Miri smiled. “You mentioned that.”
“And, he is a warrior.”
“Most warriors are beautiful in their way. Our Sanctum warriors are beautiful.”
“He would have ended his life to save mine. Amazing, isn’t it?”
“Think carefully, Pria,” Miri advised. “He would have saved your life but ask yourself if what you feel is gratitude or really something more. It would not be surprising to feel something like affection for such a man after the events of this day. There is much at risk for all of us. You know, Keirc tends to rant but to love a human is a calculated risk, little one, and something that can end very tragically.”
“Miri, you are such a mother,” Pria answered, her eyes closing slowly. “He probably has a woman.”
“When your mother brought you to this world, I gave her my vow to love you and care for you if ever the day came when she could not,” Miri said, rising to pull the covers over Pria. “Rest now.”
Looking down, Miri realized that Pria was dozing. Brave, headstrong, beautiful Pria had always given her a run for her money in all ways. If Pria’s mother, Regine, were alive even she would have urged extreme caution, although she had been a true romantic at heart. This event and the detective could pose significant risks to all who called the Sanctum home. Miri resolved to watch the situation closely, as she closed the door behind her, to find Keirc waiting for her in the hall.
“Before you ask, she is sleeping and I want her to remain that way, Keirc,” she said raising her hand. “And I know what may be ahead. We can do nothing tonight. Now, tell me the hospital records have been successfully hacked and show that Pria is a normal human.”
“Of course,” Keirc answered. “The records show that she is pure human and nothing more. Actually, there was not much there, to alter or not. She was given cursory treatment. No blood was taken from her and she was given only antibiotics, a tetanus shot and her wounds were dressed.”
“She said she was unconscious for a time. Why?” Miri asked.
“Unfortunately, she was given a small amount of pain medication, which could have caused her more damage than being shot. They had trouble getting a blood pressure, but they attributed that to shock,” Keirc explained. “Besides, she’d killed, which might have weakened her for a time. She lost some blood. I think it was a combination of things.”
“Why was she being left in that emergency room?”
“She was to be admitted for the night for observation,” Keirc explained. “They were waiting for a bed on a unit upstairs. The doctors thought she should stay but only for observation. After twenty-four hours, they probably would have allowed her to go without a problem.”
“And the financial records?”
“Clean. Bill paid in cash in full and nothing more noted except the bakery’s address.”
“Thank you Keirc,” Miri said. “Now, do what you do best, and find out everything you can about this detective. About this criminal as well. We need to assess risks.”
Chapter Two
Keirc had parked his SUV near his parents’ home, but decided to walk back to his own home. The sweet, late summer breeze tugged at his hair, refreshing his senses and clearing his mind. Moving at an easy pace over the footpaths that linked the homes of the Sanctum, he greeted some Sanctum residents, who stopped to ask about Pria or wish her well. Of course, what had taken place in Saint Rushton had become common knowledge in the supernatural community simply through word of mouth. The Sanctum wasn’t so different from other communities in that way, he realized, observing the illuminated receiving rooms of many homes that were above the ground level.
Most homes, spread over the many square miles that made up the Sanctum’s lands, were designed for protection of those who could not easily bear sunlight, like those with vampiric blood. Many consisted of a single large receiving room above the ground and several subterranean rooms and bedrooms, where most living took place. The majority were linked by an elaborate subterranean network of tunnels and halls. Above the ground, there were several fountains, gardens, the pathways linking areas used for different purposes and a stone wall that was twelve feet high and three feet thick that surrounded the community’s land. In truth, the wall was symbolic as well as functional, because of the elaborate security measures Keirc oversaw and the Sanctum’s security force, comprised of vampires and werewolves.
By the time Keirc reached his place, he was still annoyed at Pria, although happy she was okay. He truly had tried to understand her desires to live among humans, to run that bakery of hers which had become frighteningly successful. He could not grasp her wishes, but he loved her as a brother. His protective instincts kicked in whenever he thought of her and before another day passed he would know all there was to know about this detective and the criminal who’d taken her as a hostage. And then some.
Clearly, his little sister was smitten with the detective. He could sense it and while there was nothing wrong with having a human lover or a one night stand from time to time, a true bond with a human was a rare thing. A tragedy really, since the human lifespan was so short. They were such a fragile species, immune to almost nothing and capable of dying so fast from injuries. Keirc had always believed that if he’d been as fragile as a human, he’d be terrified to leave his house or get out of his car anywhere but the Sanctum.
Willing the locks on his front door to unhinge, Keirc stepped into his dark receiving room, tossed his jacket onto a leather recliner and headed for the wet bar to his left. He had no particular need of electric lights and often used them for the sake of his guests when he chose to have any. He poured a scotch and headed downstairs.
The room Keirc hit first was another elaborately appointed receiving area with three overstuffed, burgundy leather couches, a wet bar, and an intricate entertainment system. To the right was his palatial bedroom, and an equally decadent bathing room, sauna and weight room. To the left was his private office which held an elaborate tech center. Several more rooms including his underused kitchen and simple guest quarters completed his home.
Keirc put the tumbler down on a mahogany table next to his bedroom door, stepped through the entrance and was immediately pressed to the wall by one hundred and ten pounds of warm, curvy female. Arms slipped around his shoulders and he returned the favor, dropping his head into a delicious mass of soft red hair. His hands swept over her, enjoying the way her breasts felt against his chest, letting his hands wander the satin bra and tiny panties.
“What color are they?” he murmured, his cock growing harder.
“Whatever color you’d like them to be.” The reply was followed by the tip of a tongue tracing the line of his jaw and a small, warm hand tracing the length of his cock through his lightweight pants.
“Your hair always smells so good,” he said, inhaling again.
“The rest of me does too but I taste better.”
Keirc held the female away from him to look down into her soft gray eyes. “You shouldn’t be here,” he said, sadness creeping into his voice. “You must tell me when you’re coming.”
“That’s what you say, but you never seem to want me to go once I’m here. Do you want me to go?” Iridea asked, smiling up at him.
Keirc shook his head helplessly. “What am I to do with you?”
Her fingers claimed his belt buckle, which she was undoing with amazing dexterity. “Take me to bed. We’ll discuss it.”
He couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, let’s discuss,” he said, scooping her into his arms. In minutes they were tumbling into his bed. Iridea laughed as she yanked his belt free and tugged at his clothing until he was naked and wrapped around her, nuzzling her throat, helping her shed her bra and tiny panties. When he captured her lips against his, their playful laughter was replaced by pure heat.
Keirc’s