Free Vampire Coven Book 3: A Vampire's Embrace by C.L. Scholey

looked so incredibly healthy and happy.
    Her mind strayed to Ann, wishing she were as healthy. Ann was smiling when she last saw her, her little hand in the boy Galf’s hand. It was clear to see the children adored each other after such a short time. Surprisingly, Ann made no fuss when Hope left. Rarely was Hope separated from her child.
    Hope felt the fine hairs on the back of her neck rise again and knew someone was watching her. She thought perhaps it was Rhett just checking because he felt obligated. Each time she took a full basket of eggs to the kitchen she felt eyes on her. As she made ready to grab the last basket she was startled by a vampire she didn’t know. He was no less mesmerizing or handsome as Rhett. He too was dark-haired and blue-eyed. The vampire circled her like a vulture.
    “I’ve been watching you,” the vampire said.
    “I knew someone was.” She should have known Rhett couldn’t have cared less what she was up to.
    “Why is it Rhett would rather play leap frog with your little one who is perfectly safe from any harm, than keep an eye on his beautiful female?”
    Hope thought about it for a second. She could lie. If he knew about her being barren and Rhett not wanting her, he might drain her dry. But if she lied and he found out, he might be angry. One of Tavish’s laws was no lying.
    “I don’t want to tell you; you would hurt me,” she muttered. Definitely not a lie.
    The vampire tipped her head up using a finger on her chin. He wasn’t cruel. “It’s death to kill a breeder female.” His eyes glowed white and Hope knew she was lost.
    “I’m barren. Rhett couldn’t care less what happens to me.”
    “Too bad. You would have made lovely children.” His eyes stopped glowing and Hope was released from his hold. The vampire seemed to ponder her. “Rhett can be very cruel. But he does love children. Your daughter is well protected. You on the other hand…”
    “Please,” Hope couldn’t keep the fear from her voice. “My daughter is dying; I have so little time left with her. Don’t take that from me, or from her.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that. I’m told losing a child is the hardest thing in life to deal with. If Rhett doesn’t care what happens to you, your life won’t be pleasant after your daughter is gone.”
    Hope already knew that. She didn’t care what happened to her after Ann was gone; it was now she was worried about.
    “If you are going to kill me after my daughter is gone you will have to wait in line. Rhett plans on being there first.” She couldn’t stop the hurt in her tone. She had done nothing to Rhett and he hated her.
    The vampire grinned. “Perhaps he’ll give you to me. I’m in no hurry to share a female with breeder males; I did that my entire life until Tavish turned me. It was my gift for helping him and Mercy conceive Galf. I would like my own female. I’m the youngest of the turned grown males here but Rhett likes me. He has known me my entire life. He watched me grow up. He may not have pity for you, but he is fond of me.”
    What the hell.
    “Why does Rhett have only compassion for children and men?”
    “You’ll have to ask him. When you see him, tell him Tate wants a word.” He winked at her.
    And then he was gone. Hope finished collecting the eggs and left the basket in the kitchen. She wondered what they would do with all these weird looking things. To Hope’s chagrin she had tapped on one and broken it. The gunk inside didn’t smell palatable. It was sticky and oddly colored. One of the women in the kitchen told her the eggs would be used for breakfast and to make bread with for the evening dinner. She went on to explain a number of uses at which Hope was amazed. Who would have thought one little food item could be so versatile?
    An older woman smiled kindly at Hope and told her when it was her turn to work the kitchen, she would learn to make all kinds of foods with the animals on the premises. Hope hadn’t had a friend since