Page 55 of Kiss of Wrath

“It wouldn’t have to be the roof. It could be through one of the upper windows,” Cnut contended. “And it could be any being with evil intent, not just Roger.” Cnut gave Mordr a meaningful glance. He meant Lucies.

“Mordr, do you really think Roger is that much of a threat? I mean, I know he’s angry, and I know he’s been physically violent in the past, and I know he blames me for the loss of his children, but you’re talking about guns and shooting.”

“Must be, or I would not have been sent to protect you,” Mordr replied.

“So what do we do about it?”

Cnut piped in, “As I mentioned, you could stay in a more secure location until it is safe to return home.”

“Like where? A hotel? Some safe house?”

“The castle,” Mordr suggested.

“What castle?” she asked.

“The castle in Transylvania. I already told you about that,” he said, getting increasingly impatient with all her questions.

She exhaled with exasperation. Apparently she was getting impatient, too. “You mentioned some crazy place named Transylvania, but you never mentioned a castle. I would remember that,” she accused Mordr. Then, “You own a castle?”

“I do not own the castle. It is the headquarters for”—he caught himself just in time—“my family.”

“Well, you could say it is Vikar’s castle since he lives there more than any of us.” Cnut was enjoying this whole conversation, while Mordr felt as if he were walking on eggs.

There was no way the castle would work, anyhow. Five energetic children running around in the midst of fifty or so vangels, some of whom were young, a hundred years or so, and unable yet to control their fangs. “It would be impossible.”

“I know,” Cnut said, more serious now. “How about Ivak’s plantation in Louisiana?”

“He’s barely begun to rebuild that old dump . . . uh, estate,” Harek noted. “There is a huge snake problem that must be handled before the actual restoration.”

“Well, then, you will have to assign some of your men to strategic spots around the neighborhood,” Cnut told Mordr.

“He already has men guarding the children’s schools. I can’t afford that much security.” Miranda looked as if she was going to faint.

“Sit,” Mordr ordered. When she did and pressed both hands up to her face, Mordr added, “You can’t afford not to take every precaution. Besides, it will cost you nothing.”

“What?” Her head shot up.

Uh-oh! He was raising too many suspicions.

“Miranda, go outside and check on the children. We will be out soon, and all will be well, that I assure you,” he said.

She stood and he noticed how kiss-swollen her lips still looked. Her nipples, even covered by an undergarment and the blouse, were evident to him, but maybe he was just remembering what he had actually seen when he had uncovered her body a short time ago.

No, no, no! He could not be distracted like this.

He would think later about what had happened betwixt them. And he might even feel guilty for his lustsome actions. Or mayhap not.

Miranda went through the sliding glass doors, and he heard the children cheering her arrival.

“You’re on my team. You’re on my team!” Larry yelled.

“I lost my ball,” Linda cried.

“Sam is cheating already,” Maggie said.

“Is Mordr coming out to play?” Ben wanted to know.

“Yeah, where’s Mordr?” Sam inquired of Maggie.