Page 86 of Kiss of the Vampire

Levka smiled. “Not exactly. The thing of it is, many of the elders in our organization treat us as teenagers—”

She raised her brows.

“When we are much older, turned at the same time they were.”

“Don’t tell me. You’re thousands of years old.”

He looked at his friends. “Do I look that old?”

She chuckled. “No. You look like you’re about my age, but you act a lot older sometimes.”

“Good, you had me worried.”

“I don’t believe any of this, you know,” Caitlin said, as she watched Ruric unlock the door.

Stasio bowed his head and vanished in thin air before her eyes.

Her mouth dropped open.

Arman disappeared next.

She grabbed Levka’s arm. “Don’t you dare do that to me, too.”

Ruric opened the door.

Their faces solemn, Arman and Stasio stood inside the room.

“I…I can’t do that, can I?”

“No, not right away.” Levka guided her into the room.

She collapsed on the couch. “Did you wipe Dylan’s mind of knowing Alicia and me?”

Levka bowed his head. “He was too dangerous to both of you. It was best he didn’t remember you, as if you didn’t exist. Everyone else who knows differently, thinks he’s playing a con game. Alicia gave up on him, which was the best thing that could happen.”

“Besides,” Stasio said, “Ruric discovered two of the boys who started the fire, and Dylan was the one who instigated the whole thing.”

“Have they arrested them?” Levka asked.

“In custody,” Ruric said.

“Poor Amie.” Caitlin collapsed on the sofa. “They ought to get life for hurting her the way they did. So what are we going to do about arriving in Fort Lauderdale?”

“I haven’t come up with a plan yet,” Levka said.

“What about this job of yours? You’ll have to return to Dallas, and…” Caitlin glanced out the window. “What will happen to me?”

“I’ve been trying to figure out what to do, Caitlin.” Levka crouched before her. “You have to come with us. I can’t leave you behind. Now that you’re a fledgling, you need an ancient’s protection. My protection, though all four of us will always be at your beck and call.”

“What about what Vlad said concerning the Orlando league approving I could be his, and the Dallas league not granting approval?” She rolled her eyes. “I feel like a piece of property.”

Levka smiled. “It’s just our way. We take a mate and protect her until she’s strong enough to protect herself.”

“Great. You didn’t tell me I’d be in danger from other…other, well, if I believed in them…vampires.”

Taking a deep breath, Levka reached for hand and held it. “Caitlin, you were already in danger from the others. We are drawn to those we can’t control. If others had known about you—”

“What about the others who came to see Vlad that time? Were they like him?”