Page 83 of John’s Yearning

“We figured they’d be hungry, and we wanted to take their minds off what they’ve been through. So, when Samson told me that the kids had arrived, I called all the other wives and asked them to come.” She pointed around the room. “The blonde with the pixie haircut is Nina, Amaury’s wife. And you’ve met her boys, the twins, Benjamin and Damian.”

“She’s their mother?” Savannah’s mouth gaped open. “But she can’t be older than twenty-five herself!”

“Actually, she must be forty-eight or forty-nine now. I lose track.”

“That’s impossible. And you don’t look like you could have a son Grayson’s age either.”

“Well, thank you. But I assure you, he’s my son. But we don’t age, you know, Nina, myself, and the other wives.”

Savannah leaned closer and dropped her voice so none of the nearby children could overhear them. “But John said you’re human.”

“I am. But we’re blood-bonded to our vampire husbands. And as long as they’re alive, we remain the age we were when we first bonded.”

“So you’re immortal?”

“Not exactly. We can die.”

“Like John’s wife?”

A sad smile flashed over Delilah’s face. “He told you about that?”

Savannah nodded.

“It was tragic. But, yes, we can die from accidents just like any human, but we remain young and healthy, and our husbands’ blood can heal injuries and illnesses we might contract.”

“Your husband’s blood. Are you saying…” She couldn’t finish the sentence or the thought.

“Yes, I drink his blood on occasion. That’s what keeps our bond strong, and my body young.”

Stunned, Savannah stared at Delilah. A human who drank a vampire’s blood? She’d never imagined that. There were a lot of things she’d never imagined. She’d never imagined this world she’d been thrown into. But it was real.

Delilah chuckled, when a young Chinese woman holding a little Asian girl by the hand walked past their seating area. “Ursula, let me introduce you.”

She approached with the child.

“This is Savannah Rice; Savannah this is Ursula. She’s Oliver’s wife. You probably haven’t met him yet, but you will.”

“Pleased to meet you, Ursula,” Savannah said and shook hands with her.

“We’re all keeping Buffy in our thoughts,” she said. “She’ll make it through this. I can feel it.” Then she motioned to the girl tugging at her hand. “I think somebody wants more cookies.” She allowed the girl to pull her toward the food area.

Delilah laughed. “Their parents are gonna be annoyed with us for spoiling them like this.”

“Their parents won’t mind, as long as they’ve got their little ones back.” Tears suddenly stung in Savannah’s eyes.

The girl Delilah had been taking care of came back with a large bowl of ice cream. “Are you crying?”

Savannah sniffled. “No, honey, I’ve just got something in my eyes.”

“Oh, okay. But it looks like you’re crying.” She offered Savannah her bowl. “Do you want some of my ice cream?”

At that, tears started running down her cheeks. A girl who only hours ago had been locked up in a dark and dirty shipping container was offering to console her. There was still so much good in this world, despite all the evil.

And now Savannah had the support of all of Scanguards, a company of vampires and preternatural creatures more powerful than she could have ever imagined.

“We’ll find Buffy,” Delilah said softly. “We’ll find her.”

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