Page 82 of The Diary of the Vam'pir Jacques

“No, not at all, angel of my heart,” I said, slinging an arm around her shoulders.

“Ah, when will I meet someone that I can love?” Kit drawled softly.

“Kit, you have plenty of time, more than you know what to do with,” I answered as I led her back home.

She paused and peered up at me.

“What if the man I love is already in a relationship? What then, Uncle Jaq? What do I do then?”

“You’ll come to me and your father, and we’ll work things out for you,” I replied, laughing.

I stopped as Kit punched my chest. Surprised, I looked at Kit and realised she wasn’t joking.

“Uncle Jacques, I’m serious. What if he is already married?” Kit narrowed her eyes, and I felt inadequate to answer.

“Angel, I’ve no clue what you’ll do then. We will cross that bridge when and if we arrive at it.”

Kit pushed my arm off her shoulders and stalked off into the night. Then I turned and went after Rahmon. I was sure I’dseen him, and I wanted to see what he was doing. I followed Rahmon’s scent to a temple of Hera and froze at the scene inside.

Ami lay back on a cushion with Rahmon lying next to her. I froze as anger welled up in me.

Rahmon was fifteen!

Fifteen, and too young for Ami!

What could attract Ami to Rahmon, and how long had this been happening?

I wasn’t sure whether to go in after them or get Pal; it was his son, after all. The repercussions made the decision for me. If Pal found out, then the murder would be committed, and it wouldn’t be Rahmon who Pal put six feet under.

I made a noise, and Rahmon sprang to his feet. The boy went white as he noticed me. Swiftly, I searched him for bite marks and found none.

Ami rose languidly to her feet and stared me straight in the eyes. She reached out with her hand and pulled Rahmon behind her. Ami’s gaze narrowed as she looked at me, and I saw anger rise. But Ami wasn’t as angry as I was.

“Rahmon is fifteen!” I shouted.

“So were you when you met Inka!” Ami retorted.

“That was different, as were the times. Pal will go insane when he finds out.”

“Who said Pal has to?” she seethed.

“How long have you hidden this?” I yelled, anger building. “Dear God, Ami, Rahmon is Pal’s son. Pal and Mera will rip you apart with their bare hands, and I’ll not stop them.”

“We have hidden this for three years, Jacques, and neither you nor father can stop me,” Rahmon said, coming out from behind Ami.

“When did I quit becoming Uncle Jaq?” My voice lowered, and Rahmon knew he was in trouble. Still, Rahmon squared his shoulders and stared me in the face.

“About the time you stopped allowing me my freedom to make my own choices and started making them for me,” he answered.

My eyes narrowed as I glared at Ami. “Rahmon better go home,” I stated and raised my voice as he hesitated, “now!”

“No,” Rahmon said, taking Ami’s hand.

“Rahmon knows what we are, Jacques, I have told him everything,” Ami explained, and I froze.

“What?” I whispered.

“Do you think Rahmon is stupid? That he didn’t realise that there was something strange about us? Rahmon asked, and I answered truthfully.”

---