Oddly enough, the moment the other woman said the words, Rachel did feel tired. She also had the inkling that reading minds might not be the only thing they could do.
"You can control minds," she accused.
"It's a useful trick that helped in the old days of hunting," Marguerite said calmly.
At least she didn't lie, Rachel thought with resignation. Then another thought struck her. "Was Etienne controlling my mind earlier?" She didn't specify those passionate moments in the bedroom, but she didn't have to. Marguerite could read her thoughts, after all.
"Luckily enough, Etienne is unable to either read your thoughts or control you," Marguerite said.
"Why is that lucky?" Rachel asked. She thought it was, but why did Marguerite?
"Because good life mates can't read or control each other. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a partnership. It would be a master and a puppet."
The comment was slightly confusing to Rachel, since she had just met them all and wasn't anyone's life mate, but another question came to mind. She asked, "How old is Etienne?"
"Three hundred and twelve."
"Three hundred and twelve," Rachel echoed. Her distress returned. The man was three hundred and twelve years old. She'd tried to jump an old man. He was a serious geriatric.
"Do not fret," Marguerite said. This time her voice was soft, whisper soft. Almost as if she hadn't spoken at all but breathed the words. Or merely thought them. "Ease yourself. Things will be less distressing after you rest."
"Yes." The word slipped from Rachel's mouth of its own accord. Not that Rachel much cared. The only thought in her mind was that she was weary and needed rest.
"Come," Marguerite said, getting to her feet. Rachel did as she was told.
"Brilliant!" Bastien grinned and slapped Etienne on the back as Etienne shut the program down. "This one will be an even bigger hit than the first." Lucern and Greg nodded.
"That good is it?"
All four men turned to the door in surprise at the sound of Lissianna's voice. Greg smiled at the sight of her and moved to her side, his arm slipping around her in welcome. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"All done explaining the delights of vampire sex to Rachel?"
"Hmm." She smiled and kissed him back, then turned to her brother. "She's enthralled, Etienne. We may have increased your chances."
"Ha ha." Etienne turned off the computer and stood. "Where is Mother?"
"She took Rachel upstairs to put her to bed."
Etienne laughed. "Tucking her in like a child?"
"She is a child," Lucern commented, leading the way out of Etienne's basement. "She's barely twenty-five."
"Nearly thirty," Etienne corrected.
"Still a child," Lucern said with a shrug.
"Everyone's a child to you, Lucern," Lissianna joked.
"Not everyone. Just everyone under four hundred."
"You mean everyone but you, Mother, Bastien, and maybe a hundred of the more ancient vamps in the world," Etienne said with disgust. At three hundred and twelve he was growing tired of being called a child. He even sometimes yearned to be human, to have a normal lifespan and family. But that feeling always passed.
"Well, what are we going to do about your friend Pokey?" Greg asked as they returned to the living room.
"Pudge," Etienne corrected.
"Your mother said his name was Pokey."