She peered up at Lorn, breaking her concentration on her arms. “I must be mostly VampLycan now. I’m not burning.”

“I just worry. I’d go nuts if anything happened to you,” Lorn rasped.

“I know.”

“It’s been three minutes. I’ve been counting.” Lavos took a few steps closer. “Your skin is still pale. I’ll be damned. This is great!”

Kira wiggled out of Lorn’s hold. She half expected him to protest or refuse to release her but he eased his hold. She stepped fully into the patch of sunlight from one of his big windows and stared out at the bright blue sky. The view was beautiful and she could see the sun shining above.

“Any sensitivity? Does it hurt your eyes?” Lorn kept at her back, inches from her.

“No. It’s so pretty.” Tears filled her eyes and she blinked them back. “I never thought I’d see a view like this again, unless it was on television or in a movie.”

“Let’s just take it slow. I don—”

Lorn’s phone rang, silencing him. He removed it from his pocket and threw it at his brother. “Answer that. I don’t want to be distracted from my mate in case she needs me.”

Lavos caught the cell and put it up to his ear. “Hello?” He paused. “You dialed right. Lorn’s busy. What’s up, Davis?” He paused again. “No, he’s not still in bed with your daughter. He’s right here but he’s unable to hold the phone in case Kira needs him. She’s trying to see how she does with sunshine.” More silence, then, “She’s doing great. No burning at all. Okay. Hang on.” He pulled the phone from his ear and hit a button. “You’re on speakerphone.”

“I just got a call on the lodge’s main line,” Davis stated. “I’ve got good news and bad news. What do you want first?”

“Just spit it out.” Lorn hooked Kira around her waist, lifted her, and walked backward until she was out of the sun. “What’s happened?”

Davis hesitated.

“What is it, Dad?” Kira leaned against Lorn and gripped his forearm around her waist.

“Veso called. He’s alive. The Vampires drugged and kidnapped him but he escaped.”

Kira was glad she was being held since her knees seemed to turn to jelly. The news shocked them all.

Lavos spoke first. “Where is he? Is he hurt?”

“I don’t have many details. It was a bad connection and I lost him.”

“Did he say where he was?” Lavos began to pace.

“No. Just that Vampires had drugged and kidnapped him, he got away, and then the damn line went dead. I tried to call the number back but it just rang.” Her dad sounded frustrated. “I’m going to keep calling. I thought you should know right away. So that’s the good news. The bad news is we don’t know where the hell he is. I did a computer search on the phone number left on the caller ID but got nothing. It’s somewhere within the state. That’s all I could determine.”

“Shit!” Lavos snarled. “I’m going to see if I can track the Vampires from where Veso was attacked.”

“It’s been too long.” Lorn bent forward a little, studying Kira’s body over her shoulder. “The scent of them being on our land would have faded. We’ll double the patrols. If Veso got away, it means he’ll be heading home. I would.”

“Why would they take him?” That part confused Kira. “I’m glad he’s alive but why drug and kidnap a VampLycan?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.” Lorn let her go and stepped away. “We’re on our way to the lodge to coordinate a search pattern and hopefully Veso will call back. Keep the lodge’s main line clear.”

“Of course,” Davis agreed. “I’m using my cell right now.”

Lavos ended the call and stopped pacing. “Veso’s my friend. I need to go find him. He could be hurt, or those Vampires could start tracking him come nightfall. They obviously wanted one of us for whatever the fucking reason.”

“Maybe it was just him.” Kira shrugged. “He does tend to piss people off. It’s possible he killed someone important when the Vampires attacked and they kept him alive to torture him.”

“Then they’ll really want to get him back.” Lorn reached up and ran his fingers through his hair. “Someone needs to inform Bran that his son is alive.”

“I’ll do it.” Lavos rushed toward the door and tossed the cell phone at his brother. “Catch. I’ll meet you at the lodge in five.”

Lorn managed to snag the phone flying through the air and pocketed it. He spun Kira around. “You need to stay here. I’ll get Garson or Kar to guard you.”

“That’s bullshit. I’m not burning. I’m coming with.”

“Damn it, Kira! We don’t have time to argue right now. The sun will only be up for so long and then those Vampires will be after Veso if they’re intent on getting him back. They used drugs once to capture him. They’ll probably do it again.”

“And I can help. I’ll man the phones. That will free up my father and whoever you’d assign to babysit me to help assist with the search. I’ll be safe with you.”

“The lodge is too far to walk. What if you begin to burn out in the open?”

“I haven’t so far and it’s been like five minutes or so. Either I go with you, or I follow you after you leave. Veso is my friend, too.”

“You’re so stubborn.”

“I’m your mate. It’s my job to stand up to you.” She smiled. “You’d be so bored otherwise.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He held out his hand. “Fine. You tell me the second you feel something wrong. The damn second.” He tugged her across the room but paused at the couch, grabbing the throw over it. “Then I’ll cover you up and run like hell to the nearest building.”

“Deal.”

He wasn’t happy but Kira didn’t care as she followed him out the door. Lorn stayed very close to her side, their bodies rubbing together as they quickly walked toward the lodge. She knew he glanced at her every few seconds to check her skin. She did too, just in case she didn’t feel pain quick enough if she began to burn.