by Imogene Nix
“Shouldn’t it be Cressida calling the shots, Daniel?” Javed’s dry tones nearly made him laugh.
“Maybe, but she’s exhausted and I don’t want to add to her pressure. I think we also need a debrief. How soon do you think you could round up your troops?”
“Unlike you, Celina and I have kids now. Give us at least an hour to catch up, dress…” A stray thought had Daniel snickering.
Cressida snored a little and rolled toward him. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad thought.
“Hey, lover boy, stop broadcasting!” Xavier’s tone brought him back to earth with a thud.
“Well, I’m still learning how to control this. I’ll see you in an hour.”
They broke off as Cressida opened her eyes. “Everything okay?” She spoke low, her voice still fogged with sleep, as were her eyes.
He brushed a stray lock of golden hair from her face, wondering for the first time how he’d come to find such an amazing woman. “Perfect. Just perfect.”
As he hauled her into his arms, a knock came at the door.
“It’s Samra.” Cressida groaned, pulling on the wrap from the seat beside the bed. “What?”
“There’s a little girl waiting to see you. So if you could, uh, you know, let us in.”
The scrambled from the bed and raced to the closet. “Give us a moment!” They dragged out the first sets of clothes they could find. For her it was formal pants and a camisole. Long boots. She reached for the matching jacket.
“Here, put this over your top.” Daniel threw her a jumper of white wool.
“I can’t…”
“Sure. We’ve got a daughter now. Suits are only for formal occasions. Besides, we need to go shopping and buy you some more casual things.”
She gurgled as he tugged on jeans, boots and a lightweight shirt. Teamed with a jumper, it felt right for the first day of what he knew would be the rest of his life.
“Come in!”
Cressida looked at him, horrified, as she was dealing with her hair, but the door squeaked open and a little girl came dashing toward them.
“Cress’da! Dan’el. Samra has a pony!” Her face glowed as Daniel scooped her up in his arms, feeling the chubby small child weight of her. He popped a kiss on her forehead and passed the girl to Cressida, where she snuggled in.
They left the bedroom and headed down the stairs. Hopefully they would receive the news he was waiting for.
In her office, he lifted the lid of the laptop and checked his emails. It hummed and message after message dropped into the inbox.
“Are you waiting for anything in particular, Daniel?”
Samra smiled as he frowned. “No… Not really.” Of course it wasn’t true. He was waiting on an email confirmation of news he’d requested on the night of the funerals. It seemed like long ago, yet only three days had passed.
No use hanging around, he thought. He called for a meal for Samantha, and he and Cressida sat with her while she ate and chatted. She told them how she’d filled her day, helping in the kitchen and playing in the small sandpit they’d had hastily purchased. He reminded himself they’d need to take her shopping for more clothes and toys. Perhaps they could also see if anyone had photos of her biological family, so she’d have something of them with her forever.
A ding in the inbox echoed and he rose, passing the child back to Cressida. While he was sure that there wouldn’t yet be an answer, his heart filled with hope.
A single message caught his eye.
Request for Nest Guardianship.
Daniel,
After investigation, the Nestling Advocacy Association has taken your petition for full guardianship of the minor Samantha Rose DeLund to the appropriate government agency.
An interim order has been granted, but I believe, in the circumstances, that your permanent application for adoption of the minor will be granted. You will be required to attend at least a single meeting with an appropriately trained supervisor, but given the circumstances, we see no impediments.
We would advise you to make any and all necessary preparations for this interview with all speed. We will place ourselves at your disposal.
Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate…
“Daniel? Is everything okay?” She’d risen and advanced in his direction. Daniel slumped to the seat, unable for a moment to frame a comprehensible answer to Cressida’s concerned query.
“The NAA are going to help us.” Joy filled him. He and Cressida might just become parents after all.
“What? When did you contact them?”
“I contacted them immediately after I had the idea. I wanted to find out before I spoke to you. I didn’t want to get your hopes up.”
They both looked at the little girl, now busy eating ice cream, a hint of chocolate cream smeared on her face as she grinned.
In their haze of joy, they didn’t hear the door open and four adults enter the room.
“Is everything okay?” Hope stopped at the threshold.
“Everything is just damned fine.” He couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. “Nothing could be better.”
Epilogue
“We call the Council to order, including the following three new members—Daniel, Life Partner of Cressida, Javed of the house al bin Habbad and Xavier of the Tudor house.”
Daniel rose, pushing the heavy weight of his cape aside. He felt no hesitation in accepting the role he’d been offered, as had Javed and Xavier.
Samra had been offered the third vacancy, but she’d declined. ‘I prefer to follow rules and enforce them rather than to make them. Choose Daniel. He’s earned it already’.
Cressida had argued hard to assure the other Councilors that although he was only a neophyte, he already had the experience to make tough decisions. And that he was dedicated to their way of life.
It hadn’t taken a lot of arguing for them to accept him.
He took the chair amid cheers from those watching. Cressida stood close by.
“By the power invested in the vampire Council, I must ask you to take your oaths.” They did so, swearing to protect the innocents, to make just decisions and to protect their brethren from all harm.
Once the ceremony was concluded they mingled with the crowd. Daniel made a beeline for Cressida and their daughter, Samantha. The little girl flung her arms around his neck and he pulled her close. As always, he enjoyed the innocent baby powder smell of her. “You smell of powder. Have you been rolling in it again?”
She gave a big giggle and he tickled her.
Cressida grinned up at him. “So now you’re a Councilor.”
“So now you’re the Overlord.”
She grimaced at his words. “I never expected—”
He kissed her, a hard quick smack. “I think that’s why they chose you. You never did expect anything.” His gaze softened. “But you earned it and I’m proud of you.” He ran his fingers through Samantha’s silky hair. “Both my girls are so clever.” Samantha chortled and he joggled her up and down while she shrieked with pleasure.
He knew more than one vampire looked in his direction, their glances full of censure, but he ignored the looks while enjoying the time with his family.
Cressida grabbed his hand. “Come with us.” She tugged him from the room.
In the courtyard, milling among the flowers, were the others from their now close-knit group. Xavier and Hope, Javed and Celina, together with Marian, Lucy and Rachel.
David stood in the corner, a young woman by his side. “It’s good to see he’s finally found someone who is interested in him.”
Daniel grunted, thinking back to the last time he’d seen her, helping the young woman who’d been attacked. Now Officer Fernly, Genevieve as they’d learned her full name was, had taken to spending time with the new Yeux Secondes of the al bin Habbad nest.
Xavier had chosen a woman as David’s replacement, and Daniel remembered the discussion they’d had afterward. ‘Everyone is much happier now. We’re a little le
ss correct and upright’.
“So? Now we’re here it’s time to make some announcements.” Hope joined the banter with a ready grin.
“We already know most of it.” Javed had also unbent enough to show his cheeky side.
“Not everything.” David strode forward, towing his partner into the circle. “Tonight I asked Genevieve to marry me, and she agreed.” A round of kisses and hugs, back slapping and congratulations flowed.
Lucy stepped forward. “Since everyone is making announcements, I guess we should share what we plan to do.”
The girls looked among themselves and nodded. “You do it, Lucy. You’re better at this.” Rachel gripped Marian’s hands as they waited.
“Well, okay. See? We’ve been talking. Now that we remember who and what we are. But we have a choice. We can either look for the pack we belong to, or stay with Javed and Celina. We’ve talked a lot about our options.”
For the first time since he’d met his half-sister, Celina looked stricken. Before he could reach for her, Lucy took her hand. “We want to stay. Celina and Javed? You’re our parents now. You love us, care for us and we just…” She stopped and gulped loudly.
“Unless you send us away, you’re stuck with us, is what Lucy is trying to say.” Rachel spoke quietly, though her words carried deep emotions.
As one, they flung their arms around the couple and held on tight.
Now there were very few with dry eyes in the gathering.
From the gloom emerged three women. Their iridescent gowns shone by the light of the torches and their hair was gathered up in elaborate sweeps. “Good, we’re just in time.”
“You!” Cressida took a step then stopped.
“Cressida, forgive us for not telling all previously. You see, we couldn’t. It wasn’t our place.” Selena spoke quietly and Daniel saw more than one frown on the faces of those gathered.
Marian raised her head from Celina’s skirts. “They can’t. They’re the Graces and they can only help to resolve matters. Not give the full answers.”
Daniel frowned. “And how do you know that?”
“The young one speaks true. She’s touched, you know. Maybe one day, she too might be a Grace, if she chooses. But for now, she is a child. Bright and clever with the knack of seeing.” Selena spread her arm. “But now, we have come to say our goodbyes. Our task here is complete and we wish and long for rest. And home.”
The other two witches nodded.
“What? You plan to leave?” Cressida leaned in and the three witches gave tired grins.
“Oh we’ll leave soon enough. But first we wish to grant you all something special. If any among you wish to be freed of the curse of the vampire…”
“What?” Hope squeaked the word, which echoed.
Daniel watched as gazes met and clung. Hope and Xavier were the first to shake their heads.
“For all there have been secrets passed in the blood, I wouldn’t change who and what I am now.” Hope grinned.
“Nor would I. It brought me Hope and friendships that will last for eternity.”
Celina grinned. “I have my family and Javed. I don’t need to change anything else.”
Javed’s arm still encircled Celina but he tugged her a little closer. “And I’ve learned of real love, friendship and family.”
Daniel heard and felt the unsteady breath Cressida sucked in. She’d battled for so long with her past. What would she decide? “I too have a family and a love that I couldn’t ever relinquish. Not even to death. Daniel?”
Her gaze was warm and loving and he smiled. “And I will love my Cressida forever. Together with Samantha, we truly have everything we could ever ask for.”
David coughed, and all gazes settled on him. “Well, Genny and I— It turns out we attended the same school and have a lot in common. I’d forgotten her, but after meeting again… She’s my one. I know that, unlike before. We’ve been talking… We want children, but after that? Maybe…? We’ve only just found each other and need time to build what we have, but…”
“Perhaps, David. It’s something you can both explore when you’re ready.” Cressida reached out and squeezed his hand.
“Well then, we’ll bid you farewell.” The witches rose and gifted the assembled vampires and humans with hugs.
Hand in hand the three witches walked into the night, without looking back. “I don’t think we’ll see them again.” Cressida spoke quietly as she watched for a second longer, then turned back to the family waiting for her.
Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:
The Chocolate Affair
Imogene Nix
Excerpt
Chapter One
Chocolate… Liters and liters of molten chocolate rolled down the conveyor belt in front of Deanna, heading for the molds below. The sweet goodness filled her nostrils, and with a rumbling stomach she turned away, knowing that she had healthy food options upstairs in her office. God I love my job! The thought never ceased to make her smile.
Sandra, from the innovations department, always laughed at her when she said that out loud. She claimed that after working there for nearly twenty years, she hated chocolate. Yet she worked in the one part of the factory where she had to taste the chocolate confections her team designed. It was a trial for Sandra, yet Deanna could think of nothing finer.
She wrenched her mind back to the task at hand.
The new owner of Scheherazade Chocolates was due to arrive in the next hour and she needed to be sure that everything was in order both down on the manufacturing floor and upstairs in the offices.
The high quality confectionery ordered by the container load and headed for the planets of Dovan and Piero would take Scheherazade to the next level. Feliz and Alannah had never had either the acumen or the money to make it in the business world.
Deanna relished the challenge of the new ownership and business model. So long as she could keep all her current staff.
Scheherazade currently didn’t have the capacity to increase their output. This meant that anyone wishing to purchase them, even in the luxurious on-world malls, had to pay premium prices for whatever was available.
Of course, once Feliz and Alannah, the previous owners, had come to terms with the potential loss of the business, they had chosen to sell. The new owner, a consortium with the funds to increase the output of the plant, could keep the huge overdraft. They had the clout to deal with the administration of the planets.
Deanna scanned the plant she had overseen for several years. She turned back to the conveyor, checking for anything in the chocolate river that didn’t belong.
Thoughts intruded of Rustafan, the consortium that had taken over. She’d fretted the whole last week while reviewing policies. She’d set the workers to cleaning, but now even that was complete. There wasn’t much more she could do until JD Ruan arrived.
And what the hell kind of name was JD Ruan anyway? Deanna shrugged, a feeling of helplessness running through her.
The huge consortium employed a twenty-four hour media spokesman with a high profile, making sure that any spin on the business was positive. Yet the heads behind the business were kept out of the spotlight. It was a fact that continued to intrigue her.
Try as she might, Deanna had been unable to find out who actually owned the consortium. That had worried her until she had realized that it wasn’t really important. After all, she only had to deal with the person on the ground.
With a sigh, she spun and clanked up the metal steps toward the offices.
She just hoped this JD Ruan understood that she knew every aspect of running the plant. Right down to the carefully guarded recipes and each staff member. Until now, that had made her indispensable.
In the doorway she stopped in the small, contained area before she pulled off the special socks that covered her shoes. She continued to scan the production line through the window as she shrugged off the white coat and loosened the mesh cap from her head, then shook her long black hair free. F
or a moment Deanna enjoyed the sensual pleasure as it tumbled around her shoulders.
A sound caught her attention and she turned. Whirling too quickly, she slipped on the sock where it lay on the floor.
“Argh!” Arms wheeling, she tried to regain her balance but failed miserably. Strong arms reached for her as she fell toward the metal floor. A scent rose in her nostrils. Not chocolate, but something equally mesmerizing. Heart thudding in her chest, Deanna gazed up into glittering turquoise eyes.
“Hello, what have I found here? A pleasure princess from Piero?” The voice held more than just a hint of amusement and heat scorched her cheeks.
“I don’t know who you are. But this is a restricted zone.” She worked to infuse censure into her words but failed, breathlessly trapped by his gaze.
“I’m supposed to be here.” The muscular dark-haired man helped her up. She wobbled unsteadily for a moment before stepping back to take a deep breath and catching a whiff of his musky cologne.
“And why are you supposed to be here?” Deanna’s inner voice whispered to be cautious, but right now, caution was the last thing on her mind. Her body wanted to melt at the feet of this vision before her.
“I’ve been sent here to assess Scheherazade.” He extended a long, strong hand. “I’m JD Ruan.”
“Oh heavens.”
His first view of Deanna McCalchy had taken in the glorious lush curves and midnight hair as she shook it free of the ugly confining hat she wore. Her blue dress molded to her body and the heat of instant arousal suffused him.
Now here stands a true goddess. The thought took him by surprise. He hadn’t thought in those terms for over a hundred years.
His small exclamation of interest had taken her by surprise and she’d slipped. He had moved with his preternatural speed, extending his hands and catching her before she hit the floor.
As one of the two owners of Rustafan, he kept a low profile. He didn’t want his father’s minions to know where he and his sister Entara were. They had taken on Christabel as their media spokesperson well before she’d become Entara’s lover. This afforded them a gratefully accepted anonymity.