Free A Taste of Twilight by Aubrey Ross Page A

did you ask? Ah yes, children. Faelon has three daughters. Two were produced with lovers. One with his wife. All three daughters are vampires, as were their mothers.”
    “Cecilia, the female who transformed Etoro, was Faelon’s wife?” Rafe nodded and she began fitting the puzzle pieces together. “When did Faelon meet Antonelli?”
    “They had been lovers for many years when Faelon bowed to convention and agreed to accept an ‘appropriate’ mate. The union produced a daughter who despises him nearly as much as her mother. Needless to say, Faelon returned to Antonelli and has been content without other children.”
    “Only organic vampires can produce children?”
    He set the rest of the candy bar aside and traced her lips with his fingertip. “It’s rare for any vampire to be able to procreate. That’s why we resort to transformation. Very lucky ones are able to conceive with their soul-bonded mate.”
    “There have always been vampires?” She still couldn’t wrap her mind around the concept. “How have you kept it a secret from the vast majority of humans?”
    “Humans believe what they want to believe. Every culture has recorded some form of vampirism since written history began. The Covenant requires that we be discreet and integrate with established societies as much as possible. Intentionally bringing attention to our kind is grounds for punishment, sometimes execution.”
    “Who determines which, and who carries out the punishment?” She suddenly pictured Buffy the Vampire Slayer and smiled.
    “Why are you smiling?” He cupped her breast and arched his brow. “Is this really what you want to talk about?”
    “I’m just trying to understand your world.”
    “My world?” He grinned. “As far as I know, we’re both indigenous to Earth.”
    “You know what I mean.” His other hand grasped her bottom, pulling her groin snug against his. She ignored his growing erection and asked, “Can you go out in the sunlight?”
    “Vampires are nocturnal by nature and we’re extremely allergic to ultraviolet light. The invention of sunscreen has given us some freedom, but it’s generally not worth the risk.” He traced her spine and nuzzled her neck. Each time his moist breath wafted across the puncture wound, heat curled into her chest.
    “Can I read the Covenant?”
    “Right now?” He teased her nipple with the pad of his thumb.
    “Have you ever had a mate? How many people have you transformed?”
    He sighed and moved both his hands to her hips. “Why did you leave the police force?”
    It was his way of warning her away from any more questions. He expected her to retreat. Instead, she called his bluff. “Dalton and I were working an especially horrible case involving a serial rapist. Jeff, my fiancé, was part of the multi-jurisdictional task force. I had one of my—visions, which led the entire team into an ambush. Four people were killed because of my gift . Jeff and my brother were among them.”
    He framed her face with his hands and pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’m sorry.” Easing back, he looked into her eyes. “You said ambush. Was there more than one rapist?”
    “During the raid we took out someone with DNA linking him to most of the victims, but there were at least three others shooting at us. None of it makes sense. But there have been no more attacks, so the case is closed.”
    “Did you and your fiancé often work the same cases?”
    “No. This guy had every branch of law enforcement in three states ready to do anything to stop him. He had eighteen victims that we know of, seven whom didn’t survive his brutality.”
    “And others were assisting him during the shootout?”
    “I told you it didn’t make sense.”
    He stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “Where did you go when you left Baltimore?”
    “Colorado. I’m a private investigator.”
    “What do you investigate?”
    She smiled. Her present occupation was worlds away from working homicide.