Page 75 of Quintus

“Just making sure you’re safe,” Luca said, keeping his eyes on his fiancée.

“Nothing and no one here is going to harm me.” Samantha reached for Gabriella and took her hand. “Come, little witch. Don’t let these big bad vampires scare you. We’re every bit as powerful. You just need to learn how to harness your talents.”

“What do you think you’re doing, Sam?” Luca asked.

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m taking my guest inside our home. Your friends are invited too. See how that works?”

“Sam…” he began to protest.

“Hurry, dear. I hear the baby. Would you mind giving Sydney a hand with Kate while I attend to our guests? Thank you,” she said, giving Luca a slight smile as she raised an eyebrow at him. Her focus went to Gabriella. “I can feel your fear as if it were my own. Don’t worry now. We’ll figure this out.”

Quintus released Gabriella’s hand, allowing Samantha to lead his witch into their home. He gave Luca a knowing smile, and the vampire returned it with a disgruntled nod. Quintus inwardly laughed. The red-haired witch clearly had a hold on the prickly vampire. Women. Powerful as you may be, the right one will turn your world upside down and you’ll enjoy every second of it.

Where the fuck is Viktor? As the thought crossed his mind, Quintus retrieved his cell phone and glanced at the time. He’d texted him again while he was on the plane, instructing him to meet at Luca’s. His brother should have been there by now. As he followed Luca and walked through their house, he quickly tapped out a message.

Quintus slid his phone back into his pocket and refocused his attention on Gabriella, who’d stopped to admire a painting on the wall. While Samantha explained its origin, he scanned the room, noting the Picasso and smiled.

“What’s with you vamps? Y’all are fancy.” Hunter nudged Quintus from behind, and rolled his eyes.

“It’s a beautiful collection, I’ll give him that.” Quintus’ lips tightened, his thoughts lingering on his brother. “Luca always had taste for fine arts and antiques.”

“Luca’s just as grumpy as I remember him as a youth.”

“He doesn’t care much for others. His human chip is missing.”

“The witch sure has his number though.” Hunter smiled.

“Someone’s going to have your number someday,” Quintus replied, giving Kade a nod as he waved them towards a set of opened French doors.

“I’m good. Things in Jackson Hole are exactly how I like them.” Hunter followed him through the doorway.

“You can run but you can’t hide.” Quintus reached inside his jacket and slid on a pair of Ray Bans, the bright sun nearly blinding him.

“Yeah, we’ll see about that,” he commented.

“If Viktor doesn’t get here soon, one of us is going to have to go after him.” Quintus lost his words as he took sight of an adorable toddler running circles around a blonde female who sat in the grass smiling. The spitting image of her mother, the little girl squealed in delight as the woman blew bubbles. Her strawberry curls bounced as she jumped, clapping her hands onto the iridescent bubbles.

Quintus’ chest tightened as Luca lifted the giggling child, a broad smile on his face. The brooding vampire’s hard exterior had softened. So far from the battle-scarred man, Luca appeared human.

Children. They change a man, Quintus thought. He’d never been the greatest sire. The grief from losing Mao had been far too great. The unimaginable pain had taught him the consequences of growing too close to another, to loving someone. He’d sired less than a handful of vampires in his lifetime, always leaving them to fend for themselves. In every instance, he’d taken pity on their human plight. With death looming, he’d saved them, gifting them with eternal life.

Gabriella had rushed into his life like a hurricane. Unable to escape her winds, he’d given in to the inevitable. As each hour passed with their bonding, the emotional ties began to weave a fabric around his heart. Seeing the child brought a reality to his eyes that Quintus had long ignored. Under most circumstances, vampires couldn’t have children, yet Luca’s witch, with her unique human qualities meshed with her magick, brought life into this world.

Quintus glanced to Gabriella, who caught his gaze. She sat in a shaded gazebo with Samantha. He slammed down his shields to hide his emotions but the sad smile she gave him told Quintus she’d already detected his mood. He cursed his selfish nature, insisting they bond. He’d never once asked her if she’d wanted children, all the while assuming he’d never have any. Under normal circumstances, a wolf or a witch could procreate, yet with a vampire, the odds were unlikely. Luca was an exception, not a rule. Quintus shoved away the seed of jealousy that planted, and refocused his thoughts.

As he went to move toward Gabriella, Kade stopped him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “It’s hard for me too.”

“Sorry?” Quintus’ lips drew into a tight smile.

“Katrina. Kate. She’s named after a wolf,” he said, giving a nod to Hunter.

“She’s beautiful,” Quintus acknowledged.

“Sydney…she didn’t ask to be vampire. She could have had kids when she was human, or if she’d married someone else. But now…”

“You saved her, si?” Quintus had felt her presence after she’d been reborn, but he’d never discussed it with Kade.

“A demon. She’d always been a fighter. A tough one. She almost died. She’d begged me to not turn her, but I couldn’t lose her.”