"What?" Irritation flashed inside him. "Quit staring at me that way."

She recovered and closed the fridge. "You protect me and give me a home. I don't know what I'd do if you hadn't taken me in."

"It doesn't mean I should be an a.s.s. I have been."

"Yes." She suddenly smiled. "I wasn't sure about you taking a mate but I like it so far."

"Why wouldn't you be happy about it?"

"She's human, but I suppose it's better that you ended up with one of them instead of a werewolf."

He scowled. "What would it matter?"

"Most werewolf b.i.t.c.hes are power hungry. I wanted more for you than to end up locked to someone who would never truly love you." She stepped closer. "Jasmine really didn't know what you were?"

"No."

"You met her before but waited until she nearly died to claim her? Why?"

"I was deeply attracted to her but she was too sweet and good to enter this life. I felt very protective."

Jenny nodded. "I understand. I met a human but avoid him now because he can't ever find out what I am."

That statement drew a frown from Chase, and a new sense of worry. "What human?"

"He's a neighbor. I've run into him more than a few times where our land meets at the river. He enjoys fishing."

"Single?"

"No scent of a woman is on him."

"Is he interested in you?"

"He's male, Chase." She grinned. "What do you think?" She sobered. "I'm really attracted to him, he smells so good and he's funny."

"Why don't you date him and see where it leads?"

"We both know what would happen. He'd either freak out if he learned what I am or, if I mated him, he'd go on a power trip. Sharing my blood would make him stronger, more aggressive, and change him for the worse. He wasn't raised with that kind of strength."

"He could be different than most."

"He might not be." She walked to the counter to unpack a bag. "You'd have to kill him, and I couldn't stand it."

"I wouldn't do that."

She peered up at him. "You'd have to if he started showing off to his human friends. Can you imagine? 'Hey, look at me. I can lift a car!'" She rolled her eyes. "Rule number one is keeping the secret of our existence."

"You could take him to live with the nest."

Jenny's expression hardened. "No."

"Mother?"

She gave a sharp nod. "She attempted to make me a vampire's companion."

Anger burned through Chase. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I knew you'd be furious. She thinks that's what's best, Chase. I came to stay with you before she could send me to London. That's where most of the old masters live."

"I'm glad you came to me." He silently swore to have a talk with their mother. "Is that where she is? I don't keep in contact."

"Probably." Jenny shrugged. "I ditched her at the airport and haven't spoken to her since. I refuse to return to the nest, though, on the off chance that she's returned."

"You could mate with a werewolf that you like to get our mother off your back."

"No thanks!" The sadness in her eyes belied her laugh.

"Do they believe you'd be too cold to mate?"

"No. That was just you because you were always such a hard a.s.s. I just don't find all that growling and aggressiveness charming."

"Understood. I get enough of that s.h.i.t from my pack."

Her eyes sparked with real amus.e.m.e.nt. "If only our mother could only see you now. She'd be horrified that you're so sweet."

"Shut up." He playfully swatted her arm. "Don't ever tell her."

"Why do you work for vampires?"

"Blaron and Lethal aren't like the others. They are good souls."

"Some say vampires don't have those."

"Those two do. They aren't anything like our fathers."

"You mean they wouldn't abandon their companion and their young just because they're an embarra.s.sment with their mixed bloodlines?"

His humor died. "No."

"Have you heard from your father?"

"Not since he wanted me to take out one of his vampire enemies."

"You didn't!"

He shook his head, sighing loudly. "I'm not a weapon to be used when he needs an a.s.sa.s.sin during daylight hours."

"Mine was the one who suggested to our mother that I become a companion to one of his friends. I think she still loves him."

"We don't need them. We never did. Mother needs to realize she was used by them to have offspring. The concept fascinated them, but the reality didn't fulfill their expectations."

Jenny suddenly stepped forward and pressed her hand to the center of his chest. "Do you love Jasmine?"

"I believe I do. I think I have since we first met."

"Be sure. Mating is forever."

"I've never felt anything this strong before. She makes me happy, and I look forward to a future with her. She's all I think about."

"You're such a dork." She laughed, grinning. "That's love."

"Now I just have to get her to immediately agree to mate with me."

"I thought you were going to give her time."

"She's turning."

"s.h.i.t." Jenny backed away. "Why are you standing here talking to me? Get it done. You don't want to doom her to an existence without sunshine and cause her to be weaker than she needs to be. Your mate shouldn't have to endure vampire flaws."

"I don't want her to regret it."

"I'm pretty sure she'd hate bursting into flames if she ventured outside during the day and having to drink blood on a daily basis. Jasmine doesn't know enough to make that kind of decision, Chase, but you do. Do what's best for her."

He knew his sister was right. "I'll go find her." He sniffed. "She's not upstairs."

"She headed downstairs, last I saw."

"She'll be suffering exhaustion while her body goes through the first stages of transformation."

"Go mate her."

Chase spun on his heel and stalked to the bas.e.m.e.nt. "Do you mind cooking dinner in an hour? She'll be hungry."

"I've got this. You deal with her."

He paused by the door and turned, holding his sister's stare. "About the human you mentioned..."

"What about him?"

"I wouldn't kill him. I'd just guide him until he understood how important it was to protect you and what we are. I don't want you to be alone."

"You mean you'd scare him into submission and beat him if needed."

"Better me than someone else attempt to kill him for revealing too much."

"That's true. I'll think about it."

"Good."

He closed the door after him, following Jasmine's faint scent still lingering in the air, tracking her to his bedroom.

Jasmine stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything. A slight noise drew her attention and she sat up as Chase entered his room. It was still a bit awkward between them since they didn't know each other that well. No words came to mind as he slowly stalked closer.

She noticed the way he moved, graceful but with an aura of danger. He wasn't a typical guy, had never been one, but now she knew what was so different about him. Being part werewolf and vampire was a lethal combination. His dark stare didn't frighten her though, but instead made her aware of various parts of her body. Her belly tightened and her nipples tingled. Another part of her reacted too, but she tried to ignore that.

"How are you feeling?"

She wasn't sure why he didn't just read her mind. That ability still unnerved her. "Okay. A little tired but restless. I couldn't fall asleep."

He sat on the edge of the bed, his weight dipping that side slightly as he shifted to face her. "Are your eyes sensitive to the light in here? Any numbness in your body?"

She wished the second part was a current symptom. Every time Chase was near, it was impossible not to notice the way her body reacted to him. It had been that way since the first time they'd met at her office. One look, and her heart rate had increased and her palms had been sweaty when they'd shaken hands.

"No. I'm good."

"It's a slow process, fortunately." He reached out but he didn't touch her. Instead his fingers traced a crease in the bedding. "We still have a bit of time."

"Before I turn into a full-on vampire?"

"Yes."

"Will it hurt?" That was a real fear.

"No. Your body will start going numb while it shuts down until you fall asleep. Your heart will stop beating at that point, and you'll die." He glanced anywhere but at her. "The next evening, after the process is finished, you'll wake."

"Will I still have a beating heart?"

"It does to a degree."

"What does that mean? It either does or it doesn't."

"It will slow to a standstill if you haven't eaten or if you're sleeping during the day. When you wake and feed, it accelerates. The fresher the blood in your system, the more it will pump at a normal rate."

"What about air? Will I need to breathe?"

"You could go without for quite a while. You technically don't need it but it isn't pretty when your body is starved of oxygen for extended periods of time."

"Can you elaborate? I don't know any real facts about vampires, just the fiction I've read in books."

"Think white or a greenish tint, depending on whether you're in a dry or wet climate." He grimaced. "We need to take care of this situation, Jasmine."

She knew what that meant. "You want to make me your mate."

"You know I do." He leaned closer, holding her gaze. "I promise you'll never regret it."

"How can you possibly do that?"

He hesitated. "I'm over a hundred years old, Jasmine."