Vampire Coven Book 3: A Vampire's Embrace by C.L. Scholey Page B

the time comes I can be there for her. I’ve dealt with loss too. The stillborn baby could have been mine. Giving a female two breeder males makes sense because the male never knows if he’s the father. The mother is the one with the burden, and her vampire. But still, there are some children who look like me and it makes me wonder.”
    Tate was a recently turned vampire, at least five years was recent to a vampire who had lived thousands of years. Tavish had turned Tate when Mercy, Tavish and Tate had sex to create Galf. Galf was Tavish’s as much as he was Tate’s. Oddly enough Tate had no interest in Galf; he was kind to the child but had no interest in seeking him out. Sometimes Rhett wondered if that had something to do with a very possessive Tavish. There was some speculation Tate had been compelled to relinquish all rights to the boy.
    Rhett supposed it could be because Tate had been a breeder male for over ten years and sired many children. Hope would be perfect for him. Tate didn’t want any children to be responsible for, at least not yet. Any female he owned who gave birth would become Tate’s property. Rhett thought it was more than likely Tate wanted to wait for a female he wouldn’t have to share. To Tate, Hope was a prize; she was perfect in his eyes. He could have her all to himself and never share her.
    Rhett had wanted a female who could give him children with the breeder males. They wouldn’t be his, but they would belong to him. He would love them and watch them grow. He would make certain none betrayed him. How had he become so tortured?
    “If you’ve spoken to the other vampires you would know how difficult this situation is for me.” Rhett didn’t know why he was pissed. Tate was a good person, he had no angles. But Hope was Rhett’s.
    “Sorry, Rhett. Hope just seemed certain you didn’t want her. She’s scared and alone. Most females brought back have some semblance of security by now. She says you’re going to kill her once her daughter is dead. It doesn’t seem fair. I mean she was all alone in an iceberg with a sick child. Now she’ll lose her kid. Poor little thing. When will it be Hope’s time? Where is her turn at happiness? She should know love and caring. We all know the heartache ice dwellers go through. Just because she’s barren doesn’t mean she’s useless. Killing her after her daughter dies when someone should be comforting her isn’t right. I want her. I want to offer Hope some hope and comfort.”
    Rhett could have growled. Did every vampire in the coven think he was a depraved asshole? “I’m not going to kill her. And before you ask, I’m not dumping her back in her iceberg. Let me have time with her and her kid. Every time a woman comes in contact with me everyone just assumes the worst.”
    “It’s because you do your worst.”
    Blunt and to the point, good ole Tate. “If I was doing my worst she’d be dead.”
    “The last hunt we went on you killed a female.”
    “She wasn’t of breeding age. She was too old.”
    Tate looked uncomfortable. “You’ve become a friend, Rhett. I’ve learned you have a love-hate relationship with women. Tanya was one of my females for a while when I was a breeder. She was a bitch, but a lonely bitch. What happened with Mercy was everyone’s fault. After I was turned, I wanted nothing to do with Tanya. She was always second in your eyes; indifference seems to be your first love.
    “Maybe, just maybe, Tanya wanted to be wanted. Like your wife, Rhett. You were there for Acca, but you couldn’t be there for Cecily. Who was there for your wife? It wasn’t your fault you couldn’t be there. Don’t turn Hope into another fault, because this time there will be blame. We were all human once. Maybe because I’m young I still possess compassion. I hope to hell I never lose it. I’m a vampire, not human, but I hope to hell to always be humane.”
    Rhett noticed other vampires in the hallway. Many had gathered to listen.