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

It’s not possible!
No
!”
    Nigel was definitely drawing attention. The last word ended with a sobbed sound.
    “Why the long face? It appears your grandson also like blondes. You have a problem with that?”
    “It’s her.”
    “You’ll need to be a mite more specific, lad,” Cullen informed him.
    “My heart just started beating. Oh. No. It isn’t possible. No.”
    Cullen exchanged glances with Marla. They both turned back to Nigel. He was staring in shock at the couple. He looked ill. Like he’d taken a sucker punch. Cullen instantly scanned, locating twelve Hunters in his peripheral view. That left six unaccounted for. The odds weren’t good, but he’d been up against worse. And Akron would help. A quick look showed their leader was still hovering at the crowd edge. Focused completely on Nigel.
    “Oh shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.”
    “Kid. Buck up. I do na’ see much problem. Your mate has arrived. You’ve located her. Won’t be too difficult to go get her. Take me about five seconds. You won’t even miss me.”
    “You don’t understand! She’s with Paul Henry!”
    “So?”
    “He told me I had centuries before this happened! Seven hundred plus years! I’m not ready! Oh shit!”
    “You’re na’ ready? Are you mad? Mating is na’ something that happens to everyone. You have to be verra lucky! It’s a gift. The greatest gift. Trust me.”
    “Don’t you see? It will hurt.”
    “Most likely. I’ve got eighteen potential victims already lined up.”
    “No. No. It’ll hurt Paul Henry.”
    “Perhaps. Perhaps na’. I can try and isolate him if you want.”
    “You don’t understand! Oh...hell!”
    Nigel had an arm across his eyes, shielding emotion. Cullen looked to Marla again and then back.
    “Kid. Calm down. If you do na’ wish to harm anyone tonight, we can fetch her on the morrow. What’s a day in comparison to eternity?”
    Nigel snarled and spun, putting his back to the scene. He still had his arm across his eyes. He didn’t see Akron appear in the space before him, his cloak still ruffling with the speed he’d moved. Cullen turned his head and located the other six Hunters.
    “We have to go. We have to leave now,” Nigel said from what sounded like clenched teeth.
    “Fine. We’ll fetch her on the morrow for you.”
    “No. We won’t be doing anything like that tomorrow. We’re leaving. Now.”
    “But...it’s your mate, lad. And I vow, mating is the most beauteous experience in the universe. You canna’ be serious.”
    “Do you love your mate, MacCorrick?” Nigel asked.
    “Oh. Completely. Absolutely.”
    “What if somebody were to harm her? You gonna let them get away with that?”
    Cullen growled. He didn’t think he could answer around the instantaneous and massive heat that scored his frame. It colored the scene with a dark red wash.
    “Yeah. That’s exactly what I thought. Nobody is harming the one you love. And yet, you expect
me
to hurt him?”
    “You’re telling me you love your grandson that much? Already? You’ll accept an eternity of solitude and loneliness rather than risk hurting him? You can’t be serious. You expect me to believe this?”
    “I’m not equipped for this decision. Not right now. Okay. I want to go home. I don’t know if I’ll ever be a field associate. Now with this shit. Can you call the big guy for me?”
    “No need,” Akron answered.
    Nigel pulled his arm down. He looked worse than before. He looked haggard. Older somehow.
    “Sir.”
    “You certain you wish to leave? You may never get a second chance.”
    Nigel didn’t even turn back around. He stood taller. Straighter, and didn’t look at any of them. Cullen dropped the arm at Nigel’s back.
    “Yes,” he finally answered.
    “So be it. You’re Marla? Pleasure. I sincerely hope you’re good at construction, architecture, and design. You’re going to need it. Cullen? You are to go to MacKettryck’s castle. It’s not far. They’re expecting you. Don’t take