Free [excerpt] by Editor

pain on Raven’s face...He couldn’t bare it. He did not want her to witness the rage he felt. And with everything Duncan had been through, he couldn’t trust his emotions to stay resilient and strong for her.
    After the surgeon arrived, Duncan broke the news that it was Xavier who had attacked Raven. He told Lucian, “Raven put up the fight of her life. The women in the hall saw the tail end of the attack and tried to help. They told me Raven gouged one of his grey eyes from his head and tore off one of his testicles too. Xavier ran from the room holding his nob, screaming like a baby. His broken ball is splattered on the floor in there.” Duncan pointed back over his shoulder to the room. “His eye hung from a tethered nerve.” Knowing she’d gotten a piece of the bastard, made Duncan feel better. Now it was his turn to get a chunk of the bastard, his head. Preferably both.
    ****
    Within a day’s travel, André St. James arrived in London. He’d heard Raven’s screams, felt her distress just as Lucian had the second the attack happened because he shared the same mental pathways his cousins did. He dropped everything, fled France and came to offer his support for Raven and a swift sword for the monster that hurt her.
    The three men searched for months but found no leads to Xavier. It was as if the rogue disappeared from the face of the earth.
    ****
    Present, 1896
     
    Molly headed across the street mid-morning, her little black and white cat winding its way between her feet with each step. She knocked on Serina’s door, calling to her new friend, but the door remained closed. Molly didn’t seem too concerned thinking maybe the doctor went to work and had gotten an early start. She turned to leave when the pounding of hooves in the distance caught her attention. She looked down the road and saw Duncan at the helm of the carriage fast approaching. Dirt and rocks spit out from under the wheels. A wake of unsettled dust hung in the air. Molly started back towards the house.
    “Have you seen Serina today, Molly?” Duncan yelled as he jumped from the carriage.
    “No, Duncan. I don’t think the doctor’s home.”
    Lucian jumped out from inside the carriage, with Raven crushed against his chest. Before he could ask, Duncan took Raven. Lucian stormed up to the door and began pounding on it. “Serina!” He yelled, as he slammed his shoulder into the door a few times. The door cracked beneath his weight, and Lucian shoved his way through. Charging, he made his way up the stairs to her bedroom, where he found Serina face down on the floor. Beside her, a broken pitcher lay in a puddle of water.
    He lifted her from the floor and headed back downstairs to the kitchen. “Duncan, bring Raven into the parlor.”
    After Lucian lay Serina on her kitchen table, he placed cool, wet cloths on her face and chest trying to bring her around.
    Finding herself in the arms of a very handsome man once more would have been a nice start to Serina’s day had she not been soaked and chilled to the bone or had the sudden urge to vomit all over everything. Lucian included.
    “Please forgive me, Lucian,” she offered mortified. “You’re going to need a new wardrobe if you keep coming here. What’s happened to get you back to me so soon? Better question, why am I on my table soaking wet?” Serina wiped her mouth off with a rag supplied by Lucian.
    “Raven was attacked again. She needs help, although after seeing you, I’m not so sure you can help her. I found you on your floor.” Lucian wiped Serina’s stomach contents from his shirt.
    “Help me up, and I’ll get things ready for another transfusion. Is Raven awake?”
    “Barely. To touch her, well it’s as if she were…” His voice trailed off. “Please help her, Serina. Use my blood.”
    “Lucian, go ask Molly and Duncan to go to All Hallows Church on Byward Street. I need them to bring Father Butler back. After they’ve left we need to talk.”
    “Only if you use my