To Love (Vampire Assassin League Book 21) by Jackie Ivie

so did his mate.
    ~ ~ ~
    “Oh. Look! Look! Will you two look at that? He’s got a letterman jacket. He lettered in athletics. You see? That’s Paul Henry. My grandson. Isn’t he something?”
    “All I can see is Hunters,” Cullen responded.
And Akron
. The VAL leader was well back from the festivities, covered in a black cape that resembled Nigel’s. Silently watching. Cullen didn’t say a thing about that. He wasn’t paying much attention to the scene anyway. Marla was standing beside him, an arm tucked behind his waist, while he was doing his utmost not to lift her completely against him. To hold her. And anticipate being alone with her again. Fused. Joined. Together.
    While he turned her completely.
    His arm tightened. She gave him a quick upward glance. He groaned. Trembled. And the sweetest smile touched her lips.
    “Of course you see Hunters. He’s Chester’s oldest and heir. They’re going to have him guarded. They better have him guarded. Don’t they realize how precious he is?”
    “Precious?” Marla said.
    “Do you think he’d like me? I mean, really like me? My father wasn’t fond of me. I was a major disappointment. And he never let me forget it. Chester probably doesn’t know I exist. Well. I didn’t even know about Paul Henry until this year. It’s weird. I have a grandson. I am so proud. That must be it. Why...if I had feelings, I’d be all over that one.”
    He was talking to both of them but Marla answered. “That’s cute.”
    “You don’t think—? Nah. I better not.”
    “You’re na’ to do anything other than look, Nigel. I’m warning you. There are too many Hunters about.”
    “I see four bodyguards. Maybe six. That’s nothing to us. I can handle one. Maybe two. You good with the others?”
    “You’ve got eighteen. They’re staked out all about the enclosure. Don’t you dare try it.”
    Cullen lifted his mate from the ground with one arm and hooked the other about Nigel. They were across a huge clearing from his grandson. If they didn’t have acute eyesight, he’d have been hard to recognize. Nigel was fixated on his grandson. He didn’t recognize the danger. He’d missed most of the Hunters because only six were in their camouflage outfits. The others were in college attire, trying to blend in. They weren’t successful. The enclosure was full of young and not-so-young humans. Most appeared to have a dram or two of good Scot whiskey beneath their belts. The enormous fire they’d built sent light onto the enthusiastic crowd. Yelling. Dancing. Flirting. That made the Hunters easier to spot. They weren’t joining the festivities. They kept one arm at their side at all times. Cullen only needed a glimpse to see why. They were packing small crossbows equipped with wooden stake/arrows. Two had innocuous-looking squirt guns. They held Holy Water. There was another clue to their identity, however. Hunters smelled of something burning. Always had. It wasn’t a woodsy aroma like the bonfire. Their smell was acrid. Rank. And they hadn’t done a thing to mask it.
    “I wasn’t going to approach him,” Nigel complained.
    “
Nae
. You’re na’. You’d have to get through me first.”
    Nigel sighed, and then grinned. “I have an heir. Fancy that. And he’s...well. I don’t know if he looks exactly like me, but he is rather handsome, isn’t he?”
    “Do na’ ask me. I’m na’ one for lads.”
    “How about your mate? Well? What do you think, sweet cheeks? Is he handsome or what? I mean...from a cougar’s point of view.”
    “I am surprised I haven’t smacked you yet,” Marla answered. “But the night is still young.”
    “Why? It’s a valid question, and—oh shit. Oh hell. What the—? No. No. No. No. It can’t be. No.”
    A young blond woman had joined Nigel’s grandson, Paul Henry. She didn’t look like anything spectacular, although she was wearing cheerleader attire. They all watched as Paul Henry held out a hand, and she took it.
    “Oh no. No.