Stasio smiled. “You know it all worked out for the best between us.”

  “It did. These guys get themselves into the worst binds and then miraculously get themselves out of them with a little help from friends, I might add,” Jasmine said.

  “Like with coming to my aid.” Fiona had to give them credit for coming to help her out when they didn’t even know her.

  “Exactly,” Ruric said. “Speaking of which, we need to head to Houston and get on our flight.”

  “Do we have any layovers? Or do we have to make any other connections?” Fiona hoped not. She thought if they could get on the flight and be out of here, they would be safe. As long as Tobias and Regina didn’t pick up their trail.

  “It’s a straight shot, no stops,” Ruric said.

  “Oh great.” Fiona was so relieved.

  “Let’s go,” Levka said, and they dumped their trash in the trash bins, then headed outside into the fresh air on the perfectly cloudy day. “We’re going to get rain.”

  “Yeah,” Jasmine said. “So let’s hurry.”

  “Can rain hurt you?” Fiona figured that would be a disaster. What if they couldn’t fly in rain?

  Jasmine smiled. “No, but we’ll all be soaked to the skin and that will make for an uncomfortable flight.”

  “Oh, true. How long is the flight?”

  “Twelve hours,” Ruric said.

  That wasn’t going to be fun.

  They reached the terminal just as the rain let loose and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Except for Stasio.

  “What’s wrong, Stasio?” Fiona asked, since no one seemed to notice he appeared anxious, not even his girlfriend.

  “He doesn’t like to fly,” Jasmine said. “Not in a plane, anyway.”

  “That’s awful.” Especially since they had to fly so far to get to where they were going. “Then after we get to Scotland, what are we going to do?”

  “We’re going to a safe house,” Arman said. “I’m sure that you’ll enjoy it. It has an indoor swimming pool and a tennis court even.”

  “Wow. That sounds nice. Do you have any pictures of it?” Then Fiona realized she had his phone.

  “No.”

  “What? Why not?”

  “I never thought to take any pictures of it.”

  Fiona glanced at the others, but they just smiled at her and shook their heads. “Oh, it’s a safe house.”

  “Right, so no posting about the place online.”

  With disappointment, Fiona realized she would never be able to get back to her social media online. Well, maybe only after she reached eighteen and got rid of the curse…or just managed to make it through the phase of the blood moon and Tobias and Regina no longer wanted to control her. Maybe then. Or not.

  11

  Arman hoped Fiona would be happy with them. Caitlin and Jasmine had fit right in with their little group of vampires who were always trying to get themselves out of one issue or another, but he wasn’t sure how Fiona was feeling about all the changes in her life. He knew she’d been unhappy with Regina and Tobias and had wanted to leave that situation behind as soon as she could. But it didn’t mean she would want to stay with them in Scotland. What if she wanted to meet other hunters like herself? Learn about their ways? Join a hunter family? Marry a hunter mate?

  He wasn’t ready to tell her what Stasio had shared with him earlier today after digging through more online archives. Something he’d discovered that Arman didn’t think she was ready to learn about.

  Stasio glanced back at him as they boarded the plane. Arman knew Stasio wanted him to tell Fiona what he had learned, but couldn’t that wait until they reached the safehouse in Scotland? Arman didn’t want to upset her. What if she decided to deplane while other passengers were still boarding?

  Ruric was sitting in the aisle seat next to Arman, who was in the middle, and Fiona had the seat next to the window. Levka and Caitlin were sitting in the seats in front of them. Arman swore he always had to lead, even if he was in a seat on an airplane leading the way. Stasio and Jasmine were sitting in the seats across the aisle from Ruric, Arman, and Fiona.

  If Ruric could have, he would have gotten them all first-class seats, but Levka had said not to bother because there were getting to be so many in their little vampire pack. He hadn’t wanted them to cause an incident if they bumped all the first-class passengers suddenly. It was a good thing too, because two of the first-class passengers were vampires.

  The man and woman were having an open telepathic conversation about seeing the sights in Edinburgh, most likely thinking, wrongly, that no one onboard could be vampires listening in. They looked to be about twenty-five, but who knew in vampire ages. The man and woman had looked similar, both redheads, freckled, about the same build—slender, tall. They were dressed in black jeans, white shirts, black leather jackets and black boots. Arman was certain they were related. If not brother and sister, close cousins possibly.

  Arman really hoped that they wouldn’t cause trouble for them.

  Then the stewardess made the safety announcements and before long, they were in the air. Arman was so glad that Regina and Tobias hadn’t discovered them before they left the States. Though Regina and Tobias might end up going to Wales to see if they returned there, or they could find someone else to go in their stead. He just hoped Regina and Tobias wouldn’t learn about the coup in Scotland that Arman and his friends had been instrumental in and search for them there.

  As soon as they were airborne, they settled back in their seats to make the most of the long flight. Stasio had been doing much better traveling by plane now that Jasmine was with him so Arman hoped it would help this time also.

  The stewardesses started handing out drinks and once they both got a bottled water, Fiona said to Arman, “Okay, so what did you learn?”

  “About what?”

  She turned her head to look out the window.

  He figured he was in the doghouse now. How would she have learned he knew something he didn’t want to share with her just yet?

  “Stasio learned something, glanced back at you, gave you a look that said he wanted you to tell me the truth about something he had learned, and you looked at me, so I know it was about me.”

  “Us,” Arman said, figuring he couldn’t get away with keeping secrets from her.

  “Us? You mean with the whole lot of you?” Fiona asked.

  “You and me. Us. If we left the pack, it would still have to do with you and me.”

  “Okay, what then?”

  “I can help you with your ability.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “You want the power for yourself?”

  “No, I’m just saying that because we’re dream-connected, I can help you with it when you get the ability, I think. At least Stasio believes. Even though he found where someone had done it before and it had worked, it doesn’t mean it would with us. We’re not sure.”

  “Who did it before? Maybe we can talk to them and learn more about it and how it was done. Does the person with the ability use it and how? Did anyone come after them with the same dark interest and threaten to kill them if they didn’t give into them? Are they still alive?”

  This was just why Arman hadn’t wanted to tell her about it on the plane. “Your father has the ability.”

  “What? No…no…no…no.”

  “We think that’s why you have the ability.”

  “Were they hunters then?”

  This got tricky. “They were.”

  “Were? Are they no longer alive?” Fiona’s voice hitched.

  “That…we don’t know. Tobias…Tobias was after your dad for the same ability he wants from you. Your mother tried to kill Tobias to protect your father, but he⁠—”

  “Killed her?” Fiona sounded like she was ready to take on the vampire herself now.

  “No. He turned her. She became a huntress turned vampire. Tobias thought he could control her. He believed he could make her hand over your father to him so he could turn him, but instead she turned Nathaniel herself.”

  “Wait, what? My parents are both vampires now? How could I be a huntress? Oh…oh, I got it. I was born before they were turned. They gave me up to the dysfunctional humans because the vampires were after my dad. My parents hadn’t wanted them to know the baby—me—might have this ability too.”

  “That’s what we figure. Your mother can’t kill Tobias.”

  “Because he made her. But she turned my dad, why?”

  “Because he could protect himself better. Tobias can’t control him. Your dad can kill him if he gets the chance.”

  “What…what if Tobias wants me because he wants to draw them to him? To me? They would come to rescue me, and he would kill them.”

  “That’s a good possibility. Or at least he could be after your father because Tobias has no control over him. And Tobias wouldn’t want him interfering with his plans for you.”

  “Then we need to kill Tobias and end his reign of terror.”

  Arman sighed. “We’re all in agreement but we have to teach you how to use a sword in a fight. Not just in demonstrations.”

  “I can’t just kill anyone.”

  “No. But we’ll all put you through your paces.”

  “Practice fighting. Okay, I like that idea. I don’t have any sword with me. You don’t either.”

  “No, but we have an armory filled with them back at the safe house.”

  “Oh, okay. Wow. I didn’t know I had joined a militant group.”

  Arman smiled. Little did she know.

  “Did my parents give me up because they thought they couldn’t raise me since they were vampires, and I was still a hunter?”

  “I doubt it. I’m sure it all had to do with wanting to protect you from Tobias, or other vampires with the same dark plan.” Now for the really hard part. “If one of us turns you⁠—”

  Fiona looked cross with him and folded her arms. “Yeah?”

  “Then you’ll really be able to fight the vampires on more equal terms. Jasmine is a vampire who hunts rogues. Maybe you could join her on some hunts.”

  Fiona’s brows rose. “You want her to turn me?”

  “No, I’m just saying you might end up being a vampire huntress like her. Any one of us could turn you.”

  “Not Levka.”

  Arman smiled just a hint.

  “He’s too controlling, though Caitlin holds her own. I could see me butting heads with Levka and him trying to make me do things because he made me.”

  “He wouldn’t. But Caitlin can’t turn you either, because she doesn’t want to turn anyone.”

  “I don’t blame her. What about you? Would you have any qualms about it?”

  “Hell, yeah. I mean, I would do it in a heartbeat⁠—”

  She reached over and felt his chest.

  He smiled at her. “We still have beating hearts.”

  “So another misnomer.”

  “Exactly. We’re not dead. We breathe, eat, and drink. We do just about everything that humans do but we have a need for extra blood, and no soaking up the sun on the beach, but that’s not good for anyone either. Otherwise, we have a lot of powers that really help us out. Like night vision, for one. Our hearing is enhanced, but it’s like that for hunters too. Anyway, as I was saying, I would do anything to protect you. That’s why I left the safety of Scotland to rescue you.”

  She sighed. “But if you turned me, what do you get out of it?”

  “A friend who lives a lot longer than a huntress.”

  “Unless a vampire or hunter ends me.”

  “We all have that problem. Even as a huntress you can be on someone’s terminal list.”

  “How well I know.”

  Then the stewardesses handed out dinners and they both selected the chicken dish. Once they finished eating, they watched Stasio head back to the restroom.

  “I’m okay,” Stasio said when he caught their eye.

  “Good,” Arman said.

  Stasio smiled. “Jasmine is good for me, especially when we travel by plane.” Then he made his way to the restroom.

  “I was going to see if I could help him if he tried to sleep after dinner.” Fiona settled against her seat back, her airline pillow behind her head and the blanket over her lap.

  “Can you do that now?” Arman thought maybe it had to happen the night of the blood moon and then she would have the ability.

  “I can already give you pleasant dreams, it seems.”

  He smiled. “You sure can.”

  She laughed and closed her eyes. He settled back against his pillow and closed his eyes too. He really didn’t think he could sleep. But the next think he knew, he was dreaming of her…Fiona Wilder, dreamer of dreams that made his own magical.

  Fiona was racing after Arman on a beach. What the heck? He was supposed to be the one chasing after her and catching her! Hugging her. Kissing her.

  Clouds covered the sky, making it the perfect day. Why wasn’t he stopping to catch her in his arms? Why was he still running away? But then she caught up to him and grabbed him in her arms and hugged and kissed him. Just like he’d wanted to do with her. She was beautiful and for the moment all his.

  Fiona knew just what Arman thought she should be doing, but she wasn’t going along with it. He wanted to chase her! So she changed the scenario. He tried to turn the dream around to the way he saw himself, the one who was coming for her, pursuing her, hunting her. But she wouldn’t let him dream the scene in that way. In the end, the result was the same—them holding each other tight, kissing, enjoying the moment.

  She woke, feeling tired, but as soon as she woke, she remembered her dream and smiled. She liked the way she had changed it. Though it didn’t mean Arman saw the dream in the same way if he even dreamed it. She might have dreamed it all on her own. She leaned over and snuggled against him. And then he was wrapping his arms around her and smiling.

  “Did you dream of me?” he asked.

  “Oh, yeah, I was chasing you.”

  “I was supposed to be chasing you,” he said.

  “I didn’t want it that way.”

  He frowned at her. “You did not change my dream scenario.”

  “If we had the same dream and I wanted it to go one way and you wanted it to go the other, I can make it happen my way. I think. I…I didn’t realize I could do that. But, ohmigod, I already have the power. The ability. Maybe.”

  “With me.”

  “Yeah, maybe just with you. I love it.”

  He laughed. “You are in charge of me during our dreams.”

  “That works for me.”

  He laughed again. “The end result was just what I wanted.”

  “Yeah, see? Next time, I’ll let you chase me.”

  He smiled and kissed her. “You’ve got it. What about nightmares?”

  “Do you want me to give you a nightmare?”

  He shook his head. “Not really, but I wonder if you can give anyone one.”

  “Hmm, I wonder if I can try giving the others a good dream first? Just to see if I can do it with anyone other than you.”

  Arman glanced over at Stasio and whispered to Fiona, “Stasio is asleep. Try it on him.”

  “Don’t you think I should ask him first?”

  Arman smiled. “Nah. He’s a good sport.”

  “Alright, but if he gets mad about it, I’m telling him that you encouraged me to do it.”

  Arman chuckled. “Go for it.”

  She sighed and closed her eyes, but she couldn’t fall asleep. Yet she attempted to connect with Stasio and see his dreams if he was having any. She didn’t know how to do this. She tried and tried to break into his dreamlike state, but maybe he wasn’t dreaming. Or maybe she had to be sleeping. Though she couldn’t imagine bonding with anyone else like she could connect with Arman. She was resting her head against Arman’s shoulder still, feeling relaxed, the sound of the airplane’s engines droning on in the background.

  She let out her breath and figured she couldn’t do this, but as soon as she let go, she felt connected to Stasio in his dreamlike state.

  Stasio was caught up in a nightmare, fighting a vampire, both of them armed with swords and she turned the other vampire’s sword into a funnel of pink cotton candy. Immediately, both Stasio and the other vampire stopped their fight and were staring at the cotton candy. Did she do that?

  The other vampire dropped the paper cone of cotton candy and turned and vanished. Stasio looked dumbfounded, but then he saw Jasmine coming to his rescue and he swept her up in his arms and they kissed. Time for Fiona to remove herself from the equation. She felt joy and relief that she could change a possible nightmare to a happier dream for her friends.

  Then she opened her eyes and saw that Arman was watching a movie. She turned his phone on and looked through the photos on his camera. There were none but the ones she’d taken at Moody Gardens.

  As soon as he realized she was awake, he pulled her close. She loved that he wanted to be intimate with her no matter what he was doing at the time. Watching the movie didn’t seem to be as important to him.

  “You took some great photos,” he said.

  She smiled at him. “Thanks. You don’t have any photos of your own on here.”

  Arman smiled at her, looking more than amused. “No. What were you trying to find out?”

  “If you had some pictures of some cute girlfriends.”

  He laughed. “I told you I didn’t.” He turned off the movie.

  “You did tell me that. And I did it!”

  “What? You got into Stasio’s dream?”

  She told Arman what had happened concerning the rogue vampire’s sword turning into a cone of cotton candy. Arman laughed out loud. She loved that he could see the humor in situations.

  “I couldn’t believe I could turn a sword into a cone of cotton candy. I wish I could do it for real during a deadly fight.”

  “Now that would come in handy,” Arman said. “Can you try it with one of our other friends?”