Rogue Darkness by Dianne Duvall

Either way, Darnell wielded as much authority among the Seconds as Chris Reordon did. He even trained them whenever time allowed it.

“Immortals,” he ordered, “take seats at the table. Seconds, you can hang in the living room and listen in.”

Immortal Guardians flowed into the adjoining dining room like a black tide.

“Nicole,” Darnell added as he caught her gaze, “you, Becca, and Cliff join the immortals.”

She’d figured as much and was glad Cliff would join them. Nicole spent nearly as much time at network headquarters as Sean did, so she’d gotten to know Cliff well. It was wonderful to see him looking so happy after his years of struggling with insanity.

And buff. Cliff had packed on loads of muscle since regaining his mortality.

A table long enough to seat at least thirty graced David’s dining room. The immortal family in North Carolina had grown significantly in recent years, necessitating the addition of multiple leaves.

The chair at the head of the table was reserved for David, and the one at the foot for Seth. Nicole had always believed that the best leaders were those who didn’t feel the need to flaunt their power. And that described Seth to a T. Seth never unseated others in their homes or businesses. Here at David’s house, he always insisted that David sit at the head of the table. And he did the same with Chris Reordon whenever they met at network headquarters.

Conversation resumed as the dining room filled.

Nicole and Sean found seats near the middle of the table with Krysta, Étienne, Richart, and Jenna. Becca sat across from them with Kayla and Nick. Darnell sat on what would be David’s right once the elder arrived. Ami sat where she always did, on the opposite end, catty-corner to Seth, with Marcus at her side. Marcus plunked little Adira down in a booster seat attached to the table at his elbow. Roland settled Michael in a second booster seat next to Adira. Then he and Sarah claimed the chairs beside her.

Roland Warbrook was renowned for being the most antisocial of the Immortal Guardians. But one would never guess that by watching him now. Smiling fondly, he spread construction paper and crayons on the table in front of the children.

Zach and Lisette sat across from them, leaving the seat closest to Seth’s vacant for Leah. In short order, the rest of the immortals found chairs.

Darnell retrieved his cell phone, tapped the screen a few times, and then held it to his ear. “We’re ready.”

David abruptly appeared beside his chair at the head of the table. Seth’s second-in-command was an imposing figure. Six feet seven inches tall, he boasted broad shoulders, thick muscles, skin as dark as night, and masses of thin dreadlocks that were drawn back at the nape of his neck and fell to his hips.

“Abaye!” Adira cried with a big grin.

His striking features softening with a smile, he strolled along the table to drop a kiss atop her head. “Hello, poppet. Are you drawing us another pretty picture?” he asked with an Egyptian accent.

“Uh-huh.”

He gave Michael’s dark hair a gentle pat. “I see you are, too.” As he returned to the head of the table, he murmured, “Jared.”

Jared appeared seconds later, his hands on the shoulders of Tessa and Chris Reordon.

David sank into his chair. “Seth.”

Seth appeared at the other end of the table.

Adira waved a crayon at him. “Hi, Baba!”

Like David, he bent and pressed a kiss to her russet curls, then offered Michael a friendly pat on the head. As he turned to his seat, his gaze strayed to the empty one adjacent to it. “Where’s Leah?”

Darnel answered. “Healing Jules in Haiti.”

Seth closed his eyes. A moment passed.

Leah appeared beside him. “Hi, babe. Did you miss me?”

He smiled. “As always. How did it go?”

Leah was gradually beginning to play a more prominent role in the Immortal Guardians family, answering some of the calls Seth, Zach, and David usually handled.

“It went well.” She held up blood-smeared hands. “I’m a little messy though. Give me a minute to clean up. Then I’ll come back and kiss you long enough to make everyone squirm.”

He laughed as Leah ducked into the kitchen to scrub her hands and forearms.

Usually somber, Seth had smiled and laughed much more since she came into his life.

Nicole thought it sweet and heartwarming and hoped to experience a love like that herself one day.

True to her word, Leah returned and gave him one hell of a kiss.

Nicole grinned. Seth wielded more power than anyone else on the planet. And most immortals viewed him as a father figure. So the fact that Leah wasn’t at all intimidated by him and treated “Daddy” like an ardent lover continued to stun the immortal world.

Though she was five feet ten, Leah still had to rise onto her toes to loop her arms around his neck. When she finally dropped her heels to the floor, she sent him a teasing smile. “How’s your day going, handsome?”

A faint golden glow lit his eyes as he grinned down at her. “Things are definitely looking up.”

“Ba-dum-tish,” Sheldon said in the next room.

Everyone laughed.

Seth seated Leah, then himself. “All right. Let’s begin. A situation has arisen that involves Becca.”

All eyes went to the teenager, who did not look comfortable being the center of attention.