Rogue Darkness by Dianne Duvall

Seth consulted David. “What are your thoughts?”

After a brief pause, David nodded. “It wouldn’t extend too far outside the boundaries of Nicole’s duties as a Second or former special ops soldier. If she’s willing, I believe it’s worth a try.” When Becca opened her mouth to protest, David held up a finger. “I do, however, think it best that Nick and Kayla take Becca somewhere safe while we wait to see what happens.”

“I agree.” Seth turned to the family in question. “Pack some bags, and I’ll teleport you to my castle in England. With no record of your travel, no one will trace you there, so the three of you will be safe.”

Becca looked from Seth to Nick to Kayla. “What about my classes? I’ve got final exams in a few weeks and—”

“Don’t worry about that,” Chris said. “I’ll take care of it.”

Becca still looked unhappy with the outcome as she met Nicole’s gaze. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I won’t,” Nicole told her with a smile. “I kick ass, remember?”

Sheldon called from the living room, “She kicks my ass all the time when we train. Even if I were a vampire, I wouldn’t want to go up against Nicole.”

Nicole grinned. “You just earned yourself a pizza, buddy.”

He laughed.

She lost her smile, however, when she turned back to Seth. “Seriously, though, I’m all in. But what will Sean do for a Second? Can you assign someone to watch over him in my absence?”

“I don’t want another Second,” Sean protested. “You’re my Second.”

“And I’m trying to protect you,” she told him calmly. “You killed Reed’s fellow vampires and chased him after his chat with Tessa. What if Nick’s name isn’t the only one he knows? What if he heard yours and told someone else? I don’t want you hunting alone without a Second keeping tabs on you.”

“I won’t be hunting. I’ll be shadowing you.”

“While hunting.”

Cliff leaned forward. “I can be his Second.”

All eyes swung to the former vampire.

“What?” Bastien blurted, his face awash with surprise.

Cliff shrugged. “It would only be temporary, right?”

“Yes,” Chris answered.

“Then I’ll do it.”

Melanie glanced at Bastien, then addressed Cliff. “Don’t you think you should talk to Emma about this first? Considering everything you two have been through, I don’t know if she’d want you taking that kind of risk.”

“I take a risk every time I go to network headquarters,” he pointed out. “Seth managed to convince the other vampires that I was unexpectedly cured by the darts I was hit with at the military base. But you haven’t been able to reproduce the serum,” he said, making finger quotes. “In their lucid moments, Stuart and the others don’t blame me for being cured while they still suffer. They envy me. But during their psychotic breaks, that can shift pretty quickly to resentment if I try to step in and calm them. Emma knows spending time with the vampires is a risk. But she also knows those guys are my friends and how much it means to me to help them.

“Sean and Nicole are my friends, too. And the risk here is minimal. I’d just be performing the usual duties of a Second and keeping track of Sean. Emma won’t mind.”

Bastien arched a brow. “Even if it means temporarily moving in with Sean?”

Cliff smiled. “That part will suck. But she can come over every night and hang out with me while he hunts.” He glanced at Sean. “Can’t she?”

After a long pause, Sean sighed in defeat. “Yes. And she can stay at our place for the duration if we end up doing this.”

Nicole smiled when he referred to the house as their place rather than his.

“All right,” Seth announced. “We have a plan. Nick, Kayla, Nicole, Sean, Cliff, and Becca, remain here so we can work out the details. The rest of you may begin your hunt. But be vigilant. Telepaths, search the thoughts of every vampire you encounter for any mention of Becca or Nick, tranq any whom you suspect may be involved, then summon me or David.”

“What about those of us who aren’t telepaths?” Ethan asked.

“If you’ve time, call Zach, Aidan, or Jared and have them read the vampires’ minds before you dispatch them.”

Murmurs of agreement filled the air before most of those present rose and took their leave.

A tinny version of Skillet’s “Monster” broke the tension-filled silence that fell in their wake. When Seth drew his phone out of a pocket, Leah plucked it from his hand.

“Seth’s phone,” she answered brightly. “Leah speaking. How may I help you?”

Seth grinned.

Nicole fought a laugh.

Leah sounded like an employee at a hotel’s front desk, waiting to take a room reservation. She listened for a moment. “Sure. I’ll be right there.” She pressed a quick kiss to Seth’s lips. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

She disappeared.

Still smiling, Seth turned to the rest of them. “Now. Let’s work out the details.”



Sean paced the length of Nicole’s bedroom while she packed a duffle bag.