Heya lovely readers!

New update and it's early ;) You can thank Alirah for that!

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Love,

Robin

About twenty minutes later I found myself seated on the couch in the living, cradling Hayden against my side protectively. Nathaniel had his own arm wrapped tightly around my shoulders, his posture tense as he stared at the red haired woman as if she was a rattlesnake.

Elliot was holding Missy to him just as tightly, easily picking up on the tense atmosphere.

Deirde had asked for a moment to slip on dry clothes and had appeared downstairs to sit down in the large leather chair. She was now wearing a soft white dress and a towel wrapped around her shoulders to dry her hair.

Jake stood across from her, his back turned to everyone as he stared out the window. All I knew was that Deirde meant tears or sorrowful and that this was in fact the woman that had made Jake a vampire.

The woman he'd fallen in love with so very very long ago.

I didn't know if he'd seen her again after he'd made Nathaniel and Missy. I didn't know the manner in which he'd left her to save his siblings but I knew that it was hurting him, a lot, to see her again now. Did he still love this woman?

I couldn't imagine this incredibly beautiful vampire loving anyone but herself. Even now, dressed so innocently as opposed to that dangerous look before, she looked like a woman very sure of herself. Ready to wrap any man around her little finger.

Eliza and Jessica could learn a lot from this woman.

Hayden shivered and looked up at me, 'What is going on? Why is she so sad?' He whispered but I knew everyone but maybe Elliot could hear with their vampire ears. His eyes were so big and luminous that you could almost drown in them.

Sad? I looked back at Deidre but I couldn't see it. She looked composed and very put together, despite the wet hair and non existent make up. There was a soft smile playing on her lips and her silver eyes looked cold and sharp not sad.

I shrugged and offered: 'Want to go play upstairs Giant?'

'No!' He shook his head in defiance, 'I want to know why she's so sad! And I want to know why Jakey is sad too!'

I would have smiled at how Hayden called Jake but Nathaniel stiffened beside me at the words. When I looked up I saw Jake look at my baby brother as well, a smoldering look on his face that I couldn't quite place.

Missy seemed very thoughtful and I think she was talking telepathically to Nathaniel. The way her forehead had creased just a little bit...

I didn't quite know how to respond to Hay because all the vampires in the room would hear what I said anyway. I wasn't sure I wanted that.

Then the thought crossed my mind that Nathaniel thought I might have some talent in the telepathy department. So I gently reached out with my mind towards Hayden.

It wasn't easy because I didn't know exactly how to, with Nathaniel it was all so very instinctive and easy as if there was a line I could follow. But as I focused on the vibrant energy of my baby brother I send the thought: 'Hay, I don't know why they are sad but it's private. We shouldn't intrude... You know how you hate crying in front of other kids? So do they.'

I hoped he realized that it was me and that I had in fact reached him... But I had no reason to worry because he suddenly started bouncing in excitement. 'You can do that too Amy? Can you read my mind? What am I thinking right now?'

Just like that the tension in the room broke, although Deidre gave me a single piercing look as if she was surprised to find telepathy in a human. Everyone else but Jake was smiling at Hayden with soft indulgence.

I smiled at Hay and was about to say that I couldn't actually read minds but was able to send thoughts to him when I realized he was in fact sending one to me.

'Can I have cake? Please? Elliot made some, can I have it?'

Shocked I stared at him and then I smiled, 'No Hay you're not getting cake. I'm sure Elliot will leave some for you for tomorrow. Besides he makes cake all the time.'

'Oh why not? It's chocolate cake!' he pouted but then he got up and seemed to have regained some sense. 'Read my mind again Lia!'

'It's so cool you can read minds and talk to me like this. I don't like it when they're sad, it makes my head heavy... Can I hug them? Will that make it better?'

I shook my head, 'I suppose you can hug Jake if you want. What do you mean it makes your head heavy?' It surprised me how easy the telepathic communication between us was already but I supposed it had to do with our blood relation.

Hayden didn't reply however and slipped out from under my arm to jump to his feet. Instead of going over to Jake for that hug he turned and ran straight to Deidre. He'd climbed in her lap and slung his short arms around her neck in a death grip before she could even move.

Although being a vampire I supposed she could move real fast, maybe she was just too shocked to actually move.

'Hayden I said Jake!' the words fell from my lips because I was rather shocked as well and at that Jake finally turned to face us. His blue eyes met mine and I was startled to see that he no longer looked sad but that a smile was tugging at his lips.

It told me he appreciated the sentiment.

Deidre was still frozen in Hayden's arms and suddenly I was worried that she might not be able to restrain herself. Was she struggling to contain her blood thirst?

'Does Hayden have anymore surprises up his sleeve a ghrá mo chroí? Oh don't worry, Deidre wont bite him... She's only lethal to grown men, she loves children.'

I shot Nathaniel a grateful look, happy that he'd guessed at the reason of the sudden tension in my body. I squeezed his hand, more firmly then I would have with a human but as he'd said earlier today, he was a vampire.

'So it's only you I have to worry about?' I asked him, surprised to find the sudden playfulness inside me. I was only teasing because for some reason I couldn't explain I had known the second Deidre walked in that she wasn't all that powerful as a vamp.

Stronger then Jake maybe, but Jake was at the very bottom so that wasn't a surprise. But even Missy was stronger compared to this pale but very beautiful woman. She was lethal only because she'd learned to art of seduction to perfection I guessed.

I knew I had nothing to worry about in that department. I might not be anywhere near as beautiful as she was but Nathaniel was my soulmate. He would never love another. Never.

Hayden was still tightly hugging Deidre and only now, after a few minutes did I notice a chance in her posture. Her body seemed to be relaxing and then suddenly she'd gone from confident seductress to frail and lost.

Then suddenly she started shaking and then the woman wrapped her arms tightly around Hayden, not tight enough to hurt but tight so she pulled him close to her chest. Her head bend, at long last shielding a face devoid of emotion against Hayden's tiny shoulder.

My breath caught in my throat as I thought for a moment that she'd leaned down to feed but then I realized she was crying. Utterly heartbroken and so filled with sorrow that her name was a haunting fit.

Hayden was petting her hair as if he was trying to comfort her, humming a soft melody that I soon recognized as that of the Irish lullaby. I shouldn't be surprised that he'd picked it up after I sang it once... After all, I had too, words and all after hearing it only twice from Nathaniel.

I think everyone was holding their breath and staring at what was happening. Jake was clenching is fists and gritting his teeth as if he itched to go over there and hug the woman. Something held him back and when I saw his eyes I knew that it was dark memories.

Whatever had happened, they hadn't parted on friendly terms and he wasn't able to forgive her for it. Not yet at least... Even though I could clearly see that he loved this woman. Somehow after all these years, he still loved her.

Since they'd almost died of the famine and disease and Nathaniel had been an old fashioned blacksmith, I knew they had to be at least three hundred years old...

After about ten minutes Deidre stopped crying and stopped hugging Hayden so tightly. My baby brother let go of her neck at that moment too and sat back on her lap to look the woman in the eye.

He said something but it was a whisper I couldn't hear but Jake and Nathaniel both stiffened and Missy suddenly started smiling. Damn them and their vampire ears.

I had another shock when Hayden got up. Deidre's face wasn't wet from tears, it was blood that had streaked from her eyes and colored her cheeks crimson. Staining even her dress and the blue collar of Hayden's shirt.

Her eyes were portals into her soul and what I saw told me this woman was broken. So broken inside that she didn't know where her loyalties lay or how she was supposed to feel... But underneath that was a spine of steel because her voice was steady when she spoke:

'I came to warn you. Thornten is very mad at me and he wishes to punish me by killing Jake. Thank you for the hospitality,' she turned slowly to face Hayden, cupping his face with a gentle hand.

'Thank you Hayden, child of an Angel.'

Those last words had me gasping for air, my mouth dry and my throat suddenly tight. Why had she chosen to call him child of an Angel? It was a stark reminder of the memory that had resurfaced last night.

A memory that showed me he had been conceived not by an Angel, but by a Demon.

Before I could pursuit that train of thought Deidre rose smoothly to her feet, 'I will leave now. I only came to warn you, I know Nathaniel will keep you safe... Seeing him tells me Thornten is no match for him.'

Then she turned around and walked out the door and straight out of the house. The front door fell shut with a definite bang that even to me sounded ominous.

Hayden seemed ultra sensitive to the mood in the room. Everyone seemed to be turned inwards as they remembered things or thought over the strange warning the vampire Deidre had brought us.

'Okay I think we all need cake now.' The boy had a smug look on his face that told me he knew exactly what he was saying, sneaky kid. 'I'll go get it.'

I shook out of Nathaniel's grasp to hurry after Hay as he ran to the kitchen with a giggle. 'Hayden! I said no and only Elliot eats. You're one sneaky boy...'

I caught him round the middle before he reached the door and picked him up. 'It's that I love you so much.'

Hayden smiled up at me and then his eyes shifted to look behind me at the room. As I looked over my shoulder I saw that everyone was smiling, even Jake although it looked a little strained.

Wow... I realized immediately that it had in fact been Hayden's intent all along to lighten the mood. He really was the most amazing little brother ever and I felt bad that he was the one that was cheering up all the adults now.

I shifted him in my hold so that I could balance him on my hip, 'You know Hay, you're the most amazing boy ever. Just for that you can get a piece of cake okay? You promise to go to bed after that?'

He nodded happily and I had no problem passing him on to Elliot as he appeared beside me. 'I'll have some of that cake too, come Hay.'

I let the door close on them and returned to the three vampires.

'How serious is this threat to Jake's life?' I asked when I reached them. Their smiles were all gone and Jake had returned to staring out of the window, his form rigid.

It was quiet a moment and then Nathaniel said: 'It's no threat at all. I can kick Thornten ass any day. It surprises me that he thinks he can threaten Jake... I suppose he's grown arrogant and conceited now that he's held his territory for a hundred years without any power struggles.'

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at the cold tone of his voice. He sounded and looked every inch the hard bad ass vampire that I'd seen infused with so much power that he'd lit up like a Christmas tree last night.

I had no trouble believing him when he said Thornten was no match. Except that when I looked at Missy she looked so worried that my stomach plummeted to my toes. 'You sure Nathaniel?' I didn't want to doubt him but I sure as hell didn't want him to get hurt.

'I'm sure I can beat him,' Nathaniel replied curtly, his eyes intense. He held out one hand in an obvious demand for me to go to him. I wondered if he wanted to hold me for his sake or mine?

Deciding to ignore him despite the very needy part of me that yearned to be skin to skin to him at every opportunity. Instead I skirted around the coffee table, making sure to stay out of his reach and walked over to Jake.

'I told Hay to hug you, he wanted to hug you and her... But I guess he thought she needed it more,' I said as I wrapped my arms around Jake's waist. Fleetingly I wondered why both Flynn's had to be so bloody tall.

Jake was tense for a short moment but then he softened. 'Thank you Amy,' he whispered as he brought up his arms and wrapped them around me. His head came down so his chin rested on top of mine.

I heard some sort of growl coming from behind me and I knew that was Nathaniel. Then Missy laughed as she said: 'Oh stop it Nate, she's your mate and Jake's your brother. Get over it!'

I twisted a tiny bit so I could glance back and see what was going on and it made me smile. Nathaniel had a very dark expression on his face as he glared at Jake, I couldn't believe he was going all possessive over the fact that I was hugging his brother!

I couldn't help myself, I stuck out my tongue at him.

His face was priceless, he looked shocked and then he frowned. 'Amelia, remember what I said about petting this afternoon? I take it back.' He looked smug as if he thought that would punish me for teasing him.

'Your loss... You're the one that likes it so much,' I said with a grin.

Jake let go off me, 'Go to Nate, you're driving him insane.' He smiled softly as he said it so I let go off him and stepped back, instead of going to Nathaniel I sat down beside Missy. Enjoying the annoyed growl that erupted from his throat just a little too much to resist the temptation of further teasing him.

Jake's next words however destroyed that playful illusion however.

'Nate I know you can beat Thornten in a fair fight. But that's the thing... We both know Thornten knows that too so he's not going to risk a fair fight. He's going to lure you in a trap somehow, stab you in the back.'

Nathaniel was looking at me when he replied, his voice firm and unafraid. 'I know Jake, but we've been forewarned.' When he held out his hand again for me I stood up and sat down beside him, allowing him to pull me into his lap.

I'd figured out that it wasn't for my sake that he wanted to hold me but his. It scared me to know that behind the confident facade he seemed to want the reassurance of holding me. It made me wonder just how bad this Thornten guy was...

'There's also the possibility that Deidre showing up here was a ploy of his. He might be making a play for your territory Nate,' Jake said with cold clipped words. It shook me that he could think so badly of this woman he appeared to love.

Nathaniel was even nodding, 'I considered that but if so it was without Deidre's knowledge.'

'Yes Jake, she is convinced she did the right thing,' Missy said. It was a helpless effort to defend the redheaded woman that I'd so instantly judged as a person I could never like... I was wondering about that now though, Hayden had always been a very good judge of character. Much better then I was.

He wouldn't hug a woman he didn't like. Especially not one he didn't know either, he was always so shy around strangers. Although it was mostly kids his age that scared him.

Nathaniel sounded cold again when he said: 'You should not defend that woman Missy. She might have come here because she didn't want Jake to die but that doesn't take away the fact that she is the reason Thornten wants Jake dead in the first place.'

'Yes,' Jake nodded, 'She probably pissed him off royally and he's aiming for her weakness. Me.'

Missy took on a stubborn look, 'And have you thought about why you are her weakness Jake? Because she loves you! Even if she doesn't show it...'

Jake shocked us all by throwing his head back and laugh. A sound devoid of humor, making it mocking. It gave me shivers and involuntarily I flinched back into Nathaniel's warm solid chest. He squeezed his arm around my waist holding me there.

'No Missy, that woman loves no one but herself.'

Then Jake turned around and stalked out of the room, I could faintly hear him slam his bedroom door a short moment later.

'I'll talk to him Missy,' Nathaniel offered quietly. It was clear that Missy looked a little crestfallen and sad, she seemed to be the only one who believed that whatever love there was between Jake and Deidre was salvageable.

'No don't bother... I don't even know why I still try,' Missy said, her tone a little acerbic. I had never heard her talk that way before.

'I don't know either Missy... That woman certainly doesn't deserve it,' Nathaniel replied and I had the feeling all of this was a long ongoing thing between the three siblings. Probably ever since they'd all become vampires.

Missy pinned Nathaniel with a solemn look, 'She might not Nate, but Jake certainly does.' With those words she stood up and left the room as well.

I wanted to turn around so I could see Nathaniel's expression but just then Elliot and Hayden appeared. 'I'm ready for bed Amy.'

I nodded and freed myself from Nathaniel's grasp. 'Missy might need you Elliot, I think I hurt her feelings... I apologize,' Nathaniel said, meeting the angelic looking guy with a level stare. Without saying a word he turned and ran from the room.

'I'm sorry Hay, come I'll read you a story,' I wasn't sure what I was apologizing to Hayden for but I knew it couldn't be nice for him to be in the middle of all this tension on his first night here. I wanted this to be perfect and happy... But all we got was one afternoon.

I had to climb into the castle bed with Hay when I read him the story and as I left he said bravely: 'You can turn off the light Amy... I'm not scared here. I have a castle now.'

When I turned off the light he added softly, 'Daddy can't hurt me here. He wont find me.'

I was shocked as I closed the door, numbly reassuring him that I was right down the hall and that I'd come if he called.

Had that bastard off a father really hurt Hayden at night? Or was he talking about his real father? The Demon that I could now clearly remember?