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Father had not been warned. What was going on here?

“Don’t worry,” Inka said, touching his arm lightly.

“The kids could’ve been killed,” Father whispered.

Tears shone in his eyes, and I knew he spoke the truth. Father wouldn’t have put the children in harm’s way. He doted on them and cared more for them than himself.

My anger drained to be replaced by puzzlement.

“Surely the harbourmaster would’ve told you. Why didn’t he warn you?” Ana questioned, having just reached us.

“Father was set up, so he didn’t return,” I explained. My concern increased as I saw Father’s face go blank. What was it he wasn’t telling me?

“What’s going on, Father?” Inka asked, picking up my worries.

“Nothing,” Father answered firmly in a tone that brooked no argument. In an aside, he whispered, “Not in front of the children.”

By that time, the remaining Vam’pirs had gathered and recognised that something beyond what we understood was occurring. No one said anything till the wind died down enough for us to return to my father’s villa. We only broached the subject again after the youngsters had eaten and gone to bed.

“What’s happening?” Eduardo asked.

“Things are getting worse,” Marrin answered, speaking for my father.

“In what way?” Kait demanded. He was seething. After all, Kait’s niece, Cleo, had been in danger.

“People shun us more than ever. Verbal harassment or physical altercations occur in the streets. Nothing aimed at the children, just at the adults. We are the most outspoken supporters of you, Jaq. You’re blood, and we won’t let anyone abuse you, verbally or otherwise. Of course, feelings are still rising, and we don’t help ourselves.”

“Ever since I refused to cut from the family, Willam and his relatives have been increasing the abuse. We didn’t tell you for fear of worrying you. We thought that you didn’t need thatadded pressure and kept quiet,” Uralla continued in her soft voice.

“Inka’s parents are some of the worst offenders. They are threatening legal action over Mihal on the grounds that we associate with outlaws. People are advocating for you to be given that status. Legally, they might have a point. Genetic tampering is illegal, and although it was authorised, the law still stands,” my sister Julia continued.

Mother sat quietly, studying her fingernails. It had been ages since I properly looked at her. Mother had lost weight; worry lines that had appeared.

“They will get Mihal over my dead body,” I muttered.

“But that’s the problem, Jaq. You are. The reports from the hospital that say you’re dead, are still held on record. Inka’s parent’s argument is that you’re deceased, and they want Mihal as compensation. They argue that we’ve a large family, and they’ve no one, and people listen to them.

“They heartlessly manipulate for pity that their only child, their beloved Inka, died in service to her community. The tide of feeling is turning against us and you,” Julia elaborated, not looking me in the eye.

“They play for sympathy,” Inka said in disgust. “It was them who turned their backs on us. On me. Now, they want my son, and they couldn’t even show me love and compassion. How dare they?” Inka spat as she stood up.

“Sit down, Inka,” Father ordered. “Going there means you’re playing into their hands.”

“How can it?”

“Because they can claim that you are terrorising and threatening them. Damn easy for somebody to get bruises and say someone else inflicted them. You’ll make it worse for us not to seem spiteful and petty.”

“They are not having Mihal,” Inka raised her voice.

“And I don’t intend to let them,” Father said, rising to stand in front of the fireplace. “Jacques, I’ve given this firm consideration. I suggest that they come to live with you.”

“With us!” Ami exclaimed.

“Marcus, we can’t watch the children in the daytime, and I fear for their safety,” Li’zel said, flicking hair out of her eyes.

“Li’zel’s right, Marcus. They are more vulnerable with us than with you,” Tobais added.

“I disagree. Today just shows how much danger they were in. The harbourmaster was prepared to kill, whether they were children or not. It would have looked black on me. The monster would’ve twisted everything to look like my fault. The information that there was a storm brewing was deliberately withheld when I took the boat out. Maryn’s now sixteen, and capable of watching the children during the day.”