Rebecca Zanetti: Claimed

Several suites down, Emma bit her lip as she tugged her skirt into place. One minute she was running for her life through a dark forest with the evil undead on her tail, and the next day she stood in the loveliest blue and silver ball gown imaginable. They’d arrived at the Portland hotel in the wee hours of morning, and she’d even had time to sleep before being reunited with her sister. Now she was pretending to be Cinderella.

She looked down at the pretty fabric and sighed. The corset top pushed her breasts up while the waist cinched in before the skirt flared out. The three-inch silver heels made her feel like a princess. She tried to bring reality back to her mind. “I need to call Henry at the lab and see what’s going on.”

Cara glanced up from her perch against the sofa, looking beyond beautiful in a light golden gown that brought out the highlights in her auburn hair. “Why? Dage is having a research lab built. I’d assumed you’d want to work there.”

“My life is in Boston, Cara.” At least it was. “Henry is a good friend and an excellent lab partner. I’m sure he had no idea what Davis was up to.”

“Yeah, good old Davis, your creepy boss.” Cara rolled her eyes. “Great plan hooking up with the Kurjans to conduct research. What could go wrong?”

“I need to find out what’s happening at the lab, and no phones would call out from the hotel today. I don’t like being kept here like this.” Armed guards lined the halls of the family quarters. Dage had supposedly been conducting business all day and had yet to make an appearance. She’d met her hulking new brother-in-law earlier when Talen had dropped by for an introduction. The guy was dangerous, no question about it. Just like his older brother.

“I know.” Cara smoothed back her hair. “But we’re in danger and I guess security has to be tight. Can’t you just enjoy the ball tonight?” She flashed an impish grin. “With your black hair pulled up and those blue eyes, you look like Sleeping Beauty.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “At least the dress fits.” In fact, an entire wardrobe had been provided for her. The vampires had some clout. She sighed. “It’s just that, I feel trapped like when we were kids. Yesterday, running through the woods, I thought of all the times ...” Pain clenched her stomach.

Cara nodded, losing her smile. “I know. All the times we ran from Daddy and his latest beating. What a prick.” She straightened her shoulders. “But we survived. We’re here now.”

Emma nodded. “Yes. This is where you want to be, right?” She focused on her younger sister, trying to open up any psychic power she may own. Was the baby all right?

Cara laughed, fingering an intricate golden cuff winding up her arm. “Yes, Emma. We don’t need to plan a big Lucy and Ethel type of escape. I love Talen and want to stay with him.”

Relief washed through Emma. Good. No matter what happened to her, Cara and Janie would be taken care of.

“So.” Cara raised an eyebrow. “Such a strong sense of relief you’re experiencing. Making plans of escape yourself?”

Damn empath. “Get out of my emotions, sis. I don’t need any plans to walk out the door. They can’t keep me here.” She had work to do back home.

Cara straightened her skirt. “Besides relief I’m sensing concern. What has you in knots?”

Emma cleared her throat. If Cara wasn’t worried about her pregnancy, no way was Emma going to plant that seed of doubt. “Knots? Seriously? All of a sudden everything we know about genetics, intelligent species on this planet, and reality has been challenged. I mean, vampires exist .”

Cara laughed. “Science has always evolved with new discoveries, Em. This is no different.”

Well, that was true. Emma nodded. “I want to take your blood and sequence map your DNA.”

“Now you sound like a vampire geneticist.” Cara snorted. “So, vampires. What about Dage? You’ve been dreaming about him forever and now he’s here. You going to walk away from him?”

No. She’d run. Emma opened her mouth to answer, shifting her attention as her niece skipped into the dressing room wearing a frilly white dress with sparkly shoes. “You look beautiful, Janie.”

The four-year-old clapped her hands together and gave a happy hop, her brown curls bopping and her iris blue eyes sparkling. “I wish my friend Zane could see me.”

Emma gave Cara a reassuring smile, knowing full well her sister was concerned about the friend who only visited Janie in her dreams. Sometimes psychic abilities were more of a curse than a gift. “I’m sure we’ll all meet Zane someday, Janie girl.”

Janie grinned. “I know a secret.”

Cara glided toward her daughter, a smile on her face. “What kind of secret?” She turned a questioning glance in Emma’s direction, who shrugged.

The giggle Janie gave echoed with fun. “I’m not ’posed to tell.”

Putting her hands on her hips, Cara set her face in a mock glare. “Says who? Talen?” Her voice warmed even as she rolled his consonants.

Janie clapped her hands over her mouth. “Uh huh.”

“Spill it, kid,” Emma said.

A tiny frown appeared between Janie’s eyes as she pondered. Then she gave a happy giggle. “Okay. He changed the center ... center ... um ... center ...”

“Centerpieces?” Cara guessed.

“Yep.”

Emma frowned. “What were the centerpieces?”

The silk dress shimmered when Janie shrugged. “Some crystal thingies.”

“What are they now?” Cara tugged one of Janie’s curls into place and then smoothed down the little girl’s skirt.

“Pretty plants with little flowers.” Janie skipped over to Emma.

“Oh,” Cara said, her cheeks pinkening and her eyes glowing.

Emma smiled. A plant physiologist, Cara was most comfortable with live plants or flowers nearby. “Talen’s got a sweet side.”

The door swept open. “I most certainly do not.” Talen, his dark hair loose around his shoulders, strode inside and reached for Janie to envelop her in a hug. “It was a secret .” He smacked a noisy kiss on the little girl’s cheek, setting her on her feet. “You look stunning, little one.” Janie preened and smiled. Talen zeroed in on his wife.

Emma glanced to his side and fought to keep her mouth from hanging open. Dage stood in the doorway dressed in a black tux—all powerful male animal. The sharp angles of his face enhanced those amazing eyes. Even in the civilized garb, something not quite tame emanated from him.

His gaze swept her head to toe. “You’re wearing my colors, love.” He stalked forward and leaned down to brush her cheek with a kiss. “Soon you’ll be wearing me,” he whispered for her ears only.

Desire blasted into her even as she stepped back. She liked things organized, nicely lined up in test tubes. There was nothing nice about Dage, and she sure as hell couldn’t predict him. And any outcome she’d envisioned ended with the king destroyed—because of her. She shook her head. “No.” Damn but that sounded breathy and unsure.

His eyes hardened but he didn’t get a chance to respond because Janie threw herself into his arms. “Uncle Dage. Do you like my dress?”

An astonishing change came over the king. His face softened and his eyes glowed as he caught the little girl and stood her on a cherry wood end table. “You’re beautiful, Janie.” His smile crinkled the corners of his mouth.

“Like a princess?” the little girl whispered.

Dage held her tiny hand with a delicate touch Emma would have to be blind to miss. “You are a princess, sweetheart.”

The smile bursting across her niece’s face reached Emma’s heart. An odd relief eased her mind. Janie’s safety wasn’t only on her shoulders anymore. Dage and Talen were more than equipped to keep the little girl safe should the worst happen. In case she failed to find a way to cheat death.