Immortal Heat (The Guardians of Dacia Book 1) by Loni Lynne Page A

process kept her knowledge of her change at bay…for now. He hoped to the gods she didn't know just how deadly she could be.
    "I'm waiting…"
    "What do you want to know first?"
    "Everything. Start at the beginning."
    "Too much to tell." It was the truth. "But I'll tell you what you need to know…"
    "I want all of it. And if I find out you're lying to me, you won't have a prayer mister."
    This was a new side to her. She may be just as bad-assed as her mother after all. Could it be her metamorphosis having some effect on her? Maybe she did know how deadly she could be?
    "Fine. But you may not like what you hear," Draylon teased to try to lighten the mood.
    "Just tell me and stop beating around the bush. Who are you, really?"
    "Draylon Conier." She raised an eyebrow to indicate she wanted more information. "I started the pharmaceutical branch to Livedel years ago, back after World War I."
    "Bullshit. I happen it know it was started by Marcus Adranitti from Naples. He joined with Mr. Delvante in the late sixties."
    "Marcus was my identity back then." Draylon reached into his file drawer, and pulling out a file folder, pushed it towards her on his desk. She looked at him and then at the file. "Go ahead. Read it."
    She picked it up tentatively. Opening the file she studied the insides. He already knew what was in there. It was up to her to believe it.
    Marilyn sat down heavily in the nearby leather chair. She shook her head. "No. This can't be…this is you? And…look. It's Momma Kay and Papa Jon when they were younger—You know the Johnstons?" she asked.
    He could only nod.
    "This is all a set up, isn't it? You're holding me hostage—why?"
    Draylon raised his hands. "No. It's not what you think. Rick had me track you down and keep you safe. That is the gods' truth. I didn't know you were wanted by Vamier. When I found out, Rick wanted me to keep you someplace safe."
    "Safe from Professor Vamier?" she asked. "Is this place safe?"
    "The only place safer is the Dacian Compound."
    "Where is that?"
    "It's in the Hoia Forest area near Cluj-Napoca."
    She stood up and threw the file back on his desk. "That just happens to be where my father disappeared nearly twenty-six years ago. Pretty coincidental don't you think?"
    He felt the same way but had no answers. When he'd asked Rick about it his friend said he'd look into it.
    "I know. I'm trying to see what I can find out about your father's disappearance, but you may not like the news."
    "Why?"
    "Most people who venture into the Hoia Forest don't return."
    "But the Dacian Compound is there. How do they survive?"
    "The Dacians survive because they don't let anyone know of their whereabouts. Those that come too close end up…disappearing."
    "You mean dead."
    "It's the only way our kind can survive."
    "And your kind is what, special?" Marilyn snorted sarcastically.
    "We're immortal…."

Chapter Eight
    Stunned, Marilyn sat. Immortal? As in, never aged, never died…creatures of the night. She looked at the file folder still sitting there on the desk. The picture was him, decades ago, only looking like he did now. Still the same.
    "How old are you?"
    Draylon smiled and leaned back in his chair. "I was born in what you would consider 750 B.C."
    "You're kidding, right?"
    "No. I'm afraid not." He laughed. "My land was called Dacia at the time…"
    "Before the Roman conquest. You are one of the original clans?"
    "There are more of us. It's difficult to explain, but we reside all over the world, separately, keeping our lives private for many centuries, but recently we have committed part of our knowledge and abilities in helping our brethren human counterparts."
    "Under the radar, I assume?"
    "Yes. You might consider us a 'secret society.' Our confidentiality must remain though. People are not ready to come to terms with what we are."
    Marilyn looked away. She understood their needs for secrecy, but did they have to kill to keep it? She had no doubt her father must have come in contact with