Page 87 of Blood Stone

She pushed at her hair. “I have to change. I can’t be seen like this.” She stood up, scooping up the black wig. “It’s still light outside. Can I borrow your bathroom?”

His cellphone buzzed. “Help yourself,” he told her as he fished it out and checked the text message. “Sebastian is on his way over with something urgent.”

“I’ll see you at the bus.” She moved into the bedroom.

Garrett peered out the window past the wooden blinds. Nial and Vicent were still talking – well, Nial was doing most of the talking, as he had done most of the day — but they were both standing now. So Nial had to be finally running out of steam. Garrett had been surprised by just how comprehensive Nial’s knowledge of vampire history had been. Of course, Nial had been around for a lot longer than he confessed to anyone, so most of his knowledge was first-hand experience. Garret had heard rumours he had been born before the birth of Christ and the fall of Rome. Nial certainly wasn’t telling anyone the truth – except perhaps Winter and Sebastian.

Maybe once vampires came out in the public eye that would change. Would Winter publically declare both her husbands, too?

Life really was going to be different, just as Nial had promised. No more hiding, in so many ways. Today’s long and far-ranging discussion with Vicent had brought it home yet again for Garrett.

No hiding was a type of freedom far more liberating than just shucking off shackles.

That was how Nial had begun with Vicent. “I was enslaved when I was ten, and I remained a slave for twenty-five years.”

And while Garrett had mentally staggered in shock, Nial had calmly compared slavery to the binding ties of perpetually hiding from humans.

Yes…there would be changes. He might not like them all, but he would embrace them, even if it was just to ensure that he got to remember people like Winter for the rest of his life.

Sebastian climbed up into the trailer and jerked his head toward the window. “Nial hasn’t run out of breath yet.”

Garrett grinned. “I was thinking the same thing. If anyone can convince Vicent, it will be him.”

“Or Vicent will throw in the towel because he’s been bored to death.” Sebastian picked up his laptop from the table where he has left it that morning. “I’ve been on the receiving end of Nial’s lectures before.” He rolled his eyes.

“You’re married to him. You should be more supportive.”

“It just means I know him better than most.” Sebastian pushed a flash memory drive into the USB port of the laptop and turned the laptop around so Garrett could see the screen. “You’ll never guess what I found out about Ms. Lindenstream.”