rebirth?”
“Twenty-three.”
“And how many years have you been in your present condition?”
“Thirty.”
“Oh yes, that’s right. Kendall told me that. Let’s see…I already have your address…I think that’s all I need for now, thank you. Now you, miss.”
“Evangeline Rowan Spencer, age twenty.”
“Twenty. Damn, such a young age.” He typed as he spoke. “I personally was twenty-nine. You know, you’re the third youngest in our group in terms of human years.”
“Am I?” She wasn’t sure what to say to that. Was it a compliment, a chastisement or simply a statement of fact?
“Marco is nineteen and the Szapiro girl - oh hell, what is her name - Halina, that’s it…she’s only fifteen. Not a good age for the transformation, but she hasn’t caused any trouble, so…” He shrugged.
“What makes you think she would cause trouble?” Eva wanted to know.
“Inexperience, in a nutshell. Someone her age normally wouldn’t exercise proper restraint, or possess the ability to hunt undetected. Fortunately the Fieldings offered to take her in. That arrangement has worked out so far. The Fieldings, by the way, are currently our only married couple. I understand the two of you are engaged?”
“We are,” Julian replied coolly. His expression was unreadable.
“May I offer my congratulations. Are you planning on remaining in Oregon?”
“For as long as possible, yes.”
“Nice area, Mount Hood. Little too much snow for my taste though. I prefer the sun. Well, how about one more question and then quid pro quo. Do either of you possess any special skills or talents?”
“Like what?” Eva glanced at Julian, wondering why he was so quiet.
“Any unique abilities.”
Julian hesitated for a moment , then apparently seeing no harm in disclosing this particular information informed him, “I have dominion over animals.”
Reid seemed interested. “All of them?”
“All that I’ve come in contact with thus far.”
“Fascinating. So you’re saying then, if you were to step out on the balcony right now you could persuade one of the gulls to come to you?”
“I could. As could you.”
“Me?”
“Of course. All you need is a piece of bread.”
Mortified, Eva bit her lip to stifle a nervous giggle. What on earth had gotten into Jules? She was used to his dry humor, but this stranger could get the wrong idea and think he was trying to be a smartass. And who knew - maybe he was. She’d never seen him behave so rudely.
But Reid seemed to take it all in stride, merely smiling mildly. “Good point.” He turned his attention to Eva. “And you, young lady?”
She flushed, feeling suddenly inadequate. “Not that I know of.”
“Well, it’s still early in the game for you. And it’s really a moot point,” he assured her. “Just something I like to keep track of. You never know when one of these skills might render itself useful.”
“What about you?” she couldn’t help asking, curiosity getting the better of her. “Can you do anything unique?”
He closed the laptop. “I am quite the master of illusion, if you’ll forgive my immodesty.”
Flummoxed, she caught Julian’s eye and he shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t have a clue either.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
The broad grin was back, and as she sat there waiting to hear his explanation she suddenly found herself gazing not at the dark-haired vampire, but at Julian instead. Startled, she whipped her head sideways to see Jules still beside her, a look of shock on his normally inscrutable face.
There were two of him!
“Holy shit,” she breathed, awestruck.
In an instant, Reid had reappeared and his azure eyes glittered with amused self-satisfaction.
She felt Julian’s arm tighten protectively around her. “Don’t do that again,” he said sharply.
“I apologize if I offended you. But the lady wanted a demonstration and being a true southern gentleman, I was obliged to comply.” His voice was smooth
“Twenty-three.”
“And how many years have you been in your present condition?”
“Thirty.”
“Oh yes, that’s right. Kendall told me that. Let’s see…I already have your address…I think that’s all I need for now, thank you. Now you, miss.”
“Evangeline Rowan Spencer, age twenty.”
“Twenty. Damn, such a young age.” He typed as he spoke. “I personally was twenty-nine. You know, you’re the third youngest in our group in terms of human years.”
“Am I?” She wasn’t sure what to say to that. Was it a compliment, a chastisement or simply a statement of fact?
“Marco is nineteen and the Szapiro girl - oh hell, what is her name - Halina, that’s it…she’s only fifteen. Not a good age for the transformation, but she hasn’t caused any trouble, so…” He shrugged.
“What makes you think she would cause trouble?” Eva wanted to know.
“Inexperience, in a nutshell. Someone her age normally wouldn’t exercise proper restraint, or possess the ability to hunt undetected. Fortunately the Fieldings offered to take her in. That arrangement has worked out so far. The Fieldings, by the way, are currently our only married couple. I understand the two of you are engaged?”
“We are,” Julian replied coolly. His expression was unreadable.
“May I offer my congratulations. Are you planning on remaining in Oregon?”
“For as long as possible, yes.”
“Nice area, Mount Hood. Little too much snow for my taste though. I prefer the sun. Well, how about one more question and then quid pro quo. Do either of you possess any special skills or talents?”
“Like what?” Eva glanced at Julian, wondering why he was so quiet.
“Any unique abilities.”
Julian hesitated for a moment , then apparently seeing no harm in disclosing this particular information informed him, “I have dominion over animals.”
Reid seemed interested. “All of them?”
“All that I’ve come in contact with thus far.”
“Fascinating. So you’re saying then, if you were to step out on the balcony right now you could persuade one of the gulls to come to you?”
“I could. As could you.”
“Me?”
“Of course. All you need is a piece of bread.”
Mortified, Eva bit her lip to stifle a nervous giggle. What on earth had gotten into Jules? She was used to his dry humor, but this stranger could get the wrong idea and think he was trying to be a smartass. And who knew - maybe he was. She’d never seen him behave so rudely.
But Reid seemed to take it all in stride, merely smiling mildly. “Good point.” He turned his attention to Eva. “And you, young lady?”
She flushed, feeling suddenly inadequate. “Not that I know of.”
“Well, it’s still early in the game for you. And it’s really a moot point,” he assured her. “Just something I like to keep track of. You never know when one of these skills might render itself useful.”
“What about you?” she couldn’t help asking, curiosity getting the better of her. “Can you do anything unique?”
He closed the laptop. “I am quite the master of illusion, if you’ll forgive my immodesty.”
Flummoxed, she caught Julian’s eye and he shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t have a clue either.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
The broad grin was back, and as she sat there waiting to hear his explanation she suddenly found herself gazing not at the dark-haired vampire, but at Julian instead. Startled, she whipped her head sideways to see Jules still beside her, a look of shock on his normally inscrutable face.
There were two of him!
“Holy shit,” she breathed, awestruck.
In an instant, Reid had reappeared and his azure eyes glittered with amused self-satisfaction.
She felt Julian’s arm tighten protectively around her. “Don’t do that again,” he said sharply.
“I apologize if I offended you. But the lady wanted a demonstration and being a true southern gentleman, I was obliged to comply.” His voice was smooth
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