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    THE
OATH
     
    “Do you think it went okay, Sar?” Danial
asked on the drive home. “I think they liked me.”
    The first meeting between my new vampire
paramour and my human parents had been stressful, to say the least.
While they’d appreciated Danial’s charming manner, his candor had
been received a bit less enthusiastically.
    “I think it went fine,” I replied. “They
liked you a lot. But maybe you should’ve waited for the second
meeting with them to break the news that we’d moved in
together.”
    “We’re adults,” he said smoothly. “We’re old
enough to know what we want. Why hide?”
    “I wasn’t hiding,” I said defensively. “But
it sounds fast even to me, who’s happily living it. And no, before
you ask, I’m not having second thoughts.”
    “Good. Let’s get home. Next week is going to
be busy.” He kissed my hand. “I’m very pleased you’re coming with
me.”
    It would be my first trip overseas, and our
first trip as a couple. I was jittery with excitement, thinking how
romantic Europe would be. However, I was also worried, because this
was a business trip for Danial, which meant some kind of crime had
been committed.
    Danial ran Solutions, Inc., a business
dedicated to detective work involving corporate crime, specializing
in computer programming. Would some new enemy be there to spoil our
newfound happiness?
    * * * *
    The next two days were a whirlwind. Danial
left for the airport with his bodyguards Ivan and Demetri after he
woke up Sunday night. He called me from his hotel in Akron at one
a.m. to say that he’d arrived safely. I worked Monday from ten to
seven and then came back to Danial’s home to shower quickly. Theo,
Daniel’s chief of security and best friend, grabbed my bags as I
threw on a jacket.
    “Are you coming with us to Europe?” I asked
as he drove us to the airport to meet Danial. “Or are Demetri and
Ivan coming instead?”
    “Do you want me to?” he said with a
smirk.
    “Yes.”
    He blushed and looked away.
    Stupid as it was, knowing I’d embarrassed him
made me embarrassed. “I feel safer when you’re with us. The other
guards are strong, but you...um...” You’re a werecougar.
    “Cia said she told you about me. I’m okay
with it.” He stared at the road. “Did Lander apologize to you?”
    Cia and Lander were other bodyguards of
Danial’s, the latter one that thought sexual conversation with me
was an option. “Yes. Did you say something to him?”
    “I reminded him none too gently that he
wasn’t at the local bar and you weren’t available.”
    “You didn’t have to—”
    “It would lead to problems if I’d let it
slide,” he said, his eyes still locked on the road. “Even if he
likes you, he should know better than to speak to you about his
feelings. Danial would do worse if he found out.”
    “Thank you then,” I murmured.
    The silence stretched for a few miles, until
Theo said, “Yes, I am coming. Overseas trips can be hairy,
especially with you along.”
    I had a sinking feeling. “What’s the danger
overseas to Danial and myself?”
    “Danial will be out of both his and his
brother Devlin’s territory. He has enemies in the European Union,
though none where we are going.”
    Great. “Should I stay home?”
    “We’ll be fine. I’ll let you know if there’s
anything to be worried about.”
    * * * *
    The moment I entered the lobby, I was wowed
by the opulence of the four-star hotel. The ceiling was forty feet
high, with a mural of cherubs and angels. The crystal chandeliers
were huge, their lights sparkling like diamonds. The lobby was
larger than my house, with leather couches and silk upholstered
furniture. There was even a baby grand piano, though no one was
playing it. I turned round and round, taking it all in as Danial
checked us in.
    “Come, Sar. It’s nearly dawn,” Danial called,
offering me his hand.
    Danial led me to our room, Theo trailing us
and the bellhop following with the bags. It was a suite,