Chapter One
Stonewald 300 YearsAgo
Lochlaan
Iwas tooangry to travel by any means other than on foot to Catrin’s shack. As my feet pounded the hardened dirt pathway, I swore under my breath for allowing myself to become involved with her in the firstplace.
Stonewald was mainly full of Carpe Noctem with the occasional witch or warlock roaming about. They kept to themselves and helped us out when we needed. It was an exchange of courtesy for them to help us when werequested.
I normally only had sexual relations with fellow Carpe. The main reason was that they could not become pregnant. I made the mistake one night after having too many ales and found a young, traveling witch irresistible. I was now forced to resolve the issuemyself.
I warnedher.
I warned her, and she did not take my warnings seriously. She was not to have that child. She gave me her word that she would not see the pregnancy to term. I permitted her to stay in Stonewald and warned her that if she did not follow through, there would be hell topay.
And hell wascoming.
I pounded my fist against her shabby door, and a chill washed over me when I heard the cries of a child. Quickly, her voice tried to hush thechild.
“Catrin! Open this door at once!” Ibellowed.
I barged into the small room the second she opened the door and saw thechild.
“Lochlaan, did you come to see yourboy?”
“Myboy?”
It was nearly impossible to control my rage. I swiped my hand at a copper plate on the table and knocked it to the ground. The child cried louder from the blanket on the floor in the corner.Myson.
“Is that the child you gave me your word that you would not have?” Iquestioned.
“Lochlaan, I know I gave you my word. Itried—”
“You tried? You either did not try hard enough or failed at your attempt to make good on your word! Both are unacceptable!” Ispat.
“Itried!”
“Explain!” Iroared.
“I took him to the river. I could not drown him!” Catrin cried and looked over at theboy.
“We had an agreement, Catrin. I cannot, nor will I, have some inadequate, partial vampire child runningaround.”
“Listen to me, Lochlaan! There is something special about him!” Catrin tried to reason with me as I advanced onher.
“I do not want to hear it!” Iyelled.
“Lochlaan! He cannot be killed! There is something special about him! I swear it. All I can think of is that this is a beautiful mix of my witchcraft and you being a vampire. If you kill him, you will becursed.”
“Rubbish! There is nothing special about that boy! You should never have brought the boy into thisworld!”
I seized her as the boycried.
“Lochlaan, please do not do this,” Catrin pleaded as I placed my hands firmly on her forehead and the back on herhead.
“Unlike you, I make good on the promises that Imake.”
Catrin realized her demise was moments away. She tried to tilt her head to the side as much as she could, offering her neck to me. I tightened my grip on her head so that she would not move. She raised her hands to offer her wrists. “Feed on me, Lochlaan,” shebegged.
