It was a time-sensitive mission, so he had no time for romance—not that any respectable female would ever consider bonding herself to an M-Switch like him. The other Kindred reviled Chain’s kind and called them “Body Snatcher” or just “Snatchers” for short, because of the way they took over the bodies of others. So finding a mate could be extremely difficult—if not impossible.
This little Earth female would probably revile him too, now that he had revealed his ability to her, he thought. So wishing he could stay to romance her was foolish and impractical. She’d probably be glad to see the end of him. But a male could dream, couldn’t he?
He lifted his nose higher and caught a stronger whiff of her scent—but this time it was laced with the acrid tang of fear. Chain frowned. That’s right—she’d been running for her life. He was certain she’d gotten away but was she really safe, wherever she was? The Varians couldn’t track her scent like he could with his sensitive Kindred nose, but might they have some other method of tracing her he didn’t know about?
The thought sent a cold chill down his spine and when he took another deep whiff of the air, the cold, reptilian odor of the Varians entered his senses as well as the warm fragrance of the little Earth female. Gods—he didn’t like the fact that their scent trails were so close—didn’t like it one Goddess-damned bit!
Chain’s hands doubled into fists at his sides and a low growl rose in his throat. It was his fault the curvy little female was in danger—his fault the Varians were tracking her. He had to get to her—had to find her quickly…
Before it was too late.
Chapter Four
Vicky went around her house, checking all the windows and doors and making sure they were locked twice before she felt safe enough to relax.
The house was big—a two story in Carrollwood, a nice neighborhood in North Tampa—that Kevin had grudgingly allowed her to keep in lieu of any alimony payments. Originally, he’d wanted to sell the house—which was paid for—and split the profits, which would have put Vicky out on the street house-hunting in what was an extremely overcrowded market.
For some reason the Tampa housing market had exploded recently with everyone seemingly determined to move to the Sunshine State despite the looming threat of yearly hurricanes. Vicky was well aware that half the profits of their old house would never have bought her a place anywhere near her work. In fact, she probably wouldn’t have been able to buy a house at all and would have wound up renting in a not-so-nice neighborhood in order to avoid a horrendous commute every morning.
Fortunately, both her daughters had called their father crying and begging him to let Vicky keep the house.
“You’re already destroying our childhood!” Melinda, the youngest and by far the most dramatic of the two had told him. “Now you want to take away any memories we might have left and sell the only place we have to come home to on holidays and breaks! Isn’t leaving mom for your secretary bad enough? Do you really have to throw her out on the street too? I used to be proud you were my father. Now I’m ashamed to even know you,” she’d finished—or so she’d said as she recounted the conversation to Vicky earlier.
“Melli, you shouldn’t have done that,” Vicky had chided gently, though she was secretly glad her daughter had. “If your father wants to move on, let him. Maybe he’ll be happier with his secretary.”
Happier than he was with me, she added mentally, though she didn’t say it aloud.
Kevin had always been a stoic man and not very emotional or loving, so she had never suspected how unhappy he truly was until his dramatic announcement that he was leaving her forever. Of course, Vicky hadn’t been very happy either and to tell the truth, she’d been dreading having an empty nest with no kids to take care of—just her and Kevin alone rattling around in the big old house with nothing to say to each other, now that Jodi and Melli no longer required their constant attention.
But now it’s just me rattling around in here—all by myself, Vicky thought as she wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. February was one of the few cold months they had down here in Tampa and it was actually chilly outside, but that wasn’t why she was shivering.
I’m afraid, Vicky admitted to herself. Afraid to be alone.
Not for the first time, she thought that she needed to get a dog or a cat for company. But their last pet, a cat called Mr. DandyPants, had died over a year ago at the ripe old age of eighteen and Vicky hadn’t felt ready for a new pet yet. Now, however, she wished she had a German Shepherd or some other big, protective dog to keep her safe.
Not that a dog—no matter how big it was—could keep you safe from that awful blue light beam the alien twins had, whispered a little voice in the back of her head. Remember the bartender? Remember how it cut a chunk right out of him, like he was made of Play-Doh?
Vicky shivered again and clutched herself tighter. She hadn’t missed Kevin one minute after finding out that he’d been cheating on her. Better to be alone than with a man who would betray her like that, she’d thought. But she missed him now—missed having another human being to talk to, to
