“But Beatrice can be up during the day?” Natalie frowned. “How’s that work?”

“She’s had Tenzin’s blood in a roundabout way,” Carwyn said. “Makes her a daywalker. Not unheard of, but rare. Not that desirable, to tell you the truth. We all crave sleep. Let our brains rest. As old as I am, I still sleep most of the day. Baojia will too. At least for another few hundred years.”

She must have paled, because he patted her knee. “You’ll get used to it.”

Natalie heard Ben leave the room, mumbling som, an>mething about a snack. She cleared her throat. “I… uh, I don’t know that I will, to be honest. It’s pretty hard to wrap your mind around, even when you…”

“You love him.” It wasn’t a question, but she nodded anyway. “Then you’ll figure it out. Brigid and I, we didn’t have the easiest go of it. Still don’t. But we do our best. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to try and don’t quit.”

Try and don’t quit. She could probably do that. Natalie tried to smile again. “Sorry. I’m being silly.”

“No, it’s a whole new world for you. Nothing to be embarrassed about.” He patted her hand and sat up a little straighter. “Tell me everything. I used to be a priest, and I have four daughters. I’ve probably heard it all at this point.”

She blinked in surprise. “You have… what? Four daughters?”

“Eleven children all together. And more in my human life.” Carwyn grinned. “I enjoy mayhem. Nothing says fun like immortal family dysfunction.”

Natalie snorted. “Wow, so… Wow! You have a family?”

“Course I do. Did you think that wasn’t going to be part of the picture?” He frowned. “Is that what’s been bothering you?”

She shrugged. “Kind of. I just… I always wanted a family. My mom and dad were really great, and I always figured that would be part of my life, you know? Eventually anyway. Husband, kids. I hated being an only child. I wanted a big crazy family the same as you, I guess. Well, maybe not exactly the same.”

“So what’s the problem?” Carwyn asked with a laugh. “There are ways—especially in this modern world—for you to have the family you want. I can see him wanting that, too. He’s one of the most loyal fellows I know. Trust me, I’ve known a few. And he’s crazy about you.”

The corner of her mouth lifted. “Yeah?”

“In his own quiet, try-to-guess-what-I’m-thinking, mysterious way, yes.” Carwyn’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “It’s completely obvious.”

She shook her head. “Oh yeah. He wears his heart on his sleeve.”

“He loves you, Natalie. Very much.” Suddenly Carwyn’s merry face turned serious. “He’s going to try to keep you out of this. Are you going to let him?”

She leaned back into the couch. “What do you think?”

“I’m going to say no.” He sighed. “Ah, Nat. I wish you would. I know I’m banging my head against the wall, but this thing is so dangerous.”

“I can’t believe you’re even asking,” she said. “With your wife?”

“It’s got nothin’ to do with doubting you.” He nodded toward the hall again. “That one? Drives me out of my mind. Love her like mad. And she’s a frightening creature, Natalie. Powerful. Focused. Has a mind like a blade. Did as a human and she’s even sharper as a vampire. Bloody woman is a force to be reckoned with.”

“So you should know better than to—”

“And I’d wrap her up in tissue paper in the blink of an eye if she’d let me.” He smiled ruefully.

Natalie’s mouth dropped open. “You wouldn’t!”

“I would. She’d never let me and I’d probably be a fool to try, but if I had my way…” He shook his head. “Has nothing to do with doubting her, love. It has everything to do with my own fear. The fear of losing her makes me weak. When you’ve found your mate in this life, the thought of losing her—living the rest of this eternal night aloneernal n al’m-tit can lead you to a very dark place, Natalie. So don’t be too hard on him. He’s just found you, after all.”

“And, uh…” She took a deep breath. “If I don’t want to become a vampire? What then?”

Carwyn’s smile was wistful. “Then the time only becomes more precious, doesn’t it?”

She felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He winked. “You do that.”

She watched him later that night, a map spread on the table in the library. He was pointing out the area where the hunt had been to Giovanni and Tenzin. Tenzin’s head was cocked to the side, studying the map intently, chiming in with a question in Chinese every now and then. Natalie didn’t think she even realized she was doing it. She asked and Baojia answered. Natalie made a mental note to learn Chinese.

“So this area is completely deserted?”

“I asked Beatrice to find satellite photos last night. It appears to be clear of any real development for approximately thirty miles in every direction. There’s an old mining road that leads to about here.” He pointed at the map. “Then the road ends. You’d have to have the right truck, but you could access this. The terrain is rugged, but passable. They must be knocking out the girls with amnis, transporting them out there, then dumping them—”