. It sent the other woman stumbling backward. She would have fallen except she hit the VampLycans gathered behind her and they stopped her from landing on her ass.

"That was a love tap. I'm a hell of a lot stronger than when you used to torment me as a child." She met Dobis's stunned gaze. "My death was greatly exaggerated. I was attacked, turned into a Vampire, but I've been drinking blood from Lorn. I'm eating food, spent a little time in the sun today, and I so don't want to suck your blood. You wanted proof? Here I am. It strengthened my Lycan side to drink from Lorn, and guess what I am now? VampLycan. So take your little lynch mob and go home."

Dobis sniffed, paled a little, and backed up.

"Kira, come here," Lorn demanded in a gruff voice.

"I'll be right there. Please allow me one more minute?" It would be bad to oppose him by flat-out refusing to do his bidding in front of the clan, so she hoped that response wouldn't raise eyebrows.

Lorn nodded once, and Kira fixed her attention on Brista. "Our new clan leader doesn't want to hit women, but I have no qualms about beating your ass. Veso trained me well. I'm still learning how to shift but I'll do it in skin, minus claws. You claim you're always looking out for the clan kids but we both know that's a lie. Why don't you tell them how badly you treat kids you view as weak VampLycans?"

Kira glanced at the faces of the parents. "You all have young ones. What if they show Vampire traits when they go through puberty, or if Brista considers them weaker than she thinks they should be? Would you like me to tell you how shitty I was treated? She'll allow other kids to attack them-just like she let them attack me."

"Because you're weak!" Brista growled.

"Not anymore. A clan caregiver is supposed to be kind and encouraging to kids. Did you ever try to help me enhance any traits I might have been born with? That would be hell no. You let the other kids torment and beat me. You flat-out encouraged them to be cruel. You're a fucking bully and you get off on targeting weaker kids it's your duty to protect! Like Elsa. Have you even gone to see her? Talked to her? I doubt it. You're just looking for an excuse to kill. You're pathetic and make me sick."

She looked at every parent in the group. "Your kids could be next. Think about that. They aren't grown yet. They could inherit traits and be deemed not worthy of living once they hit puberty. Are you actually going to back the bitch who's itching to kill them? Or the honorable man who's trying to do whatever he can to keep them alive? Drinking Lorn's blood has saved me. What if Elsa was your daughter? Think long and hard about that, folks. Do you want your kid murdered-or at least given a chance to change, the way I have? I was almost full Vampire. Not any longer."

Slowly, most of the parents moved away from the caregiver. Only two remained near her.

Brista turned her head to glower at the ones who'd distanced themselves. "Cowards. You know must what be done!"

"You need your ass kicked," Kira stated. "You're a bloodthirsty bitch with a hard-on for helpless kids. It's sad that Decker put you in charge of the youths, but then again, he was a total bloodthirsty bastard."

Brista snarled, whipped her head in Kira's direction, and lunged.

She dodged when Brista unleashed her claws and tried to take a swipe at her face.

Kira grabbed the front of her shirt with one hand and caught Brista by her wrist. Rage and years of resentment from her childhood rose. She squeezed and felt bone snap in her grasp, and Brista screamed from the pain. Kira threw her as if she weighed nothing. Brista hit the ground on her back and got up quickly, cradling her arm.

"I'm going to kill you! I wanted to when you were a child. You were weak and a disgrace. Decker is an amazing leader! His only mistake was allowing you to live. You were a blight on this clan!" Brista spit on the ground. "Your father is disgusting for mating a human and breeding."

Davis snarled. Kira ignored her dad. "Stay back. This bitch is mine." It was directed at Lorn too. She only hoped he would listen. "It's my right to fight. I'm a VampLycan and she just threatened my life. You dare insult my mother, Brista? She was ten times the woman you could ever be."

Kira's fingers tingled and she glanced down, watching as something grew out of the nail beds. It hurt a little but the shock of seeing them actually kept her from wincing. They looked sharp, extended about an inch, and they were beautiful.

Oh my God. I have claws! I grew claws!!

Brista snarled and stepped closer. Kira got over her surprise. She'd been bluffing earlier about being able to shift at all, never really expecting to gain that ability.

Instead of making fists, she kept her hands open and avoided Brista's one good arm when she tried to make another swipe at her face and eyes. Kira drove her fingers straight into Brista's side, her new claws tearing through the material and into skin.

Brista screamed again. Kira threw her to the ground again and jumped back.

Brista rolled into a ball, grabbing at her bleeding ribs, loud sobs coming from her. Kira lunged, wanted to keep tearing into her, but someone grabbed her around the waist and lifted her right off her feet.

"Enough," Lorn rasped.

She didn't fight his hold as he retreated a few steps. Instead, she looked at her hands. The claws remained, a piece of Brista's shirt caught on one of them, the tips red with blood. The smell of it had her fangs extending, and the urge to lick her fingers surfaced.

She fought it down since everyone seemed to be watching her. It would blow the whole big "not a Vampire anymore" proclamation she'd just made.

"Get Brista the hell out of here," Lorn demanded of Dobis. "No one dies tonight-or tomorrow. You go near Perri's children and it will be punishable by death. Do you understand me? This is not a democracy. If you'd like to challenge me for leadership, do it now." He eased Kira down to her feet and gave her a light push toward Davis.

Kira watched as Lorn extended his claws and hair grew on his face, arms, and the backs of his hands. He looked terrifying and pissed. Her gaze flew to the men and women who'd come with Brista. Gazes dropped and they lowered their heads. No one stepped forward.

"That's what I thought. Don't ever assemble again, believing you can threaten me to force an issue. Next time I'll just kill you. You want to discuss something? Make an appointment and we'll sit down calmly to talk. That's far more than Decker ever offered. Now go home-and Brista?"

The woman on the ground quieted but refused to look at Lorn.

"Count yourself lucky to be alive. Ever try this again and I won't pull Kira away. I'll allow her to finish you off. She's going to be my mate-and she hates your ass. I only stopped her because you have friends and a few of the children actually like you. Don't press your fucking luck. If I even suspect you're thinking about harming any child, I'll take you out myself. Get the fuck out of here and go home."

No one said a word. Dobis pulled Brista to her feet and helped her walk away. She leaned heavily on him. The other families went with them.

Kira braved peeking at Lorn. He still appeared furious but some of the hair had receded and his claws retracted. Shit. He's going to be pissed at me. She swallowed hard.

Lorn took deep breaths to get his temper under control and faced Bran. "I'm sorry about that. What did you come to speak to me about?"

"You're mating Kira?"

"I am." Lorn half expected a fight. The elder VampLycan might have a serious problem with that, and challenge him.

Bran turned his head, studying Kira. Lorn watched his expression, trying to gauge how the elder felt on the matter. He didn't see disdain or anger. Bran finally sighed and crossed his arms, meeting his gaze. "My son respected her courage. I see why now. You fed her blood and it did this?"

"Yes."

Bran addressed Kira. "Did you see my son the night he died?"

Lorn relaxed. He wanted to protect Kira, but figured Bran had the right to ask. He didn't interfere. Kira looked okay and not upset by the question. Only sadness showed on her face.

"No. I'm sorry. I had caught some human poachers and had them pack up their camp. I escorted them off our land and then returned to wipe away all traces they were there. I expected Veso to show. He usually checked on me a few times during my shifts. Two Vampires came instead, who said there were more, and they had Veso."

"Did you try to help him?"

"I would have if I'd been given the chance." Kira stepped closer to the big VampLycan.

Lorn moved too, prepared to defend her if Bran attacked.

"I liked your son," Kira admitted. "He was a great instructor. Hard but fair. I shot one of the Vampires in the face and the other in the chest. I ran, knowing they would be hot on my ass. I didn't see Veso. I had hoped they were full of shit about attacking him, and that he'd show up to save me. He didn't."

"They caught you?"

"One did. He was bleeding me to death, so I bit him back. It was either lie there and allow him to do whatever he wanted to me, or survive any way I could."

Bran reached out and grasped her shoulder. "That was brave."

"It was desperation. I'm so sorry about Veso."

"Me too." Bran released her. "So you were full Vampire?"

"Yes. Now I can grow claws."

"And you actually withstood the sun?"

"I went out in it today. I even ate food before I came here. It didn't make me puke."

Bran stared at Lorn. "I give you my loyalty. I know you won't trust me yet but I'm aware my son hated Decker, and only pretended to go along with him. He wished for someone in your family to lead this clan, and he fed information to Lavos that he picked up working with the enforcers. I didn't oppose his actions. I've never wanted war." He glanced at Lavos, then back at Lorn. "I offer you my services as an enforcer if you need one. My son would have made the same offer. He's not here to do it, but I am."