Free Born in Twilight by MAGGIE SHAYNE Page B

something I’m going to discuss,” he said. “Not even with you.”
    â€œForgive me,” she whispered. Then cleared her throat. “Did they take your semen, Jamey?”
    â€œTamara, for Christ’s sake!” He turned away, pulling free of her gentle grip and pacing the floor.
    â€œI must know.”
    He only stopped when he reached the window. He shoved the black chintz draperies apart, braced his hands on the wide sill, and stared out into the murky gray night. The clawlike fingers of storm clouds reached past the moon, breaking its light into thin, jagged portions. And the stars were invisible.
    â€œWhy?” Jameson whispered. “For the love of God, Tamara, why would you ask me something like that?”
    â€œBecause I’ve been told something too horrible to believe,” she told him. She didn’t cross the room, didn’t come to put her hands on his shoulders as he’d half expected her to do. Instead she remained sitting in the chair nearest the fireplace. And when he turned to face her he saw her staring into the dancing flames. He saw the teardrops rolling slowly down her cheeks, reflecting the light of the fire.
    â€œTell me,” he said.
    She nodded once. “You remember Hilary? My friend from so long ago?”
    Jameson tilted his head, searching his memory. “She worked for DPI,” he said at last.
    â€œSo did I.”
    â€œThat’s different, Tam.”
    â€œMaybe not,” she told him. “Maybe it’s not so different at all.” She drew her black eyes from the firelight, and turned her gaze to him again. “She told me they had taken your semen, Jameson. She told me they’d frozen it. She said their research had shown that some female vampires—very young ones—still had functioning ovaries.”
    Jameson felt his eyes narrow as he stepped away from the window, closer to Tamara. “What in hell are you saying?”
    â€œThe men—once they’re brought over, they seem to be quite sterile. But you know DPI and their unending quest for knowledge about our kind. You know them, Jamey. They wanted to know what would happen if a female vampire were to have a child. And since they couldn’t mate her with a male vampire, they decided that one of the Chosen would be the next best choice.”
    Jameson stood in front of her now, between her and the hearth’s protective screen. “Are you telling me they intend to implant a woman with my seed?”
    More tears. She bit her lower lip, then tipped her head back, staring up at the ceiling. “No, my love. I’m telling you they’ve already done it.”
    â€œAlready…”
    Tamara’s head came level again, and she got to her feet. Her hands closed on Jameson’s shoulders, and her grip was firm. “Last week a vampiress being held in that place gave birth to a child, Jameson. Your child.”
    â€œNo!” He pulled free of her, spun away. He slammed his fists down on the mantel, and the clock and other bric-a-brac lining it flew into the air and smashed to the floor. “No, it’s not possible.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” she whispered. “It’s killing me to tell you this, Jamey, but Hilary says it’s true. They…they have your child.”
    â€œI’ll kill those bastards,” Jameson shouted. “I’ll kill every last one of them, I swear!” He stalked across the room, and yanked the door open, only to be met by a solid wall of resistance.
    Roland, Eric and Rhiannon stood there, blocking his path. Jameson shoved his way past them all, but Roland gripped his arms and fought to keep him from leaving. “Jameson, please! Just listen—”
    â€œNo. I’m through listening. I’m through letting you all treat me like a child. Jesus, Roland, don’t you realize what’s happening? A child— my child, Roland, if what Tamara says is true—is