All the way back to Jude’s house I couldn’t believe how close we had come to blowing it all.

“Thank you,” I said to Jude.

He nodded. “It was close and we are lucky Avery didn’t blow it for us. That boy is far too clever for his own good.”

That made me smile. I looked down to the finger he had bitten. It was already nearly healed.

“They are just beautiful,” I said, feeling tearful again. My emotions were all over the place and didn’t know how to deal with them.

Maybe after this was all done I would have the time to figure out how to live with the fact that I had abandoned my kids and Silas to ensure their safety.

“If they were any older we wouldn’t have been able to go ahead with the meeting. Even now I fear that Silas will figure it out somehow.”

I frowned. “How?”

“Silas is very perceptive. The only reason he didn’t figure out it was the smell in the air was your blood because he is has had a lot to deal with. Becoming a father of twins is a big adjustment. It is clouding what is plain to see. We just have to hope that he doesn’t figure that out.”

I hated how this had endangered everything.

“I’m sorry Jude. If I had know it would unfold the way it did I never would have gone ahead with it.”

He shrugged. “We can’t do anything about that now. We have to just hope we have done enough to ensure that no one figures it out.”

I thought about Talon and Thane. “Have you found a way to ensure Talon and Thane don’t blab it to everyone.”

“Thane still believes you can bear his children. He won’t do anything that would jeopardize your well being. He will be looking for you so we have to make sure he doesn’t find you. Thane will keep Talon in line.”

It sounded like he had everything else covered.

“I will always be indebted for what you’ve done for me,” I felt compelled to tell him.

“I’m ensuring the safety of my friend and his sons.”

His comment hurt but I was used to being hurt by vampires. It was nothing new.

I didn’t care what his reason were as long as he kept them safe. That was all that mattered.

“I meant what I said to Silas,” he added. “Those boys have inherited your strength.”

His eyes met mine. “It will take them far in life.”

It was the closest I would ever get to a compliment from him.

I looked to the view as we sped away, trying to shut the feelings and the memories in a little box that I could open later when I was safe and far out of the reach of the vampire council.

We travelled for a couple of hours before we pulled up on a farm. The road was dusty as I took in the horses and wild life as we drew nearer to the house.

When the car stopped outside the house the front door opened and a man I recognized exited the house.

I frowned as Jude got out of the car and greeted the man.

It was the man from the grocery store. Jason. The one who had approached me to offer me freedom from being enslaved by the vampires.

“Jason,” I murmured as I got out.

He smiled as he walked over to me to shake my hand. “Avery.”

“I can’t stay long. Jason will get you settled in and I will be in touch,” Jude said as he returned to the car.

“Keep her safe,” he instructed Jason before he left back the way we had come.

I stood watching his departure.

My whole life felt like it had been turned upside down.

“I’m so glad to have you here Avery,” Jason said as he led me into the house.

“I’ve never been on a farm before.”

He laughed. “Honestly it’s just a front to hide what really does on here. Let me show you.”

I was intrigued as I followed him to a beaten up old truck parked outside. He drove me down a dusty windy road. Once we drove a bit further past the trees my mouth feel open when I took in the houses lined up perfectly beside each other. There must have been twenty at a quick count. There was a main building and some buildings that looked like stores.

“Welcome to your new home Avery,” Jason said while I took I the unbelievable sight in front of me.

The old farm house hid this whole little community from the outside world.

There were people walking, talking, smiling. I watched in fascination. Jason pulled up in front of the main building and helped me out of the truck. I was still trying to take everything in.

“I know it’s a lot but you will fit right in here Avery. Here we are all equal and we treat everyone as an equal.”

I couldn’t believe it as I watched Vampires interact with Sires. I had never seen anything like this before. It felt like a whole new world that I wouldn’t have believed existed, except for the fact that I was seeing it with my own eyes. My mouthed dropped open when I saw a Vampire male kiss a female Sire.

“I never would have believed it,” I said, unable to look away.

“We are working hard to break away with old traditions. Our old laws have no place in this future.”

Those same laws were the reason I was here instead of being with my sons. It was hard not feel the unfairness of it all.

“Let’s get you settled in,” he said as he led me to a small house at the end of the small street. “We are totally hidden from the outside world. No one will bother you here.”

He opened the door. It was small but quaint place.

“This is your new home,” he said as I entered, taking in the old cottage decor.

My heart filled with something foreign. It was relief mixed with all the other emotions I had been dealt today.

“Mine?” I asked, not quite believing that this small space belonged to me.

Jason nodded. “Blood is delivered daily and kept in the fridge. Everything you need can be found in the stores we have. Anything else you need, you let me know I’ll try my best to source it. I’ll send someone over with some clothes for you a little later.”

What I wanted he couldn’t give me. I pushed through the sadness to turn to face him.

“Thank you.”

He nodded. “I’ll give you some time to get settled in.”

I nodded as I sank down to sit on the small sofa in the room. My mind was still reeling as the door closed.

I rose to wonder around the little house. There was one bedroom, a small bathroom, a kitchen and a small living area. Everything I needed, like Jason had said.

There was no computer. I wondered why. And there was no TV.

No way to see what was happening in the outside world. After what I had experienced with Thane and Talon I didn’t want anything to do with the world beyond the boundary of the farm.

This was my new home and my new life.

Later there was a knock on my door. A friendly female with shimmering gold greeted with me a smile.

I was taken aback. It was probably the first time I had ever seen a vampire smile.

“Hi. My name is Stella,” she introduced herself. She had fiery red hair and emerald green eyes below the gold shimmer.

“Hi. I’m Avery,” I replied.

“I’m here to help you get settled in.”

I took the folded clothes she handed me with a thank you as she entered and closed the door behind her.

“It’s a lot to take in when you first get here,” she sympathized.

I nodded as I held the clothes. “It is.”

I wasn’t good at conversations. My time with the vampires had changed me in way I was still only learning now.

Before this wouldn’t have been as painfully awkward. I didn’t know how to make conversation or interact with other people, vampire or Sire.

“I live next door so if you need anything or just want to talk, come over anytime.”

I nodded. She left and I stood in the middle of the room wondering how on earth I was going to adapt to my new environment which was worlds away from what I was used to.