Free Turning Night by Viola Grace

Chapter One
     
     
    Max sat at her desk and pondered the calendar. Five years. It was as clear as the nose on the goblin rep’s face; it had been five years since she had been turned into the Abomination. She wondered if they made a greeting card for that.
    Fifth anniversary, wood and silverware. She grinned as she imagined that party with a bunch of vampires. Two things traditionally used to kill them and they were obligated to offer them to her. Part of Max was delighted and part dreaded the party in two days.
    Anthony knocked on the doorframe. “Apprentice, the Guild Master requests your presence.”
    She grinned and got to her feet. “I really doubt that. Any news from Xander and Abby?”
    “They are doing well and have renewed their offer of a gnome to call your own.”
    Laughter bubbled up. “No, I think I will have to decline that offer. Gregori would probably try and eat it if it irritated him.”
    “I do not think that try would be involved.” Anthony sighed and his ears turned pink.
    “Is he whistling for me again?”
    The Guild Master’s Major Domo nodded with a pained expression.
    With a regretful sigh, Max pulled her earplugs out and tucked them in her desk. Her enhanced hearing was part and parcel of being the Abomination. The earplugs helped when Gregori was feeling particularly vocal.
    She passed Anthony and patted his shoulder. “It is almost time for some meal.”
    He nodded with relief and headed for the kitchen. It was the most soundproofed portion of the Guild Master’s estate.
    The windows were being opened to let in the sunset. Gregori had only mild sensitivity to light and Max had none at all.
    “Max!”
    “Coming, Guild Master.” She wrinkled her nose at the etiquette that she had to obey. He was meeting with a panther shifter with a rather primitive attitude toward women. This was not where she wanted to be right now.
    He quieted, so she knew he had heard her. He would have continued bellowing if she hadn’t answered.
    Calling this huge place home had taken some getting used to, but now, she navigated easily through the halls to the formal audience chamber.
    She paused in the doorway and inclined her head. “You called, Guild Master?”
    He was seated at the round table with the shifter. “You took your time, Max.”
    “I was not prepared for your summons.”
    The panther snorted. He looked like he ate nails for breakfast and he had been in at least two territory disputes that had scarred his face. “Apparently. I thought she had all the strengths of a vampire, including her hearing.”
    Max didn’t respond. She looked to Gregori.
    “She tends to use earplugs to block me out, Rithak. She needs moments to herself and tries to keep her use of the plugs to daylight hours.” His lips twisted in amusement.
    Rithak looked her over from head to toe. “She has been changed, but can she still breed?”
    That was it; Max was going to smack him. She moved in a blur of fury and was caught and held against Gregori an inch before she would have added to the claw marks on the panther’s face.
    “Calm, Max. Rithak wanted to see how fast you were.”
    “Fine.” She turned in Gregori’s arms, kissed his cheek, whirled and flicked Rithak out of his chair and onto his butt.
    Gregori tightened his arms again. “I apologize for her, Rithak. She has a temper.”
    She kept her face hostile while she glared at the interloper in her territory.
    “It is my apology that is needed, Guild Master. I should not have pushed that particular button.” Rithak got back to his feet and bowed toward Max. “Forgive me, Abomination?”
    She sighed. It was really a name she needed removed from her stationery. “Forgiven, Rithak.”
    She didn’t ask him to call her Max. Gregori was very protective of her name. Only the Guild Master’s household and Max’s personal friends were allowed to use it. All the emissaries addressed her as Apprentice or Abomination. It had taken getting used to, but five years into