by Cat Miller
Lindsay rushed to hug her mother with Kayden on her heels. Her mother patted Lindsay on the back but said nothing. Her father stared down at his wife and daughter with an expression of resignation, lips pinched and eyebrows drawn together. He wasn’t happy to see Lindsay in the slightest. If it hadn’t been for Kayden standing nearby, Lindsay might have flinched away from her father’s glare.
Kayden’s concerned but supportive presence in her mind made Lindsay feel stronger than she’d ever been on her own. Lindsay was preparing to greet her stern father when the natural scent lingering beneath her mother’s expensive perfume struck her like a blow between the eyes. Her mother was a vampire. Before her change, Lindsay hadn’t had the keen sense of smell she did now. There was a stark difference between the scent of a human and a vampire. It was like the difference between flowers and fruit. They were both sweet, but flowers didn’t make you want to take a bite. There was also a hint of something else in their scent. It was like a bitter chemical aftertaste.
“Mother?” Lindsay couldn’t think of anything else to say. She was in shock, her mind completely frozen by this revelation.
“Mind your manners, girl. Return to your seat. This behavior in front of the council is unacceptable.” Her mother’s eyes darted around the room as if suddenly worried.
“But …” Lindsay couldn’t form a sentence if her life depended on it at that moment. Her parents were vampires. How could that be? She wasn’t a vampire. Or she hadn’t been.
“Come, love, let’s see what the council has to say about this.” Kayden pulled her away from her mother. Her father glared at Kayden. He didn’t like the term of endearment. He sniffed the air. Lindsay knew he’d picked up Kayden’s scent on her and he wasn’t impressed with her choice of mate.
Kayden practically carried her back to her seat behind the long table.
“Kayden …” She couldn’t say anymore.
“I know, baby. I can feel your confusion. I’m just as baffled, but I think we’re about to get some answers.” Kayden settled her on her chair and took her hand as he sat next to her, close enough for their legs to touch. Love and concern were radiating from Kayden into Lindsay. He knew she was struggling to maintain her composure. He gave her every ounce of support he had in him while Lindsay’s mind tilted and spun.
“The council welcome’s the house of Roselle to the chamber,” one of the councilmen Lindsay didn’t know said to her parents. “It’s good to see you, Roland, Monica.”
“It’s been too long, Kane … Councilor Stafford.” Her father seemed to recall himself and address the councilman with his title.
“Yes, I haven’t made it out to the West Coast in some time. It might be time for a visit,” Kane Stafford replied as he leaned back in his plush, high backed chair, looking as if he were contemplating a nice vacation.
They didn’t live on the West Coast. What were they talking about? Lindsay had never been to the West Coast, and her parent’s home was in New York State. Kane Stafford had welcomed their house. Lindsay quickly sifted through what she knew about vampire society in her mind. Houses were what vampires called the upper class families, the old big money families, and council relations. They called warrior families clans, only clans took in outsiders.
“They know your parents, Lindsay. This is big. Prepare for an even bigger shock. We will handle it together, Hellion, whatever it is. My clan along with the Horde will have your back no matter what.”
Kayden was speaking—or was it thinking?—right into Lindsay’s mind. She didn’t think he meant to let the word ‘adopted’ slip through his inner thoughts, though.
“Please, do have a seat.” Mason gestured toward what would seem to be the defendant’s table across the aisle from the table where Lindsay sat with Kayden. Lindsay watched them gracefully take a seat, but neither of them met Lindsay’s eyes.
“Lindsay, as you no doubt have noticed,” Mason gave Kane an annoyed look, “we are not strangers to your house … your parents I should say. What we’re here to learn is why the house of Roselle was harboring a human child.”
“We brought you here to discern whether you were aware of your parents’ heritage and clear up not only your paternity but the reason you’ve been hidden from the nation,” a woman behind the council table stated.
“Adele Vaughn,” Kayden supplied her name. Lindsay hadn’t met her personally, but she knew from time spent with Samantha that the woman was Samantha’s grandmother and Griffin’s mother.
“We have some experience in my house with children who have been tucked away. The reason for the subterfuge needs to be understood by all involved.” Adele’s expression was pinched.
“I-I had no idea that vampires existed before … before …” Lindsay didn’t want her parents to know what had happened to her.
“I can see that now, child. Everyone should be aware that there are empaths in the room. Sadly, I couldn’t get a telepath on such short notice, but one will be in attendance should we need a second hearing. Lying to the council will only give you a short reprieve.” Adele’s eyes bore into Roland and Monica. It was a clear warning.
“I believe it is against my rights to have my mind violated in such a way, Councilwoman Vaughn. I have not committed a crime, nor have I been accused of a crime. With respect, madam, you overstep your reach,” Roland complained.
“Let’s get this hearing started. The council will discuss the need for further intervention after all the findings have been presented,” Griffin said.
“This is ridiculous! There are no laws against adopting a child, human or otherwise.” Monica spoke up. “It’s an act of charity!”
Lindsay held on to the edge of the table. Kayden’s supposition had been correct. She was adopted. Koren moved up from her seat on the long bench to stand behind Lindsay, and she began to rub soothing circles on Lindsay’s back. Kayden held her, and he seemed to be waiting for the other shoe to drop. So was Lindsay, because being adopted didn’t explain why they didn’t look for her when she disappeared.
“Settle down. We’ll have our answers, and we’ll have them now,” Adele insisted. “Why have you hidden this child? There is a law that states all members of a house are to be registered, along with any particular talent they might develop. And why, pray tell, have you established a separate household on the East Coast for this one child? You are correct, there is no law against adoption, but why have you raised her in complete isolation from the rest of your house?”
Monica’s eyes shot over to Lindsay in some semblance of an apology before they returned to the council. Were they saying Lindsay had siblings? Roland sat back in his chair looking resigned. He was sweating now. Lindsay couldn’t ever remember seeing her father sweat. Monica was waving her hand in her face as if she, too, were overheated.
“Let’s have it, Roland. Explain yourself,” Griffin demanded.
“I reiterate that I have broken no laws,” Roland stated. “I was approached by a friend twenty-five years ago. This friend had a woman with child. The woman was human, and the baby was due any day. I was shocked, of course, because I wasn’t aware that we could breed humans. This male explained that there was a very low chance of the mother surviving. The child had a slightly better chance.”
“Who was this friend?” Adele asked.
“I can’t divulge that information. It’s a matter of honor. I swore to keep the child and raise it strictly as directed. In exchange—”
“Roland,” Monica interrupted. She was looking green around the gills. Monica didn’t want him to admit to the details.
Roland had no choice, so he carried on, wiping away the sweat that gathered on his brow.
“I was in deep debt. I had lost everything in a string of bad business deals. My house was about to go bankrupt. I was offered a sizable bailout and enough capital to keep my house in the style we were all accustomed to while I worked my ass off to rebuild our fortune. All I had to do was buy a home in New York using the funds provided for the child. We main
tained a household staff for one child and us when we were in residence, which was roughly one week every month or so. Monica and I would raise the child where and how the father wished. We would spend a reasonable amount of time with the child and see to her education.”
“Why wouldn’t the father care for the child? Why couldn’t he set up these provisions?” Mason asked.
“He was mated.” Monica scowled. Gasps were heard from all around. “He was a mated male with a human lover, and we became his nursery. I have no idea if his mate knew or not, but I can’t imagine how he would have hidden it unless they don’t have a healthy mind connection. Anyway, we bought the home quickly, and everything was ready when the child was born. He provided a wet nurse when she was a baby and sent a nanny and a governess when she was older. These people just showed up, and we knew who had sent them. We provide annual reports on the child’s progress, but I suspect the staff also answered to him. It could be worse, I suppose. He could have let her fall into human hands. The problem with that was he didn’t know if the child would be more human or vampire. If she went to the humans, it would expose all of us. Vampires could be made public knowledge to the human race. Instead, he hid her away, with us.”
“No one else in our house had any knowledge of the girl. She was human, almost completely as far as the physician or I could tell,” Roland explained.
“You have a vampire physician for her?” Griffin asked.
“He provided one. The doctor would come for regular checkups. She never got sick, and she never showed any signs of turning. I’ll admit that I was thankful for that. It would have been much harder to hide a vampire.”
“Has he ever come to see the child?” Adele asked.
Lindsay was trying to absorb this devastating news. The ‘child’ they were talking about was her. She was adopted. Not only was she adopted, but she’d been unwanted by her birth parents and her adoptive parents.
“I want you, Lindsay. All I want is you. You have a mate and a clan who love you. No matter what happened in your past, you are a Paris now. You will never be lonely or feel unwanted again. I swear it on my life,” Kayden spoke into her mind.
Lindsay held on to the sound of his voice, and genuine devotion and concern Kayden was expressing.
I love you, Lindsay thought back to him. Her mind was too consumed with a new reality to say more than that. Kayden pulled her chair closer to his. He turned and wrapped his arms around Lindsay, protecting her the only way he could. Kayden was holding her together when she felt like she was flying apart.
“No, he delivered her to us at the airport in California when she was two weeks old with all the necessary paperwork to make her for all intents and purposes, our child. We boarded a plane and brought her directly to her new home in New York. If you look into the deed for that property, you’ll find that it’s in her name now. The house was transferred over to her when she turned twenty-one. She just didn’t know it. She has her own fortune in a savings account that we were to hand over to her at the age of twenty-five. That’s when we were to be done with our duty to the child and her father. He was to come make himself known to her, and we would have fulfilled our obligation. Twenty-five years of crossing the country in secret and hiding a secret life from our house would be over. That never happened, because the girl had the misfortune of attracting the attention of the rogue. I found it ironic that she, in particular, a half-breed child, would be singled out by the rogue, but the father insisted she go to the college in a town where the rogue was known to frequent. It’s also so close to the council hall he was almost begging to be found out.”
“Did the mother survive?” Lindsay shouted out the question.
“I have no idea. We weren’t told either way,” Roland directed his answer to the council, not looking at Lindsay.
“I really must demand that you disclose the name of this male,” Adele insisted.
“I-I cannot. I will n-not,” Roland stuttered. He fell back into his seat looking faint. “I don’t feel well.’
Monica slid out of her seat onto the floor. She was completely unconscious.
“Monica, darling.” Roland reached for his mate, but he was suddenly too weak to stand.
Everyone got to their feet at once. The shouts of concern and loud hum of the surprised audience filled the chamber.
“We need a doctor!” Griffin shouted as he and Mason hurried to the defendant’s table.
“Mother! Father!” Lindsay rushed to her parents. Kayden, Gage, and Koren were right behind her.
“Clear the room!” Adele shouted, and guards started rushing around, escorting people out of the chamber.
When Lindsay reached the chair he was slumped in, Roland grabbed her hand and whispered, “I’m sorry.” His eyes were glassy and unfocused. His speech slurred. The strong man she’d believed to be her father was wilting before her eyes.
“We need an ambulance! What’s wrong with them?” Lindsay was crying.
Kayden pressed two fingers to Monica’s throat. “Her pulse is very faint.” He scooped Monica up off of the floor and placed her on the table.
“Father, please stay with me.” Lindsay’s heart was in her throat. Her father’s eyes had closed. He wasn’t responding at all. These people may not have wanted her, but they were her parents. They were the only family she’d ever known.
Kayden reached around Lindsay to pick her father up and carry him to the other table where Gage ripped upon her father’s shirt and began to perform chest compressions. Griffin was already working on Monica. Mason used the flashlight on his phone to check both of her parents’ pupils.
“Dilated pupils, thready respiration, and weak pulses on both of them. We’re losing them! They both need a dose of Narcan! Where is the doctor?” Mason shouted.
“Who needs me first?” a man with a doctor’s bag asked as he hustled in through a side door. At first, Lindsay didn’t recognize Doc Stevens in his street clothes.
Roland began seizing. Gage held Roland’s head steady to keep him from slamming it on the table, and Mason gripped his upper body, so the man didn’t roll to the floor.
“Here!” Gage shouted. “It looks like a Hypnovamp overdose.”
“And the other?” Doc asked as he opened his bag and withdrew a needle and a vial. He quickly drew up some medication in the syringe and stabbed Roland in the thigh. The seizure stopped. “Begin compressions again, Gage. You’re doing a great job.”
Doc was drawing up more medication in a new syringe as he hovered over Monica.
“I think we lost her, Doc. But I don’t want to stop compressions until you call it,” Griffin said.
Doc administered the injection regardless before he took the time to check the patient’s vitals. In the case of an overdose, every second was crucial. Doc examined Monica, checking her pupils and vitals, checking for reflexes.
“She’s gone. You can stop, Griffin.” Doc shook his head in defeat.
He returned to Roland. He was prepping an intubation kit to preserve Roland’s airway. Doc tilted Roland’s head back to open his throat before checking for vitals again. His shoulders slumped when he checked Roland’s eyes and pulse again. “He’s gone. Thank you, Gage.” Doc patted Gage’s shoulder. Gage stopped the chest compressions.
Monica’s eyes stared sightlessly at the cathedral ceiling. Griffin closed her eyes and looked over at Lindsay with sorrow and sympathy.
Lindsay stood stunned, glancing back and forth between her mother and father. It had happened so fast. They’d only been in the chamber for a short time. They walked in on their own. Now they were both dead? How could that be?
“Lock down this building! Nobody leaves!” Griffin bellowed above the ensuing chaos. Gage directed his warriors to cover the doors.
Lindsay’s legs gave out. Kayden supported her weight effortlessly while her world spun out of control and for the first time since Lindsay’s recovery, she passed out. This time it wasn’t physical pain that took her down, but heartbreak.
Nineteen
Lindsay sat alone on a log, staring into the dwindling fire in the pit. It was the first time she’d been left alone in four days. Kayden was across the field in the Horde’s tent city helping the others set up a new shelter for them. That evening, they wouldn’t be sleeping in Koren and Gage’s house. Instead, they would have their own tent with electricity, air conditioning, and king size bed that Kayden had the tent built around. Not that Lindsay thought she’d be getting any sleep. She hadn’t been able to rest since she woke from her swoon at the council hall just after her phony parents were pronounced dead four days ago.
Lindsay learned that her parents had come straight to the council hall from the airport. A limousine was sent to fetch them from the airport, but the driver assigned to the duty was never given the message. A different driver picked them up, but that driver was now missing. Nobody knew his name or who had sent him. They had an image of the driver handing both Roland and Monica a bottle of water as they entered the building. They were then escorted to a private room to wait for their hearing.
Once the building was locked down, Gage went into investigation mode, reviewing the video footage and searching for clues to what could have caused the heads of House Roselle to suddenly die of an apparent poisoning. The two bottles of flavored water were found in the private waiting room, and both bottles contained concentrated levels of Hypnovamp. The high dose was enough to kill, but it took a little time since it was ingested instead of injected. That explained why they both appeared to be fine except some sweating when they began their testimony.
Lindsay was still processing all that had happened. Kayden had been doing his best impression of a helicopter. He made Lindsay eat and stayed hydrated. He held her all night long, petting her and generally just being there in case she needed anything or wanted to talk. Lindsay hadn’t been able to talk about what she’d witnessed or anything she’d learned. She couldn’t bring herself to discuss things she couldn’t get her own head around. So outside of general responses like yes, no, thank you, and I love you, too, Lindsay didn’t have anything to say.