his skill. Isn’t there something you can do?”
Ian pulled her close, kissing her forehead softly, then sighed dramatically.
“For you, I can move mountains, my love.”
Doctor Richard—not Dick—Schmidt changed that night. Weak minded as he was, Ian found it easy to alter his memories and even improve a bit on his personality. Not long after, Richard traded in the land yacht he drove for a more economic, less ostentatious model and started doing charity work. He even donated some of his time and skill to Doctors Without Borders and set off on a voyage of self-discovery to the Third World.
Of course Ian made sure he was kept under observation by one of his enforcer brethren. Richard Schmidt didn’t know it, and would likely never remember what had brought it about, but he would be closely watched for the remainder of his days.
Ian also made arrangements for an evening wedding at a beautiful, old Catholic church in town. He’d sworn an oath to God all those years ago as a Crusader and he’d never gone back on his word. Jena was also Catholic and wanted all the trimmings for her wedding, including the beautiful old church where her mother could walk her down the aisle and tear up as her baby got married.
Ian was pleasantly surprised by his mate’s mother, Lilian. Forty-seven she might be, but she was a beautiful woman in the prime of life. She welcomed Ian with suspicion at first, but once she saw how happy her daughter was with him, she warmed right up.
Julian was with her, of course. The charming enforcer had inserted himself into Lillian’s life and looked like he was there to stay. Surprisingly, he hadn’t told Lillian everything yet, but rather, had used his surprisingly strong abilities at mental persuasion to gain the woman’s compliance.
Eventually she would have to be told about her heritage, but she was very healthy for one of the demi-vampir and Jena wanted to wait until after the wedding to break the startling news. Ian agreed. One thing at a time was enough to spring on the poor woman. Let her get used to him first, then he’d shatter her illusions of reality and explain how the world really worked.
Or perhaps he’d ask Julian or another of his old friends do it. Jena’s mother was a looker, after all, and though she thought she was old in mortal terms, measuring by the lifespan of the average vampire, she was just a babe in the woods. Born demi-vampir, she should be given the choice to convert fully to the immortality she—or her ancestors, at least—should have had as her birthright.
Ian would take it up with Marc, but it could wait until after the wedding. And the honeymoon. Lillian’s life wasn’t in imminent danger from her demi-vampir condition, so they had time. Nothing was more important now, than joining his mate’s life to his in the eyes of God.
When Ian first caught sight of his lovely bride, framed in the dark doorway of the lovely old church, his heart skipped a beat. She was so lovely.
The music started and she walked slowly down the aisle to him. The church was crowded with their friends, but he saw only her. When at last she stood beside him, he took her little hand in his. Her fingers were surprisingly cold with nerves.
I love you, you know. He sent his thoughts on waves of reassurance.
I love you back. Forever, Ian. She paused. I mean that. I want forever with you.
Do you mean—?
Yes. I want you to make me like you, but it’ll have to wait until after the baby is born.
Baby? Ian felt faint. The implications were staggering.
Jena was still very much mortal. Any baby they had now would be demi-vampir, like her. Able to walk in the sun.
Stay with me, Papa. First we have to get hitched. No baby of ours will be born out of wedlock.
Ian felt tears gather behind his eyes, though he refused to let them fall. His woman was amazing. She brought him laughter and love, light and now…a baby.
While he would have preferred to wait until after she’d become
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