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About a year ago, I'd contacted Eric Huston, the banshee's husband, hoping that as a guardian to our ways he would track Derek down and finish him. Eric wasn't up to the challenge. He tried to be diplomatic, tried to threaten Derek. It was his downfall and the beginning of our banshee problem. And I can't help but think it was poetic justice that Derek was killed by the little demon spawn he'd harbored against my wishes. Served him right to be killed by that abomination, Gabe. They had the nerve to name him after your sister, you know."
    "So if you didn't want Derek alive, why would you tell the Brotherhood that you want revenge?" Finn asked.
    "Because not asking for it would have raised suspicion." Jonathan explained. "Think of it like this: if I went after the banshee for my own purposes without the council's permission, that makes things more difficult. People begin poking their noses into business that don't concern them. If I go after her under their orders, it's a whole different story. Now, it appears that I'm simply seeking vengeance for the death of my son and the whole thing is completely blessed by the Brotherhood."
    "You're pretty good at covering your ass, dad. You don't want them to know about the cloning thing."
    "Of course not. I want to protect our family and those loyal to us. We have enemies on the council, son, enemies that just wait for a chance to strike. With our own breed of banshees that will be completely loyal to the Spark clan, they don't stand a chance," Jonathan said.
    "So do I kill our…the creature, too?"
    "If you have the opportunity, yes." Jonathan crossed his arms. "I have no interest in him. He was a mistake that shouldn't have been born. Don't let his father stand in your way either. The council won't be bothered by the death of Toby Williams.  The important thing is to approach the situation differently than Derek. They're expecting an attack. I would if I were them. Don't give it to them. I think we can finesse them in other ways."
    "So we kill Toby and the creature. But are we really going to deliver the woman to the council?"
    Jonathan smiled at his Finn.
    "Oh yes. As soon as we're finished with her."
     
    ****

Toby awoke with a start.
    Jacqueline was nestled against his arm, her short blonde hair a rumpled mess. She snored lightly, undisturbed. With a small smile, he gently rolled her, watching her nestle down into the covers like a small child.
    A part of him was still unable to believe that the beautiful woman in his bed was his.
    He'd never really thought that he'd fall in love again. Realistically, Toby knew that his first love was just that--first love. Something young, something pure, something that wasn't meant to last. Yet, he'd never been able to forget the strength of his feelings for Gabriella. And he'd certainly never expected them to be eclipsed.
    But how could he have known that Jacqueline Huston would prove to be such a force in his life.
    A small shiver ran down his back.
    There it was again. The feeling that had woke him up. Something was off. He scanned the room, wondering if there was an intruder, but common sense told him that while not impossible, it wasn't likely. None of his magical alarms were going off.
    Everything was in its place in his small bedroom. The light of the moon shone through the window, spilling onto the floor. He felt drawn to it and got out of bed, unashamed that he wore nothing. Moving to the window, Toby inspected the yard below, unaware that his naked physique was the kind that made women sigh in appreciation.
    Nothing unusual caught his eye.
    So what was the problem?
    Another wizard was nearby. The answer came to him as if someone had spoken the words out loud. That had to be it. This feeling of tension and heightened awareness only came into play when another wizard was around. True, most wizards knew spells that would hide their presence if they weren't interested in being noticed. Toby had done it himself.
    So that could only mean