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small pond surrounded by wildflowers and shaded by the overhanging branches of a massive oak. It had always been her favorite place, a miniature Eden without the serpent.
    Sitting on one of the wrought-iron benches, she closed her eyes and listened to the hum of insects. It was quiet here. Peaceful. As a young girl, she had often come here to read or to daydream; as a teenager, it had been her favorite place to be alone with her thoughts.
    Back then, she had worried about grades and homework and how to persuade her father to let her stay out after ten. It was here that she had first been kissed, here that she had come to shed copious tears when the boy she had a crush on asked her best friend to the sixth grade dance.
    Abbey smiled at the memory, remembering how brokenhearted she had been. And now she couldn’t even remember the boy’s name.
    She was about to go up to the house to see if her parents were awake when she was overcome with the same sense of unease she had felt earlier.
    Someone was out there, just beyond the trees, watching her.
    She was sure of it.

    Rane leaned forward in his chair, his gaze intent on his daughter’s face. “You didn’t see anyone?”
    Abbey shook her head. “But I know someone was there.”
    â€œAll right. You stay here with your mother. I’m going out to have a look around.”
    Savanah laid a hand on her husband’s arm. “Be careful.”
    â€œThat’s my middle name,” Rane said, patting her hand. “I won’t be long.”
    Rane took his time getting to his destination, all his senses on high alert. It had been a while since any hunters had been spotted in the area, but you could never be too careful. He didn’t see or sense anything out of place until he reached the pond.
    The vampire’s scent was strong, impossible to miss. Jaw clenched, hands balled into fists, Rane followed it to the tree line.
    Oh, yeah, he recognized that scent. It was the same one he had detected on Abbey back in New York City.

Chapter Eight
    Mara’s gaze swept the area. Rane had called her earlier, requesting her help. She and Logan had arrived at the ranch shortly after dusk. Now, the three of them were gathered outside.
    It wasn’t possible, she thought as she paced from the pond to the tree line and back again. He couldn’t be here. “What did you say this vampire’s name was?”
    Rane shrugged. “Abbey said he introduced himself as Nick.”
    â€œNick?” Mara shook her head. Could it be?
    Logan looked at her sharply, his eyes narrowing when her voice spoke to his mind. Not now.
    â€œDoes the name mean anything to you?” Rane asked.
    â€œI knew a Niccola Desanto a long time ago,” Mara replied, her voice carefully neutral.
    â€œWho’s Desanto?” Rane glanced from Mara to Logan and back again. “How come I’ve never heard of him?”
    â€œHe’s old,” Mara said. “Ancient.”
    â€œHow old?”
    â€œOlder than Logan,” she said, careful not to look at her husband. “Not quite as old as I am.”
    Rane swore under his breath. “He must have followed Abbey from New York. Dammit, I don’t like this at all.”
    â€œShe’s a lovely young woman,” Mara said. “You can hardly blame him for being interested.”
    â€œI can understand that. What I don’t understand is why he’s skulking around out here in the woods.”
    â€œIt’s not the why that bothers me,” Mara said. “It’s the how. ”
    Rane’s head snapped up, his brow furrowing as he met Mara’s gaze.
    She nodded. “Unless Abbey told him about this place, there’s only one way Desanto could have tracked her here over such a long distance.”
    â€œHe took her blood.” Rane clenched his hands until his knuckles went white. What else had Desanto taken from his daughter?
    â€œMaybe she offered.”
    Rane glared