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Arman was glad he had called Fiona Justin’s sister. Justin had already lost his own parents and even his sister in the deal, not to mention the world he knew had just been turned inside out.

* * *

“Some of the vampires are willing to turn you so that you have more abilities and the longevity they have,” Fiona said, glad they had told her brother the truth, but she thought he was still having a hard time believing in all of it.

“And the blood drinking need?” Justin asked.

Fiona hugged him. “Yeah, that’s the biggest drawback.”

“What about you? Wouldn’t it help for you to also be a vampire?” Justin asked.

“They’ve suggested that also.”

“I’ll do it if you do it,” Justin said.

Fiona smiled. “I’m just getting used to being a hunter and having some kind of idea about the dreams.”

“What can you do with them?” Justin asked.

“I don’t know yet.” She still was not comfortable with Shelly and Michail listening in. She felt the others were truly behind her all the way. She just wasn’t sure about the two new vampires. She didn’t think that Arman or his friends were intent on anything but protecting her. She thought when her parents arrived, they could vouch for Shelly and Michail and she would feel better about it.

“Let’s uhm, practice fighting then,” Justin said, “if we’re going to have a fight for our lives during the blood moon. Here I thought we were just going to celebrate your birthday.”

“Oh, speaking of that, Arman, Caitlin, and I are making plans. If you want to come with us tomorrow before we are doing our sword practice,” Jasmine said to Justin, “you can let us know what Fiona likes.”

Fiona knew they could have a real fight on their hands with other vampires on her birthday. She never thought of anyone throwing a birthday party for her!

“Yeah, sure, I would love to do that,” Justin said, finally standing and helping Fiona up. Then he hugged her. “You’re right. We’re still brother and sister, though we might have another difference between us soon.”

“Oh?” Being human and hunter was enough of a difference, Fiona thought.

“Vampire and hunter. I can’t be turned into a hunter, can I?” Justin asked.

Fiona hadn’t thought of that.

“No. Only vampires can turn humans…or hunters. But hunters have to be born that way,” Levka said.

Then they all paired up to fight each other—Cadfael, Llewellyn, and Gareth taking turns with Arman to give Fiona a workout, showing her the difference between hunters and vampires, and even between each of the hunters who had their own style of fighting.

“Wow,” Fiona said. “I would never have realized how different you all fight. It really gives me the disadvantage. I think Cadfael will be the same as Llewellyn, and then I fight him, and he throws me off completely. The same with Gareth. And of course the vampires are the same way with their unique maneuvers.”

“For being so new at this, you adapt really well,” Arman said. “I don’t believe I’ve ever had to train anyone in sword fighting who can learn and anticipate new moves so quickly.”

“I agree,” Gareth said. “You would make a great vampire assassin.”

“There’s good money in it too,” Jasmine said. “Next time we practice, you and I will have a go at it.”

Fiona knew Jasmine would be just as hard on her as the guys had been. They couldn’t go easy on her, not with the dangers she faced.

“Is everyone ready for dinner?” Levka finally asked.

Everyone unanimously wanted to have dinner.

They’d worked out for a couple of hours and were ready for the break, and everyone retired to the house.

“We’re making dinner,” Levka said. “Guys on the grills. We’ll do it all.”

“Wow, really?” Fiona asked.