Stupid as the situation was in Amber’s mind, she reluctantly had to admit that the pn to hide Jessica away had merit. “Does this mean she will become your ward, Vivienne?”

  “As, Mon Amore…” Vivienne grabbed Faye into a tight hug. “...I have a vague reminder of a promise that I made long ago when I admitted kissing another woman. I said then that all my kisses were for you.”

  Mildly annoyed with the situation, but in complete understanding as to why the pn had to py out the way it did, Faye threw her arms around Vivienne’s neck. “You also promised Casey that she’d be your only ward.” Taking the liberty to enjoy her wife’s blood-engorged lips, Faye lost herself in their embrace for a few moments and shivered with contentment once they’d parted. “I think the situation warrants an exception.” She peeled herself off of the ancient vampire. “I think her being Vivienne’s ward is the key. She could even be alone and no one would touch her. Probably the safest person in the world.”

  Squatting down and looking over the partial vampire that Cassian had been transformed into, Jessica was flooded with a vision of a dozen different battles, all of them with three to five vampires all pulling and nipping little pieces away of Amber both in mind and body until the woman she loved was nothing but a shell of former self. “Nightmare.” Jessica reached out and touched Cassian’s empty face. “A waking nightmare.” She turned back to look at Amber. “Can’t you see what keeping me with you does, Dumpling?” She patted Cassian on the chest. “You’ll become a shell of your former self and the woman I fell in love with. You need the chance to discover what you could and can be.” Jessica whispered to Cassian. “I can’t save you, sir. Nothing can. Have knowledge that you did one good thing.” She stood up and walked up to Amber with her hands outstretched and tears rolling down her face. “You are so smart and talented, Amber.”

  Moving so fast that the fmes of the bonfires blew backwards, Amber had caught and held Jessica tight. “Then stay and watch me grow. I need you.” Pleadingly, Amber's painful request tumbled from her lips a few more times before she faced the truth within her dead heart. Given her heart-crushing mindset, Amber could visualize the other meetings and how she would systematically kill every council member she could…but to what purpose. It wouldn’t necessarily save Jessica. Clutching her partner as hard as she could and with her face buried in Jess’s neck Amber lost any shred of control and cried as hard as she could. Ten years of love and friendship, all being taken away because other vampires couldn’t be controlled and the powers above them had lost control of the media and political entities. No control, the world steadily falling into a vampire hell.

  -I might not be able to save all of the wards, but I can save two. Jessica and Lay. Jessica with ‘The Raven’, Silver Fox and her Tigerlily. Lay hidden by knowledge.-

  Accepting the fate that was being chosen for her in the current vampire climate, Amber meekly pulled away from Jessica and lovingly looked into her brown eyes. “I wish you could remember it all, Jess. I’ll keep your diaries, so maybe one day you can see the world we…” Amber broke down uncontrolbly crying. Where she got the strength to look into Jessica’s quivering chin and visage of complete sadness, Amber didn’t know. “I don’t want to do this, Jess…I love you.” She half-spit blood down her chin. “It’s only us..right?”

  As much as she wanted to agree with Amber and jump into her arms forever, Jessica let her rapidly beating heart speak the million words of love she couldn’t speak. “Us. Amber…” She took a deep breath and smiled, “Mistress. I cannot leave unless you command it, please Mistress. Pull everything from me and keep the diaries…like you said….” She gripped Amber by the cheeks and gred into the loving teal orbs. “...Mistress, please.” Jessica took a step back and blew Amber a kiss. “Goodbye, Dumpling.”

  Every fiber of her being rebelled, wanting to find another solution, demanded that Jessica come back home. Their home…built on cherries, blueberries, and peaches…cultivated with their combined hands.

  -Nothing can take away what was as long as I am here.-

  Amber took a small measure of comfort in the fact she would remember it all, down to this st touch. “Jessica Saunders…” Amber pressed her supernatural kiss on Jess’s lips and listened to her emotions that were necessary to accomplish her task no matter her age. “Jessica Saunders. You will not recall any memory that will cause you deep emotional grief. When you wake up you will have your st memory of Vivienne feeding on you in Ravenstead Manor over a year ago. You will not recall that you were ever with me or being my ward. You’ve traveled with Vivienne and once this takes effect you will recall only fair times with Vivienne and Faye. Meeting me here this evening is nothing but nostalgic. Walk over to Vivienne Moreau and once there, I hereby release you from my protectorate.”

  Swaying lightly in the summer breeze, Jessica stopped smiling and her eyes grew heavy before softly touching Amber’s cheek. “So…pretty.” A few little hops ter, Jessica was wide-eyed and cuddled against the ancient vampire. “Doctor Moreau, Wow…” She blinked her eyes a few times and shook off the sleep that had overtaken her mind. “Last thing I remember was being in the manor…you said you liked my blood.” She giggled, “I tend to pass out when I am fed on.”

  “Miss Park!” Jessica ran over and hugged Faye. “I must have been asleep for a very long time. I love your hair, did I say that before?” She grabbed Faye’s hand. “If you are hungry, Mistress…” She bit on her lower lip.

  “No thank you, Jessica.” She nodded to Vivienne. “I believe that Vivienne has something she wishes to say.”

  “Miss Saunders.” Vivienne began, “I have been negligent in your development. If you are amenable to my offer, It would be my pleasure to make you part of my family permanently. Will you become my ward? You see, Casey has followed her own path since you were asleep. I can expin much more should you be willing to accept.”

  Jumping and spinning in pce, Jessica cpped happily as she nodded her head fast. “Yes, yes. Of course, yes.” She turned and spotted Amber. “Hi, Amber! Are you going to work with Doctor Moreau as well?”

  “I have my own duties, Jessica.” Amber wiped the red streaks from her face and tied her ptinum locks in a knot. “Vi…um..Doctor Moreau came to visit me and take a look at a farm I was considering trying to buy.” She frowned and shrugged trying her best to make up something that might pass as an excuse. “I’m gd you’re awake girlie. Now make it official, don’t torture me. Accept, accept.” Amber faked a happy ugh.

  Looking down at her iPhone, Faye simply nodded. “I am not going to watch. I am going to try and win this game of chess versus Kody. That ass has me thirty-five to thirty-three.” She ughed, “I might have them this time, Queen to H8.” Faye stopped and gave Amber a sneaky wave.

  Soon after Vivienne and Jessica made it official with a kiss, the group exchanged their goodbyes and Amber didn’t say a word as she picked up the documents. “Marianne, I am going to get myself back to town.” She pointed to Cassian. “You might want to take that blood bag and see if it can help you.” Spinning on her heels, Amber muttered a final thing to the wind as she disappeared into the dark. “I am going to get drunk somehow.”