Free Reborn to Bite (Vampire Shadows Book 1) by Mark Gronwald

weak.
    Most of the people on the porch were watching Sabine's mouth by the end of Trent's story, and the teens were whispering. She smiled and waved at the group on the porch. They could think what they want, as long as Doug was safe. If she had to put up with a group of strangers and pretend to be human, then she'd do her best.
    They approached the house. Val blocked the path, and held up a hand to stop them.
    Val gave them each an appraising look, her gaze settling on Sabine. She sniffed the air, and her expression turned sour. "You don't smell right. This is my house, and you're not welcome here unless you tell me what you are."
    "I just showered. That strange smell is soap. You should try it sometime."
    Val's hands curled into fists. "I think I'll teach you some manners instead."
    Sabine dropped her bag and loosened her shoulders.
    "Ladies, there's no need to fight," Doug said.
    Sabine looked over at him, and caught sight of the scared look in Tiana's face. The look in Tiana's eyes was Sabine's undoing. She couldn't fight Val in front of the little girl. Val's thoughts were filled with the desire to fight, and it looked to Sabine like there was no way they'd get past her.
    "Let's go, Doug," Sabine said. She grabbed her bag. "I can protect you. We don't have to stay with these people to be safe."
    "If you think you can protect him, prove it. Get past me," Val said.
    Sabine took a deep calming breath and focused on the maelstrom of dark energy she held deep inside. The volatile glamour power welled up, scaring her. So unpredictable. She only needed a small amount...
    "What the-" The words died on Val's lips as Sabine released the dark energy and subverted Val's perception of reality. Too little, but it seemed like enough. She sent Val some happiness, clearing away her doubts and fears.
    Sabine walked up to Val. "I know you'll forgive me if I don't want to fight in front of Tiana."
     
    Val shook her head, feeling Sabine in her mind. She felt happy, but a part of her knew it wasn't real. Anger had been her only friend her entire life. She knew that Sabine had just done something to her - hypnotized her, or some shit like that. She wanted to say something smart, get rid of this Sabine chick, but her mind felt foggy. "I don't like you."
    Sabine smiled, sharing Val's thoughts. "I'm an acquired taste."
    Val stood there in a daze as Sabine walked by.
    Doug smiled as he walked by Val, pausing for a second to assess the expression on Val's face. "Sabine is good people. She saved us. I hope you'll let her stay."
    Val nodded, feeling like her head was moving in slow motion. She watched the Doug guy and his little girl follow the Sabine chick up to the porch, and found herself standing alone.
     
    Sabine watched as the middle-aged man on the porch stepped forward, sniffing the air. He was Trent's height, but slightly wider in the chest. His mostly gray hair had a peppering of black. Laugh lines gave character to his face. His aged appearance seemed like a veneer over the sturdy frame of a warrior.
    "That's quite a trick, shutting Val up like that." He extended a hand to Sabine. "I'm Mike, and you are?"
    "Feeling like this is some kind of test," Sabine said without giving him her hand. She caught that musky-woodsy scent again, coming off everyone besides Doug and Tiana. The strange vibe accompanied the smell.
    Doug approached and shook Mike's outstretched hand. "I'm Doug Kimball, this is my daughter Tiana, and that's Sabine Christiansen."
    Mike released Doug's hand and faced Sabine. "Would you be so kind as to give me your hand, Sabine?"
    Sabine hesitated. She could fake breathing, but not a check of her pulse. At least her gloves would hide her low body temperature. She hesitated a moment, but accepted Mike's handshake.
    Mike felt her grip, and sniffed the air again. "My daughter wouldn't have naturally shut up so easily."
    Sabine sensed a wall around Mike's mind, and a good one. "I'm guessing you trained her?"
    Mike nodded. "Looks